South Africa: Garden Route Motorcycle Tour

After breakfast, we pick up our motorcycles. Then we head out to ride the famous Cape Peninsula Route.

Our route takes us south from the city along the False Bay coast to Simons Town. This is one of the most popular tourist routes in all of South Africa. We visit the Cape Point Reserve, home to the Cape of Good Hope. The reserve is part of Table Mountain National Park. It also belongs to the Cape Floral Kingdom, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Over 9,000 plant species grow here, and 70% of them are found nowhere else on Earth.

In the afternoon, we ride along the Atlantic coast via the scenic Chapman’s Peak Drive. We pass through Camps Bay and Sea Point before returning to the hotel. A trip up Table Mountain is also on the agenda. From the top, you can see what was once called ‘the fairest cape in all the world.’ The view over Cape Town, Table Bay, and Robben Island is truly one of a kind.

We ride east toward Mossel Bay. The route passes grain fields and rolling hills of the Overberg region. We stop for coffee near Swellendam, the fifth-oldest town in South Africa. It sits along the slopes of the Langeberg Mountains.

We continue to Mossel Bay. In 1992, the Guinness Book of Records named it the place with the second-mildest climate in the world. Mossel Bay marks the unofficial start of the Garden Route.

Our lodge tonight sits a few kilometers outside town, tucked into the foothills of the Outeniqua Mountains. We drive the R328 and start the Robinson Pass. This scenic road winds gently past our hotel and over the mountains before dropping into the Little Karoo. Along the way, we stop often to admire the views and coastal towns of the Garden Route.

Today is a relaxed day in the saddle. We follow rural back roads when possible. The N2 takes us through the heart of the Garden Route. We ride through parts of the native Tsitsikamma forests and stop at the Bloukrans Bridge.

Some riders may want to try the highest commercial bungee jump in the world — a 216-meter drop. After lunch and a short hike in Tsitsikamma National Park (with its stunning flora), we continue to Port Elizabeth.

In the early days of modern South Africa, the city was known as Algoa Bay. Locals still call it ‘the Friendly City.’ The first British settlers — 4,500 of them — arrived here in 1820. We enjoy a brief city tour, then drive to Addo, near Addo Elephant National Park. Tonight we share a group dinner at our lodge.

We leave the coast and ride our BMW motorcycles inland. Most of the day we cruise wide-open roads with barely any traffic. The Eastern Cape landscape gives way to the Great Karoo — a vast, semi-arid region that feels like the American Wild West.

We pass through the border town of Jansenville and arrive in historic Graaff-Reinet. This is the fourth-oldest town in South Africa, full of national monuments and museums.

We ride on to Nieu-Bethesda. This remote hamlet became famous thanks to Helen Martins and her Owl House — a museum with over 300 exhibits, mostly owls. It is a great spot for lunch. In the late afternoon, we visit the Valley of Desolation. Here you can enjoy the quiet beauty while looking out over Spandau Hill and the Great Karoo plains.

Today is a short ride. From De Rust, we head to the Highgate Ostrich Farm for a fun and informative tour. Then we enjoy lunch in or near Oudtshoorn.

Next, we visit the Cango Caves for a one-hour guided tour. Both activities are relaxed. The cave visit suits even those who are not fans of tight spaces.

For the adventurous riders, there is the option to cross the Swartberg Mountain Pass. This gravel road is a national monument and a bucket-list ride for many. The scenery is stunning, but gravel riding experience is required. Temperatures in the Little Karoo can reach thirty degrees. A quiet afternoon by the guesthouse pool might be just right.

No motorcycle tour is complete without scenic mountain passes. Today we enjoy them as we ride toward Franschhoek and Stellenbosch.

Franschhoek celebrates the French Huguenots who arrived at the Cape in 1688. As keen riders, we aim to ride every mountain pass we can reach. The Franschhoek and Wellington area offers bikers many winding mountain roads. Hellshoogte Pass and Bain’s Kloof are local favorites. Both are on our bucket list for the day.

We stop in Franschhoek and Stellenbosch for coffee and lunch. Stellenbosch is the second-oldest town in South Africa. It is a prime example of Cape Dutch architecture, with old European influences visible throughout. We spend the night in Franschhoek.

On the last day, some riders may have time for last-minute shopping in the city. If you want to visit other interesting spots, ask your guide. He can give you tips on how to make the most of your time.

We can also help you arrange an extension in Cape Town. Everyone departing today will be taken to the airport. Bon Voyage!