This is a demanding route held over three days and covers 260 kilometres. The 2018 route was  improved and changed so here is a taste of the 2017 route.

Glen Cairn Farm, Underberg to MacKenzie Country Club, Eastwold, Ixopo. Distance: 82 kilometres. Total ascent: 1,230 metres. Standing in the foothills of the Southern ‘berg with the majestic Drakensberg as a backdrop your journey starts off early in the morning. The fresh mountain air and crystal streams at the start will be food for the soul, charging spirits for the arduous journey to the coast. The first 30 kilometres are on a fast, scenic and undulating district road that will give you time to spread out before moving into a short section of more technical riding. Once over this, the route joins another district road for some welcome respite and the first of three water tables and spectator points of the stage. On the next forest section, the route allows for an easy pace sweeping down the valley roads towards Bulwer. A quiet back road will lead you up to the Bulwer/Underberg road crossing. Here is the second and most welcome water point of the stage. Leaving the humdrum of the table, a quiet forest road leads to a fast descent into the valley below, followed by a good climb which opens the lungs. The next descent is cool and often wet through the Nxumeni Forest, home of the Cape Parrot. Soon after leaving the comfort and beauty of the natural forest you will be surprised by the third seconding and spectator point situated at Donnybrook station. From here the ride will bite into your legs as you climb up a short section of technical single track especially included for the free-riding junkies. The next fast pine-forest road will see you dropping in altitude as you enter the final valley of the day. From here, some of the quietest back roads in the country meander uphill to the finish at MacKenzie Country Club and the first overnight stop.


MacKenzie Country Club, Eastwolds, Ixopo to Roseveres Farm, Jolivet. Distance: 99 kilometres. Total ascent: 1,406 metres. Soon after the 04h30 awakening, the reality of what lies ahead should put the tour in a nervous mood. The second day is the hardest and an early start will reaffirm the respect shown to this stage. The route hurtles down five kilometres of district road before entering the start of the single track. This track takes you past some of the most spectacular views of the mighty Umkomaas Valley. The single track is broken with short sections of forest road which allow limited overtaking opportunities. After approximately 20 kilometres, you find yourself on top of the majestic cliffs overlooking the Umkomaas River Valley. The drop into the valley is a gut-wrenchingly fast descent. Three short sections of some of the steepest concrete roads imaginable accelerate you into the heart of the valley. After this you will experience some of the most enjoyable single track to be found. A narrow bush-lined footpath meanders through the thorn trees for five kilometres before opening up into a game farm teaming with kudu, bush pig and nyala. The first seconding table will be welcome in this humid valley and is an indication that the first climb of the day is upon you. The climb on the game road out of the valley is as hard as it is steep. Here you battle with altitude and temperature as you go steadily upwards. This is a long, hot climb that will prove challenging under the best of conditions. Be inspired by the fact that the steepest gradients come first and things can only get better. Before the summit you come to the second table and the first spectator point of the day. From here the route veers off into the bush and onto narrow game farm roads for two kilometres before a tricky descent into the remote Ixopo River Valley. Here, you are the furthest you will get from civilisation. After crossing the Ixopo River the route follows the valley up to a remote farmyard and the halfway mark for the day. All welcome this unique and enforced 10 minute break where you will have the opportunity to fill up, hydrate, eat and reduce your core temperature at the water table. Continuing up the valley through farmlands, you reach a district road and the third most significant climb of the day. This will take you out of the hot valley to Highflats. Be comforted by the fact that it only gets cooler as you leave the thornveld and approach the timber plantations on the top. There is a further 20 kilometres of undulating forest roads and a final two kilometres or so of tarmac before a very welcome finish at Jolivet Race Village. This day will be remembered as one of your biggest days in the saddle on any journey.


Roseveres Farm, Jolivet to Scottburgh High School, Scottburgh. Distance: 78 kilometres. Ascent: 1,000 metres. Today's stage is a lot faster and less technical than yesterday's and should be the easiest of all three days. The day starts by passing through one of the country's most well-manicured sugar cane farms. The easy riding on forgiving roads will afford you the opportunity to appreciate its beauty. A long, quick descent will split the field, as will the first hard climb of the day. Soon after this climb, the single track roller-coasters you into new surroundings, which present novel experiences at every unseen turn. Sweeping cane roads move the tour along at a surprising pace from farm to farm on its epic journey to the coast. A few short steep climbs will remind your legs of what they have been training for, as will the steep technical climb fondly known as ‘Work to be Done’. There is an interesting change in terrain as you ride onto the jeep track of Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve. Here is some of the most spectacular single track through coastal bush. Look out for the wildlife and appreciate the herd of zebra which escort you through their plains. Shortly after Vernon Crookes, there are two surprises which will punish those who start too ambitiously and are now scratching in the bunch. The cane lands once again revert to easy and fast dirt-road riding through coastal valleys. Just when it seems all the climbing is done for the day, there is one last sting in the tail before an exhilarating finish over the dunes and onto Scottburgh main beach, where the finish line awaits. A refreshing dip in the Indian Ocean allows you to celebrate a successfully completed Sani2c. Feel justly proud and thankful that you have achieved a feat that many would never consider. Well done! Average maximum temperature: 28.2°C Sunrise (Sani): 05h44 Sunset (MacKenzie): 18h33