21 Days BMW Guided Motorcycle Tour through South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia

Day 1: Arrival

You will arrive in Johannesburg and take delivery of rental bikes. Spend the rest of the day taking in a couple of sites in and around Johannesburg or Egoli, City of Gold.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal plan: breakfast

Day 2: Botswana (444 kilometers / 276 miles)

Today, you will start your African adventure just west of Johannesburg in sunny South Africa and ride through the Waterberg Bushveld to the South African / Botswana border. You will cross your first major river, the Limpopo, and bridge into Botswana and settle into your first camp. Here, you can get to know each other on the banks of the Limpopo.

• Accommodation: Lodge
• Meal plan: breakfast

Day 3: Makgadikgadi Pans (444 kilometers / 276 miles)

After breakfast, you will head north, stop for lunch in one of the oldest towns in Botswana, and then on to your lodge in the Makgadikgadi Pans area. This area was used to be one of the biggest inland lakes in Africa. Over time (10,000 years), Lake Makgadikgadi dried up and has formed Sowa and Ntwetwe Salt Pans. Things are getting wilder.

• Accommodation: Lodge
• Meal plan: breakfast

Day 4: Kasane (321 kilometers / 199 miles)

After a hearty breakfast, you will head further north to Kasane. This is elephant country so keep your eyes peeled for these gentle giants. The highlight of today is the Chobe River boat cruise. Botswana is known for its wildlife and this boat cruise is an ideal way to see amazing herds of animals with stunning photo opportunities.

• Accommodation: Lodge
• Meal plan: breakfast

Day 5: Victoria Falls visit

A transfer to Victoria Falls has been arranged for you. You will cross into Zimbabwe and visit ‘The Smoke that Thunders’. You will be amazed at this magnificent sight. You have to spend some time at this spectacular World Heritage Site.

Day 6: Katima Mulilo (122 kilometers / 76 miles)

Today, you will depart Botswana and head for Namibia, traveling through Chobe National Park where you are sure to see a variety of animals. Tonight is spent in the Namibian town of Katima Mulilo, on the banks of the mighty Zambesi River.

• Accommodation: Lodge
• Meal plan: breakfast

Day 7: Rundu (533 kilometers / 331 miles)

You will continue on your journey, traveling along the narrow Caprivi Strip to your next lodge situated near a town called Rundu. The lodge has a spectacular view over the Okavango River and floodplains of southern Angola.

• Accommodation: Lodge
• Meal plan: breakfast

Day 8: Tsumeb (386 kilometers / 240 miles)

Tonight, you will spend outside Tsumeb, a legacy of the mineral fascination. Surrounded by the ancient Lake Otjikoto and the famous wildlife conservation area, Etosha National Park, the lodge borders a number of historic German and Artesian mines. They resemble trails ‘in the footsteps of the diggers’, who over 120 years ago spent their days in the relentless Namibian sunshine exploring the possibilities of mining precious minerals to satisfy the needs of Europe.

You will also stop by the Hoba meteorite. It has been uncovered but, because of its large mass, has never been moved from where it fell. The main mass is estimated at more than 60 tonnes, making it the largest known meteorite (as a single piece). It is the most massive naturally occurring piece of iron known on earth's surface.

• Accommodation: Lodge
• Meal plan: breakfast

Day 9: Damaraland (545 kilometers / 339 miles)

You will head towards Damaraland, exploring the area’s ancient rock paintings and the Petrified Forest along the way. Your lodge lies in southern Damaraland, a vast beautiful wilderness of unsurpassed desert scenery.

• Accommodation: Lodge
• Meal plan: breakfast and dinner

Day 10: Ugab River (151 kilometers / 94 miles)

Today, you will spend the day exploring the area’s rock paintings, the Petrified Forest, and the Organ Pipes. A short ride through magnificent scenery and tonight is spent along the banks of the Ugab River where the elusive desert elephants roam.

• Accommodation: Lodge
• Meal plan: breakfast and dinner

Day 11: Swakopmund (326 kilometers / 203 miles)

Your ride today is along good gravel roads, through a really eerie landscape as you head for the coast of Namibia and your next stop along the way, Swakopmund. Before arriving at your hotel, you will stop in at the Cape Cross Seal Reserve. The reserve is the home of one of the largest colonies of cape fur seals in the world.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal plan: breakfast

Day 12: Leisure day in Swakopmund

Take a quad ride on the dunes, do some sandboarding, go on a living desert tour, and learn about the very sensitive nature of a desert. If fishing is your thing, then take part in some off-shore fishing. These are some of the activities you can do while in Swakopmund. This quaint German town has some beautiful buildings and unique shops to also keep you busy.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal plan: breakfast

Day 13: Sossusvlei (358 kilometers / 222 miles)

Go down to Sossusvlei where now things get interesting. You finally reach the desert and are prepared to have your socks knocked off. You will ride through two scenic passes and ride in and out of the Namib-Naukluft Park. The Naukluft Mountains form part of the dramatic escarpment which separates the coastal plains from the inland plateau.

