Our South African motorbike tour will take you over some of the best mountain passes in the world, venturing from sensational coastal roads, deep into the desolate Cederberg Wilderness and across the Tankwa Karoo region.
Pricing
| November 13, 2023 - November 20, 2023: | |
| per rider in shared twin/double room incl. rental motorcycle BMW F750 GS (Only available for a booking of two persons. Single travelers need to choose the single room surcharge.) | $4,023.00 |
| per pillion passenger in shared twin/double room (pillion passengers can only book along with an accompanying rider) | $2,093.00 |
| per person single room (surcharge - only available with an additional selection of the basic price "per rider in shared twin/double room") | $493.00 |
| Rental motorcycle BMW F850 GS (surcharge) | $54.00 |
| Rental motorcycle BMW R1250 GS (surcharge) | $392.00 |
| Top Box (surcharge) | $89.00 |
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| March 11, 2024 - March 18, 2024 | |
| November 11, 2024 - November 18, 2024 | |
| per rider in shared twin/double room incl. rental motorcycle BMW F750 GS (Only available for a booking of two persons. Single travelers need to choose the single room surcharge.) | $4,199.00 |
| per pillion passenger in shared twin/double room (pillion passengers can only book along with an accompanying rider) | $2,093.00 |
| per person single room (surcharge - only available with an additional selection of the basic price "per rider in shared twin/double room") | $493.00 |
| Rental motorcycle BMW F850 GS (surcharge) | $176.00 |
| Rental motorcycle BMW R1250 GS (surcharge) | $446.00 |
| Top Box (surcharge) | $74.00 |
Included
| The BMW F750 GS is included as standard (depending on booking) or you can upgrade to the F850 or R1250 |
| Twin-share accommodation as per itinerary |
| Airport Pickup |
| Entrance Fees |
| Expedition Leader (English-speaking) |
| Financial Protection |
| All fuel |
| GPS Tracking |
| Meals |
| Medical Support |
| Part Profits Donated to Charity/Rainforest & Wildlife Conservation |
| Support Vehicle |
| Welcome Pack |
| Everything not listed as included |
| Flights |
| Motorcycle Damages |
| Other Expenses: Alcohol; Laundry; Souvenirs; Any meals that are not mentioned in the itinerary; Recovery, oil, spare parts, labor or other indirect costs resulting from the damage or repair of your motorcycle; Emergency transportation; Any other item, optional excursion, activity or entrance fee that is not specifically mentioned as being included. |
| Personal Travel Insurance |
| Riding Kit |
More details
| Max Group Size: 12 Riders |
| Pillion Friendly?: Yes |
| Terrain: 20% unpaved |
| Difficulty: Moderate |
| Support: Trip manager / 1st response medic | Support vehicle | Consulting doctor |
| Comfort: 4/5 |
| Average Daily Ride Hours: 6-7 |
| Total Distance km: 1680 |
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| Accommodation: |
| Twin-share accommodation is included as standard – see ‘Prices’ for single room pricing. On this trip, we stay in a mix of 4-5*hotels, luxurious safari tents, game lodges, and guesthouses. Please see the daily itinerary info for more details on each night’s accommodation. |
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| Airport Pickup: |
| You’ll be collected from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) on the morning of the first day (you are of course welcome to arrive a day or two earlier, but there will be an extra cost for airport pickup). |
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| Entrance Fees: |
| All entrance fees during the tour are included in the tour price. A cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain & a 4×4 safari at Addo National Park is also included. |
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| Expedition Leader: |
| Your tour will be led and managed by a highly experienced member of our team (trained as a wilderness first response medic). |
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| Financial Protection: |
| We are committed to customer satisfaction and consumer financial protection. At no extra cost to you, all our passengers are fully insured, and subsequently the balance of monies paid as detailed in your booking confirmation form. The policy also includes repatriation if required, arising from the cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to insolvency. During the COVID-19 crisis, every rider that requested a refund was issued a cash refund. |
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| GPS Tracking: |
| This motorcycle tour is accompanied by a GPS tracker that displays our live location and tracks history on an online map. We will provide you with the link and login details which you can then share with your family at home so they can track your progress throughout the trip. |
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| Meals: |
| Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided on most days. Please see the daily itinerary to see what meals are included on each day. |
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| Medical Support: |
| At least one member of the support team will have been trained as a Wilderness First Response medic. An extensive medical kit including a defibrillator (AED) & stretcher is carried in the support vehicle. We also have consulting doctors on call, 24/7, who are always ready to assist in the case of an emergency. Our doctors are fully briefed on all riders’ medical info prior to the tour, they know what we do, where we are riding, exactly what we have in our medical kit, and what training our medics have. Tours are accompanied by GPS trackers and a satellite messenger device so our doctor and office can see exactly where we are and can maintain communication. |
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| Motorcycle Hire (if selected): |
