South Africa Winter 2012

[Sgt Bilco]

OK, I'm going to throw this out there to guage the interest in a proper adventure trip which I've been working on for a while now. I will put this up as part of the Unchained Tours portfolio for 2013 but for this first trip, I need a group of riders to run this trip with me to see if it works as I have planned and to share costs of transport etc. I've done a lot of pre planning so have a route in mind and I just think it will be a brilliant trip.

Here are the salient details:

4 week trip to and from Capetown starting at the end of January 2012
The roads are 80% dirt so it's for big dirt bikes and GS's on knobblies but a lot of the roads are pretty good. There is a fair amount of sand though Perfect GS country
The route will be basically up West Coast from Capetown toward Namibia via Cederberg then up the skeleton coast. We'll turn East across Namibia and through Botswana and north of Jo-burg. We'll be very close to Kruger National Park and will arrange trips in there but no bikes are allowed. Turn South through Swaziland and Lesotto (Rourke's drift and all that) and back to Capetown via L'Agulhas which is South Africa's most Southern point.
We'll be camping for the majority of the time but will also use B&B's which are all reasonably cheap.
Bikes will be shipped in a sealed container to and from Capetown which takes around 4 weeks each way.
Carnets are required but I've sorted this via the RAC
The weather is fantastic at this time of the year
Mileage will be approx 8000kms
This is do-able in 3 weeks but having a few days extra means more time for sightseeing and taking in the fantastic country.
As this is a test run, we'll be reccying all sorts af great places so will truly be a voyage of discovery and a proper adventure


I will need a minumum of 6 people to make this affordable for everyone so if you have any interest in this, pm me and I'll send you the details I have.

What a great way to get away from the miserable British winter

 

[SkyGod]

I'll have some of this action please.

 

[Timolgra]

Oooh, how can I get away with that

 

[bladerunner]

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2739194#post2739194



I don't think you need a carnet. This route is just about do-able in 3 weeks but if you want some days off (bikes not allowed in the parks) you will have some very long days.

Try Etosha national park in Namibia - it's said to be better than Kruger and will be quieter and definitely safer.

Namib and Botswana will be seriously hot in January.

Let me know if you want some ideas as to places to stay - some of the chalets are good value and very nice.

Nearer the date pm me and I can give you some contacts in SA in case of sh*t/fan interface situations. The SA boys work for BMW off road school and/or sell touratech type biking gear so are well up with engineering problems/solutions.

Give the waitress in the Road canyon hotel a big kiss from me ;-)

 

[Sgt Bilco]

We will need carnets for temporary importation of our steeds more's the pity The trip will be nearly 4 weeks so should do it no problem.

Cracking write up by the way

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2739194#post2739194



I don't think you need a carnet. This route is just about do-able in 3 weeks but if you want some days off (bikes not allowed in the parks) you will have some very long days.

Try Etosha national park in Namibia - it's said to be better than Kruger and will be quieter and definitely safer.

Namib and Botswana will be seriously hot in January.

Let me know if you want some ideas as to places to stay - some of the chalets are good value and very nice.

Nearer the date pm me and I can give you some contacts in SA in case of sh*t/fan interface situations. The SA boys work for BMW off road school and/or sell touratech type biking gear so are well up with engineering problems/solutions.

Give the waitress in the Road canyon hotel a big kiss from me ;-)

 

[timeandtide]

Sounds good to me!

 

[BAKERMAN]

Mrs B has given the green light

 

[tanneman]

I would really like to go but no chance. My brother-in-law lives in Windhoek and there is a Motorrad dealer. There is so many places to see, it would be good to do it for variation between tours. For the rest days there would always be something to do.

Best time to visit Namakwaland is after the first good rain usually Sept/Oct when the daisy's are in full bloom. You have never seen so many flowers. Horizon to horizon of colour.

Just an idea, coming from Cape Town cross the border at Vioolsdrift/Noordoewer and follow the road that hugs the Orange river and takes you to Rosh Pinah. Deserted area. Where ever you go take lots of water, it's not called the Skeleton Coast with-out reason. Fish river canyon is not a good place to be in summer because of the heat and risk of flash floods. Maun in Botswana is a drinking town with a tourist problem.

Have a read here http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php and what you might expect http://www.huntatrophy.com/idmvfiss/day01.html. If you need a translator Chris give me a call, but you probably got it sorted already. Enjoy the trip.