On Sunday, 25 May, the country’s elite mountain bikers will battle for arguably the most prestigious MTB title on the South African calendar, and appropriately the SA Marathon Championships will once again be held on the trails which are generally regarded as the best on the country.
Paid partnership with Sappi
The 2025 South African Marathon Championships is once again the highlight of the longest-running mountain bike event in South Africa. The two-day Sappi Karkloof Trail Festival sees trail runners and enduro riders winding their way through the beautiful Karkloof Forests on Saturday, while mountain bikers and a trail fun run dominates the action on Sunday.
There is little doubt the longevity of the festival, and the reason it is such a popular repeat venue for the national championships, is largely because the trails have consistently been improved, reshaped and modified to the latest standards. This ensures riders and runners consistently enjoy one of the best off-road destinations South Africa has to offer.
This year, defending champion Wessel Botha, recently crowned XCO Champion Michael Foster and a slew of other big names in the competitive SA racing scene will be able to challenge themselves once more on a route that is almost perfect for MTB marathon racing.
Stretches of gravel, flowing forest trails, some tricky technical single track, grinding long ascents and some short punchy climbs make the event an ideal all-round test to decide the national champion. Meanwhile stunning scenery and the sublime infrastructure of the Absa Karkloof Country Club ensure spectators and the weekend warriors are also able to enjoy the weekend action.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Karkloof valley, the 250km network of trails has been meticulously shaped over the last 30 years, evolving from rugged ‘spade and pick’ tracks to the smooth, flowing lines created by Turvey Trails. While elite participants may enter for the thrill of the race, most participants ultimately come for the trails, each crafted with care to provide an unparalleled experience.
The festival has grown from its origins 33 years ago, when it just featured mountain biking, into a popular multi-event weekend catering to runners and riders alike.
Saturday, 24 May, will se a variety of trail running distances (9km, 15km, and 21km), and an afternoon enduro – which includes a section for E-bikes and a reduced enduro Lite. Sunday, 25 May, features a 9km fun run and a kids’ 10km mountain bike race, plus the traditional 20km, 40km, and 60km MTB races, and culminating in the South African Marathon Champs’ 85km.
The Sappi Karkloof Classic Trails Festival at the Absa Karkloof Country Club has become the standard by which weekend trail festivals are judged, but there is a lot more to the co-operation between the leading forestry company and the country’s top-ranked trail venue.
They share a deep commitment to adding value to their region via community enrichment projects, including Education Karkloof (Early Childhood Development support), Improve Karkloof (safety and local conservation efforts), and the newly included Karkloof Conservation Centre.
Through the Sappi Trails Programme, the Karkloof region has seen a significant rise in visitor numbers – up to more than 40 000 people annually, from hikers exploring waterfalls to cyclists, campers, and birdwatchers. According to a KZN Tourism study, the trails generate an estimated R231 million in annual economic impact, while directly supporting 503 jobs and sustaining 3 080 jobs within the uMngeni municipal area.
“Sappi’s commitment to responsible land access means ensuring that events like these leave a lasting legacy,” says Tebele Makhetha, Head of Corporate Affairs, Sappi Southern Africa. “Every entry contributes to meaningful projects that uplift communities and create sustainable opportunities, long after the dust has settled.”
This co-operation means the various national champions will be crowned on Sunday and will reign for a year, but the legacy of the event will last for a lifetime for many of the community beneficiaries.
