Ride Africa!
Waterfalls And Wildlife

 

Prices:

$7050 with BMW G650GS
G650GS suitable for solo riders only
Lowered G650GS bikes available

($7050 + $595 for BMW F800GS)
($7050 + $1199 for BMW R1200GS)

$4799 for Pillion
$1100 for Single Room Supplement

 

Includes:
13 nights accommodation, all dinners and breakfasts, most lunches, guide on motorcycle, guide in chase truck and trailer with spare bike, park entrance fees and game drives, tolls, airport transfers.(Full list here).

 

Dates:
2013 - July 27 - August 9, **Open - Available**
2013 - August 13 - August 26, **Open - Available**
2014 - July 17 - July 30 **Open - Available**
2014 - August 3 - August 16 **Open - Available**

Highlights:
99% paved roads, scenic flight (new!) and overnight excursion into the Okavango Delta, sunset cruise in the Chobe National Park, overnight excursion to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, two nights at Etosha National Park, the Trans-Kalahari highway, Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, Baobab forest, seven outings for game viewing.

 

Trip Difficulty:
This trip is 99% paved and ideal for 2-up riding. Although the road construction is reasonable, it is common to graze farm animals beside the highway in Botswana, so care is needed. Tarmac national highways have a speed limit of 100 or 120 kph and riders should be relaxed and comfortable riding the speed limit on these roads where practical, including under windy conditions. Driving is on the left.

 

Itinerary:

Day 1. No riding. Accommodation in Windhoek.

Guests arrive in Windhoek and are transferred to our lodge by shuttle. After a day of sightseeing of the capital of Namibia Henk and Rene will go over the itinerary of the trip, local rules and customs as we dig into our first (but not last!) Namibian braai (bbq).

 

Day 2. 307 kms tarmac. Accommodation near Buitepos.

After an introduction to the bikes we head east out of Windhoek on the Trans-Kalahari Highway towards the Botswana border. It is a straight road and quiet enough to give us a gradual immersion to riding on the left hand side of the road. We sleep just before the Botswana border. We spent the afternoon with the areas indiginous tribe the bushmen showing us their way of life, games and dances.

Day 3. 230 kms tarmac. Accommodation near Ghanzi.

We cross the border into Botswana in the morning and continue into the Kalahari Desert. This is the largest continuous stretch of sand in the world, and we will appreciate the tarmac roads that we are on as the kilometers pass by.

Day 4. 285 kms. Accommodation in tented safari camp in Okavango Delta.

We will arrive at Maun by late morning. Maun is the gateway town for the Okavango Delta and has developed quickly in the last few years. The The Okavango Delta is the world’s largest inland delta and spreads over 15,000 square kilometers. It is the result of the Okavango River having no natural outlet so it leaves its waters in the desert, creating a massive wetland wilderness. The only real way to appreciate the immensity of the delta is to see it from above. We drop the bikes in town and hurry to the airport where a private chartered airplane takes us on on hour long minute scenic flight over the delta before dropping us at a private airfield where our bush crew will meet us. We spend the night in a bush camp - tents, stretcher beds, and linen are provided. After dinner we are off for a night game drive, seeing animals by spotlight that are normally not observable by the daylight tours.

Day 5. No riding. Accommodation in Maun.

Early start and a full morning of game viewing including tea in the bush. We will be back in camp by noon for lunch. After lunch we have a three hour drive back to Maun and the beautiful lodge and full en-suite facilities!

 

 

Day 6. 302 kms tarmac. Accommodation in Nata.

Easy day on the bikes today. Our eastward route takes us by the 12,000 square kilometer Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and bird sanctuary. We also have time to stop at the Boabob forest for lunch before continuing to our lodge at Nata for the evening and another spectacular African sundowner.

 

Day 7. 303 kms tarmac. Accommodation in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

Our route takes us through the main farming areas of Botswana (there is typically plenty of game on these roads so our low mileage for the day will be appreciated when we stop often to capture them on film) to the shore of the Chobe river where we will leave the bikes and get into a mini van which takes us 75 kilometers into Zimbabwe. The border is also eventful - and slow. We have the afternoon to visit the falls, and for those who are interested.

Day 8. No riding. Accommodation in Kasane.

A free morning in Vic Falls means a few things for you. If you did not get enough photos of the falls yesterday you can return there, or take advantage of the many tourist options that include bungee jumping off the bridge that connects Zim and Zambia, or perhaps a helicopter flight over the falls? We have very positive personal feedback from riders who have walked with lions, and also visited the elephant sanctuary. We are in the mini-van by noon and back to Kasane by early afternoon to prepare for one of the animal highlights of the trip: a sunset scenic river cruise on the Chobe River. Elephants coming to drink at the rivers edge, crocs, hippos, they're all here.

Day 9. 381 kms tarmac. Accommodation near Bagani.

We finish Botswana early and return to Namibia near Kongola. This long panhandle region is called the Caprivi and was added to Namibia (then called South West Africa) by the Germans who wanted access to the Zambezi River. Again, elephants and other animals may cross the road today, so careful driving today. Our lodge tonight is on the banks of the Okavango River which forms the border between Namibia and Angola.

Day 10. 506 kms tarmac. Accommodation near Grootfontein.

Travel day. We travel south west in the basin of the Kalahari Desert to the northern entrance of Namibia's most famous game reserve, Etosha National Park. We will do a game drive through Etosha to settle at our lodge on the other side of the park.

Day 11. 110 kms by motorcycle, then game drive. Accommodation bordering Etosha.

Another early start gets us to the south gate of Etosha National Park, at one time the world's largest nature reserve. Motorcycles are not allowed to be driven in the park, so we will be leaving the bikes at the lodge and use the safari vehicles over the last two days to see the game.

 

Day 12. Game Drives. Accommodation bordering Etosha.

Up with the sun for a quick breakfast and out all day on the camera hunt for animals. Our last night out for dinner in Etosha suggests a special evening.

 

 

Day 13. 427 kms tarmac. Accommodation in Windhoek.

Our last day allows us to stop in Okahandja, home to the biggest craft market in Namibia. If you are interested in taking souvenirs home this is the time to buy them, and put in the support vehicle to bring them to the hotel. By mid-afternoon the bikes are returned, we are showered and ready for our farewell dinner at the quirky Joe's Beerhouse, famous for it's venison and German dishes like eisbein.

Day 14. Fly out.

Your last massive breakfast and panic to trade photos with your fellow riders before the shuttle for the airport comes to whisk you back home. We have had riders who wanted to stay and tour further in Namibia, or ride back to Cape Town. If you are interested in staying later, we can help arrage everything for you - just ask!