Cape Town to Victoria Falls: All Paved Route

Welcome to Africa! By mid-day we will have collected all of the riders and do a quick afternoon of paperwork and tips on riding while in Africa. Consider coming over a day or two early to explore this beautiful city. Our first group dinner will be in the vibrant V&A Waterfront.

What a start! After picking up the bikes, we are off immediately to one of the top 10 ocean roads in the world – Chapmans Peak. We continue through the Cape Point Nature Reserve quiet roads and panoramas of green fields, rocky cliffs, and the legendary Cape of Good Hope. This outcropping of south-west Africa has made sailors nervous for 500 years (and remains the mythical home of the damned Flying Dutchman), but from our land-side approach, we can admire the Cape without discomfort, staring out from the beach to the south where 4,000 kilometres of Atlantic Ocean separate us from Antarctica. We spent tonight in South Africa’s second oldest city—Stellenbosch, famous also for its university and wineries.

Not far from the most southernly spot on the African continent we find our rest for the night in the charming beach-side Arniston Hotel.

Beside the hotel are the nationally landmarked Fisherman’s cottages with their whitewashed walls and thatched roofs set off against a turquoise sea and colourful fishing boats, a magnet for photographers and artists from around the world, spurred on no doubt by the proclaiming of Arniston as one of the World’s Ten Best Hideaways by Time Magazine (May 1996).

By special arrangement we have organized a fresh, traditional, fish dinner from one of the old fishing families that still lives in the village.

Back down a few big sweeping passes to get to the coast and along a few secret roads until we get to Jefferys Bay. For those interested, we can stop at the worlds tallest bridge bungee jump (216m, 700′) if you care to give it a go! We will get to our beach side hotel in time for those who want to hit the surf. “J-Bay” is home to arguably the world’s best right-hand pointbreak and a stop on the Billabong Pro Surfing Tour.

An early stop at a Cheetah sanctuary helps to break up this day, and gets us away from the coast and into the Great Karoo, a semi-desert region stretching over several South African provinces. Our hotel for this night was built in the 1800’s but before we get there, we will visit the geological phenomenon known as the Valley of Desolation – a sheer cliff face, a South African national monument

Our longest day of riding awaits! We track back down the pass and then descend the escarpment, riding through sleepy Transkei villages. You will experience the Xhosa way of daily life in this remote part of the Eastern Cape province, and then ascend the escarpment again via the Langeni pass, rewarding us with magnificent vistas from the top. The next 400km or so will offer some of the most enjoyable pavement riding of this tour, as we meander through the foothills of the southern Drakensberg, before we arrive at our guest farm below the famous Sani Pass, our home for the next two nights.

DAY 9

Rest Day
No Riding
Accommodation near Sani Pass

Today is your first optional riding day. Included with the tour is a 4×4 ride up the world famous Sani Pass, leaving behind South Africa and crossing up into the country of Lesotho. Sani Pass has been described as “one of the most dangerous mountain passes in the world” and is considered “the mother of all South African mountain passes”. Statistically and in every sense, it out distances, out climbs, and out performs all its competitors to have become the most iconic gravel pass in SA. We will enjoy lunch in Africa’s highest pub at the top of Sani Pass, at an altitude of almost 10,000ft. If we are lucky, the weather will present us with scenes that will remain with you forever, gazing from the top of the Drakensberg back into South Africa, overlooking the Kwa-Zulu Natal scenery below with views to the Indian Ocean on a clear day. Guaranteed one of the highlights of your visit in Africa! For the technically proficient the option is available to rent a dirt bike for a thrilling and technical ride up the pass. After lunch we will descend back into South Africa for a leisurely afternoon catching up on some rest or just hanging around the pool, before we enjoy another homestyle cooked South African meal at our guest farm.

DAY 10

iSimangaliso Wetland Park
495km
Accommodation in St Lucia

We will need to depart early today, as another big day awaits. Our first stop will be at the Mandela capture site outside of Howick, where we will reflect on this sad event in South Africa’s history, now an interesting monument dedicated to the icon that was Nelson Mandela. On a personal level this will also tick the boxes of visiting both the sites where Mandela was captured by the Apartheid regime in 1962 and then released nearly 28 years later at the Victor Verster Prison in 1990. From the capture site we will head north through rolling sugar cane fields towards our lodge in St Lucia, situated in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. This is a huge protected area along the KwaZulu-Natal coast, with the vast Lake St. Lucia being home to large numbers of hippos, crocodiles, pelicans and flamingos. We will enjoy a sundowner while cruising the lake in search of the aforementioned. If we are lucky we could also spot elephants, giraffes and leopards that inhabit the lake’s western shores. Dinner will be a late affair tonight after our cruise.

