Variety Motorcycle Tour - Detailed Itinerary

Chapmans Peak Drive

We meet you at Cape Town International Airport after your direct flights' early morning arrival and convey you to your hotel. We suggest that you catch up on sleep or lounge round the swimming pool.

At 1pm we bring you to our base, issue the bikes and take you on a guided tour of the Cape Peninsula where the Atlantic Ocean pounds the beaches on one side and the warm Indian Ocean caresses the shores on the other side. When possible, this includes negotiating the incredibly spectacular "Chapmans Peak Drive" which is hewn out of a sheer cliff face hundreds of meters above the sea. We pass through the vineyards of the charming Groot Constantia estate, mingle with penguins at Boulders beach and refresh at Cape Point where baboons may try to snatch sweets from your hand.

Total distance 149 km.

Overnight at City Lodge Hotel, Cape Town.

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Whale watching at Hermanus

During the morning we follow the truly magnificent coast line to the resort town of Hermanus. Between July and November the Southern Right whale is very lightly to be seen close inshore, often with newly calved young. Lunch at Hermanus is usually in a restaurant built into a cave overlooking the quaint Old Harbour. Leaving Hermanus we head inland first through rolling wheat lands where the road traverses the hills in fast ,sweeping bends, then over a pass and into the wine producing Worceser valley where the famous Pinoche and Merlot wines are produced. Our overnight stop is on a famous wine farm with charming rooms in the old Cape Dutch style farm house.

Total distance 308 km.

Overnight at Nuy Valley Guest House.

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Today we do the renowned "5 Passes Route". This starts in Montague where rock formations are more distorted and contorted than you will ever have seen previously. Then the challenging Burgers Pass leads into the lofty Rooihoogte pass from where distant views of the endless Karoo plains are visible. You are also close to the Western Cape's highest mountain at 2251 meters where we have a small ski club. This part of the Cape is remote, tranquil and really high. Mitchell's Pass followed by Bains Kloof Pass which has more tight bends than you can count, lead us back to a well deserved hearty meal with superb wine at Nuy.

Total distance 389 km.

Overnight at Nuy Valley Guest House.

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The entire day is spent on our famous "Route 62" through wild, rugged and mountainous country but always on good tar roads. There are few places to stop for lunch so it is usually at either Barrydale (with is very biker friendly restaurant) or Ladysmith. Passing through the mission villages of Suurbraak and Zoar we see life much as it was 100 years ago. The desolate and rugged scenery is interspersed by only a few farms with access to water.

We finish the day at Oudtshoorn which is the ostrich capital of the world and in contrast to the harsh surrounds of the day. Here we relax in the ambience of an exceptionally attractive and well managed country resort a few kilometres outside town.

Total distance 282 km.

Overnight at Montana Guest Farm, Oudtshoorn.

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During the morning we relax and see some of the extraordinary sights of Oudtshoorn. The options are:

1. to visit an ostrich show farm and possibly ride on one
2. visit the Wild Life Sanctuary where crocodiles, leopard, lion, cheetah , enormous snakes together with many other species of African wild life can be seen.
3. visit the world famous Cango Caves with stupendous stalactites and stalagmites.

Garden Route beach

We leave Oudtshoorn after lunch and once again return to the fertile coastal plain via the huge Outeniqua Pass from the top of which you must enjoy the thrilling view. Here the "Garden Route" is at its most attractive with lagoon, lake, mile upon mile of pristine beach and deep forest. The day ends at the busy resort town of Knysna where local grown oysters must be sampled.

Total distance 84 km.

Overnight at Point Lodge, Knysna (situated on the tranquil Knysna lagoon)

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Bungee jumping at Gouritz River

We return to Cape Town on the excellent N2 highway. The first point of interest is Mossel Bay with its ship museum, post office tree and steam engine graveyard. Shortly after Mossel bay at Albertina a quick visit to the Aloe Factory Shop is a must. Here natural Aloe extract ointments for everything from a bubble bath to you dog's face cream are obtainable. Next of interest (and fun for the brave) is the bungee jumping from the Gourtiz River Bridge. You finally approach Cape Town via the historic Sir Lowry's Pass. From the top, Table mountain and all the Cape Flats can be seen from a view sight which is also used for paragliding launches.

Return the bikes and we bus you to your hotel.

Total distance 544 km.

Overnight at City Lodge, Cape Town

We bus you to Cape Town airport for the two hour flight to Durban where Thaba Tours will meet and greet you at Durban International Airport and transfer you to their base at Underberg which involves a 2.5 hour drive through Natal's attractive countryside.

Overnight at the Sani Pass Hotel, Sani Pass near Underberg where dinner is included.

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On Sani Pass

You choose your preferred mode of transport which is either a Suzuki DRZ 400 motorcycle with electric start or a Suzuki LTZ 250 quad bike or riding in the 4x4 back up vehicle. We ascend the Sani Pass, the 3rd highest pass in the world, into Lesotho, the "Kingdom of the Sky". This is rewarded with refreshments at the highest pub in Africa at 2874m. We then climb to 32280m. and have a picnic lunch on route. We finally descend into the Linakaneng Valley to our overnight accommodation at the Mashai Lodge. We will have travelled about 150km. And there is excellent riding terrain all the way. Dinner is self catering but we provide all the food and utensils.

We proceed on a dirt road which is only usable by 4x4 vehicles or bikes. Refreshment stop at the Sehonghong River where a gallery of rock art may be seen. The pass becomes very rugged. We are welcomed at the village by the Chief and his wife and have ample opportunity to chat and interact with the local people who are exceptionally friendly and live in decotated huts. A picnic lunch is taken on route.. During the afternoon the very scenic but rough road leads us even deeper into the Matebeng Valley where we finally set up camp on the river side. Everyone is involved in preparing a delicious dinner, again with all food utensils, camping gear and tents provided. The total travel for the day is about 40 Km.

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Quad bikes in Drakensberg mountains.

Today we encounter the most adventurous part of the journey. The rough track goes over a mountain pass topping 2040m. and travel is not easy !. Along the way more Bushman painting can be seen. A picnic lunch is taken on a summit of 2940m. The descent is somewhat easier than the ascent as this part has been improved. Total travel for the day is about 40km.

Tonight you have the choice of accommodation either in the Sehlabathebe Lodge, the Basotho Village or camping in tents. Again, dinner is self catering with all food etc. provided.

After about 60km. of dirt road to the border, we exit Lesotho and re enter South Africa where travel is far easier on tar roads - a change from the really rough tracks of the last few days. A picnic lunch is provided en route and we arrive at the Sani Pass Hotel during the early afternoon. Dinner in the hotel.

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After breakfast we bus you the 2.5 hours back to Durban airport for your connecting flight to Johannesburg.

NOTE:

1. You MUST have your passport with you for the border crossings.
2. Extension of the holiday and / or accommodation in Durban can be arranged at additional cost.