13 Days Gravel Motorcycle Tour in South Africa from Johannesburg to Cape Town via Lesotho
Johannesburg, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng, South Africa
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Stunning Motorbike Tour South Africa
Taking the very best roads that South Africa has to offer, explore South Africa from Gauteng on the Highveld to the exquisite Cape Province. This tour offers the off-road enthusiast an opportunity to explore the lesser traveled route from Johannesburg to the stunningly situated Cape Town at the foot of Table Mountain. Included in this very scenic route is the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, the spectacular Swartberg Pass, and the southernmost point of the African continent.
Key Information
- Terrain: gravel and off-road
- Bike: rental bike
- Mileage: 3,100 kilometers / 1,927 miles
- Daily rides: 130 - 590 kilometers / 81 - 367 miles
- Meals: all breakfasts and 1 dinner
Meet the guides
Darrell, Michelle, & Dylan
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Highlights
- Cape Point and Chapman's Peak
- Go to the breathtaking Baviaanskloof
- Starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town
- Ride on a scenic off-road pass through the Knysna forests
- Scale a breathtaking pass to Eastern Cape
- Visit the mountain kingdom of Lesotho
- 12 nights of accommodation
- Airport transfers
Skill level
- Intermediate
- Advanced
Styles
11 riding days
Airport transfer included:
O. R. Tambo International Airport
Accommodation
Your accommodation will be a guesthouse, a country inn, chalets, hotels, and lodges.
Program
Day 1: Arrival
After being picked up at O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), you will be transferred to your lodge in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. Today, you take delivery of your rental bikes.
- Accommodation: Bed and breakfast
Day 2: Departure from Johannesburg, 420 kilometers / 261 miles
Depart from Johannesburg. The route will take you past Johannesburg through the eastern Free State, as well as into Golden Gate Highlands National Park which has beautiful scenery. You will then stay at a country lodge on the border of Lesotho.
- Accommodation: Bed and Breakfast at country inn
Day 3: Depart for the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, 239 kilometers / 149 miles
Depart after breakfast and enter the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. Here, the time has stood still and rural life is the order of the day. Keep a lookout for horse and donkeys who share the road with everyone. Your lodge is deep in the mountains and the scenery is spectacular at every turn of the road.
- Accommodation: Bed and breakfast
Day 4: Lesotho, 130 kilometers / 81 miles
Today, you stay in Lesotho and travel to your next lodge hidden in the spectacular landscape. There will be more great riding. Hopefully, it won't rain in the mountains.
- Accommodation: Bed and breakfast
Day 5: Leaving Lesotho, 253 kilometers / 158 miles
You leave Lesotho and re-enter South Africa in the Eastern Cape province. Your country lodge is situated in the town of Lady Grey at the foot of some spectacular mountains.
- Accommodation: Bed and breakfast
Day 6: Eastern Cape, 590 kilometers / 367 miles
You immediately scale a breathtaking pass and this sets the scene for most of today. You follow the scenic Eastern Cape gravel roads as you continue heading for the coast. Tonight, you will stay in South Africa's surfing mecca, on the coast Jeffreys Bay.
- Accommodation: Bed and breakfast
Day 7: Reaching Baviaanskloof, 170 kilometers / 106 miles
Today, you pack up and after breakfast in this quaint town, you head for the hills so that the true adventure can begin. You ride deeper into the mountains on your way to the breathtaking Baviaanskloof. You now cross streams and ride on narrow tracks across the mountains until you reach your destination in the middle of the Baviaanskloof.
- Accommodation: Bed and breakfast with dinner
Day 8: Exit Baviaanskloof, 253 kilometers / 158 miles
You exit Baviaanskloof and ride on another scenic off-road pass through the Knysna forests. This unbelievably beautiful pass will take you back to the coast. After lunch at the Knysna heads, you continue along the Garden Route to your next breathtaking overnight spot at one of the most scenic sites on the beach.
