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MOTORCYCLE-TRIPS · AFRICA
Motorcycle Tour South Africa, Lesotho & Eswatini: Grand Tour
This Grand Tour starts in Johannesburg, the financial engine of South Africa, and finishes with the run into Cape Town, the Mother City. You are barely in the saddle before the road turns east into Mpumalanga, the Place of the Rising Sun, where the Panorama Route begins.
How long?
16 Days
When?
October
Price
€ 7,640
/ Person
The Journey
By motorcycle through South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini
From Eswatini the route carries on into KwaZulu-Natal, the traditional kingdom of the Zulu. You cross the Battlefields, where Boer, Zulu and British armies once fought, and reach the Drakensberg, called uKhahlamba, the Barrier of Spears, and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Before Lesotho come the twisting roads and sandstone formations of Golden Gate Highlands National Park. The most spectacular riding of the whole trip waits in Lesotho itself: the highest drivable mountain passes in the region, and the Maletsunyane Falls, the highest free-falling waterfall in Africa.
Back in South Africa you ride through the Transkei, home of the Xhosa people and the country where Nelson Mandela grew up. Quiet back roads and the R72 bring you to the coast, past Addo and Tsitsikamma, and on to Knysna at the heart of the Garden Route.
The Outeniqua Mountains then drop you into the semi-desert of the Karoo. There is no better way to take in the hard beauty of that landscape than from a bike. Next stop is Oudtshoorn, ostrich capital of the world, where you visit a working farm and eat local specialities in the evening.
The final leg follows Route 62 to Cape Town, past the oddly named Ronnie’s Sex Shop and through the Breede River wine region and the Cape Winelands. The closing days belong to the Cape Peninsula, Table Mountain and a photo stop at the Cape of Good Hope.
Few routes pack this much variety into one ride through southern Africa. Total distance is roughly 3,790 km, averaging about 315 km a day.
Key Highlights of the Trip
Key Highlights of the Trip
01
Kruger National Park safari
01
Kruger National Park safari
A full day in an open vehicle with an experienced ranger, tracking the Big Five across more than 21,500 km² of park.
02
Panorama Route, Mpumalanga
02
Panorama Route, Mpumalanga
Ride to God’s Window, the Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Blyde River Canyon, one of the largest canyons on earth.
03
Kingdom of Eswatini
03
Kingdom of Eswatini
In the former Swaziland you visit a Swazi cultural village and the Ngwenya Glass factory, and see rural life up close.
04
Mountain passes in Lesotho
04
Mountain passes in Lesotho
Cross the highest drivable passes in southern Africa and stand at the Maletsunyane Falls, the continent’s highest free-falling waterfall.
05
Garden Route to Cape Town
05
Garden Route to Cape Town
Tsitsikamma, Knysna and Route 62 lead you into Cape Town, with Cape Point and Table Mountain to finish.
South Africa
South Africa opens the ride. From Johannesburg you head out over the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga to Kruger National Park, on great roads, past big views, and into a full day of game viewing.
Days 1-4
Johannesburg, arrival and briefing
Welcome to South Africa. Our transfer partner meets you at Johannesburg airport and takes you to the hotel, and the rest of the day is yours to recover. In the early evening you meet the team at the tour briefing, get acquainted with the motorcycles delivered to the hotel, and round off the first evening over dinner together.
Pretoria → Sabie over the Long Tom Pass
After breakfast you leave Pretoria and put the first kilometres behind you on the N4 heading east. Past Belfast the road sweeps along the northern Drakensberg into Mpumalanga, where the Panorama Route begins. Near Lydenburg you reach the high plateau at around 2,250 metres before the Long Tom Pass drops you down towards the night’s stop near Sabie.
Panorama Route and Blyde River Canyon
The Panorama Route takes the day. From Sabie and Graskop you visit God’s Window and Wonder View for the long views, the rock cauldrons of the Bourke’s Luck Potholes, and the Blyde River Canyon, one of the largest in the world. After lunch in Graskop, back roads run via Nelspruit to Malelane, where you spend two nights at a lodge on the Crocodile River.
