Cycling
>>
Along the Garden Route to Cape Town Tour A & B (19 days) 6-15
guests
Highlights
Game
viewing in open Safari vehicle in Addo Elephant National
Park; at home of the Big 5
On tracks covered by rainforest
to the beautiful beach of Nature’s Valley
Stay over in Township
Visit an Ostrich Farm and
the famous Cango Caves
Cycling across the empty
spaces of the Klein Karoo
Bike through the winelands
around Stellenbosch with a wine tasting
Hike onto famous Table Mountain
Per bike to popular Cape
Of Good Hope and Chapman’s Peak Drive
( B = Breakfast, L
= Lunch, D = Dinner ) ( km = kilometer,
am = altitude meters )
ROUTE
A & B
Day 1
On your arrival in Port Elizabeth you are greeted by your tour guide.
With the bikes in a trailer we travel in the back-up vehicle to a beautiful
lodge situated in the Zuurberg mountains. On a game drive in the nearby
Addo Elephant Park you will hopefully see elephant, antelope, rhino and
even lions!
Day 2
We drive to the start of the Tsitsikamma mountain range, the starting
point of our cycling tour to Cape Town. One last check of the bicycles
and we’re off on the first leg of our trip. We cycle along pretty
back roads with a backdrop of the Tsitsikamma mountains to our comfortable
guesthouse. (45 km, tar) (B, L)
Days
3 + 4
We cycle along a forested plateau, before descending to the Stormsriver
Mouth on the wild, rugged coast. After lunch we continue along the plateau
and through the beautiful forests of Nature’s Valley. Here the dense
Tsitsikamma Forest invites closer inspection by foot. In close proximity
is one of the most beautiful and peaceful breaches on the Garden Route.
We spend two nights here in a comfortable holiday house. (70 km, tar/forest
track/dirt road). (B, L, D)
Day 5
Today we do an unforgettable hike around the romantically wild Robberg
Peninsula (1-4 hours, depending on route). In the afternoon the back-up
vehicle takes us to a comfortable guesthouse in Knysna. Knysna is famous
for its “Heads”, two steeply towering cliffs which mark the
entrance to Knysna Lagoon. At dinner time we can sample the local “Mitchell`s
Beer”. (B, L)
Day
6
We explore the gorgeous forests around Knysna by bike. We cycle to the
coast through forested valleys where the tree-ferns are meters high. With
some luck we might see the “Knysna Loerie“, an indigenous,
brightly coloured type of parrot. We also see twisted trees in the forest,
evidence of the small population of elephants that lives here. We can
choose between routes and various grades of difficulty. By late afternoon
we are back at the guesthouse in Knysna. (24/42 km, forest tracks/logging
trails and mountain bike trails) (B, L)
Routes A and B separate here:
ROUTE A:
Day
7 Today is solitary - and steep. We leave the coast and cycle on
good tracks through the dense Knysna Forest up to the Prince Alfred’s
Pass (1050 m). We spend the night at a farm near Uniondale in comfortable
chalets. (42 km, tar/dirt roads) (B, L, D)
Day 8
On the other side of the pass the landscape changes: We cycle through
the dry Klein Karoo, an impressively vast, bizarre steppe and rock landscape.
