Spekboom Tours

Name: Spekboom Tours
Address: 34 Teal Road, Rivergoose Estate, Howick, 3290, ZA
Telephone: +27768190615
Price range: ££

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Spekboom Tours

Ecologically-conscious slack-packing and cycling tours through the most scenic and diverse parts of

08/05/2026

Can you believe it — David Attenborough turns 100 today! 🎉🌍
What an extraordinary inspiration he has been to all of us at One SA and Tours. Thank you, Uncle David, for being a voice for the voiceless and for dedicating your life to protecting and celebrating our most cherished asset, this beautiful planet Earth.
Happy, happy 100th birthday to one of the most remarkable humans to have ever lived. Your life is proof of what living with purpose can do for both the human soul and for Mother Earth herself.
Please stick around for a few more years yet — we still need your wisdom, guidance, and gentle storytelling to inspire the future generations who will inherit this precious planet, along with all the human-driven mess that comes with it. 🌿💚🌎

23/04/2026

Good news for the Otto’s Bluff–Karkloof Valley area — the Oxpeckers are back! 🐦
After a significant population crash caused largely by poisoning from tick dips and other poisonings, these remarkable tick-eating birds are slowly making a comeback. Recently, 36 birds were released from Ihlanze Commercial Game Ranch, helping to re-establish their presence in the area.
Oxpeckers play an important role in nature, feeding on ticks and other parasites found on cattle and wildlife. They are a natural and effective form of pest control — making their return especially meaningful. Ironically, it was the very tick treatments used to protect livestock that contributed to their decline.
Now, if you’re lucky enough to spot a red-beaked Oxpecker perched on cattle or wildlife, it’s a good sign. It means nature is quietly restoring balance and doing what it does best.The Red-billed Oxpecker was selected as the bird-of-the-year in 2025
A small bird, but a big step forward for biodiversity in the Karkloof.
🐦🌿

18/04/2026

Sealing the last day of the Eastern Cape cycle tour with some shirtless fun — yes, you heard right. It’s become something of a Naudé’s Nek tradition to ride down the pass feeling free, wild and, topless. I can’t claim to have started it — that honour belongs to my friend, the lovely Lara Kirsten — but the ritual has stuck, and it felt like the perfect way to celebrate the final descent.
We did briefly wonder whether we might be guilty of indecent exposure — or cause an unsuspecting motorist to veer off the road in shock — but thankfully the pass was entirely ours. Nine women, embracing vulnerability in all its forms — skin, scars and stories — made our way down the mountain, relishing the cool breeze and warm sun dancing across our backs.
Freedom is when you stop worrying about dignity and start enjoying the moment. A little bit of silliness is often the purest form of freedom. It was joyful, light-hearted, and a fitting end to a wild and memorable journey.
Disclaimer: Spekboom Tours does not officially advocate naked cycling… but strongly encourages freedom, laughter and a touch of adventure. Topless riders, however, are not guaranteed on commercial tours.

16/04/2026

Day 3 of the cycle tour took us from Balloch Cave to Rhodes. After a surprisingly restful night in the cave, we pedalled through remote plains and sheep farms — true big sky country. The group naturally spread out, each of us lost in our own thoughts and the rhythm of the ride.
On the descent into Rhodes, Jacki unfortunately took a tumble on an off-camber, fine-silted section of the road, with JL catapulting over her. Helmet badly crushed, Jacki was thankfully unharmed; Rose drove to collect her and reunited her with the group at lunch in Rhodes. JL, ever the gladiator, soldiered on.
Having visited Rhodes several times, I’m always struck by its charm. Founded in 1891 as a service settlement for sheep farmers, it retains a rich historical character. Today, it’s a destination for trout fly-fishing, quiet reflection, and escapes from city life. The English settler homes, old hotel with a mouldy stuffed buck’s head on the wall that use to freak me out as a child), and manicured gardens add to its timeless appeal.

10/04/2026

The first day’s climb up the south-easterly side of Naudé’s Nek from the remote farming plains near Mt Fletcher is no small undertaking. At 2,587 m, the ascent is long and steady, but the scenery more than compensates for the slow grind. Often likened to the remote Scottish Highlands, this road , when not frozen over with ice, winds through a pristine landscape of rare and specialised alpine vegetation.
I was fortunate to have Jacki from Nkosi Nursery riding with me, stopping frequently to admire and identify some of the botanical specialities of the area. Among them were the beautiful salmon-coloured Gladiolus longicollis, the iconic bi-coloured mountain red hot pokers, Kniphofia caulescens, frost-hardy everlastings- it’s a big family (Helichrysum), and the soft pink Watsonia lepida. The delicate Dierama dracomontanum, commonly known as angel’s fishing rods, had just finished flowering, their fine stems still swaying in the mountain breeze.
While I sacrificed my treasured plastic lunch bags to carry Jacki’s growing seed collection, I was happy to play a small role in spreading the biodiversity of this remarkable region, as she gathered wild seeds to cultivate back at the nursery. anyone is inspired by this story and would like me to organise an Eastern Cape Cycle Tour ( for groups min 8 pax) please contact [email protected]