Kruger National Park, full day safari
The bike stays parked today. After an early breakfast pack you set off in an open safari vehicle with an experienced ranger into the southern reaches of Kruger National Park. The aim is to find as much game as possible and, with some luck, the Big Five. Late afternoon brings you back to the lodge in time for dinner together.
Eswatini
The Kingdom of Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is a high point of the trip. Mountain country, traditional villages and craftwork define this small landlocked state between South Africa and Mozambique.
Day 5
Eswatini, culture and Ngwenya Glass
Today’s ride runs through forestry land and sugar cane to the border and into the Kingdom of Eswatini. On the way you visit a traditional cultural village with Swazi dancing and singing, and the Ngwenya Glass factory, which works entirely in recycled glass. The deeper you go into the mountainous interior, the more authentic rural life becomes. You reach your accommodation south of Mbabane in the afternoon.
South Africa
Back in South Africa the route crosses rural KwaZulu-Natal. Open grassland, birding country and Anglo-Boer War history mark this quieter leg towards the Drakensberg and Lesotho.
Day 6
Eswatini → Ladysmith
You leave Eswatini at the Sandlane border post and carry on across South African soil. After a short stretch of the N2, quiet country roads lead through Wakkerstroom, one of the most important birding areas in the country, then Volksrust and Newcastle with their Anglo-Boer War history. Ladysmith and your bed for the night come up in the evening.
Lesotho
Lesotho, the Kingdom in the Sky, is the most dramatic backdrop of the trip. Above 3,000 metres you find the highest drivable passes in southern Africa, tight mountain roads and the highest free-falling waterfall on the continent.
Days 7-8
Golden Gate and the Maluti passes
Lesotho begins today. Before the border you explore Golden Gate Highlands National Park and its golden sandstone formations. The Oliviershoek Pass opens up views over the Sterkfontein Dam, followed by a lunch stop in the artists’ village of Clarens. Once the entry formalities are done, the A1 climbs into the Maluti Mountains: steep ascents, tight hairpins and mountain panoramas all the way to New Oxbow.
Semonkong and the Maletsunyane Falls
Another day in Lesotho, and one of the finest stages of the tour. Small mountain villages lead you to the capital Maseru before the road climbs again past Roma. Deep valleys, hard ridgelines and winding passes carry you to Semonkong, the Place of Smoke. The name comes from the spray of the Maletsunyane Falls, where you finish the day on the riverbank.
Questions about the tour itinerary?
Our tour guide is happy to answer any questions about the day-by-day route, stops, and details.
South Africa
The long final section runs back through South Africa: the Eastern Cape and the Transkei, the Garden Route and Route 62, and on to Cape Town with Table Mountain and the Cape of Good Hope.
Days 9-16
Tele Bridge → Mountain Shadows
Lesotho keeps a few more great roads in reserve before you cross back. The route runs through the remote southwest along the Senqu River, known in South Africa as the Orange. Winding roads carry you to the Tele Bridge border post, and Lady Grey makes a good stop afterwards. Sandstone formations and wide valleys in the rural Eastern Cape fill the rest of the way to the Mountain Shadows Hotel.
Transkei → Kenton on Sea
The day opens with the descent of the Barkly Pass onto the Eastern Cape plains. You cross the Transkei, home of the Xhosa people and the country where Nelson Mandela spent his childhood. Traditional villages and herders line the road through Komani and Makhanda. In the afternoon you reach the coastal village of Kenton on Sea on the R72, where you stay two nights.
Kenton on Sea, rest day by the sea
After a lot of kilometres, today is about doing very little. A long breakfast with the sea in front of you, a walk on the beach, or simply the sound of the surf. The pool, a trip into the surrounding area, or nothing at all: the rest day is yours before the last legs along the Garden Route.
Tsitsikamma and the Garden Route
Today the R72 and the N2 carry you towards the Garden Route. Past Gqeberha, formerly Port Elizabeth, you reach Tsitsikamma National Park with its wild coastline and dense forest. A short walk at the break takes you to the famous suspension bridge. Anyone who wants can detour to the Bloukrans Bridge and one of the highest bungee jumps in the world. Tsitsikamma Village waits in the evening.
