Settlers Trail Adventure

The First Step to a Holiday of a Lifetime

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South Africa Settlers Trail Self-Guided Adventure

SA - Settlers1 Our Settlers’ Trail motorcycle adventure through the beautiful landscapes of South Africa’s Western Cape strikes a unique balance between adventure, fun and challenging riding.

See the Cape as the early European pioneers found it. Ride some of the early trails, stay in pioneer villages and farmsteads. Avoid the tourists!

The tour focuses on riding on dirt road and is NOT suitable for inexperienced riders. You can take this tour any time of year. The winter weather from June until August is cool and can have some rain; summer (December to February) is very hot; ideal months are September / October and March to May.

The road conditions are mostly poor and most roads are unpaved. Water crossings as well as technical passages have to be negotiated. A reasonable amount of physical fitness and riding skill is required. The tour is not suitable for larger motorcycles or for passengers due to the road and trail conditions.

Highlights

Cederberg
Traditional farmstead living
Winelands
The solitude
Cape Town

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Cape Town. On arrival, make your way to our downtown guesthouse, settle in and enjoy the weather. Go for a stroll downtown or to the famous V&A waterfront, or take the cablecar to the top of Table Mountain. There’s plenty to do and lots to see, Cape Town is just one of those cities with a real buzz.

SA - settlers2 Day 2 Cape Town – Cederberg. After breakfast, hop into a taxi to collect your motorcycle. After a briefing from Juergen you’re off! Ride on farm roads through the Swartland, north of Cape Town, and into the Cederberg.

Day 3 Cederberg – Sutherland. You leave the Cederberg this morning and cross the plains of the Ceres Karoo. Climb the plateau of the Roggeveld following one of the first European settlers ox wagon trails to Sutherland.

Day 4 Sutherland – Calitzdorp. After crossing the high grounds of the Karoo your route descends into the catchments of the Leeu Gamka and reaches the Karoo town of Prince Albert. Then crossing the Swartberg range is the highlight of the day before arriving in Calitzdorp. If you like the isolation here, then on the way to Calitzdorp we can add in a night in the isolated valley of the Gamkaskloof a.k.a. “The Hell”!

Day 5 Calitzdorp – Knysna. You reach the Indian Ocean after crossing the Little Karoo and Outeniqua and follow the coast along the Garden Route to Knysna. If you fancy a break in your trip and some beach R&R, then this is the place to spend another night! And if Knysna is too touristy for you, then try Wilderness or Nature’s Valley instead.

Day 6 Knysna - Attakwaskloof. Heading north over the Outeniqua Mtns you then follow the Olifants River west to Oudsthoorn (ostrich capital of the World!) and up into the Attakwasberg Mtns. Attakwaskloof seems to take you back in time to the era of the early European settlers, a time before engineers started to tame the wild mountains. The riding in the mountains includes long distances of technical riding on poor dirt roads with several steep gradients and river crossings. At the end of the day, park your motorcycle next to the horses at our rustic farmstay.. SA - settlers7

Day 7 Attaquaskloof - Seweweekspoort. You ride through the southern tip of the Karoo on farm roads before you enter the Cape Winelands and the valley of the Breede River. Dinner on the farm this evening is DIY. We’ll provide the food and the braai, you do the rest.

Day 8 Seweekespoort - Robertson. After a few more stretches of dirt road the surface finally changes to tarmac you are in the heart of the wine growing region along Rte 62 (the Wine Route). The scenery is much softer and the land more fertile again here.

Day 9 Robertson – Simonstown. The last big day, and the riding is as good as any. Head south to the old whaling station at Hermanus, where you can still see whales close to the shore at the right time of year. Then take the best bit of tarmac in South Africa to Gordon’s Bay, before continuing round Fals Bay to the navy base of Simonstown, famous for its penguins.

Day 10 Simonstown – Cape Town. There is enough time to visit the Cape of Good Hope in the morning before riding back on the world famous Chapman’s Peak Drive to Cape Town to return your motorcycle. Then it is back to the airport for your evening flight home …. Or why not stay a little longer?!

Settlers' Trail self-guided adventure

Suzuki DR650

Sgl rm suppl.

Cape Town

£1,795

£245

£125

Ready to book? Please click here

Price includes: Suzuki DR650 motorcycle fitted with 35 or 42 l luggage system; CDW & third party liability insurance and tour mileage. All accommodation in high standard to luxury guesthouses, lodges and guest farms including 9 breakfasts and 2 dinners (days 4 and 7); tour description, road book and maps; luggage storage.

Price excludes: Petrol, bar account, lunch, curios, gratuities and items of a personal nature. Flights (typically £650-850 economy return), travel insurance and tour extensions can be arranged through H-C Travel.

Any questions? Please click here.

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