Malawi to Cape Town
Motorcycle Tour
Experience Lake Malawi, Victoria Falls and the wildlife of South Africa's Kruger National Park and St Lucia Estuary on this 29-day motorcycle adventure
Route Highlights
28 days, 6300 km
Dates: Ride begins 20 Nov - 18 December 2020
Riding Days: 19
Rest Days: 9
Ave km per day: 290
Lake Malawi - Victoria Falls - Kruger National Park - St Lucia Estuary - Wild Coast - Addo Elephant Park - Knysna & Garden Route - Cape Town
Route Details and Provisional Itinerary
Day 0: Blantyre
0 km. We'll spend today getting ready for our ride - packing the bikes and a short warm-up ride exploring the town
Day 1: Blantyre to Monkey Bay
220 km. Our first day we ride north from Blantyre to Monkey Bay on the southern shore of Lake Malawi
Day 2: Explore Monkey Bay
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 3: Monkey Bay to Mayoka Village
450 km. We ride north along the western shore of the lake though some beautiful highlands before descending again to the lake and a 2-night stop at Mayoka Village - a beautiful spot tucked away in a small bay. This is one of our favourite spots in all of Southern Africa.
Day 4: 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 5: Mayoka Village to Mama Rula's Zambia
450 km. Our ride today takes us back into the Malawi highlands and across the border into Zambia and a stop-over stay at Mama Rula's camp.
Day 6: Chipata to Lusaka
570 km. A longer ride today on good tar roads as we head west into Zambia through Zambezi National Park and some beautiful mountain passes
Day 7: Lusaka to Victoria Falls
485 km. We head south through southern Zambia towards the town of Livingstone - our base to explore the Victoria Falls
Day 8: Explore Vic Falls
0 km. A well deserved rest day as we get a chance to explore the magnificent falls by foot or by helicopter - or even an adventurous river rafting ride
Day 9: Vic Falls to Senyati Elephant Camp
80 km. We cross the border via the Kazangula ferry into Botswana and a one night stay at Senyati Elephant camp
Day 10: Senyati to Francistown
480 km. Leaving the elephants behind we ride due south through Chobe national park and on to our overnight stop at Francistown
Day 11: Francistown to Wonderkop Nature Reserve
370 km. Today we enter South Africa and head towards the Kruger Park. We cross through the farmlands of the northern province stopping overnight at Wonderkop Nature Reserve
Day 12: Wonderkop to Kruger Park
452 km. We have a lovely, scenic ride today as we descend the escarpment to the coastal lowlands and the Kruger National Park. On our way we take in the beautiful Panorama route via Blyde River Canyon and the old mining town of Pilgrims Rest
Day 13-14: Kruger Park
0 km. We have two full days to experience this incredible game reserve based at a camp inside the park.
Day 15: Kruger Park to Hlane Game Reserve
170 km. Today we leave the Kruger Park and head south towards the coast, briefly entering eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) where we stop overnight at the Hlane Game Reserve.
Day 16: Hlane Game Reserve to St Lucia
290 km. We leave eSwatini and head south through the Kwazulu-Natal lowlands to the coastal estuary at St Lucia.
Day 17: Rest day at St Lucia
0 km. St Lucia is a unique coastal estuary with abundant wildlife including hippos, crocodiles and abundant birdlife. There's the chance to explore the mangrove swamps on a boat tour of the estuary.
Day 18: St Lucia to Underberg
480 km. We ride today through the hilly, green Kwazulu-Natal province towards Underberg at the southern end of the Drakensberg Mountains - the highest and most dramatic mountain range in South Africa
Day 19: 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 20: Underberg to Coffee Bay
360 km. We head back to the coast today through the rolling hills of the Eastern Cape. 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 21: 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 22: Coffee Bay to Cintsa
260 km. Today we get the chance to immerse ourselves in the rural and rugged Wild Coast as we ride through villages and beautiful coastline as we make our way south-west to Cintsa.
Day 23: Cintsa to Addo Elephant Park
323 km. We head south along the coast past coastal towns including Kenton-on-Sea, Port Alfred and East London to Addo Elephant Park
Day 24: Addo to Jeffrey's Bay
120 km. After an optional morning game drive a short ride takes us to Jeffrey's Bay and the start of the famous Garden Route
Day 25: Jeffrey's Bay to Knysna
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 Knysna.
Day 26: 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 27: Knysna to Agulhas
370 km. As we near our destination at Cape Town we ride through the farmlands of the Overberg and south to Agulhas and the southern tip of Africa
Day 28: Agulhas to Cape Town
340 km. Our final day of an epic journey takes us along spectacular coastal roads along the Cape Whale Route to Hermanus and on to Cape Town.
False Bay coast near Cape Town
Our destination: Cape Town
Accommodation
Accommodation is in comfortable lodges (usually twin rooms) and campsites equipped with electricity and hot water. Upgrades to single rooms are available.
Motorcycles
Ride one of our Honda Africa Twin XRV 750's or Suzuki V-Strom 650
"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
Cost details
Rider: ZAR128000 (approx $8590)
Pillion / Support car passenger: ZAR65000
Notes:
1) Prices in South African Rand (ZAR). 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
Accommodation on tour
All breakfasts
Panniers, Top Box and Tank Bag
Riding gear if required - helmet, jacket and gloves
Sena 20S Bluetooth In-helmet Communicator
Motorcycle border fees
Airport transfers
Tour guide
Comprehensive Motorcycle Insurance
Emergency evacuation to local medical center
Excess luggage storage
Excluded:
Flights to and from tour start and end points
Visas
Activities – e.g. game drives and excursions,
Accommodation at origin and destination (incl. Zanzibar) outside of tour dates
Lunches, drinks and some dinners (details on request)
Reserve and sightseeing entry fees
Personal Insurance (Accident/Medical)
Click here to download our T's and C's. We'll have this available for you to sign at the start of the ride or you can bring a signed copy with you
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
