Motorcycle trip

South Africa

We run one tour in South Africa: Adventure in South Africa, a 10-day Adventure Tour with 8 riding days, looping from Cape Town. It strings together the coast, Route 62, the wide-open Karoo, the wine country and the Cape of Good Hope, on pavement and gravel. It is a road trip of big landscapes, not a safari. To compare it with the savanna of Tanzania or the hills of Rwanda, see all our Africa motorcycle tours.

$4,690 per rider and $3,890 per passenger, the same price on every date. Most of what you need on the ground is paid upfront: the motorcycle, gas, the support team with a mechanic, lodging and meals. On top, budget for your flights to Cape Town, drinks and personal spending and, on your first tour with us, a $41 registration fee. The full list of what is included is on the tour page.

From September through March. Seasons are reversed south of the equator: during the North American winter, the Cape enjoys spring, then summer, while the local winter, June through August, brings cold and rain. Our departures fall within this window, and the dates are on the tour page. Daytime temperatures usually range from 50 to 77°F, with cooler evenings and mountain passes.

A solid one: our tour is rated Sustained. It suits riders who ride often, have some off-road experience and can handle long days, with a large share of gravel, sometimes rough after rain and far from help. A passenger can come along if comfortable with that pace. To prepare, consider our off-road training in France; for a first ride in Africa, our Rwanda tour, rated Intermediate, is easier.

U.S. citizens need no visa for a tourist stay of up to 90 days. Your passport must be valid at least 30 days after you leave, with two blank pages. Our help center lists an International Driving Permit, issued by AAA, as required with your U.S. motorcycle license. Since July 2026, an online customs declaration is also due within 24 hours before entering and leaving. Rules can change: check the State Department page on South Africa. Details: Preparing your trip to South Africa.

Fly to Cape Town International Airport, on flights you book yourself; from the US, most routes connect once, in Johannesburg, Europe or the Middle East. The tour starts and finishes at this airport: our team meets you on arrival and takes you back for your flight home. South Africa does not change its clocks: it is 6 hours ahead of New York during U.S. daylight saving time and 7 hours ahead the rest of the year.

The main risk is the road: driving on the left, long distances, gravel, minibus taxis and sometimes animals on the pavement. In towns, the usual precautions apply: keep valuables out of sight and do not walk alone after dark. Our groups ride with a guide, a mechanic and a support vehicle, and our team answers 24/7 in an emergency. Before you go, check the U.S. Department of State page on South Africa, including its latest alerts, and enroll in STEP, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program.

Yes: traffic keeps left, as in the UK, and speed limits are posted in km/h, not mph. It mostly takes attention at traffic circles, taken clockwise, and when turning, since the near lane is on the left. Four-way stops work as at home: first come, first served. On our tours, the guide leads and the group rides in single file, so you get used to it quickly. When crossing on foot, look right first.