Cape Town to Lake Malawi Motorcycle Tour

Detailed Itinerary

Dates: 29 March - 29 April 2022

Day 0: Cape Town

Sightseeing and preparation day in Cape Town

Day 1: Cape Town to Matjiesfontein

260 km. We ride north-east out of Cape Town through Wellington and Bain's Kloof Pass to Ceres and on through the Central Karoo to the historic railway town of Matjiesfontein .

Day 2: Matjiesfontein to Knysna

317 km. We begin the day on a short (good!) gravel section as we ride through the Swartberg Mountains along the Seweweekspoort Pass. We then join the Route 62 road to Oudtshoorn and on through the Outeniqua Pass to the coast and the start of the Garden Route.

Day 3: Explore Knysna

0 km: Today we get the chance to explore this beautiful Garden Route town. Options include restaurants in the Waterfront area, the Motorcycle Room, the lagoon and the Knysna Heads.

Day 4: Knysna to Jeffrey's Bay

190 km. We ride east exploring the beautiful coastline along the Garden Route through Plettenberg Bay, Nature's Valley, Bloukrans Pass and Storms River Mouth on our way to Jeffrey's Bay.

Day 5: Jeffrey's Bay to Addo Elephant Park

120 km. A short ride takes us inland to Addo Elephant Park where we'll have the option to go on an afternoon game drive to experience the elephants and other wildlife here.

Day 6: Addo to Cintsa

323 km. We head back to the coast and ride north-east along the coast past coastal towns including Kenton-on-Sea, Port Alfred and East London to the start of the Wild Coast at Cintsa.

Day 7: Cintsa to Coffee Bay

260 km. On our way north-east to Coffee Bay we get to experience the rural and rugged Wild Coast.

Day 8: Explore Coffee Bay

0 km. Today we get a break from riding and the chance to enjoy the beaches around Coffee Bay. You can also visit the famous Hole-in-the-Wall.

Day 9: Coffee Bay to Underberg

360 km. We head inland through the rolling hills of the Eastern Cape towards Underberg at the southern end of the Drakensberg Mountains - the highest and most dramatic mountain range in South Africa. Along the way we have the option of stopping to visit Qunu - the village where Nelson Mandela grew up, went to school and herded cattle.

Day 10: Explore Sani Pass

80 km. Today we have the option of exploring the famous Sani Pass which twists its way up the escarpment to the border of Lesotho.

Day 11: Underberg to St Lucia

436 km. We leave the Drakensberg and head north through the Kwazulu-Natal lowlands to the coastal estuary at St Lucia.

Day 12: Explore St Lucia

0 km. St Lucia is a unique coastal estuary with abundant wildlife including Hippos and rich birdlife. There's the chance to explore the mangrove swamps on a boat tour of the estuary.

Day 13: St Lucia to Hlane Game Reserve

290 km. Today we head inland towards the Kruger Park, briefly entering eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) where we stop overnight at the Hlane Game Reserve.

Day 14: Hlane to Malelane

127 km. A short ride today takes us back into South Africa and the town of Malelane. We leave the bikes here for a 3-night stay in the Kruger National Park.

Day 15 & 16: Kruger Park

0 km. We have two full days to experience this incredible game reserve based at a camp inside the park.

Day 17: Kruger Park to Maputo

144 km. Today we leave South Africa and enter Mozambique with our first overnight stay in the capital city Maputo.

Day 18: Maputo to Xai Xai

232 km. We ride along the good tar road toward the resort town of Xai Xai. In the afternoon we'll have the chance to explore the beach with its coral reef as well as the mouth of the Limpopo river and a well-known rock pool.

Day 19: Xai Xai to Inhambane

260 km. Today we continue along the Mozambique coast to our base for two nights - Inhambane.

Day 20: Explore Inhambane and Barra

0 km. A rest day and a chance to explore the local area and/or catch a ride to Barra to enjoy the beach and restaurants there. 

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Day 21: Inhambane to Vilankulos

293 km. We ride north to one of Mozambique's best coastal spots - Vilankulos.

Day 22: Rest day at Vilankulos

0 km. Another day to take in the beauty of the Mozambique coast. We also have the chance to explore part of the Bazaruto Archipelago.

Day 23: Vilankulos to Chimoio

380 km. Today we leave the Mozambique coast and begin the leg to Lake Malawi. Our first stop along the way is Chimoio.

Day 24: Chimoio to Tete

390 km. Stop 2 along the leg to Lake Malawi is at Tete in north-western Mozambique.

Day 25: Tete to Blantyre

220 km. We cross into Malawi and stop for the night in the capital city Blantyre.

Day 26: Blantyre to Monkey Bay

252 km. Today we reach the southern shores of Lake Malawi and settle in Monkey Bay right next to the beach for a two night stay.

Day 27: Rest day at Monkey Bay

0 km. A well deserved rest day and the chance to explore the beaches and villages around Monkey Bay or go fishing or sailing on the lake.

Day 28: Monkey Bay to Mayoka Village

450 km. Our ride today takes us along the western shore of Lake Malawi to Mayoka Village - a beautiful spot tucked away in a small bay. This is one of our favourite spots in all of Southern Africa.

Day 29: Rest day at Mayoka Village

0 km. Another opportunity to experience Lake Malawi. Activity options include a dhow sailing trip to a local island, exploring the local village or just relaxing and taking in the lake and its surrounds.

Day 30: Mayoka Village to Chitimba Beach Lodge

220 km. Today we continue north along the western shore of Lake Malawi riding though some beautiful highlands before descending again to the lake and our overnight stop at Chitimba Beach Lodge

Day 31: Chitimba Beach Lodge to Blue Canoe Lodge

180 km. A short ride takes us to the Tanzanian border. After crossing we ride a short distance to our last lakeside stop at Blue Canoe Lodge.

Day 32: Blue Canoe Camp to the Old Farmhouse Iringa

395 km. Today we ride north through villages and tea plantations along winding mountain roads as we enter southern Tanzania before turning east to our overnight stop at the Old Farmhouse

Day 33: Old Farmhouse to Valley of the Baobabs

180 km. A shorter ride today takes us down a dramatic pass into the southern part of the Great Rift Valley - and into the Valley of the Baobabs. We stop overnight to enjoy this incredible place at Crocodile Lodge at the foot of some huge Baobab trees. 

Day 34: Valley of the Baobabs to Morogoro

170 km. Another shorter ride to Morogoro takes us through a game park at Mikumi and along the Uluguru mountain range. 

Day 35: Morogoro to Kipepeo Beach Village

212 km. Our last day of riding today as we enter Dar es Salaam and unpack at Kipepeo Beach Village south of the city on the shore of the Indian Ocean. From here it's a 2-hour ferry ride to our final destination - Zanzibar. 

Day 36+ :  Zanzibar

0km. Spend as many days as you have available in Zanzibar. Explore historic Stone Town, the abundant sea-life and the tropical beaches on this rich and varied island just off the Tanzanian coast. Flights out are available from the airport near Stone Town.