South Africa XXL Adventure Tour

Welcome to Cape Town!

After arriving in Johannesburg/Cape Town Airport, get on your transfer to domestic departures for your onward flight to Kruger Mpumalanga International airport (own flight arrangements). On arrival at Kruger Airport, you will be met by our local tour company and transferred to your hotel, which is situated close to the Kruger National Park. Here you will have the opportunity to freshen up before you can explore the nearby surroundings on your own.

When all tour participants have arrived, we meet for a welcome reception and refreshment, with introduction of all tour participants and tour leaders. The evening’s program is getting to know each other.

(Explorer & fun day)

This morning is an early departure for a full-day safari in the Kruger National Park, the largest of the South African National Parks and home to approximately 350.000 animals, as well as over 500 bird species, including eagles and vultures. Here you will have the opportunity to view the big five; elephant, lion, rhino, buffalo, and leopard. Mountains, bush plains, and tropical forests are all part of the landscape.

(Explorer & fun day)

The Blyde River Canyon is a significant feature of South Africa and the second largest Canyon in Africa. It consists mainly of red sandstone, and it supports a wide diversity of life, including numerous fish species and antelope, crocodiles, hippo, and monkeys. Other highlights on this panorama tour are the Bourke’s Luck potholes and God’s Window.

This evening you will be joined and welcomed by your tour leader and guide for the motorcycle tour. There will be a tour briefing followed by a group welcome dinner at the hotel.

(Driving day 1: 280km/175 miles)

We take possession of our bikes, which will be delivered to the hotel. After a short briefing, and everyone is ready on their bikes, we start our ride on the 1.940 miles/3.100 km long XXL Adventure tour. The spectacular Kruger National Park disappears behind us as we head south for a unique adventure full of history and fun.

Today’s route will take you through beautiful mountainous and agricultural landscapes, to the central and western border of Swaziland; a landlocked monarchy that is known for its’ wilderness reserves and festivals showcasing traditional Swazi culture. We drive to the capital; Mbabane, where we will stay for the night.

(Driving day 2: 370 km/230 miles)

(Explorer & fun day)

A day you have to spend according to your own preference, whether you want to relax by the pool or take a swim in the nearby Indian Ocean. In the late afternoon, you have the possibility to join a Sunset Boat Cruise on Lake St. Lucia, where you can see hundreds of Hippos in a close encounter, as well as crocodiles and many other species.

Tour tip: Sign up for the “Hippo & Croc” boat cruise on Lake St Lucia

Enjoy great experiences in scenic surroundings!

(Driving day 3: 460 km/288 miles)

The Drakensberg mountain range is the highest in South Africa at a maximum height of over 3.000 meters. The route will take us inland towards the mountains through several small towns. The main industries along this route through the KwaZulu-Natal region are sugar cane and logging (timber). The Natal Midlands is an area located just before the mountains and is also known as the Midlands meander that offers good restaurants, arts & crafts and is also a wine-producing area.

(Explorer & fun day)

Another day at your leisure at the hotel. You can just relax and enjoy the facilities the hotel has to offer e.g. swimming pool, spa, golf, or the scenic hiking trails in the nature reserve close by.

Tour tip: The Sani Pass is the only road that provides access to the top of the Drakensberg from South Africa and the road climbs 1.322 meters vertically to an altitude of 2.876 meters and borders with Lesotho, a landlocked country within South Africa. A tour from the hotel with 4×4 vehicles will take you to the summit of the pass where you will visit a local Basutho Village followed by lunch at the highest pub in South Africa.

(Driving day 4: 520 km/325 miles)

Today’s route takes us toward the southern part of the Drakensberg mountain range to the foothills of the Eastern Cape. This area is mainly commercial and subsistence farming, and we will be passing through many small towns and hills dotted with traditional African mud huts en route to Queenstown; the commercial, administrative, and educational center of the prosperous surrounding farming district.

