Touring Africa
The South Africa Panoramic and the Cape Mediterranean Breakaway tours are listed below.
"Live the African dream" by motorcycle
We, at Ironstone Ventures, strive to make real for what most motorcyclists is only fantasy. Our motto "Live the dream" challenges the rider to explore worlds that, for most, are only dreamt about. In our quest to open doors to the enthusiast, Ironstone Ventures invites you to join us on tour in a world that many only know by name or picture. We invite you to experience not only the thrill of motorcycling, but to experience a land of many cultures, of wild animals, of inspiring landscapes, of colorful history, but most importantly, of people who you will find are just like you and me.......
These tours start and end either in Johannesburg or CapeTown and indulge the participant in the memorable cultures of the Zulus, 4 wheeled safaris face to face with the likes of rhino in Kreuger National Park, hippo in the St Lucia Estuary, or wine tasting by Capetown. You are here to experience another world, not to race (that's what you're trying to get away from in the first place, isn't it?), so ride at your own pace. Don't worry if you like a slower pace, we'll wait....and if you breakdown, there's a chase vehicle to make repairs. And don't worry about your luggage, because the chase vehicle has it!
Our partners in South Africa are all African born and bred and have all been on bikes for many years in different areas of Africa. Our lead tour guide has a distinguished military background and extensive histories in the business of motorcycle safaris. What they bring to the tour, regardless of background, is a passion for motorcycles and the continent of Africa. This is an employee owned company with a commitment to exceeding our client's expectations and we will happily supply references of clients who have taken these tours.
Outlined below is our proposals for two great experiences on the African continent. While we have the route fairly well detailed, keep in mind things happen and requests are made that may alter the plans slightly. We ask that you be prepared for changes and come with a sense of humor. Trust me....you'll have fun!
Having participated in South African motorcycle tours with this company, and I will be joining you on tour, you can be sure that I have a personal investment in your enjoyment for what can only be described as a "once in a lifetime experience" or an Ironstone Adventure.
Joe Proia
President
Ironstone Ventures, Ltd.
Below are samples of the possible routes and itineraries. Routes, dates, length, and itineraries can/will be altered to your specifications.
Tours can be customized to include myriad activities including safaris, game hunts, extreme sports (bungee jumping, paragliding, etc), and not so extreme sports such as golf. South Africa is known for some of the best courses in the world. Of course, hazards such as big game (giraffe, hippo, and crocodile) have been known to add a definition to "hazard" on the fairway.......
At current currency exchanges, tours including guide, chase vehicle, motorcycle, and accommodations are priced at roughly USD$500 day. Call today to discuss your requirements and pricing.
South Africa Panoramic: (northeast South Africa)
Day 1 Flight to South Africa from country of origin
Day 2 Arrive Johannesburg, South Africa and transfer to guest house for tour briefing and group social
Day 3 Transfer from guesthouse to our South African tour guide, support vehicles, and motorcycles for final administration.
Route: Travel through the Transvaal Highveld on the R23, via Heidelberg, Standerton, and Volksrust where we cross over the Natal Drakensburg at Majuba Pass and drop down to the Natal Midlands. The area from Vryheid to Utrecht is rice in South African history. ( Zulu / British war, the first and second war of independence, and the Battle of Bloodriver between the Boerpioneers and the Zulus in 1836 ). Follow the R33 and R34 to Melmoth through the heartland of the Zulu nation, crossing the Nkwaleni Pass, and dropping down to coastal Zululand, where we overnight and participate in a remarkable Zulu cultural experience.
Distance: 550 km / 350 mi.
Day 4 Short ride back to Nkwaleni and on to Empangeni ( sugarcane and forestry area ). Onto N2 towards Mtubatuba, then head towards the coast and St. Lucia Estuary ( holiday resort, wetland / wildlife park; rich in bird life, crocodiles, and hippo ). Plan on an estuary safari and seafood !
Distance: 140 km / 88 mi.
Day 5 Depart St. Lucia on N2 to Pongola for breakfast. From Pongola on to Piet Retief via the Transvaal Highveld, through the foothills of the Drakensburg along R33 to Amsterdam, Lochiel, and overnight in Badplass, a hot sulphur spring resort
Distance: 440 km / 275 mi.
