11 Day Garden Route Explore Motorcycle Tour

All the participants are scheduled to arrive in the Mother City today. Let us know your flight details in advance and we will arrange for your transfer from the airport to your BB.  Should you prefer to make your own travel arrangements or be in the city prior to the tour, then the following will apply.  Take the day to relax and find your way around the city. We have no formal plans for today but plan to meet early morning on Sunday to collect our motorcycles and get to know one another. A tour briefing is scheduled for tomorrow to discuss the domestics on tour – Braeside BB or Holiday Inn Express St. Georges Mall - Bed & Breakfast

After breakfast you meet the guide at the hotel and head off to collect your motorcycles.  Once done here you head off to explore the well known Cape Peninsula Tour.  Our route for the day takes us in a southerly direction, away from the city centre along the False Bay coastline towards Simons Town.  This route is the most popular tourist route around the Cape if not South Africa. We visit Cape Point Reserve where we also find the Cape of Goodhope.  This reserve forms part of the Table Mountain National Park which is part of the well known Cape Floral Kingdom. Not only is the Cape Floral Kingdom is one of SA’s listed World Heritage Sites, but also one of the most diverse plant biomes on the planet.  The afternoon will be spent travelling along the Atlantic seaboard enjoying the scenic Chapman’s Peak route and back to the hotel via Camps Bay and Seapoint. Our program also includes a trip up Table Mountain in the late afternoon – if not done yet. From here can one appreciate what was once described as “the fairest Cape in all the circumference of the world”? - Braeside BB or Holiday Inn Express St. Georges Mall - Bed & Breakfast

After breakfast we follow Route 44 (Clarence Drive) to Hermanus via Betty’s Bay.  Other than Chapman’s Peak Drive which you did yesterday, Clarence Drive is a “bucket list” ride for most South African riders. Along the way we will have plenty of opportunities to do photo stops. In Betty’s Bay we visit Stony Point penguin reserve.  This protected reserve is unique and one of only two penguin breeding colonies on the African mainland. February falls outside the annual whale migration season, but we might still spot the odd whale in the waters around Walker Bay and False Bay.  Hermanus is rated as one of the top whale watching destinations internationally.   After lunch we follow a slight detour along the Walker Bay coast before we head inland via Elim.  This former missionary station tends to take visitors back in time when visiting the settlement.  The road via Elim takes us to L’Agulhas. The peaceful little town of Agulhas is where we find the southernmost tip of the Africa, aka the place where the two oceans meet. Our accommodation is a few kilometres back in Struisbaai – Mermaids Guest House - Bed & Breakfast

We continue along the rolling plains of the Overberg region and head towards Knysna – located in the heart of the Garden Route.  We cross the spread-out wheat and barley fields of the Overberg and stop in the historic town of Swellendam on the N2 before making our way to Mossel Bay.  Mossel Bay is usually a good lunch stop.  En route we enjoy frequent stops to indulge in the scenery and the coastal towns along the Garden Route. After lunch we continue to Knysna, famous for its quality oysters and tranquil scenery.  Knysna is a favourite destination with tourists because of its scenic location at the foot hills of the Outeniqua Mountains.  The mirror like Knysna estuary, which is central to the town, adds to the laid back atmosphere visitor’s love.  It offers us a variety of places to visit amongst other the impressive “Knysna heads”. Dinner can be enjoyed at a local restaurant – Graywood Hotel - Bed & Breakfast

After a well-deserved night’s rest, we enjoy a relaxing day in and around the George/Knysna/Plettenberg Bay area.  Today you can choose between a few optional activities such riding the well-known Outeniqua Pass or visiting the well-known Monkeyland and Birds of Eden sanctuaries on the outside Plettenberg Bay. You should also consider the afternoon sun downer cruise on the John Benn paddle cruiser. There is also the smaller, but equally enjoyable Knysna Waterfront complex down the road from the hotel. Please ensure you include a ride up the Knysna Heads to enjoy the views from the top for a panoramic view of Knysna and the coastline.  The newly established motorcycle museum called the Motorcycle Room recently opened in Knysna on Thesens Island.  A visit to the museum is a new addition to this tour and included in your package.  We recommend an afternoon visit and to stay afterwards for dinner at one of the restaurants on the island – Graywood Hotel -  Bed & Breakfast

