Gravel Races in South Africa

A 250 km single-stage gravel ultra to the tiny hamlet of Tonteldoos in the Mpumalanga highlands, on remote farm and mountain gravel.

Point-to-point 100-mile gravel race from Loskop Dam to Dullstroom in the Mpumalanga highlands. The unmarked route uses gravel and district roads and requires GPS navigation through climbing terrain to a highland finish.

Free State gravel event with 30 km, 86 km, 160 km, and GPS-mandatory 280 km route options. The route is described as non-technical gravel riding on open rural roads, with the 280 km Lion route aimed at endurance riders.

Multi-day gravel stage race from the Drakensberg to the Indian Ocean.

Three-day Drakensberg-foothills stage race from the high berg down to the Tugela Valley. Gravel farm roads, switchbacking jeep track, fresh-cut singletrack and famously generous race villages. Two-rider team format.

Spring gravel race through the Overberg and Riviersonderend Mountains, starting in Greyton. The 130 km route is 95% gravel with private farm-track access, rolling hills, technical climbs, and fast descents.

Karoo gravel ultra in the semi-desert of South Africa. 361km through open landscapes.

An Eastern Cape gravel race out of Graaff-Reinet climbing toward the Valley of Desolation in the Camdeboo, on rugged Karoo mountain gravel.

Desert gravel race in the Northern Cape.

Seven-day "Race With Soul" stage race through the Klein Karoo and Garden Route — from Saasveld singletrack to summiting the mighty Swartberg Mountain and the desert-like Kammanassie. Two-rider team format, world-class hospitality, electric race village. One of South Africa's premier stage races for the gravel-adjacent crowd.

One-day 100-mile gravel endurance race in the Western Cape. The route is a long-distance rural gravel challenge suited to experienced riders rather than a short mass-participation ride.

Three-day coastal gravel stage race linking Stilbaai, Witsand, and the Southern Cape coastline. Stages are roughly 83 km, 86 km, and 80 km on gravel and district roads with point-to-point logistics.

A seven-day gravel stage race across the vast Karoo by the team behind the Absa Cape Epic. Remote dirt roads, big-sky farmland and full backcountry support.

7-day, 750 km gravel stage race across the Great Karoo finishing at Shamwari Game Reserve.

Three-day stage race through the wine farms and coastal mountains of the Western Cape, from Lourensford Wine Estate to the whale-watching town of Hermanus. Mixed gravel + premium hand-built singletrack with finish-line wine and beachfront recovery.

A ~500km self-supported bikepacking adventure starting in Ceres in the Western Cape, threading remote Karoo dirt roads and mountain passes on a single long push.

Ultra-distance gravel race across the Karoo under the African sun. 1050km self-supported.

A 1,120km non-stop desert dash across the South African Karoo with a 120-hour cutoff. Self-navigated between race villages through searing heat and freezing nights.

Self-supported, non-stop bikepacking race across South Africa on gravel roads, farm tracks, remote valleys, and mountain passes. Riders navigate by GPS over the Freedom Trail with only three compulsory checkpoints offering food and basic accommodation.

Point-to-point South African gravel race from the Hartbeespoort area toward Sun City. Racepass lists 80 km and 160 km options for the 2027 edition, organized by Faces Advendurance.

Gravel and MTB race using farm gravel roads in South Africa's North West Province. The event offers a 100-mile main route and a 60 km option, emphasizing open countryside riding rather than technical trail sections.

A rugged gravel race on the edge of the Karoo below the Langeberg range in the Western Cape, with multiple distance options across remote farm and mountain-pass gravel.

Single-day 230-km gravel ultra crossing the wild Baviaanskloof World Heritage Site from Willowmore to Jeffreys Bay. Self-supported between feed stations, four-rider team format encouraged, expect kudu, elephants, and a 6 a.m. start that finishes after dark for most.

New UCI Gravel World Series event in the Western Cape. Fynbos-lined gravel roads around the Potberg mountains near the southernmost tip of Africa.

Gravel race across the Great Karoo.

Dramatic gravel riding through the stark Tankwa Karoo and Witzenberg mountains. Remote semi-desert landscapes, challenging passes, and stunning mountain vistas.

South African Gravel National Championship along the Vaal River through the Vredefort Crater.

A stunning gravel race through the indigenous forests and lagoons of the Garden Route. Ancient yellowwood trees, dramatic coastline, and rolling fynbos-covered mountains.

Three-day, 265-km point-to-point stage race from the Sani Pass foothills down to the Indian Ocean at Scottburgh. Three concurrent races (Race, Adventure, Trail) across the same iconic course of farm-track gravel, hand-cut singletrack, and the famous Floating Bridge through the Umkomaas valley.

Cross the vast Karoo semi-desert on endless gravel roads. A true test of endurance through one of Africa's most remote landscapes.

Gravel race through the wheat fields and hills of the Swartland.

Nine-day, 900-km point-to-point stage race from Heidelberg (south of Joburg) to Scottburgh on the Indian Ocean. Two-rider teams traverse the Drakensberg, Midlands, and KZN coastal forests on a mix of farm gravel, jeep track, and fresh-cut singletrack. The grand-daddy of SA cross-country stage rides.

Six-day gravel stage race along South Africa's Garden Route. 684km and 11,300m of climbing through diverse Western Cape landscapes.

Gravel racing through the wine-producing Breede River Valley of the Western Cape.

Experience the stunning Cape Winelands on challenging gravel roads. Ride through vineyards, mountain passes, and pristine fynbos landscapes.

UCI Gravel World Series qualifier in the Cederberg wilderness of the Western Cape.