DAY 11

Ponda Malongane
234km
Accommodation on beach in Mozambique

We continue our northernly journey, finding our way through the KwaZulu-Natal villages towards the border with Mozambique. We will have lunch at the border post between South Africa and Mozambique, where we will also leave the bikes behind for the next two nights. Once we have cleared immigration, we will transfer by 4×4 to our ocean side lodge, on the beach behind the dunes in the tiny village of Ponta Malongane. Ponta Malongane is only reachable by 4×4 and is one of the most popular scuba diving spots in Southern Africa, if not in Africa. Given its history of Portuguese colonial occupation, Mozambique is famous for its peri-peri prawns and chicken – on the menu tonight for those who like things a little spicy!

DAY 12

Relax
Rest Day. No Riding
Accommodation on beach in Mozambique

Today’s riding will be of the wave kind – for those that are up for it, we recommend doing an optional ocean safari. This entails an early morning departure in search of dolphins. Chances are about 90% that we will find these clever fish, who loves to frolic around the boat. If we do find the dolphins, then we will join then for a swim! Also as part of the ocean safari we will stop on a shallow reef for snorkeling, as your visit to Ponta Malongane MUST include a view of the sights below the waterline on this magnificent reef. The rest of the day can be spent relaxing and tanning on the beach, loafing around at our camp’s swimming pool or spend shopping to buy some souvenirs for the less fortunate that had to stay behind at home. Dinner tonight will be either peri-peri prawns or chicken, depending on what you had last night.

DAY 13

Swaziland
348km
Accommodation in Swaziland

While not a long day distance wise, expect some delays as we have to cross out of Mozambique into South Africa, and then again into Swaziland. Country number four today – Swaziland, or if you prefer the new name – Eswatini – is a small landlocked country entirely within the borders of South Africa, and is the worlds last true monarchy. Sugar cane cultivation made the Big Bend region famous in Swaziland, and we will stop for lunch in this area, before negotiating the crazy traffic in Manzini, Swaziland’s biggest city. We overnight in a beehive village in the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, one of Swaziland’s three national parks. Beware of the antelope and warthog roaming free through the camp – while they seem tame, they remain wild animals!

DAY 14

Hazyview
457km
Accommodation in Hazyview

We leave the idyllic Mlilwane behind and bid Swaziland farewell and after crossing back into South Africa, make yourself ready for some very enjoyable riding.

We find our way to the famous Long Tom Pass, perhaps one of the most famous passes in South Africa for riders. It is about 25km long and has an altitude variance of more than 670 vertical meters through a complex network of curves as it ascends up the Drakensberg escarpment between Sabie in the east and Lydenburg in the west. It is prone to heavy mist and can be dangerous in low visibility conditions.

After ascending the Long Tom Pass, we descend down the escarpment again via Robbers Pass, another exiting pass in excess of 20km long with 68 curves, into the famous village of Pilgrim’s Rest, and then onwards to Hazyview, where we will stay for the next two nights.

After arrival we will enjoy a well-deserved gin and tonic on the hotel veranda, overlooking the Mpumalanga bush and discussing the day’s riding. Dinner will be served by the Lodge, from its impressive menu of local dishes.

DAY 15

Panorama Route
346km
Accommodation near Hazyview

Today’s riding will eventually loop us back to our hotel of last night, after experiencing one of South Africa’s most scenic rides, the Panorama Route.

The road will lead us among the north-eastern section of the great escarpment of the Drakensberg, where the plateau comes to an abrupt and dramatic halt, falling steeply away into the Lowveld below, accompanied by incredible views out over the grasslands of Africa. We will not have enough time to visit all the highlights on this route, so an early departure is advisable.

