Cape Town, Garden Route, Wild Coast & Kruger Park
Motorcycle Tour
Explore South Africa's breathtaking coast, mountains and wildlife on this 21-day motorcycle adventure
Route Highlights
Cape Town – Southern Tip of Africa – Matjiesfontein - Swartberg Pass - Knysna and the Garden Route - Wild Coast - Drakensberg - St Lucia - Kruger Park - Magaliesberg
Total Distance: 4030 km
Riding Days: 16
Rest Days: 5
Average distance: 260 km per day
Riding Time per day: 4-6 hours
Level of Difficulty: Easy to Intermediate
(good tar roads with some good gravel roads)
Route Details and Itinerary
View spreadsheet here
Day 0: Cape Town
Sightseeing and preparation day in Cape Town and an optional warm-up ride around the Cape Peninsula
Day1: Cape Town to Agulhas
340 km. We ride south-east out of Cape Town along some spectacular coastal roads along the Cape Whale Route to Hermanus and on to the Southern Tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas.
Day 2: Agulhas to Matjiesfontein
360 km. Today we head back north through the farmlands of the Overberg and into the Great Karoo to our overnight stop at the historic railway town of Matjiesfontein.
Day 3: Matjiesfontein to Prince Albert
234 km: Today we ride through the magnificent Swartberg mountains crossing through Seweweekspoort and the famous Swartberg Pass. We spend the night in the Karoo town of Prince Albert.
Day 4: Prince Albert to Knysna
220 km. Today we cross the Swartberg one more time on a beautiful twisting tar road pass before heading to the coast via the equally spectacular Outeniqua pass.
Day 5: Rest day at 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 6: 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 7: 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 8: 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 9: 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 10: Rest day at 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 11: 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 12: 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 13: Underberg to St Lucia Estuary
436 km. We leave the Drakensberg and head north through the Kwazulu-Natal lowlands to the coastal estuary at St Lucia.
Day 14: Rest day at 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 15: 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 16: 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 17-18: Kruger Park
0 km. We have two full days to experience this incredible game reserve based at a camp inside the park.
Day 19: Kruger Park to Dullstroom
250 km. We leave the Kruger and head inland towards Johannesburg via the specactular eastern escarpment and the Panorama Route.
Day 20: Dullstroom to Magaliesberg
330 km. Today we continue west over the historic Long Tom pass and on to the Magaliesberg mountains where we stay overnight on a family farm.
Day 21: Magaliesberg to Johannesberg
110 km. Our last day is a gentle ride into Johannesburg and the end of our tour. We'll enjoy dinner together at one of the excellent restaurants in town and have the chance to visit the highly recommended Apartheid Museum
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.
Cost details
Rider: ZAR89000 (approx $US6150, €5552, £4700)
Pillion / Support car passenger: ZAR46000 (approx $US3180, €2869, £2433)
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 or Suzuki V-Strom 650 motorcycle
Support vehicle with spare bike and trailer
Airport transfers
Accommodation
Breakfast and some dinners
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
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)
Motorcycles
Ride one of our Honda Africa Twin XRV 750's or Suzuki V-Strom 650's - or bring your own bike
"The Honda Africa Twins were everything a person could need to travel the rugged terrain. I own a BMW F800gs, and was still blown away by the maneuverability of the AT and it’s ability to tackle a variety of conditions. Andrew’s knowledge of the mechanical aspect of the bike and riding expertise provided a completely worry free traveling experience." Ryan, Cape to Kalahari 2016
Done for You
We take care of all trip bookings so you get to enjoy a hassle-free adventure
Experienced Guides
Our qualified guides have years of experience and intimate local knowledge.
55+ 5-Star Ratings
Our guests have given us over 55 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor and AirBnB
Get 50% off
the price of your own ride when you bring a group of 3 or more other riders
Andrew and Greg aren't just great guides, they're also just really great people -- a joy to ride with and also a joy to hang out with. They ran my tour without a hitch and made sure we stopped at all the best secret spots. When I booked this motorcycle trip I wanted the trip of a lifetime. I got it and then some. Wow. What an experience!
Will, San Francisco
