12 days Thu 07 Nov '24 - Mon 18 Nov '24

Stunning nature, challenging routes and unforgettable memories

In 9 beautiful riding days we take you in the Sawubona over the most beautiful routes that South Africa has to offer. We ride over savannahs and through deserts, over mountain ranges and through desolate nature reserves. We taste the eventful Dutch history of the country, where we visit villages such as Vereeniging and Kroonstad. We ride through the voluptuous Lesotho, the high-altitude kingdom that is completely surrounded by South Africa.

Finally, we cross the southernmost point of our journey, the impressive Drakensberg mountain range. From there, we continue our way north again, in four beautiful stages back to Johannesburg. The Sawubona promises a varied combination of winding backroads, dusty desert roads, high mountain passes and magnificent views.

See you in Jo'burg

The starting and ending point of the Sawubona is the largest city in South Africa, Johannesburg (popularly affectionately called Jo'burg). In this bustling metropolis our young BMW motorcycles are polished and in perfect condition. You travel to Johannesburg on your own.

But from the moment your Sawubona starts, you don't have to think about anything and you don't have to do anything other than enjoy! We make sure everything is arranged for you. And we don't cut corners.

Professional guidance, comfortable driving

In Johannesburg we also meet our guide Johan, a local rider with about 15 years of experience in guiding groups of riders. Johan guides the group, while his colleague follows us in the support vehicle. This means that you ride your motorcycle without heavy luggage. How comfortable! Your luggage is ready for you every day in your next hotel (always at least 3 stars), where you can relax in your private room.

Sawubona South Africa

Your tour guide: Johan Olivier

Johan Olivier has a strong sense of adventure and lives close to nature.

Exploring new territory is what drives him and what better way to do that than on a dual sport bike. Having travelled extensively through Africa on two wheels, he has a keen interest in the continent, its people and traditions and knows the back roads, secrets and gems that are rarely encountered on commercial travel.

When Johan is not running his adventure motorcycle shop, training off-road riders or leading a tour, he is busy planning or scouting for the next trip - what an incredibly stressful life!

Johan is a certified adventure motorcycle guide. He is also an internationally qualified BMW Motorrad offroad instructor and a hands-on motorcycle enthusiast with solid mechanical skills, meaning you will be in good hands during your trip.

Johan always has time for coffee and a good joke.

-Dutchman, mind you, as an Afrikaner can understand everything😉

Additional information Sawubona South Africa

Sawubona South Africa

Sawubona is a greeting within the Zulu tribe that means “I see you, I appreciate you”. It is not without reason that we named our fantastic South Africa trip that way. Because after this 11-day trip that is exactly how you will think about this magnificent country!

Thursday 7 November - Southern Sun OR Tambo International Airport Johannesburg

Arrive at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at 22:10, where you will be welcomed by your guide, Johan Olivier. We will then check into the hotel for a good night's sleep. We will sleep the last night in the same hotel, so you can leave your excess bags at the hotel. We travel light.

Friday 8 November - Protea Hotel by Marriott Clarens

At 09:00 we have breakfast and leave at 10:30. We are really going to start! We set off towards Clarens, The Jewel of the Eastern Free State. Between Bethlehem and Clarens we visit the Lesotho Water Project Ash River Outlet. This is a huge technical feat that aims to capture the large amount of summer rain for the water-starved Lesotho and South Africa. In the afternoon we explore the beautiful rural village of Clarens with all its restaurants and local craft beer breweries.

Estimated distance today: 260 kilometers

Saturday November 9 - Maliba Mountain Lodge Lesotho

Today we enter the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. We have breakfast at 08:00 and leave for Clarens at 09:00. We travel through the beautiful Golden Gate National Park that takes us to the Monantsa Pass. This connects the Eastern Free State in South Africa with the Kingdom of Lesotho. Although the entire pass is within the borders of South Africa, we still have to cross a border post to reach our final destination Maliba Mountain Lodge Lesotho.

Estimated distance today: 242 km.

Sunday November 10th - Sani Mountain Lodge

Our destination for today: Sani Mountain Lodge, where upon arrival we will enjoy a "Germanic Bruisdrankie" in the highest pub in Africa, at 2,874 meters above sea level.

Leaving Maliba Lodge we will refuel in Butha-Buthe. Make sure your bike is filled to the brim.

Although most of today’s route will be asphalt, we will cross 4 mountain passes: Moteng Pass, Pass of Guns, Tlaeeng Pass (the second highest pass in Lesotho, at 3,262m) and Mahlasela Pass (the highest, at 3,278m). These passes are more beautiful than the Pyrenees, Dolomites and Alps combined! Added bonus: there is almost no traffic. We will enjoy lunch at AfriSki Mountain Resort before heading to Sani, passing the Letseng Diamond Mine.

Estimated distance: 250 km.

Monday November 11 - Sani Mountain Lodge - Rest day

Today is a rest day. You can do whatever you want. For example, take a short ride through the mountains. Or just stay at the accommodation.

