Gravel Burn put the Great Karoo on the world racing map: a seven-day, roughly 750-kilometre gravel stage race across the Big Empty, drawing international pros and adventurers to roads that had never seen a race convoy before.
Point-to-point across the Karoo's sheep country and koppies, Gravel Burn is built on the terrain's honesty — enormous skies, relentless rollers, weather that can serve four seasons in a stage. Its arrival confirmed what South African riders always knew: this is some of the finest gravel country on earth.
Kevin Vermaak built the Cape Epic and then went and did it again on gravel, and the Karoo deserved it. Entries are handled entirely by Gravel Burn on the link above, and they close on 31 August 2026. If you are riding it, or the idea of it has put the Karoo in your head, we run private journeys through the same country — Graaff-Reinet, the Camdeboo, Nieu-Bethesda — with farmstays, full support and enough time to stop and listen to how quiet it is. Racing it and riding it are two good ways to meet the same place.
Straight from the organiser, checked 13 August 2026. Always confirm on their own site before you plan around a date.
“7 Days. 750km. Pure South African gravel.”Gravel Burn, in their own words
Mapmaker Collective does not organise, own or sell entries to this race. We are a Cape Town cycling tour operator who rides it, admires the people who put it on, and builds trips around it. Entries are handled entirely by the organiser on the links above.
25 to 31 October 2026. It is the second edition, and entries close on 31 August 2026.
Seven stages, around 750km and 8,500m of climbing. The stages are 90km, 111km, 137km, 61km, 135km, 112km and 92km, with the last one inside Big Five country at Shamwari.
It starts in Graaff-Reinet in the Eastern Cape and finishes at Shamwari Private Game Reserve. Riders are housed in Burn Camps along the way.
R54,990 for South African and Namibian riders and USD 3,990 international, all inclusive of tented accommodation, three meals a day, luggage and bike transfers, mechanical and medical support. Enter at gravel-burn.com. Mapmaker Collective does not sell entries.