Cape Town Trip Overview
This motorcycle tour will immerse you in some of the most breathtaking scenery in South Africa. We will ride stunning coastal roads, nine mountain passes and thrilling gravel roads that stretch on through vast, empty landscapes.
This tour is also a ghost ride. We’ll ride along paths trod by a captivating cast of heroes who shaped the life of South Africa. We’ll track the beginning and end of Nelson Mandela’s time in prison. We’ll encounter the legend of the Watcher of the South and the creation of Table Mountain as told in Xhosa mythology.
We’ll discover how the mountains we ride in were used to measure the size of the Southern Hemisphere. We’ll see how the water that flows from Table Mountain made it possible to build a trading station – and eventually a city here.
We are confident this tour will give you lifelong memories of incredible motorcycling and a group of new friends: ghosts from the past as well as the Ride Down South crew.
Additional Info
Duration: 3 days
Starts: Cape Town, South Africa
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Cape Town Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
This motorcycle tour will immerse you in some of the most breathtaking scenery in South Africa. We will ride stunning coastal roads, nine mountain passes and thrilling gravel roads that stretch on through vast, empty landscapes.
This tour is also a ghost ride. We’ll ride along paths trod by a captivating cast of heroes who shaped the life of South Africa. We’ll track the beginning and end of Nelson Mandela’s time in prison. We’ll encounter the legend of the Watcher of the South and the creation of Table Mountain as told in Xhosa mythology.
We’ll discover how the mountains we ride in were used to measure the size of the Southern Hemisphere. We’ll see how the water that flows from Table Mountain made it possible to build a trading station – and eventually a city here.
We are confident this tour will give you lifelong memories of incredible motorcycling and a group of new friends: ghosts from the past as well as the Ride Down South crew.
Itinerary
Day 1: Ride into the Cederberg: meet the ghosts of Cape Town’s true founder and the guy who re-sized the Southern Hemisphere
Stop At: Signal Hill, Cape Town Central 8001 South Africa
We begin our adventure with a ride up the iconic Signal Hill – taking in breathtaking views of Table Mountain, Robben Island and the coast stretching north.
We meet the ghost of Autshumato – the wily San who traded with the first visitors from Europe and who established the first settlement that would one day become Cape Town.
We also encounter the ghost of Thomas Maclear – the astronomer who used his beacons to solve the mystery of why the Southern Hemisphere was smaller than the North.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Bloubergstrand Beach, Bloubergstrand Parking: what3words ///rusher.overlap.pollutant, Cape Town Central 7405 South Africa
On our way north out of Cape Town we stop at the historic beach at Bloubergstrand with its postcard perfect views of Table Mountain.
Here we meet our third ghost from the past – Qamata, and hear the legend of the Watcher of the South and how Table Mountain was formed.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Famous Bean Cafė Aurora, Ipic Shopping Centre Aurora Cnr Aurora &, Burton Rd, Aurora, Cape Town, 7550, South Africa
We continue north away from Cape Town stopping at the Famous Bean coffee shop and checking in to see how Thomas Maclear used his beacon to achieve his landmark measurements
Duration: 45 minutes
Pass By: Cederberg, Cederberg, Western Cape
We end our first days ride at the north end of the ruggedly beautiful Cederberg mountains. We ride over the sweeping curves of Pakhuis pass through wind-sculpted rock formations before reaching our destination for the day.
Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in comfortable cottages at Traveller’s Rest, Clanwilliam
Day 2: Explore the Karoo and Cederberg: ride Karoo gravel roads and meet the ghosts of the San, the original South Africans
Pass By: Nieuwoudtville, Nieuwoudtville, Northern Cape
Today we set out on good gravel roads and enter the big-sky country of the Karoo. We ride up an escarpment via the famous Botterkloof pass and on towards Nieuwoudtville.
We encounter another ghost from the past – the ancient glaciers that once flowed here and left their mark – literally – in surprising and beautiful ways
Stop At: Vanrhynspas, South Africa
This pass is one of the best stretches of road for a motorcycle in Southern Africa. Riding the many switchbacks we descend rapidly down to the coastal plain stretched out before us
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Stadsaal Caves, Cederberg Wilderness Area, Cederberg South Africa
After a brief ride south on the scenic N7 we re-enter the Cederberg and ride along gravel roads past ancient glacial valleys and wind-sculpted rock formations.
At the Stadsaal Caves we encounter the ghosts of the San – the original inhabitants of Africa – and catch a glimpse into their way of life and struggle for survival.
Duration: 1 hour
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in comfortable 3-star cottages at Kromrivier Lodge
Day 3: Cederberg to Cape Town: ride five breathtaking mountain passes and walk in the first freedom steps of Nelson Mandela
Stop At: Gydo Mountain Pass, Route R303 between Ceres and Citrusdal, Prince Alfred Hamlet, Witzenberg Municipality 7340 South Africa
After riding through the southern part of the Cederberg we reach another trip highlight – Gydo pass – on the descent into the fruit farming town of Ceres.
Duration: 20 minutes
Pass By: Koue Bokkeveld, South Africa
The ride through the southern regions of the Cederberg is one of our favourite motorcycling roads. We climb and descend through seemingly endless valleys as each crest opens up a new valley ahead.
Stop At: Ceres, Ceres, Witzenberg Municipality, Western Cape
The farming town of Ceres nestles in a valley surrounded by rugged Cape Fold mountains. After our exit from the Cederberg we stop here for a traditional coffee at an old toll gate.
We leave Ceres down the sweeping curves of Michell’s Pass as we head towards Bain’s Kloof Pass.
Duration: 45 minutes
Pass By: Bainskloof Pass, South Africa
This incredible mountain pass was built under the direction of another one of South Africa’s ghosts. The narrow tar road, sharp corners, sheer cliffs and beautiful valley below make this a must-ride motorcycling route.
Stop At: Groot Drakenstein Prison (Victor Verster Prison), R301, Paarl South Africa
Nelson Mandela spent the last 14 months of his 27-year imprisonment at this small prison. It was here that he took his first steps to freedom in 1990. We’ll stop at this historic place to encounter the ghost of Mandela himself.
Duration: 45 minutes
Stop At: Franschhoek Pass, Regional road Tra (between) Franschhoek – Villiersdorp, Franschhoek 7690 South Africa
Franschhoek Pass is quite likely the most beautiful and fun to ride in the whole of South Africa, after passing through the old town of Franschhoek we’ll get to enjoy stunning views and a magical riding experience.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Rooiels, Rooiels, Overstrand, Overberg District, Western Cape
Having just ridden the most scenic mountain pass we can think of, we now get to ride the most scenic coastal route. Beginning at the town of Rooiels, our final leg to Cape Town takes in the eastern shore of False Bay as we climb the steep bordering mountains and descend to the level of the waves.
Duration: 20 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