Knysna → Oudtshoorn, Little Karoo
This leg covers one of the best stretches of the Garden Route. Through Nature’s Valley and along Plettenberg Bay you reach Knysna and the famous Knysna Heads. Sedgefield, Wilderness and the Outeniqua Pass bring you into the dry Little Karoo. In the afternoon you arrive in Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital, visit a working farm and eat local specialities in the evening.
Route 62 → Cape Town
Most of today runs along Route 62, one of the most popular motorcycle roads in South Africa. You pass Barrydale, Ashton, Robertson and Villiersdorp, with a stop at the legendary Ronnie’s Sex Shop. If time allows, the Franschhoek Pass drops you into the wine regions of the Western Cape. Table Mountain announces your arrival in Cape Town long before you get there.
Cape Peninsula, Cape Point and Table Mountain
The last riding day follows False Bay onto the Cape Peninsula. First stop is Boulders Beach and its African penguin colony, then Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope inside Table Mountain National Park. The spectacular Chapman’s Peak Drive and Camps Bay bring you back into Cape Town. Weather and time permitting, the cable car takes you up Table Mountain.
Cape Town, departure
For some the trip ends today, while others stay on in Cape Town for a few more days. After a long run of great roads, big landscapes and shared experiences, a special Grand Tour comes to a close. Take the memories of South Africa’s wild country, the mountains of Lesotho and the welcome you were given home with you. They tend to stay a while.
Want a detailed description of all tour days?
Our expert will walk you through the full itinerary and answer all your questions.
PRICE
from
€ 7,640
/ person
Price Options
Rider on the Suzuki DL800DE (motorcycle included in the base price)
€ 7,640
Rider on the Yamaha Ténéré T700
€ 7,600
Rider on the BMW F800GS
€ 7,940
Rider on the BMW F900GS
€ 8,240
Rider on the BMW F900GS Adv
€ 8,650
Rider on the Honda Africa Twin 1100 Standard
€ 8,540
Rider on the Honda Africa Twin 1100 DCT
€ 8,740
Rider on the BMW R1300GS
€ 9,450
Rider on the BMW R1300GS Adv
€ 9,760
Passenger (pillion)
€ 2,700
Additional Options
Single room supplement
€ 510
Trip includes
- Suzuki DL800DE rental motorcycle
- Comprehensive insurance for the motorcycle
- Top case fitted to every bike
- Unlimited mileage
- Registered local guide riding with the group
- Support vehicle carrying a limited amount of luggage per rider
- 15 nights in 3 and 4 star accommodation
- Meals: 15x breakfast and 5x dinner
- Toll fees and road taxes for Eswatini and Lesotho
- Airport transfers
- Road map, drinking water during the day and a personalised souvenir cap
- Cape Peninsula day out of Cape Town: Table Mountain cable car ticket, the penguin colony at Boulders Beach and entry to Table Mountain National Park with Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope
- Further inclusions: entry to Tsitsikamma National Park, Zulu and Swazi cultural experience with traditional performances, guided visit to an ostrich farm in Oudtshoorn and all entry fees along the Panorama Route
- Full day safari in Kruger National Park including all conservation and park fees
- Travel security certificate (insolvency protection under BGB §651r), mandatory on all OVERCROSS tours
FAQS
-
Which meals are included besides breakfast?
Breakfast is served every morning, and dinner is included on five evenings of the tour. -
How many countries does this tour cross?
Three: South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho. The route starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town. -
Is there a back-up vehicle?
Yes. A support vehicle travels with the group and carries a limited amount of luggage per rider. -
Are border and road charges covered?
Toll fees and the road taxes for Eswatini and Lesotho are included. Visa costs are not. -
Which motorcycle is included?
The Suzuki DL800DE is included in the base price. BMW, Honda and Yamaha models are available at their own supplement. -
What safari is included?
A full day in Kruger National Park, in an open safari vehicle with an experienced ranger, including all conservation and park fees.
OVERCROSS note on itinerary
The above travel description is a non-binding online proposal and does not represent a binding travel itinerary. We expressly reserve the right to make changes to the route, schedule, and accommodations (§ 651d BGB in conjunction with Art. 250 EGBGB). The terms and conditions of OVERCROSS apply.Terms and Conditions of OVERCROSS
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