Trip at google maps

Categorization
Level of fitness   Grading of accommodation

Dates and rates
Booking code: RGR A & B
06.02.12 - 24.02.12	USD 3845
12.03.12 - 30.03.12	USD 3765
08.10.12 - 26.10.12	USD 3765
12.11.12 - 30.11.12	USD 3845

Gallery

South Africa

Cycling tour along the Garden Route to CapeTown Tour A & B - 19 days

Since 1993 our classic and still so popular! Cycle from Inn to Inn without transfers. Explore the many faces of the Western Cape on quite roads, enjoy great picnics... – Individual and group travel

From the Indian Ocean to the elephants in Addo National Park, through indigenous forests on the coast to ostrich farms in the dry Little Karoo, from the solitude of the Swartberg Mountains in the wine regions and to Cape Town, the lively and multicultural metropolis on the Cape of Good Hope: On this tour we cycle through the western Cape Province, which is perfect for being explored by bike due to it‘s unique, compact, yet varied landscape. On this trip our chef will pamper you with rich, healthy meals from the colourful variety of the South African kitchen. There are two routes to choose from: Route A takes you in the cooler months on a long stretch through the Steppe of the Little Karoo. Route B, in the warmer months, is, with exception to a short trip in the Little Karoo, closer to the cool coastline.

Tour itinerary:

mi = miles

ROUTE A (March & October) & ROUTE B (February & November)

Day 1 Arrival and transfer to Addo Elephant National Park

After arriving in Port Elizabeth, you will be welcomed by your tour guide. With the bikes on the trailer we drive to a wonderfully located lodge on a mountain. On a game drive in the near-by Addo Elephant Park you will, with luck, see elephants, antelope and rhinos and even lions!

Day 2 Bike tour Clarkson – Tsitsikamma

We drive to the beginning of the Tsitsikamma Mountain Ranges, which is the start of our bike tour to Cape Town. After a last check of our bikes the cycling begins. On a beautiful side road we cycle with the backdrop of the Tsitsikamma Mountains to our good lodge. (28 mi; Tar) (B, L)

Day 3&4 Bike tour Tsitsikamma – Nature‘s Valley

We cycle on a forested plateau before going down to the mouth of Storms River on the wild, romantic coast. After lunch we cycle back up to the plateau and through wonderful indigenous forest valleys in Nature‘s Valley. The dense Tsitsikamma Forest draws us in to discover it‘s natural beauty. Very close by we can rest on one of the secluded beaches of the Garden Route. We will stay in a holiday house for two nights. (44 mi + 19 mi; Tar/Forest paths/Tracks) (B, L, D)

Day 5 Hike Robberg – Rest in Knysna

Today we will take an unforgettable hike around the wild, romantic Robberg Peninsula (2-4 hrs, depending on route). We can see Stone age caves, a seal colony, bottle-nosed dolphins and the threatened eurasian oystercatcher. In the afternoon we will drive to a good guesthouse in Knysna. Knysna is famous for it‘s two ,Heads‘, two protruding rocks, which mark the entrance to the Knysna Lagoon. At dinner, we can taste the local, Mitchell‘s Beer‘. (B, L)

Day 6 Bike Tour Knysna Indigenous Forest

We will explore the indigenous forest around Knysna by bike. We will cycle to the coast through fantastic indigenous forest valleys with metre high tree ferns. With luck, we will see the ,Knysna Loerie‘, a native species of parrot. Fallen trees show signs of smaller species of elephant. We can choose between routes of varying difficulty. In the late afternoon we are back at our guesthouse in Knysna. (15/26 mi; Forest paths/Tree felling paths and Mountain bike trails) (B, L)

Here routes A & B separate. Route A takes us inland through the Little Karoo in the cooler months and route B along the cool coast in the warmer months.

ROUTE A:

Day 7 Bike tour Knysna – Uniondale

Today is isolated and steep. We leave the coast and cycle on good tracks through the dense Knysna Forest up to Prince Alfred‘s Pass (3150 ft). We will stay close to Uniondale in chalets, on a farm with wild animals. (26 mi; Tar/Tracks) (B, L)

Day 8 Bike tour Uniondale – De Rust

Behind the pass the landscape changes: We will cycle through the dry Little Karoo, a bizarre, yet impressive, far stretching steppe and rock landscape, into the small town of De Rust. Here we will stay in the private houses of the coloured people, a unique opportunity to get to know the new South Africa close up. Our hosts will prepare a typical meal and will sing to an accompanying guitar. (57 mi; Tar/Tracks) (B, L, D)