07/04/2026

It had been a while since my last cycle tour — usually these adventures are solo — but this time I was invited to join an all-women’s group for five days exploring the remote and historic mountains of the Eastern Cape. Our route took us through Rhodes, over Naude’s Nek, along the rugged Tiffindell 4x4 contour road, all flanked by the Eastern Cape’s highest peak, Ben Macdhui.
Surrounded by blonde, beautiful, spirited, and highly capable boer meisies, I felt completely at ease. These were women with the experience and practical skills to match the wild terrain — able to light fires, expertly pack nine ladies’ luggage into a single 4x4 backup vehicle, change tyres, refuel using a diesel funnel, and, should things really get tough, probably hunt and gather for our meals.
It does make one wonder… when people say you need men for these kinds of adventures — do you really?If anyone is inspired by this story and would like me to organise an Eastern Cape Cycle Tour ( for groups min 8 pax) please contact [email protected]

02/04/2026

Another unforgettable 3-Day Wakkerstroom Wonder Slackpack in February! 🥾💚
It’s amazing how far-flung areas like Wakkerstroom change with the seasons. After the vibrant green of December, February brings a reflective calm — flowers, birds, and wildlife preparing for the cold winter, and the village slowing down into a gentle serenity.
Once again, this group of enthusiastic hikers were delighted by the authentic interactions with locals — from Paul and Julia Lessing at Bindura Brewery and Iris Farm, to local historian Rita Wiesemann, a “nuwe inwoner” from the Netherlands who plays a vital role in preserving the town’s history. Every visit to Wakkerstroom brings new surprises; this time, I even discovered an open-water swimming gang to join while keeping up with my half Ironman training for June.

31/03/2026

🌿 https://midlandsmeander.co.za/
Exploring a new area is exciting… but planning everything can sometimes feel overwhelming! 🌿
That’s why I was so excited when Chowles, Chairlady of the Midlands Meander Association and wonderful host at The Old Mushroom Farm, invited Spekboom Tours to be listed for free on the brand-new Midlands Meander App. 📱
This user-friendly app makes it easier than ever to discover the magic of the Midlands in real time:
✨ Find accommodation, food & activities
✨ Discover hidden gems
✨ Plan your route with ease
✨ Stay updated on events
✨ Explore authentic Midlands experiences
We love initiatives like this that support local businesses and encourage slow, sustainable travel in our beautiful KZN Midlands. The more people explore our trails, waterfalls and small towns — the stronger our region becomes.
Download the Midlands Meander App and start planning your next adventure:
The KZN Midlands is calling… and now it’s easier than ever to explore. 🥾🚴‍♀️

27/03/2026

It’s not just our slackpackers who rate the KZN Midlands as one of the best places to relocate, retire, and explore! 🌿
In 2025, Howick was voted KwaZulu-Natal’s Best Small Town, and ranked 7th overall in South Africa. This recognition celebrates not only Howick’s natural beauty — think abundant waterfalls, rolling moist-belt grasslands, and beautiful mistbelt forests — but also the strong sense of community, revitalisation of local spaces, and commitment to preserving our natural heritage.
What makes the Midlands special is that growth here still values authenticity. The spirit of the Midlands Meander remains rooted in small businesses, local charm, and caring for the environment that makes this place so unique.
For someone like me — who has gradually migrated uphill (like a frog chasing cooler weather!) from Pietermaritzburg to Hilton and now Howick — it really does keep getting better. Cooler summers, wild open spaces, incredible hiking and cycling routes, and a community that genuinely cares about conservation and sustainability.
I love living in a place where you can finish work and be on a trail, beside a waterfall, or cycling quiet country roads within minutes. It’s this balance of lifestyle, nature, and community that makes the Midlands so special.
Cape Town… you may shine in summer, but when it comes to year-round lifestyle, community, and wild spaces — the KZN Midlands is quietly stealing hearts. 💚

Address

34 Teal Road, Rivergoose Estate
Howick
3290

Telephone

+27768190615

Website

https://www.instagram.com/spekboomtours/

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