| Shipping of the motorcycle back to the start point and comprehensive motorcycle insurance with an excess of approximately US$1350 – US$2000 (depending on the model) is included. We organize your motorcycle rental with our preferred rental provider in South Africa. Your contract for the motorcycle rental is direct with the provider and you’ll be required to sign their contract when receiving your motorcycle. You must comply with the terms & conditions of the rental provider. Upon request, we can provide you with a copy of these terms & conditions in advance. |
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| Part Profits Donated to Charity: |
| Part profits from every motorcycle tour are donated to M’Lop Tapang – a local Cambodian charity dedicated to bettering the lives of young children & their families. |
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| Support Vehicle: |
| Our South African motorcycle tours are accompanied by a Toyota Hilux 4×4. This will be towing a twin-axle off-road trailer capable of carrying 7 bikes. The backup vehicle & trailer will carry all of your luggage, essential spare parts, a spare motorcycle, tools, extensive medical kit (in addition to the kit carried by the tour medic), defibrillator (AED), stretcher, cold drinks, and lunch. There is always a spare seat in case any of the riders want to sit in the truck for a rest. Our support truck will follow behind the riders throughout the ride. When we are eating lunch ‘on the road’ the driver will prepare a picnic with fresh local produce, cheeses & meats, fruit & snacks, etc. Once we reach the accommodation at the end of the day the driver will hand out cold beers from the coolbox and have your bags sent ahead to your rooms. |
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| Welcome Pack: |
| We’ll welcome you with a bag of goodies which will include a T-shirt, Baseball cap, Map, Stickers, Mug, Keyring, Neck tube. |
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| Flights: |
| You’ll need to book flights to arrive in Cape Town (CPT) on or before the morning of Day 1 of this trip. You can then fly out of Port Elizabeth (PLZ) on the last day of the trip. Riders often find it easier to book a return flight to Cape Town and then just book a domestic flight from PLZ to CPT at the end of the trip. It is important you either: |
| Book a flexible flight ticket that allows you to make amendments or cancel without penalty; |
| Have travel insurance that will reimburse you for out of pocket expenses incurred by a canceled trip; |
| Do not book your flights until we have notified you that this departure is guaranteed. |
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| Motorcycle Damages: |
| Please note that the contract for the motorcycle rental is between you and the motorcycle rental company. Comprehensive motorcycle insurance is included with the motorcycle rental, however, the insurance excess is approximately US$1350 – US$2000 (depending on the model). and the rental company will require this amount to either be paid as a deposit or held on your card as a security against damage/loss. Please contact us if you require any further information. |
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| Personal Travel Insurance: |
| It is a condition of booking that you obtain appropriate travel insurance that covers you for riding the same capacity motorcycle that you’ll be riding on this motorcycle tour. The insurance must cover emergency evacuation, medical bills, repatriation etc. |
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| Riding Kit: |
| An adventure-style kit with decent ventilation is the way to go on this motorcycle tour, rather than enduro or road leathers. So that means a good helmet, protective riding jacket, and trousers, ideally with CE or equivalent approved armor on the pointy bits – elbows, knees, and shoulders. You are also going to need good riding gloves, a neck tube, and a sturdy pair of motorcycle boots. Please bring waterproofs if your kit doesn’t keep out the wet stuff. |
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| Language: This offer is usually suitable for English and/or German speaking participants. Please enquire for language options. |
| Mobility: The offer is not suitable for people with reduced mobility. Please contact us for more information. |
Description
This route journeys through the world-famous Garden Route on the southern Cape coast and finishes with a superb safari showcasing Africa’s majestic wildlife.
We’ve squeezed as many of South Africa’s greatest roads and most beautiful little towns as we could into this 8-day tour. Riding times and distances are comfortable and the route offers a mix of well-maintained gravel and tarmac roads that are sure to keep you well entertained all day!
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TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
The BIG FIVE! – we'll go on safari at Addo National Park in search of Lion, Rhino, Cape Buffalo, Elephant, and Leopards!
Ride the cable car up to the top of Table Mountain and enjoy the spectacular views across Cape Town and the Atlantic ocean.
Spot giraffe & ostrich at our beautiful lodge.
Visit the penguin colony at Betty's Bay.
Ride through the scenic ‘Garden Route’.
Explore the Cederberg Wilderness with its rich and ancient rock art heritage.
Whale spotting in Hermanus - the best land-based whale spotting location in the world.
Ride the world-famous Chapmans Peak Drive... If this is not the most beautiful coastal road you've ever ridden, please do let us know where we can find better!
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TOUR ITINERARY:
DAY 1: Arrive in Cape Town - Welcome to South Africa!
Accommodation: 4* hotel with a pool.
Included Meals: Dinner.
It’s your first day in South Africa and arriving in Cape Town you can’t fail to be impressed by Table Mountain towering above the city. To start the day we’ll take a trip up the gently rotating cable car to the top and look over the fantastic view. The top of the mountain is vast, and we’ll give you time to explore, take photos and maybe get a selfie with the cute little dassies that wander around the rocky plateau.
