South of the Equator
South Africa by Motorcycle
16 February - 28 February
Fascinating land, historic places and wonders of nature will accompany us during the kilometres of curves we face between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. A compulsory departure from Cape Town from where we will drive into the interior of the country towards the east. Table Mountain, a candidate for the 7 Wonders of the World, and the poignant Robben Island, Nelson Mandela’s historic prison and a symbol of apartheid, all the way to the Cape of Good Hope, passing through Simon’s Town for a salute to the friendly penguin colony. Dirt roads between green hills and breathtaking curves blinded by the blue ‘of the’ oceans.
Day 1: Thursday 16 February ITALY – CAPE TOWN
Departure by Qatar Airways flight from Rome Fiumicino or Milan Malpensa.
Day 2: Friday 17 February ARR. TO CAPE TOWN
Arrive in Cape Town in the morning where we will be met by our accompanying Italian-speaking guide for the transfer to the hotel. Rooms at disposal. Free lunch. City tour in the afternoon and dinner at leisure. Return to the hotel. Overnight stay.
Day 3: Saturday, 18 February CAPE TOWN – 150 km
Breakfast at the hotel. We saddle up on our bikes for the first day of this fantastic trip in South Africa, taking in the surroundings of CapeTown….. Arrival in Cape of Good Hope and stops at Chapmans Peak drive, Simonstown, Cape Point Nature reserve and Boulders Beach where a busy penguin colony awaits us. Free lunch during the day. Return to Cape Town in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4: Sunday 19 February CAPE TOWN – ROBERTSON – 350 Km
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart for our first stage eastwards through the vineyard area behind Table mountain. En route you will visit the towns of Stellenbosh and Franschhoek, before continuing on the N1 first and then Route 62 to the towns of Robertson, Ashtin and Montagu. Along the way there will be several opportunities to stop and visit the small towns in the area. Arrive in Robertson and settle in at a wine estate where there will also be ‘wine testing’ of local wine production and dinner. Overnight stay.
Day 5: Monday 20 February ROBERTSON – OUDTSHOORN – 280 km
Breakfast at the hotel. You depart on roads through the arid Karoo region and the Little Karoo Valley along Hystoric Route 62 to reach Oudtshoorn, the ostrich farming capital of the world. Dinner at leisure. Overnight.
Day 6: Tuesday 21 February OUDTSHOORN – Cango Caves – Prince Albert (B/-/D) 250 km
Breakfast at the hotel. For those with an appetite for dust and (light) dirt road we will head to
North of Oudtshoorn through the Swartberg Mountain Pass, breathtaking curves that will take us to Cango Cave, limestone caves carved by water erosion. Visit the caves and continue on to Prince Albert. Return to Oudtshoorn via Klaarstroom to enjoy a relaxing swim (for those who want!!) at the Meiringspoort waterfalls. Return to the hotel. Overnight stay.
Day 7: Wednesday 22 February OUDTSHOORN – ADDO ELEPHANT PARK (B/-/D) 450 km
Breakfast at the hotel. We cross the arid Karoon region continuing on the R359
to the Addo region where we will stay at the famous Addo Elephant
National Park. Dinner and overnight.
Day 8: Thursday 23 February ADDO ELEPHANT NATIONAL PARK (B/-/D)
Breakfast at the hotel. We leave our bikes at rest for a day to dedicate ourselves to a
Safari inside one of the most important of South Africa’s 20 national parks.
In fact, in its entirety, the Greater Addo Elephant National Park is quite possibly the only park in the world to host the so-called Big 7 (‘the big 7’): elephant, rhinoceros, lion, buffalo, leopard, whale and white shark. Through the safari we will have the opportunity to see them all up close. Return to the lodge in the early afternoon and free time at leisure. Dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Friday 24 February ADDO – KNYSNA (B/-/-) 340 km
After breakfast, we depart in a westerly direction, taking in the beautiful scenery
of the Lake District between George and Kysna, travelling along the N2, better known as the Garden Route. The road stretches out following the Cape coastline with breathtaking scenery that
make us immediately understand why The District Lake and Knysna area is one of the most loved by
South Africans and foreign travellers. Arrive in Knysna. Accommodation at the hotel and free time at
available for sightseeing before heading to one of the many waterside restaurants for dinner.
Dinner at leisure. Return to the hotel. Overnight stay.
Day 10: Saturday 25 February KNYSNA – CAPE AGULHAS (B/-/D) 420 Km
Breakfast at the hotel. Penultimate leg of our South African Ride that takes us to one of the
most beautiful places in the country. From Knysna we head back past George to Mossel Bay
and then leave the coast and enter the villages of Riversdale and Swellendam and then straight
in a southerly direction to reach the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse, the southernmost point in Africa where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, and the spectacle is truly breathtaking. Dinner in a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel.
Day 11: Sunday 26 February CAPE AGULHAS – CAPE TOWN (B/-/-) 310 Km
Breakfast and departure for the last leg of our journey in South Africa….but not without
curves and incredible landscapes. We return inland until we reach Hermanus, renowned
for being the first whale watching town, but better known
by motorcyclists for being the starting point of one of the most beautiful roads in South Africa, the
Clarence Drive, which runs alongside Gordon’s Bay and Betty’s Bay and finally overlooks False Bay!!!….it will be easy not to stop at every turn to take pictures!!!
Arrive in Cape Town in the afternoon. Overnight stay.
Day 12: Monday 27 February CAPE TOWN (B/-/D)
Breakfast at the hotel. Free day at leisure to complete your sightseeing tour of the city with a climb to Table Mountain for a panoramic view. Return of
return of hired motorbikes. Goodbye dinner in a restaurant. Overnight stay.
Day 13: Tuesday 28 February CAPE TOWN – ITALY (B/-/-)
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Italy.