• Accommodation: Lodge
• Meal plan: breakfast and dinner

Day 14: A dune tour

You will leave early on a dune tour, included in tour price, and head for Sossusvlei and Deadvlei. Here, the energetic ones can climb Dune 45, the most photographed dune in the world and have a birds’ eye view of the sea of dunes. These beautiful red dunes move the soul.

• Accommodation: Lodge
• Meal plan: breakfast and dinner

Day 15: Aus (431 kilometers / 268 miles)

Another early start but the ride is truly scenic. Today, you will head further south and will spend the next two days at Aus, home to the famous Namib Desert wild horses. As you travel, the landscape changes continually. You have to keep reminding yourself that you are still in the same country.

• Accommodation: Lodge
• Meal plan: breakfast

Day 16: Luderitz (243 kilometers / 151 miles)

Today can be a rest day but GS Adventures Motorcycle Tours recommend a ride through to Luderitz, taking in Kolmanskop and the wild desert horses en-route. While in Luderitz, visit Shark Island and once again just marvel at the vast differences in landscape and geology that Namibia has to offer. The former capital of Namibia, Luderitz, is perched on a rock and is the hub of the diamond mining area in Namibia.

• Accommodation: Lodge
• Meal plan: breakfast

Day 17: Fish River Canyon (336 kilometers / 209 miles)

Today’s ride takes you to the world’s second largest canyon, the Fish River Canyon. Take in this spectacle at the view sites and marvel at this unique landscape.

• Accommodation: Lodge
• Meal plan: breakfast

Day 18: Namaqualand (586 kilometers / 364 miles)

You will leave Namibia and re-enter South Africa. Tonight will be spent on the West Coast of South Africa in Namaqualand. This area is well-known for its carpets of wildflowers in the spring.

• Accommodation: Guesthouse
• Meal plan: breakfast

Day 19: Cape Town (542 kilometers / 337 miles)

You will travel south along the west coast and finally arrive in Cape Town. You will check into your hotel at the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront at the base of Table Mountain.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal plan: breakfast

Day 20: Cape Town (154 kilometers / 96 miles)

Today is spent riding the Cape Peninsula, visiting the Cape of Good Hope, and generally getting a feel of Cape Town. You will ride along some truly scenic roads in and around Cape Town.

• Accommodation: Hotel
• Meal plan: breakfast

Day 21: Departure

The bikes are returned and your flights depart from Cape Town International Airport (CPT).

• A visit to Victoria Falls
• Chobe River boat cruise

This tour will take you through the warm Bushveld area of South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia. In Botswana, you will see the magnificent Makgadikgadi Salt Pans and experience an incredible game viewing on the Chobe River. You will also visit 'The Smoke that Thunders' at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

In Namibia, the dramatic scenery change is amazing. You may take a quad ride on the dunes, do some sand boarding or off-shore fishing in the desert while in Swakopmund. Sossusvlei, the sea of dunes, is breathtaking and not to be missed.

After traveling through Namibia with the most unique and intriguing landscape, the trip ends in South Africa's tourism capital, Cape Town. There is more spectacular motorbike riding waiting for you in and around Cape Town with visits to all your 'bucket list' destinations. Here, you will visit the Cape of Good Hope and getting a feel of Cape Town.

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GS Adventures Motorcycle Tours will serve you daily breakfast and four dinners for the whole tour.

• A quad ride on the dunes
• A living desert tour
• Exploring Johannesburg or Egoli, City of Gold
• Living desert tour
• Off-shore fishing
• Sand boarding
• Shark Island visit
• Shopping
• Venturing in Swakopmund

• Starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town, South Africa
• Marvel at the unique landscape of Fish River Canyon and Victoria Falls
• Riding the Cape Peninsula and scenic roads around Cape Town
• Enjoy Swakopmund and Cape Cross Seal Reserve
• Sossusvlei Dune tour
• Chobe River boat cruise
• Motorcycle tour guide
• Motorcycle rental of BMW 1200GS LC
• Backup vehicle
• 20 nights’ accommodation
• Daily breakfast and four dinners
• Transfer to Victoria Falls National Park
• Transfers to and from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) where applicable
• Entrance fees into national parks

• Activities not specified
• Airfare
• Fuel
• Border fees
• Tollgate fees
• Meals not specified
• Drinks
• Riding gear

Recommended Airports

• A reservation requires a deposit of 10% of the total price.
• The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
• The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.