Giba Gorge
If you are looking for an easy and convenient getaway to experience nature for a day then an ideal stop would be to visit the Giba Gorge Mountain Bike Park. Giba Gorge is ideally located in Pinetown so it is a short drive away from Durban. And it’s a family-friendly venue offering oodles of entertainment for adults and kids alike. These are all the things you can do at Giba Gorge.
About
Although the Giba Gorge Nature Reserve is found in Pinetown which is an urban area, when you do enter the park, you are completely at one with nature. You experience the serenity and tranquillity of the sound of the water flowing through the streams, birds chirping and the swaying of the leaves on the trees. Giba Gorge was opened in the year 2007 and enjoys over three hundred hectares of nature.
How to Get There
Giba Gorge is easily accessible from the N3 national road. It can be found in the Pinetown area of KwaZulu Natal. The drive to Giba Gorge Mountain Bike Park will take you approximately forty kilometres and thirty-seven minutes from Umhlanga.
The easiest route will be via the N2 and the N3 for about 34 kilometres. And thereafter you take exit 26 and follow Stockville and Ingweni road to get to the bike park. About two kilometres before the entrance of Giba Gorge Nature Reserve is a dirt roadway. The dirt road is very well maintained and vehicles can comfortably make the drive to the entrance. There is ample parking available at the bike park.
Giba Gorge Activities
Giba Gorge is a family-friendly mountain bike park with a host of activities that you can enjoy.
Mountain Biking
From the name itself, the park has a host of mountain bike trails. There are over 30 kilometres of trails that go throughout the park. You can always combine trails for a longer ride.
There are three main trails, the purple trail which is the beginner trail and is easy. It is a 5-kilometre trail and it leads to the dam and waterfall. The blue trail is an intermediate trail and is about 14 kilometres and can be found on the outer edges of the park. And the green trail also being intermediate which is about 10 kilometres and has gradual climbs.
Hiking / Trail running
Giba Gorge is popular for its hiking and running trails. The trails lead to the Mackintosh waterfall or if you are a more serious hiker you can add to your route and find the rock shelter and larger waterfall.
There is a great beginner-friendly hike which is 2,5 kilometres each way, a totally of 5 kilometres. At the end of the 2,5 kilometres, you will reach the Mackintosh waterfall.
This hike is great for beginners, it’s mostly flat terrain and there are two bridges that
For the more adventurous, you can hike towards the upper Mackintosh waterfall which is an 8,4-kilometre hike totally a three-hour return hike.
Picnics
There are picnic areas at the park which you can enjoy. You can enjoy your relaxing in nature. Please note that Giba Gorge does not allow braais, gas or cooking and no alcohol. Picnic baskets are available from the restaurant but must be pre-ordered.
Restaurant
Giba Graze is the restaurant at the park which is open during the week for light meals, cakes and coffee. The restaurant is open seven days a week from 07:00 am – 17:00 pm.
Giba Graze offers a delicious breakfast menu, toasted sandwiches, pizzas as well as an assortment of cakes and muffins. The items on their menu are reasonably priced.
Other Important Information
Giba Gorge does offer bike hire so if you want to try out any of their tracks but don’t have a bike, fear not because you can hire it out. Bike hire ranges from R200.00 for two hours for adults and R100.00 for two hours for kids.
The park has hot showers available. And they are a wheelchair friendly environment. In addition, dogs are allowed, however, they must be kept on leads.
Giba Gorge Prices
Giba Gorge Entrance Fee:
Entry into the park only R20.00 per person
Walk / Hike R35.00 per person
Trail runner R45.00 per person
Pensioner R55.00 per person
Child rider R55.00 per person
Adult rider R85.00 per person
The bike park also offers annual membership options for adults, kids and pensioners as well as a convenient annual family membership for families. These ensure that you pay a single amount for access to the park for an entire year.
Giba Gorge Contact Information
Opening Hours:
Monday – Sunday 07:00 am – 17:00 pm
Address:
110 Stockville Road, Westmead, Pinetown
Telephone number:
031 769 1419
E-mail:
Website:
Overall there are tons of things to do at Giba Gorge and if you don’t prefer any of the more adventurous activities, you can always just have a picnic while laying on a picnic blanket experiencing the calmness of nature.
If you have been to Giba Gorge, let me know in the comments below. Or if you haven’t, tell me when you plan on visiting.
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Looking for another interesting place in Durban to visit, why not check the Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve. It’s a family-friendly nature reserve with picnic sites and animals to keep the kids entertained.
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