Exploring South Africa by Motorcycle
My thing has always been travel. I simply love new places and meeting people. My favourite buzz is culture shock. It makes me feel alive and excited as my mind grapples with new concepts. My favourite form of transport is the motorcycle. Not only does it propose logistics and riding thrills but it also allows me to feel close to my environment and often entices people to interact with me.
With that, I’d like to share with you some places in South Africa you should see by motorcycle as that’s how I like to travel:
Cape Peninsula
Cape Town is a popular holiday destination and often we hear it being called one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Capetonians are not just arrogant but quite right too. I really do recommend hiring a Harley or BMW and taking a leisurely ride all around the Peninsula. Start the ride in the city bowl, passing Clifton beach where millionaires sun bathe, reach the quaint town of Hout Bay and then wind through the lush Celia forest and by midday reach the Cape Point Nature Reserve. On the way back follow the coastal road overlooking the False Bay and possibly spot whales. Your day will end back in town or arrange to have the bikes collected from Camps Bay where sundowners are the order of the day.
Cederberg
A two hour ride from Cape Town is the Cederberg which is famous for its spectacular rock formations of sandstone and shale. The vegetation in this area is a combination of fynbos and karoo succulents. This interesting landscape was home to the San Bushmen and evidence in the form of rock paintings can be found and dated as old as 28,000 years old and some as recent as 100 years ago. But what makes this stunning landscape particularly attractive for motorcyclists are the sweeping mountain passes and windy gravel roads. There are many accommodation options including reasonably priced B&Bs and well run camp sites. A three day trip on a dual purpose bike (for example BMW650GS or similar) with a guide is recommended.
The Garden Route
The Garden Route is a very pretty part of South Africa that is lush with green forest vegetation and gentle rolling hills that make this look like a well tendered garden, hence the name. The towns worth visiting are Wildnerness, Knysna and Plettenberg Bay with bungee jumping just beyond at Storms River. To go there by motorbike I would recommend starting in Cape Town, where the vegetation is shrubby fynbos, and cross over the Overberg mountains where you will reach the Route 62. This charming road takes you through the Klein Karoo via numerous quaint little towns in a dry but stunning landscape. Once reaching Outshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world, head south to Wildnerness. Then follow the coastline taking in all the beauty of this unique endangered forest that still has numerous large yellow wood trees. Once you have done your bungee jump and walked through the forest, head along the coast line, stopping off at Cape Agulhas which is the most southern point of Africa. Once again you will be in fynbos territory and the coastline has many beautiful rocky passes with turquoise and blue oceans and sky. The whole route is on tar road with the option to venture onto gravel.
For more information about a guided tour of South Africa by motorcycle, contact Two Wheel Africa Tours or visit one of the routes mentioned here today: the Cape Peninsula Tour, the Cederberg Tour, or The Garden Route.
Editor’s Note: Prior to publication of this article, the author Sandi had a rather nasty motorcycle accident. Thankfully she and her company are well versed in motorcycle safety so she’s well on the road to good health. The STE team wishes her a speedy recovery.
Disclosure: Two Wheel Africa Tour’s position as a client of our sister company in no way reflects on our decision to run this trip report.
Sandi runs Two Wheel Africa Tours, a South Africa-based motorcyling tour company.
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