"Eastern Cape Highlights"

Take the wilderness trail through the wild Baviaanskloof of the Eastern Cape and then on through the Karoo back to Port Elizabeth.
Places we will visit include, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, Garden Route, Tsitsikamma, Monkeyland, Plettenburg Bay, Knysna, and Baviaans Wilderness Area.

Itinerary:

Day 1 Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Day 2 Tsitsikamma, Garden Route
Day 3 Knysna, Garden Route
Day 4 Knysna, Garden Route
Day 5 Baviaans, Karoo
Day 6 Baviaans, Karoo
Day 7 Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival in Port Elizabeth and time to get to know your bike and chill out along the boulevard overlooking the sea. This is a great place to watch the evening sky over Algoa Bay at sunset.
(Stay Over Port Elizabeth, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)


Day 2: The ride begins with a fast run along the “big road” heading eastwards to Cape Town. Along the way the surfing paradise of Jeffrey’s Bay is a worthwhile deviation. The place is not only famous for its surf, but its shells too. Then there is the Cape St Francis. The steps up the lighthouse will give those saddle stiff limbs a stretch – and the view will be worth it! Then there is impressive Storms River Gorge – the first of several deep river passes to navigate along the Tsitsikamma Coast (place of plenty water). The old winding passes follow the ancient migration routes of the great elephant herds that used to roam the forests until man’s hunger for timber destroyed their world. At the Bloukrans Bridge an intrepid rider might be tempted to do the highest bungyjump in the world (216 m). A ride down to the spectacular Tsitsikamma National Park with its deep forests and the rugged coastline must not be missed. This area has too much to offer for one day. The famous Tree Tops ride through the canopy of the primeval tall forests is another of those musts. But by now it will be time to just relax and enjoy the unique world of mountains, forests and water the ride has taken you into.
(Stay Over Tsitsikamma Area, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)


Day 3: Another day beckons with the opportunity to do what could not be done the day before and many new challenges beckon. A ride down into Plettenberg Bay and morning coffee at Lookout Beach is a must. Then there is a visit to Monkeyland where the small primates of the world have found a haven of safety, an opportunity to ride an African elephant, a sea safari to look for whales and dolphins and many many more great activities!! But one must choose. Knysna – the capital of the Garden Route lures. It is also known as the Oyster capital of South Africa and with such accreditations, it must be a very special place. It is certainly worth spending two nights here.
(Stay Over Knysna Area, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)


Day 4: An early morning ride up the Phantom Pass to the place where man once dreamt of great riches – the Millwood Goldfields from the gold rush days towards the end of the 19th century - takes one on a gravel road into the deep forests. It is a journey not easily forgotten. Lunch and locally brewed beer at one of several delightful venues along the idyllic Knysna lagoon, will let you think you have arrived in paradise. There is once again much to choose from this afternoon, but an afternoon trip on the lagoon is a good option. Knysna area
(Stay Over Knysna Area, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)


Day 5: Today the real wild action begins with the crossing of the high Tsitsikamma Mountains by means of the Prince Alfred’s Pass. This is a gravel road that takes one from the coastal plains into the interior by means of a historic route designed by one of South Africa’s great road builders (Thomas Bain) of two centuries ago. It is not surprising that the road ends at a place called “Adventure!” The route now leads into the Great Karoo. At Willowmore, the turnoff leads one into one of South Africa’s wildest places – the Baviaanskloof – “gorge of the baboons”. And now 220 km of wild adventure begins! The gravel track winds through spectacular mountain scenery, initially softened by productive farmland and friendly homesteads. The valley air is so pure – it is chosen to produce the best of onion seed stock. Ostrich farming is also big here. One has entered a world that was once the domain of the ancient “little people” – the San. The hunter and gatherers trod lightly in their world and today the only evidence of their existence is in magnificent rock art found in the hidden rock shelters and caves, the broken shards of pottery around their fire places and the little beads made of ostrich eggs, which once adorned their olive skin. A night spent with friendly farmers at one of the remote homesteads, will make the traveller forever year to come back to this silent place
(Stay Over Baviaans Area, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)








Day 6: Today the adventure continues. One now enters one of South Africa’s declared
Wilderness Areas – an area left to nature with only the winding road and some elementary camp sites to accommodate those who seek these remote places. Game abounds here and it is not uncommon to come across buffalo or a herd of zebra. Baboons bark raucously from their cliff lookouts to declare their sovereignty of this wild world. Many streams are crossed and the two maintain passes will make this ride one of the most special any motorcyclist will have ever ventured on. One not just passes through. It is worth spending time here to experience a piece of our earth hardly touched by man. But towards evening civilization once again beckons and we find another comfortable abode for the evening.
(Stay Over Baviaans Area, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)


Day 7: We are now in the historic Gamtoos Valley – the fruit and vegetable basket for the Nelson Mandela Metropole. For agriculture man needs water and engineers have come up with the first ever double-arched dam in South Africa to catch the clear waters from the high coastal mountains. It is, incidentally, also the place where the first ever irrigation canal was conceived by an ingenious missionary way back in the 19th century. It is a land of plenty with citrus orchards, potato, sweet corn and tobacco fields along the route. It is also a place steeped in history and the grave of a Khoikoi lady, who was once the victim of racial injustices, lies high above the valley where she once came from before becoming an exhibit of her race in far off places. All great journeys come to an end and by early afternoon we one again join the N2 – the main route we started our great ride on now many days ago!
(Stay Over Port Elizabeth, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

To contact this tour operator please use the contact form next to the map on the right.

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Price/Person: 2500.00 EUR
Number of participants
Duration: Hours

Area: South Africa, Garden Route, Karoo
Accomodation is included in this tour: Three and Four Star Lodges, Serviced Self Catering where lodges are not available.

The Guide is able to understand this language also    
   german
   english
   french
   italian
   spanish

Special Hints: Biking Safari

edited at 21.03.06 | 09:41 AM
last update 21.03.06 | 09:41 AM

Guide details

Johan Gerber

Web: To contact this tour operator please use the contact form above.
Phone Number: ---
Vita
Lathita Expeditions creates African Safaris and Adventure. Destintions include South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and Indian Ocean Islands. All products are tailor made and exclusively done for each client. Products include Luxury Tours, African Safaris, Vehicle Hire and Accommodation.

Lathita Expeditions are members of Amalgamated African Operators, SATSA, SATOA, ECTB, NMBT and SA Tourism.

edited at 21.03.06 | 09:11 AM
last update 01.09.08 | 08:17 AM

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