We arrive in the small village of De Rust. Here we are accommodated in
the private houses of local coloured people, a unique opportunity to experience
the new South Africa up close. Our hosts will prepare a typical meal and
afterwards there is singing accompanied by guitars. (92 km, tar/dirt roads)
(B, L, D)
Day 9
We cycle along the imposing Swartberg Mountains to the 60 m high “Rust
en Vrede” waterfall, where we eat our lunch in the cool shade of
the trees. From there it is not very far to the mountain holiday resort
where we move into our comfortable chalets. How about jumping in the cool
swimming pool as compensation for the hot bike ride? (42 km, tar/dirt
roads) (B, L, D)
Day 10
We visit the nearby Cango Caves and an ostrich farm. We continue through
the beautiful Schoemanns Gorge to Oudtshoorn, where we stay in a comfortable
hotel. We relax by the pool, do a tour of the town or visit the interesting
Nel Museum. (35 km, tar) (B)
Day
11
First on asphalt and later on dirt tracks, with the peaks of the majestic
Swartberg in the background, we cycle through a beautiful, isolated valley,
past ostrich farms to the idyllic wine-making town of Calitzdorp where
we are accommodated in a comfortable guest house. (79 km, tar/dirt roads)
(B, L, D)
Day 12
Leaving Calitzdorp after lunch we go over the Huisriver Pass (655 m) in
the gorgeous Seweweekspoort Gorge with its 800 m high cliff walls. Heading
in the direction of Ladismith we arrive at our idyllic and peaceful guesthouse
situated in the 2000 m high Swartberg Mountains. (78 km, tar/dirt roads)
(B, L, D)
Day 13
We cycle on good tracks through the sparse expanse of the Klein Karoo.
We traverse a dry valley before we reach the top of the Ouberg Pass (950
m). On the other side we arrive in Montagu with its charming colonial-style
houses – and we once again have asphalt under our bikes. We spent
the night in a comfortable guesthouse. (115 km, dirt roads/tar) (B, L)
Day
14
After breakfast we do a short hike through a rugged gorge to the hot springs,
very beneficial for sore muscles. We cycle on through the lovely Kogmanns
Gorge, after which the landscape opens up: we continue through winelands
to Robertson, where we spend the night in rustic chalets on the Breede
River. En route we will visit a wine estate where we will sample the excellent
local wine. (53 km, tar/dirt roads) (B, L, D)
Day 15
Amidst the impressive scenery of the Hex River Mountains we cycle through
the Breede River valley to Worcester. Cycling past wine estates, we fi
nally arrive at the idyllic Bainskloof Gorge, where we cycle over the
pass of the same name (600 m). If it becomes hot en route, we can swim
in one of the natural river pools. With stunning views of the Cape winelands
we arrive after a long descent in the wine-making town of Wellington,
where we are accommodated in comfortable chalets. (105 km, tar/dirt roads)
(B, L, D)
Day 16
We continue in the back-up vehicle to Stellenbosch, the leafy University
town close to Cape Town. The Village Museum provides some insight into
the history of the second-oldest town in South Africa. We continue to
the coastal town of Kleinmond, where we unload the bikes and cycle along
a unique stretch of coastline to Gordon’s Bay with the Cape Peninsula
in sight. Late in the afternoon we load the bikes and head for our comfortable
hotel/guest house in Cape Town, where we spend three nights. (50 km, tar)
(B, L)
Day 17
In the morning we visit the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens and afterwards
walk, weather permitting, onto Table Mountain (4 hours). The views of
Cape Town lying 1000 m below are breathtaking. We take the cable car down
the mountain. In the afternoon we walk to Greenmarket Square, the Parliament
Gardens, the Cultural History Museum, the Castle, the City Hall and the
Malay Quarter. The rest of the afternoon is free for your own activities.
We provide tips on things to do and see in the Mother City. The Waterfront
houses countless shops, good restaurants and the famous Two Ocean Aquarium!
(B)
Day 18
We travel in the back-up vehicle along the Indian Ocean to the penguin
colony at Boulders and continue on to the Cape of Good Hope. We unload
the bikes and cycle to the other side of the Cape Peninsula, along the
Atlantic, back to Cape Town. The coastal road along Chapman’s Peak
and Hout Bay is rightly considered one of the most breathtaking in South
Africa, one of the reasons that the popular Argus Cycle Tour takes place
here every year, with more than 35.000 participants from around the world.