Day 6 Depart Badplass after breakfast for Machadodorp and Lydenburg via R36 ( Troutfishing and cool in the Highveld ). In Lydenburg we head east into great motorcycling roads as we cross the Longtom Pass to Sabie and overnight in Hazyview.
Distance: 218 km / 136 mi.
Day 7 Depart Hazyview along R535 to Graskop and mountain riding with long sweepers and tight curves as we raise our adrenaline flow. From Graskop we visit Pelgrimsrust, an old gold mining town / museum from the Gold Rush era. We visit God's Window overlooking the Lowveld, Bourkes Luck, and onto Blydepoort, where we overnight at the Aventura resort.
Distance: 170 km / 106 mi
Day 8 Depart Bldepoort on R532 to the Abel Erasmus Pass to R527 north and go through the tunnel at Abel Erasmus, into the heat and humidity of the bushveld. We take the R531 to Klasserie where we visit the Kapama Cheetah and Wilddog Research station. Our destination this evening is Phalaborwa, via Mica on R40. We book into the hotel before preparing for an evening nighdrive in the BIG FIVE country. Bush dinner before returning to the hotel.
Distance: 200 km / 125 mi
Day 9 Open day for activities:
Microlighting over Big Five territory
Game safaris
Visit Leteba at the Elephant Museum
Free day
Day 10 Depart Phalaborwa back on R40 to Mica and across the Abel Erasmus Pass onto R36 to Ohrigstad, Kreugerspos, and Lyndenburg, where we overnight/
Distance: 200 km / 125 mi
Day 11 For the last riding day, we take the Transvaal highveld through maize producing farmland. We leave Lydenburg on the R577 to Roossenekal. We turn off onto R555 to Stoffberg, Middelburg, Witbank, and onto N4 back to Johannesburg and overnight at the guesthouse where we first began our tour.
And a final tour group dinner, not to be forgotten................
Distance: 325 km / 203 mi
Day 12 Final administration and fly out to home destination
Day 13 Arrive home
Days 6, 7, 8 are all short ride days and will discuss short area loop rides the night before.
Cape Mediterranean Breakaway: (southern South Africa)
Day 1 Flight to South Africa from country of origin.
Day 2 Arrive Cape Town, South Africa. Check into hotel and in the evening meet the other riders, Tour leassor from Afrider Safaris and briefing on the tour schedule.
Day 3 First day on the ground is at leisure to visit all the attractions of Cape Town (The Tavern of the Seas), the Waterfront and viewing Cape Town from the top of Table Mountain.
Day 4 The ride takes you round the Peninsula of the Cape of Good Hope. View and experience the unspoiled coastline that bewitched Sir Francis Drake. We again overnight in Cape Town.
Distance: 100 km / 63 mi
Day 5 Today we leave Cape Town for Agulhas, the most Southern Point of Africa. This scenic route is known as the earths loveliest coastal garden. Riding the coastal route from Gordon's Bay around the Hottentots Holland Mountains to Betty's Bay. Gansbaai to Struisbaai, where we overnight.
Distance: 130 km / 82 mi
Day 6 After breakfast, ride north via Bredasdorp to Stormsvlei on the 319 and 317, up to Ashton. On the 318 to Montague via
the Cogmanskloof Pass and then to Matroosberg via "Burgers" and "Rooihoogte" Passes. Here we link up with the N1, through the Hexriver mountains back into the Winelands to Worscester and Goudini (a warm water spa) where we overnight.
Distance: 300 km / 188 mi
Day 7 Leaving Godini, our first stop is at the Breeriver Cellar on the R43 and then we turn west over the Great Drakenstein mountains to Wellington. This is a narrow slow asphalt road built by Italian prisoners of war from the second world war. Breathtaking views. We overnight in Stellenbosch in the Wineland.
Distance: 100 km / 63 mi
Day 8 This day we visit wine cellars in the morning, and ride a circular route to Franschhoek, over the Franschhoek Pass on the R43 to the Theewater dam over the Hottentots Holland mountains to Grabouw/ Elgin, the main apple growing area in South Africa, and then back over the "Sir Lowry's" Pass, to Stellenbosch where we overnight.
Distance: 130 km / 82 mi
Day 9 Today we leave the Winelands and ride North on the R44 to Hermon, Gouda and Porterville where we turn west to Picketberg and on to Velddrif- this area is mainly wheat producing, and when we reach the West coast, we will be in thelobster, mussel and seafood country. We ride on to Langebaan, where we overnight.
