This truly unique tour entails an initial three day cruise from Cape Town to Walvis Bay in Namibia. We are offering well serviced BMW GS 1200, GS 1150 & F650GS bikes for the tour on board the Royal Mail Ship "St. Helena" which carries 128 passengers ,2000 tons of cargo and has air-conditioning and stabilizers. This is one of the world's last true cargo ships to carry passengers in the laid back and comfortable stile of former years. From Walvis Bay the tour goes north to the world renowned Etosha Pan Game Reserve where you spend an entire day viewing elephant, lion, buffalo , rhino and leopard as well as many others. We then start the long drive back to Cape Town via Windhoek, the dramatic Fish River Canyon in the fearsome Richtersveld National Park, Springbock and Clanwilliam. In all you will cover over 2500 kilometers, the vast majority on excellent tar roads but some on gravel and well surfaced salt roads.
Nights are cold, days dry, sunny and bracing, vistas truly enormous, at times overwhelming in their barrenness and in contrast, nearer Cape Town green and fertile in citrus groves. Distances are large and� in order to accomplish the tour in a reasonable time, you will on occasions have to do over 550 kilometers per day while the average days run is near 359 kilometers. Approaching the Fish River Canyon there is a section of over 70 kilometers of gravel road so all in all, it is a tour for strong and experienced. Drivers.
We are offering well serviced BMW GS650,GS1150 and GS1200 bikes all with two hard side panniers and most with top boxes and tank bags.
| Day 1 |
Fly in to Cape Town and most international flights arrive early am. We meet you at the airport and take you on a short but spectacular orientation tour of Cape Town by mini bus with lunch at the famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. You board the ship at 2.30pm. and having settled in to your air conditioned cabin arranged your dining table in the saloon, settle in for a relaxed and convivial three days and nights at sea. You bikes will already have been loaded on the ship.
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| Days 2 & 3 |
At sea sailing north up the west coast of South Africa and Namibia.
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| Day 4 |
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You arrive at Walvis Bay in Namibia early am. and once you and the bikes have cleared customs formalities we have a look at the characterful old town, the flamingoes and pelicans, or "dune 7" the highest sand dune in the area with stunning sea and desert views from the top. A short 30 k. drive through desert sands takes us to Swarkopmund with its fascinating German colonial architecture. Time permitting a drive of 70 k. north along the beach on a salt paved road with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and complete desert on the other is well worth while
Overnight in Swarkopmund.
Total distance for day 60 k with 15 on gravel roads.
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| Day 5 |
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An early start is recommended as we have a long drive to the Etosha Pan National Park via Usakos, Karibib and Otjiwarongo.
As you leave the coast the pure sand desert gives way to a rocky scrub desert. Open well surfaced roads, little traffic and few towns enable surprisingly high average speeds.
Total distance for day 465 k.
Overnight at Etosha Gateway Lodge
Total distance for day 534 k with 15 on gravel
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| Day 6 |
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A hotel safari vehicle will collect you early am. for a full days tour of the Etosha National Park and in particular the famous Okaukuejo waterhole where the "big Five" can be seen.
Overnight at Etosha Gateway Lodge.
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| Day 7 |
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Returning to Outjo via the C38 road we join the B1 to Windhoek. May we suggest you visit the well known beer hour "Joe's" this evening where some of the finest kudu, ostrich, crocodile,, wart-hog and beef steaks in the country are served - not to forget the fantastic German brewed beer.
Total distance for day 417 k.
Overnight at Vondelhof Guest house, Windhoek.
Total distance for day 417k all on tar.
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Day 8 |
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As you progress south on the B1 road the vegetation gets more and more arid, rocky crags and dry river beds lined with gnarled camel-torn trees line the road and hardly a habitation is seen. Our destination is Keetmanshoop where we overnight at the Birdsmansions Hotel.
Total distance for day 470 k.
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| Day 9 |
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A short section of tar road takes us to the turn off on a gravel road (usually in good condition) of 70 k. to the Ai-Ais Hot Springs resort in the dramatic and awe inspiring Fish River Canyon. Descending on the last section in to the canyon takes some care. Do remember to bring a swimming costume for luxuriating in the hot springs swimming pools just behind your room.
Total distance for day 270 k. with 70 on gravel.
Overnight at Ai-Aix Hot Springs Resort.
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| Day 10 |
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After a few days hard riding you deserve a rest day and the ideal is to spend it mainly viewing the Fish River Canyon on foot. Otherwise you can just relax in the swimming pools few by the hot sumptuous hot springs. Ai-Aix means "burning water" in the local dialect.
Overnight at Ai-Aix Hot Spring Resort.
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| Day 11 |
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Retracing yesterdays gravel road you rejoin the B1 just 142 k. from the South African border on the Orange River. Hopefully formalities do not take too long and you are soon on your way in South Africa to O'Kiep only 118 k. from the border. You have now passed through some of the driest and desolate parts of southern Africa and deserve a very cold beer at the O'Kiep Hotel where we overnight. O'Kiep originated as a cooper mining town.
Total distance for day 330 k. with 70 on gravel.
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| Day 12 |
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Continuing south from O'kiep you enter the area known as Namiqualand (after the indigenous people) and famous for the magnificent yellow and blue desert flowers which bloom after the first rains. We overnight at Clanwilliam where a large damn on the Olifants river gives rise to greenery not seen for ages and vast citrus farms.
Total distance for day 331 k.
Overnight at Clanwillam Country Lodge, Clanwilliam
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| Day 13 |
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An easy ride of 223 k. first through the citrus groves and then rolling wheatlands returns us to Cape Town where the afternoon can be spent either:
Go up Table Mountain by cable car
Just shop and relax at the Waterfront area with a visit to the aquarium or harbour cruise.
Drive round the picturesque Cape Peninsular
Visit the beautiful Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens
Go wine tasting in Stellenbosch.
Take a helicopter flight over the City and Cape Peninsular
Photograph Cape Town with the classic view from accross Table Bay at Blaauberg.
Overnight at City Lodge Hotel, Cape Town Waterfront.
Total distance for day 223 k.
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| Day 14 |
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The morning is a continuation you did not have time for yesterday. Afternoon return the bikes and we bus you to the airport.
For those wishing to extend their stay additional motorcycle hire and hotel rooms can be arranged.
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