South Africa Tour (SAT2502)
Our first day was all about acclimating and preparing for the adventure ahead. For our American guests, it was also a great chance to adjust to the time difference so that we can start the tour more or less in sync with the local time zone. Due to a few hiccups with flight connections, not everyone managed to arrive in time for the main briefing — but since we’re in the land of Hakuna Matata, we’re not letting a few delays worry us! Even before the tour officially begins, we’ve already had our first taste of African wildlife — some curious animals greeted us right at the hotel! A little preview of what’s waiting for us in the days ahead. During the welcome dinner, we had a wonderful time sharing our expectations, getting to know each other better, and building up the excitement for our first riding day tomorrow. The adventure officially begins!
Today marked the first riding day of our adventure. We kicked things off under brilliant blue skies and a delightfully mild temperature. After our daily briefing, excitement was buzzing—everyone was eager to hit the road. We mounted our bikes and cruised along the highway as we left Johannesburg behind. It was the perfect chance to get comfortable with our motorcycles and the quirks of left-hand traffic. By the time we rolled into the town where we’d stop for lunch, things got a little livelier—motor intersections demanded extra attention. But by now, we were all in the groove, so it was no sweat at all. Post-lunch, we’d been riding for a while when the clouds began to thicken. I decided to pull over and suit up in rain gear—just in case. Felt pretty clever when the rain started exactly as we resumed the ride. Granted, it was just a light sprinkle lasting maybe 30 seconds—so minor we probably could’ve powered through without the gear—but hey, perfect timing! Soon enough, the sun returned, the heat kicked up, and we paused again to shed the rain gear. From there, it was about 30 kilometres to our next coffee stop. Around 10 kilometres out, a light drizzle began. Should we stop so close to coffee? Nope—we guessed we’d be fine. Just 8 kilometres left when the skies opened up and it poured buckets. My thoughts: stopping now would only get us just as soaked while putting on rain gear, so we pressed on. Once at the café, we enjoyed a cozy warm coffee, waited out the worst of the storm, and then took off again through light drizzle toward the Long Tom Pass. Thankfully, the weather cleared as we hit the pass, letting us soak in stunning views and savor those twisty roads—rain-free this time. Now, we’re all settled at the hotel, buzzing with excitement over a fantastic day and eager for all the adventures still ahead. What an epic start—and here’s to everything that’s yet to come!
After getting a great first impression of South Africa yesterday, we went even one better today. We had a day full of driving fun and amazing sights. In the morning, we drove over Long Tom Pass again, a beautiful route with great asphalt and lovely curves that seems to have been made for motorcycles. We then took Robbers Pass to Pilgrim's Rest, a town that was founded in 1870 during the gold rush. The days when gold was found here are long gone, but the town's fascinating history makes it well worth a long stroll. We then drove on to God's Window, a spectacular viewpoint where you can enjoy the view of the Lowveld 700 meters below. Could, because unfortunately it was so foggy there today that we couldn't see anything. Fortunately, we had so many highlights on the agenda today that we were able to get over it. After our lunch stop at the waterfalls at Bourke's Luck Potholes, we drove on to Blyde River Canyon, the third largest canyon in the world. After another coffee break, we continued towards Hazyview, our destination for the day. From there, we will visit Kruger National Park tomorrow.
Today was our first rest day on this tour, and for a change we left our motorcycles at the hotel. We had a good reason not to ride today, because we spent the whole day on safari in Kruger National Park. Early in the morning, we were picked up in two open jeeps and taken directly to Africa's largest national park. The park covers almost 20,000 km², so you never know exactly which animals you will see. We were very lucky today and got to see three of the so-called Big Five: elephants, Cape buffalo, and lions. We also saw countless giraffes and zebras, some of which seemed to be waiting for us right next to the road. After a great picnic in the park, we headed back to our hotel, where we ended the wonderful day with a beer by the pool.
Yesterday evening, before dinner, we were treated to a wonderful show of drums and dancing, giving us a vibrant and energetic glimpse into the local culture. After our safari day, it was time to get back on our bikes today. As always, we began with breakfast and a briefing to prepare for the day ahead. Just a few minutes in, we made a quick stop to snap some photos of the vast banana plantations. Not long after, we pulled over at a small center that offered a coffee stop, quaint little shops and boutiques, and even a car and bike museum. The car collection featured some classic models that started with a hand crank, alongside some impressive Landesversammlung vehicles used for filming wildlife. The bike display was equally impressive, showcasing some beautiful motorcycles. Definitely a charming spot to explore and take it all in. After this interesting break, we hit the road again, heading toward the border with Eswatini. The border formalities weren’t too bad, but standing around in 35 degrees in the shade certainly made it feel hotter. Since we were all feeling the heat, we collectively decided to skip lunch and ride straight to the hotel. We did make a short stop to capture the stunning Eswatini landscape with some photos, but then we were off again to the hotel. We arrived around 4 PM and were greeted with a cold Boot Beer—perfectly refreshing after such a warm ride! Now, we’re all relaxing by the pool, enjoying a drink, and reflecting on yet another fantastic day of riding!