(62 km, tar) (B)
Day
19
Today you have the unique opportunity to take a tour through various townships
and visit a kindergarten project in the township of Khayelitsha which
is supported by AFRICAN BIKERS. You will get to know the largest township
in Cape Town and the people who live here. In the afternoon we transfer
to Cape Town International airport and take leave of South Africa. (B)
ROUTE B:
Day 7
We drive along the Knysna Lagoon in the back-up vehicle to today’s
starting point, the Lake District. We cycle through the Lake District
and later we continue through beautiful forested valleys on the historic
Cape Road to George, where we stay over at a peaceful guest house with
views of the Outeniqua Mountains. (55 km tar/dirt roads) (B, L)
Day 8
We cycle over the historic Montagu Pass (745 m) into the interior. It
is well worth the effort for the spectacular views stretching to the coast.
Here the landscape changes quickly. From the evergreen coast we enter
the Klein Karoo where Erika and succulents grow. We cycle through the
“Paardepoort“, before we spend the afternoon relaxing by the
pool at an ostrich farm. We continue on to the “ostrich capital”
of Oudtshoorn. We are accommodated in a comfortable hotel. (61 km, tar/dirt
roads) (B, L)
Day 9
After a city tour and a visit to the worthwhile Nel Museum our bus takes
us to the nearby Cango Caves and we visit an ostrich farm. In the afternoon
we travel to the village of De Rust, where we stay in a township in the
private houses of local coloured people, a unique opportunity to discover
the new South Africa up close. Our hosts will prepare us a typical meal
and afterwards there is singing accompanied by guitars. (B, L, D)
Day
10
Back on the bikes, we leave the Klein Karoo over the Robinson Pass (860
m) and return to the cooler coast, arriving at Mossel Bay, where we stay
in a guesthouse with beautiful views over the bay. (92 km, tar) (B, L)
Day 11
The Diaz Museum in Mossel Bay offers a glimpse into the exploration of
sea routes and the discovery of Africa. The beach offers a last chance
to swim before we reach Cape Town, as we now travel into the interior
by bus to just past Albertinia, from where we cycle along the Langeberg
Mountains through hilly farmland until we reach Riversdale, where we are
accommodated in a simple country hotel. In the evening we are invited
to a barbeque on a farm situated at the foot of a mountain which, due
to being shaped as a woman’s head, is nicknamed “Sleeping
Beauty”. (50 km, tar/dirt roads) (B, L, D)
Day 12
We cycle on along the Langeberg Mountains on a mountain trail to Heidelberg
and then predominantly on asphalt to Swellendam. The third-oldest town
in South Africa is idyllically situated at the foot of the majestic Langeberg
Mountains. We sleep in thatched cottages under ancient oak trees. (95
km, tar) (B, L, D)
Day 13
We cycle through the wide Breede River valley past Bonnievale and through
vineyards to Robertson, where we are accommodated for the next two nights
in comfortable chalets on a wine farm situated on the Breede River. First
we visit a wine estate and sample some of the excellent local wines. (76
km, tar) (B, L, D)
Day 14
Today we take a detour to the beautiful village of Montagu and do a short
hike to the hot springs. In the afternoon we can do an excursion by bike
to the historic town of MacGregor. B, D)
The itinerary for the rest of route B is identical
to days 15-19 of route A.
Travel
Information:
A medium to good level of fitness and some team spirit is required
for this trip. The route is mountainous in parts and goes over some
passes between 600 and 1000 m high. The climate is as varied as
the travel route: The temperatures in the Klein Karoo can soar to
38°C, and at night it can be cold, especially in the higher
altitudes.
Included: qualified
English-speaking tour guide all
accommodation in double rooms with shower/toilet as above incl. breakfast
(2-3*) transport
of bikes on trailer permanent
back-up all
entrance fees all
transfers & travel in air-conditioned minibus
Excluded: flights
to and from South Africa gratuity
Mountain
bikes We offer Giant Mountain Bikes with 27 gears, front shocks, water-bottle
holder and a small carrier for an additional charge on loan.
Book this tour
If
our fixed departure doesn't suit you, don't despair! Contact
us for exclusive itineraries for small groups or individual travelers,
we will be happy to put together a special tour for you.
ROUTE
A & B
Days
3 + 4
Day
6
Day
7
Day
11
Day
14
Day
19
Day
10
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