Day 0: Arrive in South Africa
Welcome to South Africa. You can arrive at any time on day 0 as your motorcycle tour will officially start on day 1. Tonight’s accommodation is included as your bonus night. A friendly Sama Tours' representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in Pretoria.
Day 1: Day tour of Pretoria and BIG 5 Safari by motorcycle (up to 50 kilometers / 31 miles)
This morning, Sama Tours will hand over your motorcycle to you and sign all the paperwork. After that is complete, you will have a tour briefing and then the fun begins. You will start off by taking a tour of a small township just north of Pretoria to experience all the vibrant colors, sounds, and tastes of Africa. You will have lunch in a tavern in the township, followed by a visit to a rural motorcycle mechanic shop. Afterwards, you will enjoy a guided motorcycle ride through a big 5 nature reserve. Rhinos, giraffes, impalas, and wildebeests can all be spotted from your motorcycle. Tonight, you will have a welcome dinner in an African boma. Welcome to Africa!
- Highlights: Township tour and BIG 5 motorcycle safari
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 2: Pretoria to Hazyview (approximately 400 kilometers / 249 miles)
Today, you make your way up into Mpumalanga - an area known to local riders as “Biker Paradise”. As you head up north, the roads become mountainous with beautiful views of the rolling hills below. A highlight is riding Long Tom Pass. Enjoy the great twisties and arrive in Hazyview in the last afternoon.
- Highlights: Scenic mountain passes, Long Tom Cannons
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 3: Panorama Route (250 kilometers / 155 miles)
Make your way down to Mpumalanga (an area known to local bikers as “Motorcycle Paradise”) where the roads here are beautiful and curvy, and there are so many great viewpoints, rock formations, and waterfalls along the way. The route will include stops at Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels, and God’s Window. Although there are so many attractions signposted along the way, you may just wish to pull off and experience a few of them. You will arrive in Hazyview in the late afternoon. Tonight, you will enjoy a traditional African meal and African dances at the Shangana Cultural Village.
- Highlights: God's Window, Bourkes Luck Potholes, The Three Rondavels, Waterfalls, Magical Views Sites
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: Half day safari to Kruger National Park (50 kilometers / 31 miles)
Today, you will bid goodbye to the motorcycles and board a game viewing safari vehicle which will transport you to the Kruger National Park. This world-famous wildlife reserve is home to the BIG 5 and is roughly the size of a small country. The vastness of the park allows ample opportunity to view wild animals in their natural habitat. You will have a full day to spot lions, elephants, birds, and many different species of animals. In the afternoon, you will return to your hotel in Hazyview where you can relax around the pool or take part in any of the optional activities in the area.
- Highlights: Safari, African wildlife
- Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 5: Hazyview to Swaziland (300 kilometers / 186 miles)
After breakfast, you will depart for the kingdom of Swaziland, home to the friendly Swazi people. After border procedures (passport and possibly visa required), you will weave your way along winding country roads and mountain passes. Today, you will visit Swaziland’s own glass factory (Ngwenya Glass) and see the world-famous Swazi candles being handcrafted at Swazi Candles. There are many excellent restaurants, pubs, and craft markets in the Ezulwini Valley where you will overnight at an excellent country lodge, with its own magnificent restaurant on a wooden deck with spectacular views.
- Highlights: Kingdom of Swaziland
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 6: Swaziland to Lake Jozini (250 kilometers / 155 miles)
Today, you will make your way through Swaziland to South Africa’s Zulu Kingdom, the homeland of the proud Zulu nation. In the late afternoon, you will arrive in Lake Jozini. Your lodge is in the hills overlooking the spectacular Jozini Dam and surrounded by wildlife parks. Enjoy a drink on the deck while watching another spectacular African sunset.
- Highlights: Relaxing drive through the African countryside
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 7: Jozini Rest Day and Tembe Safari (up to 50 kilometers / 31 miles)
Today, you'll be up bright and early for a Safari into Tembe Elephant Park. Here, the Big tuskers roam - with African Largest Ivory Tusks. This is also home to the Big 5 and your local guide will make the bush come alive. You will return to the lodge in the early afternoon and are free to relax at the pool, book an African spa treatment or even try your hand at Tiger Fishing.
- Highlights: Safari into Tembe Elephant Park
- Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 8: Lake Jozini to Oribi Gorge (350 kilometers / 217 miles)
After breakfast, you will travel down the KwaZulu-Natal coastline through Durban to the South Coast holiday town of Port Shepstone, where you will head inland via a beautiful mountain road to the spectacular Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve. Tonight, you can witness the magnificent African sunset over the breathtaking Gorge.
- Highlights: Breathtaking views over Oribi Gorge
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 9: Oribi Gorge to Coffee Bay (450 kilometers / 280 miles)
After an early breakfast, it is time to head for the Wild Coast, where the famous Madiba which is former president Nelson Mandela, was born. You will see why this region is called the Wild Coast. Endless unspoiled sandy beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see make this destination well worth a visit.
- Highlights: wild and undeveloped ocean paradise
- Meals: no meals
Day 10: Coffee Bay rest day (50 kilometers / 31 miles)
This morning, there will be an optional ride to Hole in the Wall, along the most spectacular dirt road that meanders up and down beautiful winding mountains overlooking the sea. The rest of the day may be spent relaxing on the beach, learning to surf, or taking part in any of the adventurous activities on offer. Sit back relax and let the Wild Coast sink in.