Unfortunately, our stay in Eswatini was very short, as we are already heading back to South Africa today. We were very impressed by this small country's beautiful landscape, and it certainly has much more to offer. In the morning, we leave our hotel in Mbabane and head south. After a few kilometers on the highway, which quickly takes us out of the city, we turn off and stop at the Swasi Candle Factory. There, artistic candles are handmade, and it is fascinating to watch the speed with which these little works of art are created. We then continue through the hilly landscape of Eswatini to the border. Contrary to what one might expect at a border crossing, we see only smiling faces everywhere, and every border official wants to pose on our motorcycles for a photo. Back in South Africa, we stop for lunch in Piet Retief before continuing through Zulu territory towards our hotel in Mkuze.
Today was set out to be a day with quite a few kilometres, but that also meant we got to enjoy a lot of different landscapes. The ride started off along the highway where we had a little detour to a traditional village. The village was so traditional that we had to make our way over a short gravel road that eventually turned into very loose sand. We decided to park the bikes before the sand and walk the last little bit. On the walkway to the restaurant, we got to see a part of the Reptile Park they had there, with two very big alligators. Luckily behind a fence. In the village, we had a special surprise during our coffee break. Robert had his birthday today, so we had arranged a little surprise: the staff came out and sang him a birthday song in Zulu, and we gave him a little birthday gift—one of the candles from the candle maker that we visited yesterday. After this stop, it was back on the highway for a while so we could make our way towards the coast efficiently. Once we got there, we had lunch at a German restaurant. We had a pre-arranged shared dining plate for us with Sauerkraut, Eisbein, and other typical German dishes. After lunch, it was time to walk down to the beach, feel the breeze (or strong wind is more accurate), and watch the waves crashing in. Our first look at the Indian Ocean. This was also the moment we said goodbye to the straight roads and made our way into the land of a thousand hills. Here we got to see a lot of sugarcane plantations, as well as a few trucks with the staff being brought back to town. They were super excited to see us and greeted us very warmly with big smiles and waves all around. Our last stop of the day was in Pietermaritzburg, our first introduction to riding through one of the busier South African cities. People walking everywhere and a nicely controlled chaotic environment. A short walk down the street to see the Gandhi statue, and then back on the bikes to our hotel. Lenro was waiting for us here with a nice cold beer. A great way to end a long and eventful day.
Today we continue southeast, always heading towards the destination of our tour, Cape Town. As the weather forecast has predicted rain for this afternoon, we set off half an hour earlier so that we can drive in dry conditions for as long as possible. After leaving the hotel, we first make a detour to the Nelson Mandela Capture Site. Mandela, who was in hiding at the time, was captured here in 1962 during a roadside check and spent the next 27 years in prison before being elected South Africa's first black president after his release and the end of apartheid. We then drove on to Underberg for our first coffee break. Unfortunately, the rain that had been forecast did indeed start shortly afterwards, which is why we didn't get to take many photos today. This is a shame, because today's route along the Drakensberg Mountains would have offered us many great views.
Today was a shorter day in distance, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t a lot for us to see. We took off from Mthatha and quickly said goodbye to the city. We then continued our ride through Transkei. Our first stop was at a monument of the birthplace of Nelson Mandela, where we took some pictures. After this, we had a short spell of rain, but nothing we couldn’t handle, after the practice with rain yesterday. From here we went on to the former border of Transkei where we had a short coffee break. From here on, the road got a little more twisty, so we had a chance to enjoy the ride until we reached the coast. Here we had lunch at a very nice beach club, where we could enjoy some sunshine and the view of the waves crashing into the beach. The last part of the ride was parallel to the coast, towards our hotel. The closer we got, the more the sky opened up, and the sun started to peek through. Once we got to the hotel, the sun had really come out, so it was a perfect opportunity for us to have a Boot Beer at the beach, overlooking the ocean and chatting about how the trip has been so far. I am sure some people will now be putting on their swimsuits and taking the chance to dip into the ocean. After our swimming fun, we will head into the restaurant for dinner. And I think we will do some Christmas Caroling afterwards, as the hotel has already set up the Christmas tree..
Yesterday's hotel right on the beach was an absolute dream, so it's a little hard for us to say goodbye this morning. But another great day on the motorcycles lies ahead of us, so we set off westward along the coast. After a quick fuel stop in Port Alfred, we turn north and visit the world's largest pineapple and a very interesting agricultural museum in Bathurst. Our next stop is Grahamstown, a nice little town with many old Victorian houses. Then we head south again to Kenton-on-Sea, where we stop for lunch at a great restaurant. Our hotel today is in Port Elizabeth, one of the largest cities in South Africa, and we take advantage of our early arrival to stroll around the city a little.