(Resting day or driving day 5: 310 km/195 miles)

We ride through the Little Karoo region to the historic town of Graaff-Reinet, which is one of the oldest and best-kept towns in South Africa, with over 200 traditional Cape Dutch and Victorian styled, restored, and protected buildings. We visit the Camdeboo National Park, and ride up to the Valley of Desolation, with its’ very curvy roads and spectacular views. There will be the possibility of spotting numerous antelope species, such as kudu and red hartebeest, as well as the beautiful black eagle. We arrive Graaff-Reinet early afternoon, giving us time to explore this little town or relax by the pool.

(Driving day 6: 340 km/213 miles)

The town of Oudtshoorn beyond the mountains would certainly be a sleepy hollow were it not for the high number of large ostrich farms. The old glory days of the feather industry are gone but have been replaced by the popular and lucrative meat and leather industry. We shall get a glimpse of these very interesting birds at an ostrich show farm and will find out what makes the ostrich industry so important today. This evening our dinner will be a traditional South African Ostrich BBQ (braai), paired with some of the local wines, which always promises to be a perfect combination

(Driving day 7: 350 km/219 miles)

This morning we ride Route 62, which is very famous in South Africa. It’s comparable to Route 66’s fame in the USA; a bit smaller but definitely as appealing. It also happens to be the longest wine route in the world and some wineries along the route produce some of the best port wines. It goes without saying that we shall visit the obligatory biker pubs, like Ronnies Sex Shop, the Diesel & Creme Diner, and the Karoo Saloon – all their owners are of course avid Harley Bikers and are looking forward to our visit. Our afternoon ride will lead us over two nice passes and thru the historical town of Montagu, located on Route 62. Of interest, the town is well known for its fruit farms and dry fruit production.

(Driving day 8: 325 km/203 miles)

This morning we will start the day by riding over our first exciting mountain pass and will arrive in the Ceres area. The narrow and curvy Bian’s Kloof Pass will give you amazing views over the wine country. We will have lunch at a winery, where you can also do some light wine tasting. The afternoon will lead us over the du Toits Kloof Pass and the scenic Franschhoek Pass. The Cape Winelands with its well-known villages of Paarl, Franschhoek, and Stellenbosch is only an hour’s drive away from Cape Town. This region was founded by the former Dutch and French colonists and is well known to produce fine wines. After a few more challenging mountain passes we arrive in the so-called heart of the winelands region.

(Driving day 9: 160 km/100 miles)

We depart the historical town of Stellenbosch, founded by the Dutch settlers. The town is not only the focal point of the wine industry but has several historical Cape Dutch buildings as well as the Stellenbosch University. We then ride toward False Bay and follow the coast to the Cape of Good Hope passing through a few quaint fishing villages.

The Cape of Good Hope was first rounded by the explorer Bartholomeu Diaz in 1488 in search of a new trade route to the east around the tip of Africa. We head back to Cape Town along the spectacular Chapmans Peak Drive and through the popular beach resorts Hout Bay, Camps Bay, and Clifton. We will arrive in Cape Town just in time for lunch.

You will spend the last two nights in Cape Town again. This afternoon and evening will be at your own leisure where you can dine at one of the many restaurants in the V&A Waterfront.

Our tip: Enjoy a sunset cruise on a catamaran followed by dinner in one of the best seafood restaurants in Cape Town

(Explorer & fun day)

Enjoy your last day in Cape Town according to your own preference. We recommend joining us for a bus tour with your guide for a tour of the city visiting some of the historical attractions of the city such as Green Market Square, Company Gardens and Bo Kaap. Included will be a visit to Table Mountain (weather permitting). The mountain is one of the 7 new natural wonders of the world and the views from the top are truly spectacular. Other options are exploring the V&A Waterfront, Long Street, Green Market Square, or the Camps Bay/Clifton Beaches.

We say goodbye to South Africa and go home. Thanks for a great ride, good times, and sincerely thank you for choosing to tour with Explorify.  We wish you a safe trip home and hope to see you again on one of our other tours in the US, South America, Asia, Oceania or Europe.

Note: This program is a guideline for activities and experiences on the tour. Deviations may occur, but we guarantee that our positive tour leaders will do their utmost to execute the program as described – as far as it is feasible and circumstances allow. We are continually working to improve the program, thus you may experience positive surprises.