- Highlights: Hole in the wall, relaxing on the beach
- Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 11: Coffee Bay to Port Alfred (450 kilometers / 280 miles)
After an early breakfast, you will bid the rolling hills and sea cliffs of the Wild Coast farewell and make your way inland following the N2 to East London. You will continue along the coastal road to Port Alfred, a beautiful little mariner town with stunning sea views and good places to eat. In the late afternoon, you may wish to take a walk over the beautiful sand dunes the dominate Port Alfred's beachfront.
- Highlights: Port Alfred Mariner
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 12: Port Alfred to Tsitsikamma (340 kilometers / 211 miles)
Today, you follow the coastal route to the start of the famous Garden Route. You ride into the Tsitsikamma National Park and sleep in wooden cabins overlooking Storms River Mouth. You will have the whole afternoon free to explore this beautiful National Park. Storms River is the start of your famous “Otter Trail” and you can walk part of the hike down to the breathtaking suspension bridges between the sea cliffs. Enjoy an evening spent in this very unique camp overlooking the Indian Ocean.
- Highlights: Tsitsikamma, Suspension bridges, Storms River Mouth and riding the Garden Route
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 13: Tsitsikamma - Knysna - Oudtshoorn (260 kilometers / 162 miles)
Today, you ride the world-famous Garden Route. Your first stop is the spectacular Bloukrans Gorge. Bloukrans is home to the world Highest Bungee Jump - 216 meters of pure adrenalin. Next up, you ride into Knysna and marvel at the beautiful Knysna Heads. From here, riders can either take the dirt or tar route into the mountains. Both options include unbelievable views and spectacular mountain roads, that the Garden Route is known for. You will arrive in Oudtshoorn, the Ostrich Capital of South Africa, in the late afternoon. This will be your home for the next two nights.
- Highlights: Knysna Heads, Garden Route Mountain Passes
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 14: Oudtshoorn rest day (up to 250 kilometers / 155 miles)
Today is a rest day, but there is so much to see and do! You will have a guided tour of the Cango Caves with its beautiful stalactites and stalagmites and a tour of a working Ostrich farm, where you will get to feed, touch and hug Ostriches. For those that would like to do some more exciting dirt riding, there will be an optional ride over the famous Swartberg Pass; this is a bucket list ride for adventure bikers the world over. This afternoon, relax and enjoy the warm Karoo hospitality that this area is known for. This evening, you will be treated to a traditional Ostrich Braai (BBQ) that will tantalize your taste buds.
- Highlights: Garden Route, Ostrich farms, Cango Caves and spectacular mountain passes
- Meals: breakfast and dinner
Day 15: Oudtshoorn to Cape Agulhas (350 kilometers / 218 miles)
After an early breakfast, you will make your way to the start of Route 62. The road winds through the Swartberg mountains and beautiful foothills in their valleys. You will make your way down to Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa at 34° S and 20°. Here, the ice-cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean meet the warm Indian Ocean, creating a turbulent mixture of untamed beauty. There is always a party at Cape Agulhas, as you will celebrate reaching the most southern point of Africa. There are great photo opportunities at the southernmost tip.
- Highlights: Route 62, Folding Mountain Passes, The Southern Most Tip of Africa
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 16: Cape Agulhas to Cape Winelands (300 kilometers / 187 miles)
Today, you make your way to Cape Winelands. En-route, you will stop in at Hermanus, the whale watching capital of South Africa and also at Bettys Bay, where you will get up close to penguins living on the beach. The Cape Winelands is a beautiful landscape of vineyards, mountains and fruit farms. The riding is also world-class with some exciting mountain passes. Tonight, you will sleep in the heart of the Winelands and enjoy some local wine tasting.
- Highlights: Cape Winelands
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 17: Cape Winelands - Cape Point - Cape Town (180 kilometers / 112 miles)
Today, you make your way to Cape Town, South Africa’s Mother City. Today is the highlight of the trip as there are beautiful coastal views with twisting roads cut into the sea cliffs virtually all the way. You'll start the day with a ride to the “Simonstown” - a working navy base. After that, you make your way to Cape Point - the most South-westerly point of Africa (with views of the Cape Peninsula). Next up, you ride the famous Chapmans peak drive past False Bay and then, head over Signal hill into Cape Town, where you'll celebrate the end of an amazing tour at one of Cape Town’s best restaurants. What a ride!
- Highlights: Cape Point, Chapmans Peak, Simons Town, Coastal Roads, Signal Hill
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 18 - End of tour in Cape Town (50 kilometers / 31 miles)
Sadly, your tour of South Africa has come to an end. Sama Tours guarantee that you will take home loads of awesome photographs and fond memories of South Africa the warm people you have met. Transfers will be arranged to the airport.
- Highlights: Township tour and BIG 5 motorcycle safari
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Skill level required for this tour:
Beginner
- can ride for two to three hours
- minimal riding experience
- assistance required
- comfortable with curves and leans
- basic experience with unsurfaced roads
- short distance ascents and descents
