Motorcycle Tour: South Africa to Malawi via Victoria Falls

You land at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg after an overnight flight. We pick you up and drive you to our hotel in Pretoria, South Africa’s capital.

A relaxed tour briefing takes place in the late afternoon. Once all riders have arrived, we collect our motorcycles. This way, we can leave early the next morning and have enough time for the first stage and the border crossing into Botswana.

After a big breakfast, we leave the city and start our Africa motorcycle journey toward Botswana. We cross and explore Limpopo, the northernmost province of South Africa.

Limpopo has great archaeological value. The ancient city of Mapungubwe offers a look into early life in southern Africa. The province is also home to South Africa’s biggest diamond and copper mines, plus one of the largest open-pit platinum mines.

We ride well-paved roads to Bela-Bela, a town known for its hot springs. From there, bumpy side roads take us through villages and some of South Africa’s finest private game reserves. You may spot wildlife right from the saddle.

In the afternoon, we cross into Botswana at Groblersbrug. We then ride to Palapye and end the first stage at a local lodge.

After breakfast, we continue north through traditional Botswana towns and villages. We pass Francistown, the largest city in eastern Botswana. Locals call it the “Capital of the North.” It is an important hub for mining, trade, and farming.

We ride on to Nata, north of Sua Pan. Sua Pan is one of the three large pans in the Makgadikgadi system. It is a key source of salt mining. Wildlife roams the seasonal lake shores, and the Nata Bird Sanctuary is nearby.

Tonight’s lodge sits north of Nata. The Elephant Sands Lodge is a tented camp around a natural waterhole. Elephants and other animals visit it during the day. We arrive via a short gravel track and enjoy a nightcap while watching these gentle giants.

After a restful night and breakfast, we ride back to the paved road and head to Kasane. Most of today’s route passes through the eastern savanna of Chobe National Park — one of the most famous parks in southern Africa.

The park covers 11,700 square kilometers. It is home to the Big Five and a prime spot for bird watching. Keep your eyes open while riding — elephants, buffalo, zebras, and giraffes often cross the road. A leopard has even been spotted here.

In the afternoon, we join a sunset boat safari on the Chobe River. We get close to crocodiles, hippos, elephants, and buffalo grazing on flooded islands. Then we return to the lodge for a hearty dinner.

The day starts with a morning jeep safari in Chobe National Park. The drive complements what we saw from the boat yesterday. Wild dogs and big cats are often spotted on land, since most of them avoid water.

After the safari, a fresh breakfast fuels us for the next stage. We ride to the Zambian border and say goodbye to Botswana. After the border formalities and visa process, we reach Livingstone on the Zambezi River.

Livingstone is a busy tourist town. It is named after David Livingstone, the British explorer who first saw Victoria Falls in 1855. He named them after Queen Victoria. Our lodge sits right on the Zambezi. Enjoy an ice-cold Mosi beer and watch the river flow toward the 108-meter-high falls.

Today is free. Relax by the Zambezi with a view of the mist cloud above Victoria Falls. On clear days, it rises 400 meters into the sky.

In the morning, we visit the mighty falls on a guided walk. You can also take an optional helicopter or ultralight flight. Everyone who has seen the falls from the air highly recommends it. Let us know so we can plan accordingly. We suggest a morning flight.

The evening brings a dinner cruise on a classic river boat. The food is traditional African cuisine with drinks included. On a good evening, expect a stunning African sunset over the Zambezi.

After breakfast, we get back on the bikes and ride north. Bumpy roads take us through wide savanna plains and farming regions. This gives us a fantastic look at African rural life.

In the afternoon, we push through Lusaka’s rush-hour traffic — a city of 3 million people. Friendly locals wave and smile at our big motorcycles, a rare sight next to the usual small Chinese scooters. We spend the night at a city hotel.

Today is the longest ride of the tour. We leave busy Lusaka and navigate through morning traffic. Our target is Chipata, made famous by Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor’s Long Way Down ride in 2007.

The route passes through African village life and lush green landscapes. After crossing the Luangwa River, we reach Chipata. The newly built road is smooth, but watch for potholes and stalled trucks. Stay focused even when the scenery tempts you to look away.

A short ride today from Chipata to Mfuwe. We spend two nights outside South Luangwa National Park. This famous 9,060 square kilometer park is one of Africa’s best wildlife reserves. Some say it is among the finest in the world.

The park hosts over 60 animal species (including the Big Five) and more than 400 bird species. Our two-night stay includes three safari activities. But the real treasure is the peace of the African bush.

Picture a crystal-clear night sky, untouched sunsets, and a crackling bush fire. Listen to the animals at night. This is a true highlight of the motorcycle tour through Africa.

After breakfast, we ride the paved road back to Chipata. From there, we cross into Malawi. This border is usually calm but slow — and sometimes quite interesting. Procedures that seem simple to Europeans can work differently in Africa.

We stop in Lilongwe, Malawi’s capital, for lunch at a local restaurant. Then we ride to Dedza. At 1,590 meters, it is the highest town in Malawi. From here, the road drops south. Tonight’s stop is basic — but that is part of the experience.

From Malawi’s highest town, we ride toward its highest mountain. Our target is Mulanje, at the foot of the Mulanje Massif. The peak, known as Sapitwa, reaches 3,002 meters above sea level. You can spot this island mountain from far away.

We descend the steep Golomoti escarpment outside Dedza and ride through Blantyre to the southeast corner of Malawi. This area is known for tea and tobacco farming. Our lodge sits close to the Mozambique border — a classic stop for serious overlanders.

We ride north across the Phalombe Plateau, a highland conservation area with cultural and natural significance. Bumpy roads lead us to Lake Malawi — Africa’s third-largest lake. It stretches 580 km through the Great Rift Valley. Some say it is up to 700 meters deep.

The lake’s clear water supports local farming and is a paradise for divers and snorkelers. We follow back roads north to Mangochi and cross the Shire River — Malawi’s largest river and the lake’s only outlet. We stay two nights at the Kingfisher Hotel on the lakeshore, north of Mangochi.

A free day by the lake. The beach bar view should help you relax. Optional activities include a village walk to see life in a local fishing community, plus a boat trip around the island on the lake. Both are included in the price. Or simply enjoy the lodge.

After breakfast, we pack the bikes for the last time. We ride back up the Golomoti escarpment, follow the western lakeshore, and turn inland at Salima toward Lilongwe.

Lilongwe is busy — lots of traffic and people, much like Lusaka. In the late afternoon, we unpack our motorcycles and return them to the rental agent. They will be shipped back to Pretoria. The stories and photos start flowing as we recall everything we have seen on this epic Africa ride.

After breakfast, we pack up one final time. A transfer takes you to the airport for your journey home.