Going nowhere in the Karoo

Submitted by: 
Troy Davies
(@retroyspective)

Where is your MicroAdventure located? 
Tankwa Karoo

How long is the MicroAdventure in total, out and back? 
3 hours drive from Cape Town

Give the people a short description of your MicroAdventure.
We went on a journey to find wide-open spaces and big skies, the main aim of the adventure was to film some shots for a music video but my agenda was to create some unseen images in the Karoo.

Our base was situated at the Bike X camp which is just past the Tankwa padstal, they have a great tented camp and chalets with water and electricity in the Bar/braai area. So it's basically a chilled version of glamping. From there we spoke to farmers and locals and found some hidden dry pans and empty roads that run along the fence lines.

Another aspect that I wanted to check out is the riding surface of the roads, so on my next trip I would probably choose the same base then head out by bicycle towards Sutherland or the Cederberg which are both within a days cycle from the Tankwa.

The one thing about being there in winter, is that the nights are freezing and if a cold front is coming into the Western Cape then be prepared with plenty of layers and gloves if you want to catch the sunrise. Even with the cold, I would still rather go in winter as the midday sun in Summer is intense with little or no shade along the vast open roads.

All in all I was quite happy with a few of the frames I captured, I found that to really enjoy this place you have to look at the small things to appreciate the big landscape, when you first look at the area it looks as if nothing can survive there but on closer inspection there is a treasure trove of fauna and flora if you know where to look.

How do you get to the start? Please share some directions. 
https://goo.gl/maps/n3Dng5GZa8at19kQ9 

How much did it cost (per person)? 
R251 - R500 per person

Best time to go? 
Going in the beginning or end of the winter months is great and you wont melt in the middle of the day.

A quick note about safety. Can you do it solo? Do you need a crew? 
Either or, its pretty safe out there but if you are doing a bike packing trip I would definitely take a friend.

What sport is this adventure most related to? 
Hiking, Mountain Biking, Photography 

Do you need any special permissions / permits? 
No

How difficult is the MicroAdventure? 
3 out of 10

And lastly, any tips?

• Pre-download your maps so you can find your way around without cell reception.
• Wear surgical gloves under your riding gloves in the mornings to avoid numb fingers on the bike.
• Something to drink that will keep you warm at night :) 

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