Classic Enfield Motorcycle Tour – Cape Town to Kimberley 10 Days

Itinerary:

DAY 1: CAPE TOWN – STELLENBOSCH

Meeting at our accommodation at 14h00, we conduct a pre tour briefing before our guides do a detailed introduction to our Classic Military Style Royal Enfield motorcycles. Once everyone is set up we will enjoy a short ride in order to familiarize ourselves with the bikes and equipment.  This evening we enjoy an own expense meal at a local restaurant and discuss the details of the adventure.

DAY 2: CAPE POINT AND PENINSULA RIDE – 120km

Setting off after breakfast, we enjoy a scenic ride around the spectacular peninsula – our route will take us through Muizenburg, to the Naval base in Simon’s Town.  We then visit the Cape Point Nature Reserve followed by a spectacular coastal road up to Chapmans Peak and down to the fishing hamlet of Hout Bay.  This afternoon we cruise the iconic boulevard alongside the Atlantic Ocean into Cape Town where our first stop will be at the historic Castle of Good Hope – Built between 1666 and 1679 as a maritime replenishment station, the Castle of Good Hope is the oldest surviving colonial building in South Africa. Then it’s on to the Rhodes memorial, constructed in recognition of Cecil Rhodes’ contribution to Cape Town and the colony. After taking in the views we descend to our hotel. This evening we enjoy dinner at the Waterfront. Lunch and dinner today will be enjoyed at local restaurants and will be own expense.

B included

DAY 3: CAPE TOWN – FRANSCHOEK – ROBERTSON – 190 km

Leaving the Mother City behind us, we begin our journey into the interior – crossing the Cape Flats and then up into the heart of the Wine Lands – Stellenbosch, where we will stop for a coffee break. From Stellenbosch we traverse the scenic Hells Hoogte Pass and then make our way to Franschoek where we enjoy a lunch stop.  This afternoon we ride through incredibly scenic mountain areas including the Franschoek Pass, then down to Theewaterskloof Dam before engaging our first 30km section of hard packed gravel road. Our stop for the night is on a working farm in the Robertson district – well known for its warm hospitality and award winning wines.

B D included

DAY 4: ROBERTSON to MATJIESFONTEIN – 198 km

Starting the day with a healthy farm breakfast, we set off through the little town of Robertson and on toward Montague – en route we pass through the rock arch in the Cogmanskloof, a tunnel carved through the natural rock by legendary road-builder Thomas Bain – look out for the troop of baboons that inhabit the ruin of an old British fort on the ridge.  From Montague its back into the mountains, crossing over to the Karoo plains, we then turn east onto a gravel district road which takes us up to the historic railway siding of Touws River. From here we have a few options to reach our overnight stop at Matjiesfontein.

Matjiesfontein was founded in 1884 and became renowned as a fashionable Victorian health spa. The entire Village was preserved as a National Heritage Site in 1975 and its classic architecture boasts of a colourful history that includes international cricketers, Olive Schreiner’s residency, fortification during the Boer war as headquarters of the Cape Command, refuge for Jamieson Raid reformers, and controversial war crimes hearings. This evening we will enjoy a talk covering some of the events.

B L D included

DAY 5: MATJIESFONTEIN – SWARTBERG – 188 km

Today we venture off of the historic route to ride through an area of incredible scenic beauty and to enjoy the exhilaration of crossing the mighty Swartberg range.  We will traverse a very remote valley and will then use  the Seweweekspoort Pass – witnessing some of the most beautiful vertical rock folds in the country, that combine to form a narrow little pass through which a road winds for over 20km.  After descending the Huisrivier Pass on the renowned ROUTE 62, the last part of our journey follows a gravel farm road along the foot of the mighty Swartberg Mountains to our overnight stop at a Game Lodge. This afternoon we will enjoy an open vehicle game drive in an effort to see the variety of plains game, giraffe, etc. that inhabit this reserve.