Day 9 Bike tour De Rust – Swartberg Mountains

The highlight of the day is right at the beginning of our journey – Meiringspoort, fenced in by up to 2400 ft steep walls. We continue along the imposing Swartberg Mountains to the 180 ft high Rust en Vrede‘ Waterfall, where we will have our lunch in the cool shade of the trees. From here, it is not far to the well-kept Mountain Holiday Resort where we will stay in good chalets. How does a jump in the cool pool sound, as a reward for the hot ride? (41 mi; Tar/Tracks) (B, L, D)

Day 10 Rest day – Visit Cango Dripstone Caves and an ostrich farm

Today is a day to rest. We will visit the near-by Cango Dripstone Caves and an ostrich farm. We go through the wild, romantic Shoemanns Gorge down to our comfortable guesthouse in Oudtshoorn. We relax by the pool and take a stroll in the town. (B)

Day 11 Bike tour Oudtshoorn – Calitzdorp

With the backdrop of the majestic Swartberg Mountain Peak, we start out on asphalt later changing to tracks, and cycle through a wonderful, secluded valley past ostrich farms to the idyllic wine growing town of Calitzdorp, where we will stay in a guesthouse. (49 mi; Tar/Track) (B, L)

Day 12 Bike tour Calitzdorp – Ladismith

Having lunch along the way, we cycle over the Huisriver Pass (1965 ft) and pass the Missions village of Amalienstein in the wonderful Seweweekspoort Gorge with over 2400 ft rock faces. We continue towards Ladismith where we reach our idyllic and secluded guesthouse in front of the over 6000 ft Swartberg Mountains. (48 mi; Tar/Tracks) (B, L)

Day 13 Bike tour Buffelspoort – Montagu

We cycle on good tracks through the sparse expanses of the Little Karoo. There are a few dry valleys to cross before we have made our way up to Ouberg Pass (2850 ft). On the other side we come to Montagu with it‘s charming colonial style housing – and we will once again cycle on asphalt. We will sleep in a comfortable guesthouse. (71 mi; Tracks/Tar) (B, L)

Day 14 Bike Tour Montagu – Robertson

After breakfast we take a small hike through the wild, romantic gorge to the hot springs, a reward for our tired cyclist muscles. We cycle further to the appealing Kogmanns Gorge, behind which the landscape opens up: The route takes us through vineyards before coming out behind Robertson where we will stay on a wine farm. We will of course taste the good wine. (33 mi; Tar/Tracks) (B, L, D)

Day 15 Bike tour Robertson – Wellington

In front of the impressive backdrop of the Hex River Mountains, we cycle in the Breede River Valley to Worcester. We pass wine estates before reaching the idyllic Bainskloof Gorge, where we cycle up the Bainskloof Pass (1800 ft). If it gets too hot for you, you can stop and take a dip in one of the natural pools of the river. After a long decent, with amazing views out over the Cape Wine land, we reach the wine making town of Wellington, where we will stay in comfortable chalets. (65 mi; Tar/Tracks) (B, L)

Day 16 Bike tour Kleinmond – Gordon‘s Bay

In our vehicle we drive to Stellenbosch, the green university town at the gates of Cape Town. A walking tour of the town gives us a good look at the history of the second oldest town in South Africa. We continue towards the coast to Kleinmond where we will unload the bikes and, keeping the Cape Peninsula in sight, cycle the unique coastal route to Gordon‘s Bay. In the late afternoon we dismount and reach our good hotel/guesthouse in Cape Town where we shall spend the next 3 nights. (31 mi; Tar) (B, L)

Day 17 Hike on Table Mountain

In the morning we visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and, weather permitting, walk up Table Mountain (4 hrs). The view across Cape Town, 3000 ft below us, is breathtaking. We take the cable car down the mountain. In the afternoon we walk to Greenmarket Square, the Parliament Gardens, natural history and art history museums, castle, town hall and Malay Quarter. The rest of the afternoon is for you to explore. We will give you tips about what there is to discover in the mother city. The waterfront has many shops, good restaurants and the famous Two Ocean Aquarium! (B)

Day 18 Bike Tour on the Cape of Good Hope

In our vehicle we will drive along the Indian Ocean to the Boulder Penguin colony and continue onto the Cape of Good Hope. We unload the bikes and cycle on the other side of the Cape Peninsula, along the Atlantic, back to Cape Town. The coastal route over Chapman‘s Peak and Hout Bay are quite rightly on of the most breathtaking stretches in South Africa. It is not a coincidence that the annual Argus Bike Race, with over 35,000 participants, takes place here. (39 mi; Tar) (B)

Day 19 Township visit and transfer to Cape Town Airport

Today there is the unique opportunity to take a tour through many townships and visit the Day Care Centre Project in the Khayelitsha Township, which is supported by AFRICAN BIKERS. You will get to know Cape Towns largest township and it‘s people. In the afternoon we will drive to Cape Town Airport and it is time for you to say goodbye to South Africa. (B)