After yet another good night’s sleep, we enjoy a relaxing day in the saddle following the rural back roads where possible.  Our journey rejoins the N2 through what is described as the heart of the Garden Route.  We ride through parts of the indigenous Tsitsikamma Forests and stop at the impressive Bloukrans Bridge.  Some might be tempted to jump at the world’s highest commercial bungee jump - 216m.  After enjoying lunch at the Storms River National Park, we continue to Port Elizabeth.  During the early days of SA as we know it today, the city was known as Algoa Bay and today locals still refer to it as the friendly city.  This is where the 1820 British Settlers first landed when they arrived in Southern Africa – all 4500 of them. We enjoy a brief city tour before we head to Colchester near to the Addo Elephant National Park.  Tonight dinner will be enjoyed at the lodge and is included – Elephant Footprint Lodge - Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

After breakfast you enjoy a morning safari to the Addo Elephant National Park. You will be in the capable hands of an experienced ranger to tell you more about the fauna and the flora found here in the Addo Park. The park is home to the Big 5 and today might be your lucky day to spot some or all of the Big Five – lion, buffalo, rhino, elephant and the illusive leopard. Addo is the only reserve in SA, if not the world, which is home to the Big Seven as it incorporates a huge marine reserve where the Southern Right whale and great white shark is to be found.  Dinner will be enjoyed at the lodge and is again included - Elephant Footprint Lodge -  Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

This morning after breakfast, we experience our first glimpses of the endless plains of the Great Karoo region.  We ride through the remote frontier towns of Steytlerville, Willowmore and Uniondale before entering the Little Karoo region nestled at the foot of the Swartberg Mountain Massif.  The mountainous horizon will be all we see for most of the morning as the kilometres roll by. With the sun behind us, the distant mountains and Karoo plains subtly change colour with the solitary passing car or truck reminding us of the world out there. After 300km of open Karoo roads and fynbos (fine-bush) we reach Meirings Poort.  This scenic pass through the mountain massif is one of only two natural passage ways to the north and a popular ride with local riders.  After exploring the twists and curves of this narrow gorge, we finally reach Oudtshoorn, the ostrich capital of the world.  During our stay in the Little Karoo we need to make time to visit the Cango Caves and ostrich show farm.  Climatic conditions can be extreme in the Karoo and the swimming pool at the resort might bring welcome relief to tired limbs.  Dinner can be enjoyed at the lodge, try their ostrich steak!  - Oue Werf Guest House or Mooiplaas Guest House - Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

After breakfast we join the R62 to explore the famous and ever popular Route 62 as we travel to Robertson.  Riding along the R62 we do a photo stop at the infamous Ronnie’s Sex Shop where they sell plenty of beer but no sex.  Next is coffee in Barrydale and then stopping in or around Montagu for lunch. The R62 and Little Karoo valley comes to an end as we enter the Breede River Wine Region meandering through the endless vineyards at the foot of the Langeberge (Long Mountains). The impressive rock formations of the Cape Fold Mountains at Cogman’s Kloof indicate the end of the Karoo region as we have seen it for the last two days.   This “natural rock-arch” with an historic English Fort on top, welcomes you to the Breede River Valley. A pleasant farm stay awaits us outside of Robertson on a wine farm in the Breede River Valley. You will also be treated to a wine tasting covering some of the farms history and wines before enjoying dinner – Wederom Guest Farm - Dinner, Bed & Breakfast

After breakfast we head to the touristy town of Franschhoek (French Glen) nestled in the Drakenstein Valley.  Our journey follows the back roads via the vineyards and farms around Villiersdorp. The French Huguenots settled in Franschhoek when they arrived in 1688.  Their contribution to the success of the Cape wine industry as we know it today is huge. They did so through their knowledge and expertise and the then energetic Dutch Governor Simon van der Stell knew this.  The town still annually celebrates Bastille Day in typical French tradition. As avid motorcycle enthusiasts, we endeavour to travel every mountain pass possible before reaching our final destination.  The Franschhoek and Hellshoogte Passes are favourites with local riders and we will add both to our “bucket list” for the day. We stop in both Franschhoek for coffee and enjoy lunch in Stellenbosch. The latter is South Africa’s second oldest town and a prime example of typical of Cape Dutch architecture with tangible influences from old Europe to be seen everywhere.  Table Mountain beckons as we make our way back to Cape Town. Late afternoon we return our motorcycles before we head to our hotel in the heart of Cape Town. Tonight is the last night of the tour - Braeside BB or Holiday Inn Express St. Georges Mall - Bed & Breakfast
 

Today we say our goodbyes and some might enjoy a full day of leisure in preparation to head back home.  Ask your guide about what there is to do in and around the city if you have some time to kill before you are transferred to the airport – Bon Voyage!