Tuesday 12 November - Rawdon's Hotel, Midlands Meander

After breakfast at 07:00 we drive towards the famous Sani Pass. Sani Pass is the mother of all South African mountain passes. Statistically and in every way it exceeds distances, climbs and outperforms all its competitors with great ease and has become the most iconic mountain pass in South Africa. When we arrive in Himeville we stop for a cup of coffee and to refuel. It will of course be a shame to take the main road to Nottingham Road - expect a ride on a dirt road with the most beautiful scenery.

Wednesday, November 13 - Tenahead Mountain Lodge & Spa, Rhodes

Today is a relatively long day. From Nottingham Road we leave for our next location: Tenahead Lodge via Underberg, Kingscote Cutting, Pot River Pass and Elandshoogte. The Kingscote Cutting is an impressive example of road construction where the hills have been carved out to create a safe and flatter driving surface. It is named after the nearby Kingscote farm. It lasts 4.3 km and descends a total of 260 meters in altitude, with an average gradient of 1:17. It is located on the tarmac R617 route between Kokstad and Underberg with sublime views of the Drakensberg for most of the distance. Before we reach Tenahead Lodge we first stop for fuel in Maclear.

Estimated distance: 450 km.

Thursday November 14 - Semonkong Lodge Lesotho

This morning we head back towards Lesotho via Pitsend Pass, Luzi Poort, Ongeluks Nek and Lekhalong la Lesehla Pass. We have breakfast at 07:00 and leave for Semonkong at 08:00. Ongeluks nek was named after one of the trekkers of the Griqua trek to 'Nomansland' died of a gunshot wound around 1860.

This pass is exclusively for off-road vehicles. This road is mostly bumpy, muddy and quite difficult to navigate. With an average gradient of 1:9, it comes in at position 7 in the list of steepest passes. For off-road drivers, this pass is especially a tough nut to crack and has humiliated many egos.

The pass is within the Ongeluksnek Nature Reserve. Maletsunyane Falls is a 192-metre high waterfall and is located 11 km from the lodge. It is located near the town of Semonkong, which is also named after the falls. The waterfall is located on the Maletsunyane River and falls from a Triassic-Jurassic basalt ridge.

We refuel in Motse-Mocha.

Estimated distance today: 290 km.

Friday November 15 - Semonkong Lodge Lesotho

Today is a day of rest.
Go for a visit to the Maletsunyane Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in Africa. Or experience traditional and local nightlife in a unique way by riding a donkey! Visit a traditional beer brewery, local bars and enjoy the local Basotho folk their music and dance. Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are available for purchase in the local bars!

Saturday November 16 - Orion Katse Lodge Lesotho

We have breakfast at 07:00 and then leave for Katse Dam. The Katse Dam is a concrete arch dam on the Malibamat'so River in Lesotho. The second largest double-curvature arch dam in Africa. The dam is part of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. On the way to Katse Lodge, our destination, we drive along the Lekhalo La Baroa Pass, Lekhalo La Molimo Nthuse Pass, Lekhalo La Thabo Putsoa and Cheches Pass.

The Cheches Pass is a large pass, 19 km long and includes a large number of bends - 122 in total. The elevation gain is a whopping 728 meters, giving an average gradient of 1:26, with the steepest sections reaching 1:7.

The pass is paved, which reduces traction problems in wet weather, but if ice forms on the road it can quickly become dangerous. The pass has a classic profile with a central peak, but the steeper part is on the west side. We refuel at Katse Dam.

Estimated distance today: 290 km.

Sunday November 17 - Moolmanshoek Private Game

Reserve
We have breakfast at 07:00. From Katse Dam we follow one of the most beautiful motorcycle routes South Africa has to offer to end the day at Moolmanshoek Private Nature Reserve.
Leaving Katse Lodge we cross the Nkaobee Pass and Laitsoka Pass.

Nkaobee Pass is another major paved pass of 16.2 km. It is one of many major passes along the A25 and connects Seshute in the north with the Katse Dam complex in the south. There are 95 bends, of which 23 are angles greater than 90 degrees, but there are no hairpin bends.

The 624 metre elevation gain means a lot of up and down and although the road is paved, care must be taken in terms of traffic volumes and the very real possibility of encountering cattle on the road. We leave Lesotho and refuel in Fricksburg.

After booking, we freshen up, put on comfortable clothes and have something for the dry throat before going on a game drive in the late afternoon.

Estimated distance today: 150 km.

Monday November 18 - Southern Sun OR Tambo

International Airport

All good things come to an end... Also this unique journey. Today we unfortunately return to Johannesburg. We have breakfast at 08:00. From Moolmanhoek we leave via the countryside to Parys for a late lunch. Once back at the hotel we take a shower and put on comfortable clothing. The motorbikes are picked up and we have our last meal in a popular restaurant before we say goodbye and end the tour. We refuel in Johannesburg.

Estimated distance today: 424 km.