ROUTE B

Day 7 Bike tour Knysna – George

We cycle along the old Cape road to Homtini Pass. We cycle in the shade of the indigenous trees up the other side. In the afternoon we cycle along the Lake District to Wilderness. The warm Indian Ocean of near-by Victoria Bay is an inviting place to swim. We will stay in a comfortable guesthouse with a view to the Outeniqua Mountains. (34 mi; Tar/Tracks) (B, L)

Day 8 Bike tour George – Oudtshoorn

We cycle inland over the historic Montagu Pass (2250 ft). We are rewarded with fantastic views back to the coast. The landscape rapidly changes. From the evergreen coast we make our way inland to the erica and succulently overgrown Little Karoo. We cycle through ,Horse Gorge‘, before relaxing our tired legs at a pool on an ostrich farm in the afternoon. We will stay in a comfortable guesthouse. (38 mi; Tar/Tracks) (B, L)

Day 9 Rest day visit to Cango Dripstone Caves and an ostrich farm

Rest day. After strolling through the town we will drive with our bus to the near-by Cango Dripstone Caves and visit an ostrich farm. In the afternoon we continue to the small town of De Rust. We drive to the impressive Meiringspoort, fenced in by up to 2400 ft steep walls. In the evening we have a unique opportunity to get to know the new South Africa up close when we are invited by the coloured people into their township. Here we will stay in the private houses, a unique opportunity to get to know the new South Africa close up. Our hosts will prepare a typical meal and will sing to an accompanying guitar. (B, L, D)

Day 10 Bike Tour Oudtshoorn – Mossel Bay

We once again get on our bikes and cycle out of the Little Karoo over the Robinson Pass (860m) back to the cool coast to Mossel Bay where we will stay in a guesthouse with a beautiful view across the wide bay. (57 mi; Tar) (B, L)

Day 11 Bike tour Mossel Bay – Riversdale

The Diaz Museum in Mossel Bay is an exhibition on the history of the maritime exploration and discovery of Africa. The beach is the last opportunity to bathe in Cape Town before we head inland in our vehicle to Albertinia. From here we will cycle along the Langeberg Mountains, through the hilly farm land to Riversdale where we will stay in a good guest house. (31 mi; Tar/Tracks) (B, L)

Day 12 Bike tour Riversdale – Swellendam

We cycle further along the Langeberg Mountains on the mountainous tracks to Heidelberg and then mainly on asphalt onto Swellendam. The third oldest town in South Africa lies idyllically in front of the Langeberg Mountains. We will sleep in a charming guest house in the historical part of town. (59 mi; Tar) (B, L)

Day 13 Bike tour Swellendam – Robertson

We cycle through the wide Bree River Valley, over Bonniecale, through vineyards until we reach Robertson where we will spend the next two nights in chalets on a wine estate on the Breede River and also taste the exquisite local wine. (47 mi; Tar/Tracks) (B, L, D)

Day 14 Hike Kogmanskloof Montagu

Today we will take a trip in the pretty, little town of Montagu and a small hike to the hot springs. In the afternoon we can take a bike trip in the historical village of McGregor. (B, D)

The rest of the tour for ROUTE B is identical to days 15-19 of ROUTE A.

This way to our picture gallery

October 2011: Cycling tour along the Garden route to Cape Town – 19 days

April 2010: Cycling tour along the Garden route to Cape Town – 19 days

March 2010: Cycling tour along the Garden route to Cape Town – 19 days

September 2009: Cycling tour along the Garden route to Cape Town – 19 days

March 2008: Cycling tour along the Garden route to Cape Town – 19 days

October 2006: Cycling tour along the Garden route to Cape Town – 19 days

December 2004: Cycling tour along the Garden route to Cape Town – 19 days

February 2004: Cycling tour along the Garden route to Cape Town – 19 days

Services

Included in price:

• English speaking tour guide
• 18 nights in hotels, guesthouses and chalets with private bathroom
• 18 x breakfast, 14 x lunch, 5 x dinner, of which one in Township De Rust
• Constant vehicle backup as well as transport for bikes
• All entrance fees for sightseeing program
• South African travel guide

Not included:

• Flights to and from South Africa
• Tips
• Meals not mentioned above
• MTB hire bike

Hints

Travel Information
A medium level of fitness is necessary for this tour. The route is sometimes mountainous and takes us over mountain passes of between 1800 and 3000 ft. The climate is as varied as the tour is: The temperatures in the Little Karoo can reach 95°F, at the coast up to 77°F and nights in the higher regions can be quite cold.

You are only 2, or the dates don’t fit into your holiday? Contact us and we design your customized tour according to your needs.