Cape Town to Victoria Falls: All Paved Route2024-12-18T19:05:46+00:00

Cape Town to Victoria Falls: All Paved Route

Join us in the Mother City of Cape Town, South Africa for a motorcycle tour and travel on oceanside, mountaintop, and savannah roads to reach Victoria Falls – one of the 7 wonders of the world. This one way tour will bring riders through six countries: South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.

from

CAD $19,995

per person

BASIC DIFFICULTY

MORE INFO

DURATION

22

DISTANCE 5800 km / 3600 mi

PAVED 99%

GRAVEL 1%

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TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

PRICES AND DATES

Prices

CAD $19,995 with BMW F800 GS and shared accommodation

OPTIONS

  • Passenger price +CAD $13,995

  • BMW F850GS /F900GS  +CAD $475

  • BMW R1300GS +CAD $2,215

  • Single room supplement +CAD $2,325

Includes

  • All highlights as noted

  • 21 nights accommodation

  • All breakfasts

  • Lunches and dinners on ride days

  • Guide on motorcycle
  • Second guide in chase truck

  • Trailer with spare bike
  • Park entrance fees and tolls
  • Airport transfers
  • Motorcycle rental with basic insurance
  • Dedicated office staff for trip planning
  • Road book for day-to-day routing
  • The BEST welcome pack in the motorcycle touring world!
See full list in Terms and Conditions

Excludes

  • Visas, pre-trip medical items, trip & medical insurance

  • Personal travel to or from Tour
  • Lunches and dinners on rest days
  • Alcoholic drinks
  • Fuel
  • Staff and local guide gratuities

Dates

2025
March 13 – April 3 | Four spots available
September 18 – October 9 | Two spots available

2026
March 12 – April 2 |Open
September 17 – October 8 | Open

ITINERARY

DAY 1

Cape Town
No riding.
Accommodation near Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront.

Welcome to Africa! By mid-day all guests have arrived, and we will kick things off with a welcome briefing on what to expect while touring 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.

DAY 2

Franschoek
124 kms
Accommodation near Franschoek

What a start! After picking up the bikes, we are off  to one of the top 10 ocean roads in the world – Chapmans Peak. We depart the Cape Town City bowl via the Atlantic seaboard when crossing Kloofnek between Lions Head and Table Mountain. Our route will hug the coast, past Little Lions Head and then towards Chapman’s Peak Pass. After Chappies, we then turn east to cross the scenic Ou Kaapse Weg, before we depart the Cape Peninsula via the shores of False Bay for the lovely town of Franschhoek, nestled against spectacular mountains in the Drakenstein Valley, which will be the backdrop for our overnight stop.

DAY 3

Overberg Area/Klein Karoo
337 kms
Accommodation in Overberg Area/Klein Karoo

We leave Franshoek via the Franschhoek Pass and from the top of the pass we will have stunning views across this picturesque town and valley. Our goal today is to visit the southernmost tip of the African Continent, Cape Agulhas, where we will make sure you get the obligatory photo and the chance to simultaneously stand with one foot on the side of the Indian Ocean and the other on the side of the Atlantic. From Africa’s southernmost tip we will head north towards our overnight stop.

DAY 4

Brenton-on-Sea
265 kms
Accommodation near Brenton-on-Sea

A day full of scenic rides await as we traverse mountains and passes to ride some of the best parts of the iconic Route 62, one of South Africa’s popular tourist roads, which winds its way through the semi-arid Klein Karoo. Leaving the town of Barrydale, we will drop down onto the coastal plain, and into the heart of the Garden Route as we cross the scenic Langeberg mountains. Our overnight stop is right on the beach in the sleepy seaside village of Brenton-On-Sea.

DAY 5

Jeffreys Bay
220km
Accommodation near Jeffreys Bay

We continue along the Garden Route’s spectacular coastal scenery, riding a few secret roads until we leave the Western Cape province to cross into the Eastern Cape and find our way to the famous Jeffreys Bay. For those interested, we can stop at one of the world’s tallest bridge bungee jump (216m, 700ft) if you care to give it a go!  “J-Bay” is home to arguably the world’s best right-hand point break and a stop on the Billabong Pro Surfing Tour.

 

DAY 6

Graaff-Reinet
289 kms
Accommodation near Graaff Reinet

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 and once we are checked in, we will visit the geological phenomenon known as the Valley of Desolation – a sheer cliff face, and one of  South Africa’s national monuments.

 

DAY 7

Khowa (Elliot)
436km
Accommodation near Barkley Pass

We continue to enjoy the solitude offered by the Karoo’s vast plains. Make sure at some point that you stop and take a picture of a typical Karoo ‘windpomp’ (windmill). Not only is this perhaps the most iconic feature of this harsh landscape, but it also provides the lifeblood to human and animal alike in this semi-desert. Towards the end of the day we will start to leave the plains behind as we find ourselves getting closer to the southern Drakensberg, an area characterized by mountains, sandstone cliffs, green valleys, crystal-clear streams and crisp, clean air.

DAY 8

Himeville (for Sani Pass and Lesotho)
403 kms
Accommodation near Sani Pass

One of our longer days of riding awaits! We track back down the Barkley pass and then find our way riding through sleepy Transkei villages while being rewarded with magnificent vistas of the Drakensberg. The next 400 kms or so will offer some of the most enjoyable and relaxed pavement riding of this tour, as we meander through the foothills of the southern Drakensberg, before we arrive at our boutique country hotel, situated in the farmland below the famous Sani Pass, our home for the next two nights.