Once back down into the city, we will collect our wheels for the next 7 days of adventure. After the tour briefing in the late afternoon, we will dine at the historic Victoria and Albert Dock area.
N.B. Please note that you will only be able to participate in the day's activities if you arrive a day early.
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DAY 2: Cape Town - Hermanus 250km
Accommodation: Guesthouse with stunning sea views.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
So, it’s time to get riding! Throw on your kit, leave your cases for our support staff to pack in the truck, and hit the road!
The first part of the day takes us round the incredible Cape peninsula on the iconic Chapman’s Peak Drive which hugs the rugged coastline. We’ll go all the way down to the Cape of Good Hope, the south-western tip of Africa that literally feels like the end of the world, before tracking east through lovely little seaside towns and on to the Whale Coast route to reach our first overnight stop in Hermanus.
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DAY 3: Hermanus - Cederberg 290km
Accommodation: Private lodge
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
What a start to the day – grab your binoculars and watch whales breach the surface of the Indian Ocean in the bay just in front of our accommodation – this isn’t called the Whale Coast for nothing.
Please note: the best whale viewing months are July – November. While it is still possible to spot them outside of these months, sightings are less common.
After breakfast, it’s time to kit up and head out for a hugely enjoyable day of riding. We’ll take in mile after mile of smooth blacktop heading north through the fertile hills and valleys of the Western Cape’s scenic wine region.
As we approach the Cederberg Wilderness, we’ll head to leave the tarmac behind and hit the dirt on wonderfully fast and sweeping tracks climbing higher into this remote and beautiful region. If epic is what you’re looking for – today delivers big style!
We’ll finish the day with cold beers and a braai (a BBQ for non-South Africans) as the sun goes down over the mountains – perfect!
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DAY 4: Cederberg - Montagu 230km
Accommodation: Farm cottages.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
After a leisurely breakfast on the terrace, it’s onto the bikes for more joyful riding up through the Cederberg, starting with a scenic ride to see ancient Bushmen rock art and spectacular sandstone formations.
Next, the journey continues with a climb up the impressive Katbakkies Pass. The view from the top is just awesome and so is dropping down the appropriately named Skittery Pass to reach the valley floor of the vast Tankwa Karoo.
From there it’s a long and pencil straight dirt road that takes more concentration than you might imagine before we finally hit the smooth stuff again for a life-affirming blast all the way to our overnight stop of Montagu – a regular pilgrimage destination for bike riders from across the globe. What a day!
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DAY 5: Montagu - Oudtshoorn 330km
Accommodation: Luxury tented game lodge.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Saddle up for an epic day on the tarmac! We’ll blast over 3 mountain passes before morning tea and join the main route along Route 62 (the South African version of Route 66). The road passes through more picturesque and joyful roads of the Klein Karoo all the way to the ostrich capital of the world, Oudtshoorn. This is a great day’s riding that will have you grinning in your Arai from start to finish.
Heading into Oudtshoorn you’ll be ready for a Zebra beer, a hearty meal, and a soft bed. Tonight we’re in tents – but this is no ordinary night’s camping – think luxury safari tents overlooking the wild bushlands.
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DAY 6: Oudtshoorn - Cape St. Francis 370km
Accommodation: Private cottages.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Our route will drop us down towards the world-famous Garden Route. The views are solid gold today, from the rolling hills to the Indian ocean – this is adventure biking heaven right here.
We’ll ride awe-inspiring dirt roads all the way up from Knysna and the impressive Prince Albert Pass towards Uniondale. The final section to the overnight stop offers fast sweepers along with more of the legendary Route 62!
Today’s destination is the coastal village of St Francis, with its quiet unspoiled beaches and rolling surf. It’s also the location of the historic Seal Point lighthouse dating back to 1878, a penguin rescue center, and maybe more importantly, a great little pub! Back of the net…
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DAY 7: Cape St. Francis - Addo Elephant National Park 210km
Accommodation: Game lodge.
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
It’s the last day of the tour and the riding is just great as we carve our way through the Van Stadens Pass and on towards our lunchtime stop at Addo. After this, it’s time to get off the bikes for the last time and on to the final safari.
We’ll see herds of elephants at the watering holes, search for rhinos in the deep bush and maybe catch a glimpse of the lions and leopards that stalk the undergrowth on either side of the trails. You’ll want to have plenty of room on your memory cards today as there’s a chance you’ll get the Big 5 in the course of one afternoon.
With the final destination being a wonderful Game Lodge, we’ll seal off the tour with cold beers and cocktails as the sun sets before we head on to a farewell braai & campfire.
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DAY 8: Departure - Transfer to Port Elizabeth
Accommodation: Not included.
Included meals: Breakfast.
So with the riding done, our team will begin the long drive back to base in Cape Town, but what do you want to do next? With flights from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg, Cape Town & Victoria Falls to name but a few you can keep your adventure going if you’re not ready to fly home yet. For those who would like to fly from Port Elizabeth, we can assist in arranging transfers to the airport.