Distance: 240 km / 150 mi
Day 10 The day is spent either riding or at leisure in Langebaan. This is one of the fastest developing holiday and tourist attractions outside Cape Town, with lots to do and see. We overnight at Langebaan.
Distance: Depends
Day 11 Our last day on the bikes takes us through the Postberg (West Coast) Nature Reserve, then to Ysterfontein from where Dassen Island can be viewed. We stick to the R27 to Blouberg Strand, a village with one of the finest views... an unforgettable panorama of Table Mountain from the Northern side of Table bay. We overnight in Cape Town.
Distance: 130 km / 82 mi
Day 12 Final administration and preparation for the flight back home late afternoon.
Day 13 Arrive at home destination.
Prices:
Call for pricing per your specifications
What's included:
1. Bed & Breakfast as indicated.
2. Motorcycle hire and 3rd Parties. ( BMW F650 or R1100/1150 GS )
3. Comprehensive motorcycle insurance.
4. Back-up vehicle.
5. Tour Guide.
What's Not Included:
1. Fuel for motorcycles and vehicles.
2. Airfares to and from home destinations. Airport taxes.
3. Personal Expenses such as bar tabs, laundry, telephones.
4. Lunch and Dinner (IF CAMPING DINNER IS INCLUDED)
5. Trip protection insurance.
6. Medical cover/ Medivac.
7. Ad on excursions.
8. Entry into Game Reserves.
9. A US$1500 Safe Deposit. This is paid in US$500 cash and authority for Credit card deduction of US$1000. The old rule applies: "What you break… you buy".
10. Visas for the countries to be visited.
11. Road tolls.
Documentation - What documentation is needed?
As an American, Canadian, or citizen of the UK only a passport is needed. No visas required.
Medication - What shots do I need?
In South Africa only malaria medication is required. It is recommended that you check with a specialist in travel medicine 3 months in advance of your trip to alert you of any travel advisories. When traveling always keep your health book with your passport as it will be requested at border crossings. This obviously does not apply to those trips run entirely inside the borders of South Africa.
Can I drink the water, Can I eat the food?
Water in South Africa can be drunk straight from the faucet. Bottled water is available everywhere and we carry supplies on our support trucks. In terms of swimming in the water it is generally not advised as Bilharzia is endemic to the continent. This disease is curable but uncomfortable and should be avoided. Fast flowing rivers generally do not carry Bilharzia and obviously any chlorinated pool at your hotel will be safe to swim in.
In terms of food, most of what you will eat will be western in type and although the English are not known for their culinary expertise what you will eat on route will always be flavored to the local customs and delicious. In certain countries specific foods found or prepared only in that country and for the adventurous these foods prove to be exciting as well as being quite safe!! It is not recommended that food be bought along the road and we generally structure our daily rides so that a late lunch is available at the end of the day's ride. All of our tours include dinner and breakfast with lunches being left open and for our guests own account.
Insurance - What do I need?
On bikes rented from the company we are responsible for the insurance. Our guests lodge a security deposit that is only used if there is damage to the motorcycle. We suggest that guests check with their carrier as to coverage on their policies being extended to Africa, this applies to both liability as well as medical insurance.
We recommend that MED- EVAC insurance be taken and we can supply the names of carriers. We also suggest that trip insurance be taken out by the guests for their own protection in the unlikely event that they need to cancel their trip prior to leaving.
Security and Riding Safety
If we were to believe everything we saw or read in the media, we would never leave our homes! Yes, there are parts of Africa that are dangerous, this danger coming from the two legged variety and not the four. We know where these places are and simply put, we don't go there. Johannesburg can be a dangerous place just as Washington D.C. and Chicago can be dangerous if in the wrong place at the wrong time. Our tour staff in South Africa were born and raised in Africa and our guests security is paramount. We believe that the attitude that we take with us dictates how others will treat us and usually this is so. We don't carry firearms, we respect local traditions and cultures and we always have our ear to the ground. Having said that, riding a motorcycle anywhere carries its own inherent risk and riders are advised to always keep an eye open for domestic animals i.e.cattle and to be aware that in Africa we ride on the left or "wrong" side of the road. Other than that...just have a good time and leave the worrying to us.
If you have any other questions or are ready and wish to book a tour, please call 508-278-0172 or e-mail us at: ironstone@ironstoneventures.com
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