16 DAY GARDEN ROUTE TOUR | MOTORCYCLE TOUR

Welcome to South Africa. You can arrive at any time on ‘day 0’ as your 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 OR Tambo International Airport and transfer you to your hotel in Johannesburg.

Johannesburg to Magoebaskloof, South Africa 

Highlights: Scenic Mountain passes, Long Tom Cannons

Today you make your way up into South Africa’s wild Limpopo Province. As you head up north, the roads become mountainous with beautiful views of the rolling hills below. Enjoy the great twisties and arrive at the majestic Magoebaskloof hotel, situated on the top of a beautiful mountain pass with breathtaking views of the valley below. There is a lot to do at the hotel. You can take a walk to the waterfall, spotting birds and ngo Monkeys along the way or you can chill out at the Phoenix and Fireman Pub! (B, L, D)

Magoebaskloof to Hazyview via the Panorama Route

Highlights: God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, The Three Rondavel’s, Waterfalls, Magical Views Sites

Today we make our 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.. We will arrive in Hazyview in the Late Afternoon. Tonight, we enjoy a traditional African meal and African dances at the Shangana cultural village. (Meals: B, L, D)

Hazyview Rest Day and Half Day Safari into Kruger National Park

Highlights: Kruger National Park

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 the whole morning to spot lions, elephants, birds and many different species of animals. In the afternoon there is an optional motorcycle ride over the Famous ‘Long Tom Pass’ – a must for anyone who likes to ride twisties!!! (Meals: B, L)

Hazyview to Clarens

Highlights: Golden Gate National Park

Today is a long ride through the interior of South Africa. In the late afternoon we will arrive in Clarens. This is a small arty town on the outskirts of Golden Gate National Park surrounded by beautiful Sandstone cliffs. Clarens is an artist’s paradise: poets, painters and sculptures’ from all over the world come to Clarens to witness its famous GOLDEN Sunsets. Spend the late afternoon wondering around the craft shops and have dinner in one of the numerous restaurants in town. Clarens also has its very own brewery where you can taste some local beers and ciders (Meals: B,L)

Clarens to Sani Pass Hotel

Highlights: Golden Gate National Park, Drakensberg Mountains, Rolling green hills

Today’s ride is believably scenic. We ride down through the Golden Gate National Park. This park is made up of sandstone cliffs, with scenic rock formations. Watch out for Antelope and vervet monkeys crossing the road – you’re in the wild here! We spend the rest of the day riding through the majestic Drakensberg Mountains and arrive at the Sani Pass Hotel in the early afternoon.. (Meals included: B, L, D)

Rest Day Sani Pass

Highlights: The infamous Sani Pass and a 4 x 4 Tour

Today we have a rest day at the Sani Pass hotel. We have included a 4 x 4 trip up the Sani Pass and into Lesotho (A small mountainous country completely surrounded by South Africa). For those that are very experienced at Dirt Riding- you will be able to do this tour on their motorcycles, but for those that are not to confident and wives/non riding partners, a 4 x 4 escort will be arranged Sani Pass is a very technical ride – hairpin bends, rocky sections and vertical drop offs. Once in Lesotho (Passport required) we will enjoy a visit to a Local Lesotho Village where you can taste some local beer and later we enjoy a meal at the ‘Highest Pub in Africa’ before returning to the Sani Pass Hotel for the Night. (Meals: B,L,D)

Sani Pass to East London

Highlights: Cintsa Beach

Leaving the rolling hills of the Drakensberg behind, we make our way through the Eastern Cape To our lodge just outside of East London. Tonight, we sleep right on one of the most beautiful surfing beaches in the country. We enjoy an amazing meal and fall asleep to the sound of Waves crashing below us.  (Meals: B, L, D)

East London to Addo Elephant National Park

Highlights: Addo Elephant National Park

Today we make our way through the rolling hills of the Eastern Cape, stopping in to see the Giant Pineapple in Bathurst. In the early afternoon we will arrive at the Addo Elephant National Park – home to Africa’s famous BIG 5. Later we will embark on a sunset game drive in an open safari vehicle. Addo is famous for its large herds of elephants (Meals: B,L,D)

