12 Day – Ultimate South African Experience Tour | MOTORCYCLE TOUR

Arrive in South Africa

Welcome to South Africa

You can arrive at any time on ‘day 0’ as you motorcycle tour only officially starts on ‘day 01’. Tonight’s accommodation is included as ‘Your bonus night’. A friendly Aquella Travel representative will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in Johannesburg.

 Day tour of Pretoria and BIG 5 Safari 

Highlights: Township tour and BIG 5 Safari

This morning we will hand over your motorcycle to you and sign all the paperwork. After that is complete we will have a tour briefing and then the fun begins. We 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. We will have lunch in a tavern in the township, followed by visit to a rural motorcycle mechanic shop. Afterwards we enjoy a guided motorcycle ride through a BIG 5 nature reserve. Rhinos, giraffes, impala’s and wildebeest can all be spotted. Tonight, we have a welcome dinner in an African Boma. Welcome to Africa! (B, L, D)

Pretoria To Hazyview

Highlights: Scenic mountain passes, Long Tom Cannon

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. (B, L, D)

Panorama route

Highlights: God’s Window, Bourkes Luck Potholes, The Three Rondavels, Waterfalls, Magical Views Sites

Make your way down into Mpumalanga (an area known to Local Bikers as ‘Motorcycle Paradise’) the roads here are beautiful and curvy, and there are so many great view points, rock formations and waterfalls along the way. The route includes stops at Bourkes Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels, and Gods Window as well as a waterfall or two. We will arrive back in Hazyview in the Late Afternoon. Tonight- you will enjoy a traditional African meal and African dances at the Shangana cultural village (B, L, D)

Half Day Safari – Kruger National Park

Highlights: Safari, African wildlife

Today we will bid goodbye to the motorcycles and board a game viewing Safari vehicle which will transport us into 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. We will have a full morning to spot lions, elephants, birds and many different species of animals. In the afternoon we will return to our hotel in Hazyview where we can relax around the pool or take part in any of the optional activities in the area. (B, D)

Hazyview to eSwatini

Highlights: Kingdom of eSwatini

After breakfast, we depart for the Kingdom of eSwatini – the home of the friendly Swazi people. After border procedures (passport and possibly visa required) we weave our way along winding country roads and mountain passes. Today we will visit eSwatini’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 Ezulweni Valley where we will overnight at an excellent country lodge, with its own magnificent restaurant on a wooden deck with spectacular views. (B, L, D)

eSwatini to St Lucia

Highlights: Relaxing drive through African Countryside

Today we make our way through eSwatini to South Africa’s Zulu Kingdom, the homeland of the proud Zulu nation. In the late afternoon, we arrive in St Lucia, a world-renowned natural heritage site, with its beautiful secluded beaches, hippos, crocs, whales, endangered turtles, and other wildlife, our home for the next two nights. This afternoon we embark on an exciting sunset river cruise where we see hippos, crocodiles, and other estuary wildlife. Tonight you can explore the many restaurants, pubs, and cocktail bars that St Lucia has to offer. (B, L, D)

St Lucia rest day

Highlights: Many Exciting Optional Activities

St Lucia has so much to offer that we suggest an action packed day undertaking one of the many optional activities on offer e.g. Whale watching & turtle tours (in season). Full and half day game drives are also available into the magnificent Umfolozi/Hluhluwe game reserve. You can also visit a Zulu Cultural Village . As all activities are extremely popular, to avoid disappointment, Aquella Travel prefers to pre-book activities for you. (B, D)

St Lucia to Kwazulu Natal Battlefields 

Highlights: Tour of famous Anglo Boer and Zulu battle sites

Time to head inland to the battlefields of South Africa, an area of huge historical significance during the famous Boer-Zulu- British Wars. We arrive at our lodge early in the afternoon, and embark on a tour of the battlefields with a knowledgeable guide who will make them come alive!

Battlefields to Clarens

Highlights: Drakensberg Mountain range, breathtaking passes

After Breakfast we are on the road again, making our way to Clarens, just outside of Lesotho. En-route we stop off at some tourist attractions with lots of photo opportunities. As we pass through the Drakensberg Mountain range, you will notice how diverse South Africa’s landscape is. The roads along this stretch are very enjoyable! In the afternoon we will arrive at Golden Gate National Park. The Golden Sandstone cliffs in this park are remarkable and the beautiful road twisitng through, will leave you breathless. Tonight we sleep in Clarens, a beautiful little town, hidden in the mountains.

Day Trip into Lesotho and back

Highlights: Lesotho Mountain passes, Katze Dam

Today we ride the ALPS OF AFRICA! After an early start, we enter the Lesotho border and make our way towards Katze Dam (a huge man-made dam that forms part of the Highlands water project which supplies water to South Africa in times of drought). The road to the dam has more turns within 80 km than any other road in Africa. A motorcycle riders’ dream. The condition of the road is excellent with very little traffic. The Katze Dam is truly eye-opening! After lunch, we return along the same road arriving back at the hotel in the late afternoon.

Clarens to Pretoria

Highlights: Relaxing drive back to Pretoria

Time to head back to Pretoria. After breakfast we start the journey back! It is a nice ride through the interior of South Africa. The bikes will be returned in the late afternoon and in the evening we will have a get together where everybody can reminisce about the previous days riding.

End of tour

Sadly your tour of South Africa has come to an end. We 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. You ay wish to extend your motorcycle tour with one of our Add on Tours. Spend a few days in beautiful Cape Town, fly to Victoria Falls or enjoy a 3 Night Safari into Kruger National Park. (b)