South Africa Motorcycle Trip: Grand Tour

Welcome to Johannesburg, the city of gold, in South Africa. You will be picked up at the airport and taken to our hotel in the South African capital Pretoria. The first day mainly serves as a rest from the long flight. Of course, there is also the opportunity to explore Johannesburg and Pretoria. In the early evening, we meet with the group and get to know each other. Our guide will provide a briefing for the upcoming motorcycle tour. We will take over our two-wheelers, which have already been transported to the hotel. After the formalities, we will have dinner, and afterwards some of us will surely spend their first night on African soil.

After breakfast, our motorcycle tour begins. We will spend most of the morning covering highway kilometers and saying goodbye to the suburbs. Just before lunch, we switch to the back roads. From Pretoria, we head east until we reach the town of Belfast. This region is known for its natural beauty and nature reserves. In Mpumalanga, we already encounter the first highlight of the tour, the famous Panorama Route. We reach the top of the steep slope near Lydenburg (2,250 m), from where we descend along the Long Tom Pass into the lower regions. Our lodge for tonight is located halfway up the pass near the town of Sabie.

Mpumalanga is often referred to as the Lowveld region and is home not only to the internationally known Kruger National Park but also to numerous other natural wonders. After breakfast, we continue our motorcycle journey along the Panorama Route to the north to discover some of South Africa's scenic beauty. Due to the elevation of the steep slope, weather conditions can change overnight. Our experienced guide will assess where the best riding conditions can be found so that we can fully enjoy the landscape and the winding roads. He may need to make adjustments to the daily itinerary. From the foot of the Long Tom Pass, we ride to Sabie and Graskop before exploring the most beautiful part of the Panorama Route. During our morning ride, we stop at the viewpoints of God's Window and Wonder View, visit the Potholes at Bourke's Luck and the Blyde River. From here, we return to Graskop for lunch. On the last leg for today, we reach Malelane, where we enjoy a two-night stay overlooking the Crocodile River. We are already in close proximity to Kruger National Park.

It will be an early morning for us, and after the first coffee, we grab our packed breakfasts and embark on a full-day safari in Kruger National Park. With an area of over 19,000 km² and its wealth of nature and wildlife, it is the largest and most famous national park in South Africa. The goal is to have fun and discover as much wildlife and birds as possible, and yes, we hope for the BIG FIVE! During the safari, we will explore the southern regions of the park in an open safari vehicle and be in the hands of an experienced travel guide who knows the park and its wildlife well. Our guide will explain everything that is worth knowing about the fauna and flora of the region. In the late afternoon, we return to the lodge to freshen up and prepare for dinner.

After breakfast, we head towards the border with Swaziland, passing many acres of tree and sugar cane plantations and the mountains near Malelane. We say goodbye to the bush landscape as we reach the border post to enter Swaziland, now known as E'Swatini. The landscape changes rapidly and becomes more mountainous as we pass several traditional communities. The main source of income for the residents of this region is subsistence agriculture, meaning that the produce is mainly for their own consumption and less for sale. The traditional structures of Swazi culture that developed during the centuries of Swazi rule are still largely practiced and valued in these communities. The rustic life in rural Eswatini gives us a taste of a true African experience. Eswatini (Swaziland) is ruled by King Mswati III, and the 1.3 million inhabitants live on an area of 17,000 km². We drive to the capital Mbabane, where our accommodation is located on the outskirts in the Ezulwini Valley. On the way, we visit the Matsamo Cultural Village to learn more about the nation's culture and see traditional African dances - voluntary dancers are welcome. Next, we visit the Ngwenya Glass Factory, which exports a variety of high-quality recycling glass products worldwide.

After an early breakfast, we leave the lodge and reach Golela before lunch, making a few stops along the way. The total distance to the South African border is approximately 180 km, and in Golela, we will re-enter South Africa. From here, we continue towards the towns of Hluhluwe, Mtubatuba, and finally to St. Lucia. The Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage, surrounds the town of St. Lucia. Unique to this wetland is the great diversity of birds and wildlife, not to mention the hippos and crocodiles that call the estuary home. It is the southernmost free-ranging hippopotamus herd in South Africa. If time allows, we will take a two-hour boat ride to explore the estuary and its surroundings.

Today is a long but pleasant day in the saddle of our motorcycles as we follow the KwaZulu Natal coast southward. From Durban, we head inland to Howick. After lunch, we traverse the picturesque back roads of the region and make our way to the Drakensberg Mountains. We gradually gain elevation while following the sweeping curves and endless views. A dream for motorcyclists. Our two-night stay in 'The Berg' is a welcome reprieve after a long day of riding.

Today is yours to plan as you wish. There is the option to take a guided tour up the Sani Pass. This 4x4 route is not for the faint-hearted and can be enjoyed with the 'comfort' of a 4x4 off-road vehicle. The trip goes up to the summit at 2,842 meters, then visits a small Basotho village and has lunch. Here is the highest pub in Africa, where you can enjoy a stunning view. If you participate in this optional tour, you will receive a new stamp in your passport - the one from Lesotho. Alternatively, you can relax at the hotel, enjoy a spa treatment, go for a morning hike, or even go horse riding. Tonight, we will sleep under the watchful eye of the 'uKhahlamba' or 'Barrier of Spears', as the Zulus aptly named the Drakensberg Mountains.