Addo to Tsitsikamma

Highlights: Tsitsikamma Park

We start off our day with a Sunrise Game Drive into Addo Elephant National Park and the after a scrumptious breakfast,  we follow the coastal route to the start of the famous Garden Route. We ride into the Tsitsikamma National Park and sleep in wooden cabins overlooking Storms River Mouth, Our home for the next two nights. You will have the whole afternoon free to explore this beautiful National Park. Storms River is the start of our famous ‘Otter Trail’ and you can walk part of the hike down to the breath-taking suspension bridges between the sea cliffs. (B, L, D)

Tsitsikamma Rest Day

Highlights: Tsitsikamma Park

This is the perfect place to enjoy a rest day. Relax with the sounds and beautiful views of the Indian Ocean. There are also plenty of exciting optional activities on offer. You can join a kayaking tour to explore the Storms River Gorge or enjoy a Treetop canopy tour, Tarzan style, through a forest of gigantic trees. You may also wish to book yourself in for a spa treatment or enjoy an optional ride to explore more of the Garden Route. Other activities include Walks, Quadbiking, Segway tours, tubing, and more. Storms River is an idyllic village with many great restaurants to choose from as well as quirky little shops (B,L,D)

Tsitsikamma – Knysna – Oudtshoorn

Highlights: Knysna Heads, Garden Route Mountain Passes

Today we ride the world-famous Garden Route. Our firsts top is the spectacular Bloukrans Gorge. Bloukrans is home to the world Highest Bungee Jump – 216 Meters of pure Adrenalin. Next up we ride into Knysna and marvel at the beautiful Knysna Heads. From here riders can either take the dirt or tar route to Oudtshoorn. Both options include unbelievable views and the spectacular mountain roads that the Garden Route is Known for. We will arrive in Oudtshoorn- the Ostrich Capital of South Africa- in the late afternoon. This will be our home for the next two nights. (B,L,D)

Oudtshoorn Rest Day

Highlights: Garden Route, Ostrich farms, Cango Caves, and spectacular mountain passes

Today is a rest day, but there is so much to see and do. We will have a guided tour of the Cango Caves with its beautiful stalactites and stalacmites 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 we will be treated to a traditional Ostrich Braai (BBQ) that will tantalize your taste buds. (B,D)

Oudtshoorn to Cape Agulhas

Highlights: Route 62, Folding Mountain Passes, The Southern Most Tip of Africa

After an early breakfast we make our way to the start of Route 62. The road winds through the Swartberg Mountains and beautiful foothills in their valleys. We make our way down to Cape Agulhas- the Southernmost tip of Africa at 34° S and 20° E. 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 we celebrate reaching the most southern point of Africa – there are great photo opportunities at the Southern most tip! (B,L,D)

Cape Agulhas to Cape Winelands

Highlights:  Cape Winelands

Today we make our way to Cape Winelands. En-route we will stoop in at Hermanus, the whale watching capital of South Africa and also at Bettys Bay where we 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 we will sleep in the heart of the winelands and enjoy some local wine tasting. (B,L,D)

Cape Winelands- Cape Point – Cape Town 

Highlights: Cape Point, Chapmans Peak, Simons Town, Coastal Roads, Signal Hill

Today we make our 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. We start the day with a ride to the ‘Simonstown’- a working navy base. After that we make our way to Cape Point- the most South- westerly point of Africa (with views of the Cape Peninsula). Next up we ride the famous Chapman’s peak drive past False Bay and then head over Signal hill into Cape Town, where we celebrate the end of an amazing tour at one of Cape Town’s best restaurants. What a ride! (B,L,D)

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 Southern Africa and the warm people you have met. Transfers will be arranged to the airport.

Cape Town is such a beautiful city and is really worth staying for a few extra nights after the tour- there is so much to see and do including Cable Car Rides up Table Mountain, Robben Island trips to see where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 26 years and wine tasting tours to sample our famous South African wines.