- Accommodation: Bed and breakfast at chalets
Day 9: Reaching Oudtshoorn, 238 kilometers / 148 miles
Today, you leave the sea and head inland. You travel along a national monument road to Oudtshoorn. From Oudtshoorn, you head onto the Swartberg Pass. This pass is considered one of the most spectacular passes in the world. You ride an untarred road with steep zigzags and sudden switchbacks and the most breathtaking views at every turn until you reach the quaint town of Oudtshoorn.
Day 10: Agulhas, 370 kilometers / 230 miles
The ride today is along the iconic Route 62. The scenery is varied and the road is a treat. The countryside then changes to rolling hills of wheat as you enter the Overberg area. Your destination is Agulhas, the southernmost point in South Africa. Have your picture taken where the Indian and the Atlantic Ocean meet.
- Accommodation: Bed and breakfast at guesthouse
Day 11: Heading to Hermanus, 370 kilometers / 230 miles
You head down to Hermanus, the whale watching capital of South Africa. Here, you follow the coastline along the famous Garden Route and the most beautiful coastal roads towards Cape Town.
- Accommodation: Bed and breakfast at hotel
Day 12: Exploring Cape Point and Chapman's Peak, 155 kilometers / 97 miles
Today, you continue to explore the coast, Cape Point, and Chapman's Peak, being the highlights.
- Accommodation: Bed and breakfast at hotel
Day 13: Departure
Today is your departure day.
Intermediate
- can ride for 3-4 hours
- average riding experience
- little assistance required
- comfortable with extreme curves and leans
- average experience with unsurfaced roads
- steep ascents and descents
Advanced
- can ride for 5-6 hours
- extensive riding experience
- assistance on demand (if required)
- experienced with riding a variety of motorcycles
- comfortable with any terrain and weather conditions
Guides
Darrell van der Merwe
Darrell has been an avid rider since his youth and on a professional level taken part in trial riding taking the podium on a number of occasions during his riding career. His passion for riding is evident in the meticulous research and exploration undertaken to find the best rides to offer. With the skill he has accumulated, riding both on and off-road over the years, he is a natural teacher and has often enabled riders to gain new skills and confidence. With close to a million kilometers (no exaggeration there) in the saddle, he has filled a vault with stories and adventures.
Michelle van der Merwe
Michelle has been riding for the last 25 years and is a strong competent rider but this is not her only strength. With her sense of style and the keen eye for detail, she goes the extra mile when sourcing unique accommodation and points of interest for the clients to enjoy. Each establishment is visited and inspected before being included in the itinerary, ensuring the very best. She is also responsible for the logistics of every tour. Her role as the backup vehicle driver is a crucial one and it goes far beyond just driving the vehicle and loading luggage.
Dylan
Dylan has been riding virtually since he was an embryo, with parents such as his, he was genetically predisposed to riding a bike. He possesses a natural talent and ability for riding which has also taken him into the competitive arena with trials bike riding and enduro, with podium finishes in both arenas. He also has a sound technical knowledge of motorcycle mechanics. His empathy for fellow riders combined with his skill set also makes him a great teacher and puts any rider at ease.
Location
This tour will take place in South Africa, starting from Johannesburg and finishing in Cape Town. During the tour, you will pass through Lesotho, Eastern Cape, Jeffreys Bay, Baviaanskloof, Knysna, the Garden Route, Oudtshoorn, the iconic Route 62, Overberg, Agulhas, Hermanus, Cape Point, and Chapman's Peak.
Food
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
What's included
- Guide
- Bike rental
- Airport transfers
- Support vehicle
- 12 nights' accommodation
- Daily breakfast
- 1 dinner
What's not included
- Fuel
- Toll fees
- Meals not specified
- Beverages
- Drinks
- Riding gear
How to get there
Recommended Airports
JNB
O. R. Tambo International Airport
21 km
Transfer included
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB). Transfer from and to the airport is included. GS Adventures Motorcycle Tours will pick you up from the airport.
Airport: O. R. Tambo International Airport
Airport transfer included: O. R. Tambo International Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 10% of the total price.
- The deposit is fully refundable if the booking is cancelled up to 60 days before the arrival date.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 60 days before arrival.
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