NEWS

 

The new tours in our program:

We finished the scouting for our new tours. The following tours are available now:

Pretoria to Durban (14 days guided):

A tour, starting from South Africa's capital Pretoria, and  visiting the Northern Province, Mpumalanga and the world famous Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon, Swaziland, Kwa-Zulu Natal, the Drakensberg and the Wild Coast, and ending in Durban. Ride South Africa at its best! Available in July and August. Details on request.

The Garden Route and the Eastern Cape Province (14 days self guided or guided):

After exploring Cape Town and the Cape of Good Hope, you will spend one day whale - watching, or cage diving with the Great White Sharks, before you travel to Africa's southernmost tip. Further highlights of the trip are the little Karoo and the Swartberg Pass, your first flight lesson in a motorized glider, and the challenging ride through the Baviaanskloof. You will cross the former Transkei on backroads and relax on the beaches of the Indian Ocean, before you board your return flight in Durban. The beauty of springtime combined with an action filled tour. Available in October and November. Details on request.

The tracks of the Great Karoo (7 days self guided):

This is a pure riding experience for the adventurous on the rugged gravel roads of the Great Karoo. To be combined with a relaxing stay in Cape Town, South Africa's vibrant mother city. Available especially in May and June, but can be arranged all around the year. Details on request. In conmbination with three nights accommodation in Cape Town's mondane seaside suburb Camps Bay the prices for the tour start from ZAR 10672 p.p.

 

Kunene Okavango Explorer

26th of June 2006 until 28th of July 2006

Africa at its best: From Windhoek via Skeleton Coast and Damaraland into the Kaokoveld and to the Kunene River. Along the Angolan border to Etosha and through the Caprivi. Across the Zambezi to Livingstone and the Viktoria Falls. Into the Okavango Delta and through the Kalahari back to Windhoek. An African dream for 6 to 8 participants. Not cheap but unique. Details on request.

 

We returned from our tour to the total solar eclipse in Kruger National Park in December 2002 full of impressions. Although we only caught a glimpse of this celestial spectacle due to the clouded skies 24 km north of Mopane on the 4th of December 2002, it was probably the most impressive tour we ever did in South Africa. Therefore we decided to offer a similar tour on a regular basis:

 

Witwatersrand to the Cape of Good Hope

23rd of September until 15th of October 2006

A guided motorcycle tour to the most scenic roads and tracks of South Africa

This tour offers the chance to experience the diversity of South Africa's landscapes, its animals and its cultural variety on a most impressive motorcycle journey.

The dates for the tour have been chosen to take advantage of the dry season in the Lowveld and Kruger Park, providing excellent conditions for Game viewing, but also to allow you to travel the Cape region in springtime, the most beautiful season.

From South Africa's Capital Pretoria you will travel the savanna of the Highveld and Lowveld, before you park your motorcycle at the gates of Kruger National Park. For three days you will have time to explore the famous wilderness area. After that, you will ride through the mountains of Eastern Transvaal, and climb mountain tracks into the Kingdom of Swaziland. Carrying on, we will enter KwaZulu Natal and visit the subtropical Maputaland coast for a two day stopover. A wealth of activities can be arranged for these days ranging from hiking and visits to game reserves to snorkelling and diving in the famous Sodwana Bay. Past the battle fields of the Zulu war you will reach the Drakensberg at the border of Lesotho. You will spend a whole day on gravel tracks through the Drakensberg, before you head towards the Transkei and South africas highest mountain pass. We cross through the Land of 1000 Hills and reach the Indian Ocean at the point, where the Portuguese Navigator Bartholomeo Diaz turned around after succesfully circumnavigating the southern tip of Africa in 1488. A challenging ride on a 170 km dirt track through the mountains will take us into the desert of the Great Karoo. Not only river crossings are common on this road, but also close encounters of antelopes, Buffalo and Baboons. You will be rewarded by the South African hospitality of a historic guest house before carrying on through the mountains and down to the beaches of the Garden Route. After another day at the beaches, the last days will take us down the Garden Route to Cape Agulhas, the Southernmost tip of the African continent. We will enjoy the breathtaking views of the Cape Peninsula and Table Mountain from a winding coastal road, while we make our way towards Cape Town, South Africa's "Mother City", where the tour will end.

The overall distance of the tour is 4100 km of which 1600 km are on gravel roads. The dayly distances are usually not longer than 300km, to leave enough free time for sightseeing, breaks and photography.

 The tour package includes:

Motorcycle hire Kawasaki KLR 650 / Suzuki DR 650 incl. compr. insurance (excess ZAR 6000), road maps, back - up vehicle for the luggage and technical support, back - up crew.

Due to availability we have to reserve the right of vehicle’s disposition. Couples sharing one motorcycle will preferably get the Kawasakis, the Suzukis are light and low and therefore reserved for Ladies and “Shorties”.

All accommodation (22) B&B on a sharing basis in good hotels, guesthouses, on guest farms, 3 nights tented accommodation in Kruger Park in spacious 2 person canvas tents with field beds and mattresses, dinner on selected evenings.

Transfers from JNB International to Pretoria and from Cape Town to CPT International.

Not included in the price:

Fuel, lunch, dinner other than specified, toll road fees, beverages, souvenirs, entrance fees, tips, items of a personal nature.

Tour dates:

Saturday, September 23rd 2006: Arrival of participants at Johannesburg International Airport and transfers to the guest house in Pretoria. Welcome briefing and handover of the motorcycles in the late afternoon; dinner.

Sunday, September 24th 2006: Tour starts in Pretoria.

Saturday, October 14th 2006: Tour ends in Cape Town.

Sunday, October 15th 2006: Hand in of the motorcycles and airport transfers.

Le Cap Bed&Bike Cape Town arrangements are available to participants after the tour at special rates.

Required riding skills, health and safety:

The tour is suitable for every experienced rider. The itinerary doesn’t require off-road riding skills. The approximately 1600 kilometres of gravel roads included in the itinerary are usually in quite good condition and easy to handle with the 650cc dual sport motorcycles.

The itinerary covers high Malaria risk areas. Although the Malaria risk is regarded as minimal in the Lowveld and in Kruger in September, Malaria precautions are strongly recommended. Further information about Malaria and recommended precautions will be supplied by us

The backup vehicle carrys spares and tools to handle minor damages, breakdowns or punctures en route. As well the vehicle carrys First Aid kits and the back up crew is trained in First Aid.

Number of  Participants:

Minimum 6, maximum 10.

Prices:

Price for Rider:                   ZAR 42 845

Price for Pillion:                 ZAR 26 675

For further details please do not hesitate to contact our office!

 Juergen