Live life slightly on the edge with a dirtbike tour through South Africa’s towns, mountains and savannahs
Some itineraries, like Karoo Biking’s Victoria Falls Tour, include a guided safari tour through a national park. (Photo:Nick Fox / Shutterstock)
Taking the roads less travelled is a great way to connect more intimately to your destination. But what if you could take the backroads that are much less trodden upon, and on transport less travelled by?
Exploring South Africa by two-wheel drive can open up this country right before your very eyes, from its colourful towns to larger-than-life natural wonders.
Make this another entry in your bucket list, and start saving up for this wild adventure of a lifetime.
OUT ON THE OPEN ROADS
There are a variety of motorbike tours available, ranging from beginner to professional levels, with most packages covering meals and accommodation.
The easier routes feature mostly tar roads, which can take you to many surprising sights.
While you’ll need a motorcycle license, holding the Singapore one will suffice in South Africa. Just make sure it’s not expired.
The 14-day Victoria Falls Tour by agency Karoo Biking will bring you from Cape Town to the Blyde River Canyon of Mpumalanga.
En route, you will get to spend two nights at Hwange National Park, after a close encounter with wildlife on a guided safari tour.
This route will also pass through the arid region of Karoo and twist through the mountainous Drakensberg. And as you make your way to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city, you’ll stop at the curious Matopos.
Take in the curious rock formations of Matopos, where the founder of the infamous De Beers Diamond Mines now rests.
This is a unique landscape of granite rocks and formations. It is also the final resting place of Cecil John Rhodes, founder of the infamous De Beers Diamond Mines.
But it’s not all dry land — the Victoria Falls Tour also features a boat cruise on the winding Zambezi River, where you can rest and take in the amazing wonder of South Africa. You’ll also get to explore Cape Town and enjoy a visit to the Cape of Good Hope cliffs.
Not all tours are as long as the Victorian Falls Tour. For example, agency Sama Tours offers itineraries starting from three days.
ROUGH AND TUMBLE
Looking for a bigger adrenaline rush? Veer off the easier paths and embark on a truly breathtaking adventure through the dirt roads of the Namibian desert. Karoo Biking’s Cape Town-Windhoek Tour is 14 days of unbelievable sights, spanning some of South Africa’s most extraordinary wonders.
This two-week trip starts in Cape Town, where a visit to Cape of Good Hope is a given. You’ll wind your way up the West coast towards Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, with both on- and off-road riding.
Charge across the dunes of the mountainous Cedarberg region — in Northern Cape — which is one of the world’s oldest deserts. Then, zip around the Fish River Canyon, the world’s second-largest canyon.
Don’t relax yet, because you’ll also be paying a visit to the ghost town of Kolmanskop. Here, be awed by the surreal sight of the desert sand pouring through windows and doors, swallowing up entire hallways and rooms of abandoned buildings.
Approximately half of this tour is spent on dirt roads, so basic off-road riding skills are required.
RIDING SOLO
If tour groups aren’t your thing, you can opt to go on self-guided motorcycle tours with Sama Tours, which offers the self-guided option for all its itineraries.
Sama Tours will supply you with a motorcycle, storage boxes, maps, GPS co-ordinates, accommodation, activity vouchers and a detailed guide book. The agency will remain contactable at any time to help you in case of breakdowns or emergencies.
Now you can ride off into the sunset with just your motorcycle and the open South African roads.
By Pamela Chow
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