7Weekspoort MTB & Trail Run | Ladismith Special Events

Ladismith is a little town in the Klein Karoo that is set against the striking Klein Swartberg Mountains. At first glance, you might miss the reason why this area begs travelers to stay.

Almost 17 years ago, the potential of the striking Ladismith landscape was realised and a dream to uncover the beauty of this area was born. This is how the Ladismith Cheese 7Weekspoort Mountain Bike Challenge came to be – an event that has captured the hearts of South African adventure seekers.

Today cyclists jump at the opportunity to traverse the Seweweekspoort– one of the most awe-inspiring and spectacular of all the mountain ravines in the country.

Routes are carefully created to reveal blooming October orchards that this area is renowned for, and classic Klein Karoo terrain littered with fynbos and succulents. Adding to the wonder of it all is the Ladismith community, who without fail gather by the hundreds each year to cheer riders on with that catchy ‘hou bene hou’ anthem.

In 2018, the directors of Dryland Event Management decided to open the event up to trail runners too with a 10km loop the night before the mountain bike race. Unsurprisingly, it was a hit and runners set off with their head lamps eager to discover what all the Seweweekspoort fuss was about.

On 4 October 2019, the Ladismith Cheese 7Weekspoort trail running experience will be taken to new heights. In addition to the shorter event on Friday night, a 29km route will now be made available to trail runners on Saturday.

“After the tremendous success of the inaugural trail run in 2018, we decided to add a longer route in 2019. Until now, there hasn’t been a trail run like this in Ladismith – an area that is begging to be explored by foot! People have asked us to do this for years, and the time has finally come…” said event director Carel Herholdt.

Runners will now get the chance to encounter the iconic Hoeko Valley – a secret piece of countryside that defies time and begs you to explore. With breathtaking views, lush vegetation and fresh farm air, the route is ripe for the adventurous at heart.