We will backtrack our previous day’s route to ride Robbers Pass in an ascending direction, and will then head towards the Abel Erasmus Pass with its 62 bends (of which 12 exceeds 90 degrees) and altitude variance of 730 metres. This pass will be run down and then back up, from where we will stop at the Blyde River Lookout with its amazing vistas over the famous ‘Three Rondavels’. The famous Lowveld View is just south of the Blyde River Lookout and offers a view out over the canyon from a height of 1 219 metres above sea level of the Blyde River cutting its way through the valleys below and the Blydepoort Dam in the distance.

Next stop is the Bourke’s Luck Potholes where we will have lunch. After lunch we will head to God’s Window, the Pinnacle Rock and, time permitting, a selection of graceful waterfalls – the Sabie Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Mac Mac Falls awaits, before we ascend yet again down the escarpment via Kowyns Pass towards our hotel. What a day!

DAY 16

Kruger National Park
120km
Accommodation near Kruger National Park

Up early today. Although we have only a relatively short ride of about 180 kms, we want to maximize our time in the Kruger Park area. We will head for the edge of the park just outside the town of Phalaborwa. After crossing through what seems to be a scene out of the Lord of the Rings’ “Mordor”, we will enjoy lunch on the banks of the Olifants River and leave the bikes behind for the next two nights. You will just need your overnight duffel for the journey on the river boat that will deliver us to our private bush camp inside the park. Around the fire tonight will be a great time to experience the African bush at night!

DAY 17

Safari Day, Kruger National Park
No Riding

Today will be spend in the magnificent Kruger National Park and will consist of various game drives. If you are interested we can arrange a guided bush walk, which will focus on the smaller organisms and animals in this world heritage site.

There will be opportunities to relax along the pool or enjoy the view over the Olifant’s river – we almost want to guarantee that you will always be entertained by some wild animal in this great spot!

DAY 18

Botswana
399km
Accommodation near Botswana Border

After yet another early morning game drive, we unfortunately have to leave the Kruger Park area behind, and find our way north east towards Botswana. While today is mostly considered a ‘transit’ day, we still get to ride the spectacular Magoebaskloof Pass, before we traverse the typical South African bush veld for the remainder of the day.

We overnight in a quaint lodge just before the South Africa / Botswana border. Dinner is guaranteed to be another wonderful experience featuring local ‘produce’.

DAY 19

Nata, Botswana
454km
Accommodation near Nata

An early border crossing brings us into Botswana, country number five and it’s friendly and laid back Tswana people. Botswana is considered one of the most politically stable countries in Africa, and is very sparsely populated, making for a unique visiting experience. Today’s riding will take us through the southern tip of the Tuli Block, an area rich in wildlife, so do not be surprised to encounter a great variety of wild animals along the route. From the Tuli area we will travel towards Francistown, and then passing the Makgadigadi Pans to the east before we reach our overnight lodge near Nata.

DAY 20

Chobe River, Kasane
303km
Accommodation in Kasane

Northward on our last riding day through one of 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). We are adjacent to the Chobe Park here, which boasts the highest concentration of elephants in the world. We check into our hotel in Kasane, Botswana and check the motorcycles back in.

In the early afternoon to prepare for another animal highlight of the trip; a sunset scenic river cruise on the Chobe River. Elephants coming to drink at the rivers edge, as well as giraffes, waterbuck, kudu, gazelles, baboons, zebras, Cape buffalo, crocs, hippos, they’re all here.

DAY 21

Victoria Falls
No Riding. 100km van transport to Victoria Falls
Accommodation in Victoria Falls

With the bikes officially parked, we will take our Mercedes Sprinter into Zimbabwe, our sixth and final country on this tour. We will arrive into the town of Victoria Falls in late morning, and get straight into a guided tour of the falls – one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

After checking in to our hotel,  you are welcome to join us for high tea from 3-5:30pm, or wander the market in town. Our last group dinner is a gourmet setting under the stars at the five star Victoria Falls Hotel, a fitting setting to close out our trip together.

DAY 22

Fly Out
No Riding

After 21 nights in Africa, your trip is officially over, and we will arrange your transfer to the airport. Previous riders have chosen to stay in Vic Falls for a day or two to relax and take advantage of the many tourist activities nearby. Walking with lion cubs, elephant rides, helicopter rides over the Falls, zip-line or bungee jumping, and even white water rafting.