B L D included

DAY 6: SWARTBERG – OUDTSHOORN – BEAUFORT WEST – 235km

Passing through the Ostrich capital of Oudtshoorn this morning, we then cross the Swartberg again via the winding Meiringspoort Pass where if the weather permits, we will stop to enjoy a swim in the crystal clear rock pools. Then it’s into the heart of the Great Karoo and the wide open gravel plains – we ride due north to re-join the historic route. We reach our accommodation near the little town of Beaufort West in the late afternoon and time and weather permitting will enjoy another game experience.

B L D included

DAY 7   : BEAUFORT WEST to VICTORIA WEST – 160 km

After a hearty farm-style breakfast we head off on good gravel road up De Jagers pass into the Nuweveld Plateau. De Jagers Pass was originally an ox-wagon route around 1830 and formed one of the oldest routes into the interior. Crossing into the Northern Cape Province we will take in the spectacular views of the great Karoo and hopefully the majestic Black Eagle soaring above the cliffs in search of their prey. Our destination this evening is on a game and working sheep farm home to numerous attractions and activities ranging from Bradysaurus fossil remains, an old diamond mine, game viewing in search of the endangered Riverine Rabbit endemic to the central Karoo, or soaking up the atmosphere inside the early 19th century buildings. Here we will spend the afternoon exploring the area with the various activities the farm has to offer.

B L D included

DAY 8: VICTORIA WEST – HOPETOWN – 280km

Today we head up the Treasure Route through Victoria West, a quaint Central Karoo town which boasts a unique collection of Victorian Houses and is home to the Apollo theatre which is the last remaining Art Deco cinema in South Africa. From here we traverse a rugged section of the arid Karoo plains toward Britstown (named after Hans Britz who accompanied Dr Livingstone on a venture into the interior) The route also known as the Diamond Way crosses the Brak River toward the former Northern Frontier of the Cape Colony – Hopetown. The 83,5 carat diamond found in 1868 known as the Star of South Africa was discovered near this Historical town. Tonight we sample Karoo delicacy in good company with good wine and plan for the exciting day to follow.

B L D included

DAY 9: HOPETOWN – KIMBERLEY – 150 km

Arguably our most interesting day, we start with a visit to the site of a British Concentration Camp used during the Anglo / Boer war – here a local historian will give us an insight into the occurrences during that time.  Later, we ride across the mighty Orange River using the original wagon bridge first built in 1871, blown up by the Boers in 1901 and then reconstructed soon after.  We then proceed to Belmont, site of the first real 1899 battle – we will also visit the old station building that served as a field hospital. Following gravel roads through the barren plains, we then visit Magersfontein and a museum at the site of the great battle between Lord Meuthen’s British forces and Gen De La Rey’s Boer commandoes.

Our last ride then takes us into Kimberley and to the “Big Hole”.  This massive hand dug crater 214 meters deep with a surface area of 17 hectares and a perimeter of 1,6 km is surrounded by original buildings from the heyday of the mine. Diamond digging commenced at the Kimberley mine site in 1871. By the time mining ended in 1914, the mine had yielded 2722 kilograms of diamonds, extracted from 22,5 million tons of excavated earth.

Tonight we will stay at a local hotel and will celebrate our ride in memory of all of those early pioneers who traversed this route before us

B L included.

DAY 10: TOUR ENDS

This morning we enjoy a sumptuous breakfast before bidding our farewells.  Please allow time this morning to wander around the Big Hole and surrounding museum.

Kimberley airport offers regular flights to most major centres in South Africa.

B included

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

A guide will accompany the tour at all times in a fully equipped safari vehicle towing a large bike trailer.  The vehicle will carry all luggage – you only need to carry your camera etc. during the day on the bike. The vehicle will also carry spare fuel as well as tools, spare tyres, spares, etc. as well as drinks and refreshments.  On certain days we will set up roadside lunches.  

 We suggest warm clothing (particularly between May and Sep) and do have packing space for a reasonable amount of kit for both on the bike and off.  A full recommended kit list is available on our website and will be provided with booking confirmation.

The price includes all accommodation, most meals (as per the itinerary), group equipment, permits and entry fees. The price does not include alcohol and soft drinks, bottled water, meals not included in itinerary, curios, tips and optional excursions and fuel for the bike.