The ride along the foothills of the southern Drakensberg Mountains remains a highlight of the Garden Route motorcycle tour from Johannesburg to Cape Town in South Africa. Riding a motorcycle in the mountains of South Africa is distinctly different from in Europe - we have plenty of room and wide open spaces here. In the early morning, we set off over Kokstad to get onto the N2 towards Mthatha. We now enter the Transkei, a former homeland that was granted to the Xhosa people during the apartheid era as a self-governing territory. This is the heartland of the Xhosa people and is known as Mandela Land. Nelson Mandela was a Xhosa, born in Mvezo, and raised in Qunu, an area south of Mthatha. Because of this famous statesman, the Xhosa refer to the Transkei as Mandela Land. We continue on the N2 to Chintsa, a quiet resort town on the Wild Coast, a few kilometers north of East London.

From Chintsa, we make a brief detour over East London before switching to the coastal route R72. This scenic route is less traveled than the popular N2 and passes numerous peaceful coastal villages and rural Xhosa settlements on the way to Colchester near Port Elizabeth. Our lodge is located in a small village called Colchester, a few kilometers outside of town. The southern entrance to Addo National Park is just a stone's throw from our accommodation, and the shorter distance allows us an optional afternoon safari to Addo Elephant National Park. Alternatively, we can head directly to the lodge and spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing.

After breakfast, our motorcycle tour heads toward Port Elizabeth. We pass through the outskirts of the city and head onto the famous Garden Route, which 'officially' starts just outside of Humansdorp. We make a stop in the popular Tsitsikamma Coastal Park, where we can have lunch and take a short walk to the Storms River Mouth. Continuing on the N2, we pass by Plettenberg Bay with its picturesque beaches before reaching Knysna. This laid-back town is the most popular stop on the Garden Route and the unofficial capital of the region. There are a variety of activities and 'things to do' to keep busy. A range of restaurants at the Knysna Waterfront and the newly developed Thesen Island provide enough to keep Knysna in your memories for a while. The newly opened 'Motorcycle Room' museum showcases various motorcycles from past years, and if time allows, interested motorcyclists can visit the museum in Knysna.

After a short visit to the viewpoint Knysna Head, we head back onto the N2, which takes us out of Knysna and past Sedgefield and Wilderness (two picturesque coastal towns). On the way to George, we enjoy postcard views of the Cape coastline and the Outeniqua Mountains. George is the regional capital of the southern Cape region, and here we cross the Outeniqua Mountains to enter the Klein Karoo region. The Klein Karoo is a semi-desert region with unique landscapes and cultural significance. The Outeniqua Pass is very popular among local drivers as the road is well-built and offers ideal curves for motorcycles. On the way to Oudtshoorn, we pass miles of farmland inhabited by the large birds (the ostriches) for which this region is internationally known. On our to-do list are a visit to the Cango Caves and an ostrich show farm. On the way to the Cango Caves, which are located at the foothills of the Swartberg Mountains, we enjoy Route 328 with its many curves and tight turns. After visiting the caves, we head toward the large birds, and for the carnivores among us, there will be a tasting of ostrich meat tonight. Our lodge is located a few kilometers outside the town and features a pool with a panoramic view of the Klein Karoo and the Swartberg Mountains.

After an early start to the day, we ride on our way to Cape Town through the heartland of the Klein Karoo. We spend most of the morning on the famous and very popular Route 62 - commonly known as R62. This route is traveled by many motorcyclists on the weekends, and popular stops include the villages of Barrydale and Montagu. On the R62 is the infamous 'Ronnie's Sex Shop' - an icon and pub along Route 62, where there is plenty of beer but no sex. After a coffee break, we continue through Ashton and Robertson, which is famous for its high-quality brandy produced here. The next stop is Worcester, from where we head to Villiersdorp. This region is known for the high-quality apples grown here. If time permits, we cross the Franschhoek Pass before descending into the Cape Winelands. Franschhoek is a popular lunch stop and another favorite destination for local bikers on their weekend excursions. After a relaxed lunch break, we ride over the N1 to Cape Town. Shortly thereafter, the Table Mountain greets us in the distance as we approach the Mother City. Our goal is to arrive early to avoid the hectic Friday afternoon city traffic, as everyone is out and about while we can still leisurely make our way to our hotel in the bustling city center.

After breakfast, our planned route for the last day of our motorcycle journey takes us southward, away from the city center and along the coast of False Bay to Simons Town. This route is commonly known as the Peninsula Route and is the most popular tourist route around the Cape. We visit Boulders Beach, where one of only two breeding colonies of the African Penguin is located on the African mainland. Our ride continues to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Both places are located in the Table Mountain National Park, which is part of the Cape floral kingdom, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in South Africa. In the afternoon, we ride along the Atlantic coast via the picturesque Chapman's Peak Route and return via Camps Bay and Seapoint to the hotel. If the weather and time permit, we also plan to take a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain in the afternoon. From here, we can admire the Cape, which was once called 'the most beautiful Cape in the world'. In the late afternoon, the fun comes to an end, and we return our motorcycles at the rental station.

The fifteenth tour day is the last day for most participants. An extension in the beautiful city of Cape Town and the surrounding wine region can be combined with a city tour, a hike, or other activities as desired. Cape Town certainly has something for everyone. We are happy to assist with an extension, whether with or without a motorcycle. Just ask. Otherwise, unfortunately, today means saying goodbye. The tour operator OVERCROSS will accompany you to the airport, and from there you can begin your journey home.