Cape Town to Victoria Falls Motorcycle Tour

Ride Cape Town to Vic Falls via the South African West Coast, Namibia’s Desert Landscapes and the Okavango Delta

Dates: March - April 2020
20-26 days
Cost: ZAR84000 (approx $US5500, €4950) min. 4 riders

Get 50% off the price of your ride when you bring a group of 4+ riders

"Africa is truly an amazing part of the world and to see it on a motorbike made the trip a real adventure. I didn’t know what to expect having never been to Africa or done a bike tour before, but would now say without a doubt, if you are competent on a bike and have the desire to see Africa, this is a 'must do experience'!"

Geoff

Cape Town to Vic Falls 2016

Route Map

Route Highlights

Cape Town – Karoo – Orange River – Fish River Canyon – Kolmanskop Ghost Town – Sossusvlei Sand Dunes – Swakopmund – Spitzkoppe / Brandberg – Namibian Game Reserves – Kalahari San Experience – Okavango Delta – Zambezi River – Vic Falls

Trip Stats and Details

Explore some of the most beautiful parts of Southern Africa on this motorcycle tour. Starting in Cape Town we explore the Cape fold mountains through some stunning passes before heading north through the Cederberg and Karoo. Continuing into the vast big-sky landscapes of Namibia we explore the Orange River and Fish River Canyons before heading to Aus and the ghost town of Kolmanskop. Then it's off to the iconic sand dunes at Sossusvlei. Entering the Namib desert we cross over to the coast at Swakopmund before visiting Brandberg or Spitzkoppe. We get a chance to encounter the Big 5, the 'Ugly 5' and an amazing range of African wildlife at Etosha National Park or Erindi Private Game Reserve.

Leaving Namibia we cross into Botswana and spend a night or two at a Kalahari San Lodge encountering an indigenous San community. Then it's off to Maun where you'll get a chance to explore the Okavango Delta with the option of an unforgettable 2 or 3 night experience at Oddballs camp - a 20 minute flight into the Delta itself. We then head north along the west side of the Okavango panhandle and spend a night or two at Drotsky's Cabins on the Okavango River. Finally we head east through the historic Caprivi strip to our destination at Victoria Falls. 

Total Distance: 4800 km
Riding Days: 14-20
Rest Days: 6
Average distance: 275 km per day
Riding Time per day: 4-6 hours
Level of Difficulty: Intermediate – good tar roads with a mix of good gravel roads and some more challenging sections in Namibia

Accommodation

Accommodation includes comfortable 3-star lodges (usually twin rooms) and campsites equipped with hot water and electricity. For those who prefer lodge accommodation or single rooms we will happily upgrade these for you. Contact us for details. 

Motorcycles

Ride one of our Honda Africa Twin XRV 750's or Suzuki V-Strom 650's - or bring your own bike


Cost details

Rider: ZAR84000 (approx $US5500, €4950)
Pillion / Support car passenger: ZAR35000 (approx $US2300, €2050)

Contact us for prices for smaller groups.

Notes:
1) Prices in South African Rand. Click here to convert to your currency.
2) Prices are for minimum of four riders for the full tour. Please contact us for rates for smaller parties

Included in the price:
Honda Africa Twin 750cc motorcycle
Support vehicle with spare bike and trailer
Airport transfers
Accommodation
Breakfast and some dinners
Camping equipment
Tour guide
Comprehensive Motorcycle Insurance
Motorcycle border fees
Emergency evacuation to local medical center
Unlimited Mileage
Excess luggage storage

Excluded:
Flights
Visas
Activities – e.g. game drives, Okavango trips,
Accommodation at origin and destination outside of tour dates
Fuel (approx: $225)
Lunches, drinks and some dinners (details on request)
Reserve and sightseeing entry fees
Personal Insurance (Accident/Medical)

Provisional Itinerary

Day 0: Arrive and explore Cape Town

Day 1: Cape Town to Cederberg:  262km. We get to enjoy four mountain passes as we ride through the Cape fold mountains

Day 2: Cederberg to Papkuilsfontein Guest Farm: 200km. We ride through some wonderfully remote gravel roads through the Cederberg and into the Great Karoo

Day 3: Papkuilsfontein Guest Farm to Springbok: 335km. We head north through the northern Cape and Richtersveld to Springbok.

Day 4: Springbok to Orange River, Namibia: 135km. We cross into Namibia and spend the first of two nights on the banks of the Orange River.

Day 5: Rest day at the Orange River. We get the chance to soak in the beauty of the Richtersveld on the banks of the Orange River. There’s also the chance to go on a 3-4 hour guided canoe trip.             

Day 6: Orange River to Fish River Canyon: 180km. We ride along the banks of the Orange River to the Fish River Canyon in the remote Richtersveld.

Day 7: Fish River Canyon to Aus: 270km. Today we ride through Namibian big-sky country on good gravel roads to Aus.

Day 8: Rest day at Aus. We leave the bikes behind and visit Kolmanskop ghost town and the historic harbour town of Luderitz           

Day 9: Aus to Sesriem & Sossusvlei: 375km. Today we tackle the gravel roads as they cross the incredible desert landscapes of the Namib desert and head north to the dunes at Sossusvlei

Day 10: Rest day at Sossusvlei exploring the dunes            

Day 11: Sossusvlei to Swakopmund: 344km. Another day of gravel roads as we cross the Namib desert to the coastal town of Swakopmund

Day 12: Swakopmund to Spitzkoppe: 180km. A short ride today as we visit the iconic and remote rock formations at Spitzkoppe.

Day 13: Brandberg to Etosha National Park: 420km. We also have the option of visiting Erindi Private Game Reserve.

Day 14: Rest day and game drives at Etosha or Erindi

Day 15: Etosha to Gobabis: 360km. We head east along good tar roads towards Botswana, stopping for lunch at Namibia's capital city Windhoek.

Day 16: Gobabis to Dqae Qare San Lodge, Botswana: 385km. We continue east into Botswana to one of our favourite stops – the San/Bushman community in the northern Kalahari. We’ll have time for a guided bush walk and experience traditional San culture.

Day 17: Dqae Qare to Maun / Okavango: 210km

Day 17-19: 2 or 3 nights exploring the Okavango. There are a number of ways to experience the landscapes and wildlife of the Okavango Delta. Options include a two-night Mokoro trip or a 2-3 night stay at Oddballs camp in the delta.

Day 20: Maun to Drotsky's Cabins on the Okavango River: 370km. Drotsky's is one of our favourite places to explore the rich wildlife on the Okavango river. 

Day 21: Optional rest day at Drotsky's. We have the chance to go fishing for Tiger Fish or just soak up the beauty of this part of the world.

Day 22: Drotskys Cabins to Katima Mulilo: 372km. 

Day 23: Katima Mulilo to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe: 210km

Day 24: Explore Victoria Falls.  Today we explore the falls, getting a full sense of this natural wonder of the world by foot on the Zimbabwe side – and the Zambia side too if you like. You can also take a helicopter ride or rafting trip for an unforgettable aerial view

Day 25: Transfer to Vic Falls airport

Interested in riding with us?

Contact Us for More Info

We’d love to hear from you! For more information contact Andrew at andrew@ridedownsouth.com or fill out this contact form.