DAY 9

Himeville
No Riding – 4×4 tour of Sani Pass
Accommodation near Sani Pass

Today is our first rest day off the bike. 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 – guaranteed to be one of the highlights of your visit in Africa!

DAY 10

Hluhluwe
485km
Accommodation near Hluhluwe

We have another big day ahead as we continue northwards towards Mozambique. We leave the Drakensberg mountains behind, and pass through the bustling Durban metropolitan area, from where we will head through rolling sugar cane fields towards our overnight stop of Hluhluwe, situated in the northern Kwa-Zulu Natal region. Hluhluwe is known for its big game and is situated close to the Hluhluwe National Park.

 

DAY 11

Ponta Malongane, Mozambique
167km plus 18 kms 4×4 transfer
Accommodation near Ponta Malongane

We continue our northerly journey, finding our way through the KwaZulu-Natal villages towards the border with Mozambique. We will have lunch near 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 – be sure to taste some while you are here!

DAY 12

Ponta Malongane, Mozambique
Rest Day. No Riding
Accommodation near Ponta Malongane

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 love to frolic around the boat. If we do find the dolphins, then we will join them 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 lodge’s pool or shopping to buy some souvenirs for the less fortunate that had to stay behind at home.

Swaziland Huts Accomodation

DAY 13

Eswatini
348km
Accommodation in Eswatini

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!

African Arts Vendor in Hazyview

DAY 14

Hazyview
287 kms
Accommodation near Hazyview

We leave Mlilwane behind and then after an enjoyable few roads, bid Eswatini farewell. After crossing the international border back into South Africa, we have the option of taking the shortest route to our hotel, or we can find our way via the town of Sabie, from where we will ride the Bergvliet Pass to our overnight stop for the next two nights, situated on the border with the Kruger Park.

Bourke's Luck Potholes in Mpumalanga

DAY 15

Hazyview
189 kms
Accommodation near Hazyview

Today is another optional day on the bike. We do however suggest joining us for an outride that will eventually loop us back to our hotel. On the menu is one of South Africa’s most scenic routes, 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 and providing 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.

 

Kruger National Park Giraffes

DAY 16

Kruger National Park
168 kms
Accommodation near Kruger National Park

Today is  our shortest day on the bike in terms of distance, as we aim to maximize our time in the Kruger Park area, where we will be spending the next two nights. Our first stop is at an endangered species center to appreciate what this organization does for its animals, before we have a relatively short ride left to our hotel, which shares its fence with the Kruger National Park. Bikes are not  allowed in the Park, so we will hop on an open game viewer for our first game viewing drive during the late afternoon. Dinner is served upon our return from the game drive. Thereafter we suggest finishing off the day around the fire, discussing yet another amazing day in Africa.

DAY 17

Safari Day, Kruger National Park
No Riding

Today will be spent in the magnificent Kruger National Park and will consist of an early morning and late afternoon game drive. During the day there will be opportunities to relax along the pool to soak up the wonderful atmosphere that only the African bushveld can provide. Expect another enjoyable dinner this evening.

 

Makgadikgadi Salt Pans in Botswana

DAY 18

Stockpoort
415 kms
Accommodation near Botswana Border

Up early this morning as we have to leave the Kruger Park area behind, to find our way north east towards the Botswana border. While today is mostly considered a ‘transit’ day, we still get to ride the spectacular Magoebaskloof Pass, before we traverse the typical South African bushveld for the remainder of the day.

We will stay overnight in a roadside lodge just before the South Africa / Botswana border, in an attempt to cross the border quickly and early the next morning. Dinner tonight is cooked by the guides! 

 

DAY 19

Nata, Botswana
456 kms
Accommodation near Nata

An early border crossing  brings us into Botswana, country number five and its 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 past the southern tip of the Tuli Block, an area rich in wildlife, so do not be surprised if we do encounter some wild animals along the route. We will travel towards Francistown, Botswana’s second biggest city, for lunch and to refuel, and then we will be passing the Makgadikgadi Pans to the east before we reach our overnight lodge outside Nata.

 

DAY 20

Kasane
319 kms
Accommodation near Kasane

We continue heading north finding our way through one of the main farming areas of Botswana and will aim to check into our lodge in Kasane around lunchtime, when we also, sadly,  return our bikes for this tour . During the afternoon we will enjoy  a sunset scenic river cruise on the Chobe River – another animal highlight of this trip!

 

DAY 21

Victoria Falls
No Riding. 100 kms  transfer to Victoria Falls
Accommodation near Victoria Falls

With the bikes officially parked, we will use our support vehicle to transfer the group into Zimbabwe, our sixth and final country on this tour. We will arrive in the town of Victoria Falls during late morning, and head straight to the falls – one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a fantastic sight behold at the end of your tour.

After checking into our hotel,  why not join the Victoria Falls’ high tea from 3-5:30pm, or wander the market in town, before our final group dinner together. This will be a gourmet setting under the stars at the classic  Victoria Falls Hotel, the perfect fitting setting to close out our trip together.

 

DAY 22

Victoria Falls
No Riding. Fly Out. 

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 Victoria Falls for a day or two to relax and take advantage of the many tourist activities nearby. We recommend anyone to consider this, so let us know if we can help with any arrangements.

Thank you for joining us on this wonderful tour!

 

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