Today was a very exhilarating day, especially for 4 of us.. We started the day with a more relaxed ride from the hotel, and then a very nice stop at a place we called The Cameleon. This was our coffee stop, but it also had a shop with a lot of nice trinkets and things to look at. The whole place had a great atmosphere, a true hidden gem. From then on the excitement was building, as some of us had decided to go bungee jumping on the highest bungee jump in the world. From coffee they went ahead, so they would be ready to jump when we got there to see them. On our way to the jump, we did a quick stop at the Paul Sauer Bridge for some sights of the Garden Route. And then off to the Jumping bridge. We got there just in time to see them get ready, watch them jump and of course take pictures and drone videos. And afterwards of course listen to the stories of the experience. After the jump we went into Nature's Valley. After we did lots of wide and straight roads, this was a pleasant change as it was närrisch, twisty and absolutely stunning! In Knysna we took the time to ride up to a viewpoint with stunning sights of the bay. After this we rode to the other side of the bay and had a ‘coffee’ stop. Or a more accurate name is amazing Milkshake stop. Afterwards we went through George and then up the pass, another amazing twisty road, with an amazing landscape at the end. At the Hotel we were greeted by the Ostriches from the farm next door, a beautiful sunset and a great hotel. Now we get to try Ostrich meat for Dinner, that will be a nice experience! Another amazing day!
This morning we split up our group. While some took the opportunity to sleep in and then relax a little longer at the hotel, the rest of the group set off to explore the Swartberg Mountains. First, we headed north over the Meiringspoort Pass and, after a coffee stop in the small village of Prince Albert, one of the highlights of this tour was on the agenda. The Swartberg Pass is unpaved and leads through picturesque countryside at an altitude of over 1500 meters, and it was an absolute pleasure for us to drive. Afterwards, we met up with the rest of the group at the hotel, where Lenro was already waiting for us with a traditional South African barbecue. Thus fortified, we drove a little over 200 kilometers through the so-called Little Karoo, a desert-like landscape with great views, to Montagu, where we will enjoy a wine tasting this evening.
Today we were driving from Montagu to Franshoek, with a stop at the most southern tip of Africa. The ride went south through farm fields as far as the eye could reach. Beautiful yellow colors, like a painting. They could have added a few curves between the fields, but it was a beautiful ride nonetheless. During the ride, we were stopped by the police for a very friendly routine check. They only wanted to check 2 of our bikes and sent us on our way. As luck would have it, one of the 2 people they wanted to check was the one person who had left their driver's licence in their luggage. (Don’t worry Alfred, I won’t tell them it was you.) But she said it was fine, just checked the next person and sent us on our way. At the southernmost tip of Africa, Cape Agulhas, we had to take some pictures and walk about a little bit. With the beautiful blue sky, mild wind, and medium size waves, it made for a beautiful sight. Accompanied by some milkshakes as a cherry on top of the cake. After the stop, we made our way north for a while, and then turned off towards the west, towards the town of Hermanus. Here we agreed on a time to be back, so everybody could look around and have the food they wanted. For most people, that meant trying the very fresh seafood, or a nice ice cream or doing some shopping. After lunch it was only a short ride to the hotel, but boy is it worth it to be here a little early. Our hotel is on the same premises as a local brewery that does Belgian style craft beers, and upon arrival, we were greeted with a cold one to try. After the beer, it was off to our rooms, the pool, or just walk about the beautiful location. There is even a peacock walking around to greet us.
Today was the second rest day on our tour, so we could have left our motorcycles at the hotel. But the beautiful weather and the great routes in the area would have been too good to miss, so the whole group decided to go for a short ride today as well. And so we set off at around 9 a.m. to explore the area north of Franshoek. First, we rode over the Du Toitskloof Pass. It had only reopened a few weeks ago after the entire route had been repaved. We didn't mind the few remaining small construction sites, as the rest of the pass was fantastic to ride on. We then returned via Bain's Kloof Pass, one of the absolute highlights of this tour in terms of riding. The route, with its countless curves and picturesque views, is perfect for motorcycles. After a well-deserved coffee break, we returned to our hotel. Tonight, we will explore the beautiful town of Franshoek.
Sadly, we have arrived at our last riding day of our South Africa tour. But of course, we had to end on a high! The ride started off through some more vineyards and fancy neighborhoods. Once we got close to Cape Town, we drove past one of the major townships. It was interesting to see the contrast. Once we were almost past, the police had blocked the road because the wind had blown a dune over the road, so we had a little detour through the outskirts of the township. A good way to put our tour into perspective. Then a beautiful spot on the water for some pictures. The next stop was to see the penguins on the coast. They were playing hide and seek, as only a few of us managed to find them, but the location was very nice nonetheless. From there it was on to the famous Kaap de Goede Hoop / Cape of Good Hope. We first had a look at the lighthouse, and then made our way to the famous sign, where we of course had to take a nice group picture. The wind made it a very lively sight. To make our lunch on the last day something special, we had a little picnic on one of the beaches on the Kaap Point. A beautiful spot with turquoise water, and even 2 ostriches. Surprisingly, only one person was motivated for a dip in the ocean at this amazing spot. I thought it would help if I led by example, but the rest chose to miss out. From there it was off to Signal Hill. A viewpoint next to the city centre with amazing views of the high-rise buildings in the centre, as well as Table Mountain behind the city. A wonderful place to stop for our last tour pictures. Now we are about to get ready for our final dinner, so we can raise our glasses to a successful and unforgettable tour!