Riding into Cape Town, one of the world’s most beautiful and modern cities, took my breath away
A feast for the senses: day after day of stunning landscapes, luxurious accommodations, wild safari adventures, incredible gourmet cuisine, and world famous wines make this undoubtedly our ‘Queen Tour.’ “Magic Places South Africa tour rates 6 out of 5 stars in my books! Cycle touring is a fantastic way to travel and the MP team make it, well magical. So much fun you’ll want to sign up again and again. I know I do!” says Jody Ritchie (South Africa, Mallorca)
Tour Difficulty Rating:
Click on the thumbnail image below to view and download a PDF for this upcoming tour
Whether viewing lions and elephants during our first day’s safari, riding through the lush coastal rainforest of Tsitsikamma National Park, dipping your toes in two different oceans, or sipping some of the world’s finest wine overlooking the rolling vineyards of Stellenbosch, each and every day of this tour delivers an unforgettable experience. Theres a reason that most of our clients have called this a ‘trip of a lifetime.’
Over our 22 years of tours in South Africa, we’ve painstakingly curated what we think is a darn-near perfect tour. There is just so much to see along the southern coast of South Africa that a one or two week tour wouldn’t do it justice, so we’ve created an unforgettable 18-day, 1,200-kilometre bicycle adventure immerses you in a remarkable country of amazing contrasts. Yes, the bike is our main means of transport (with a support van carrying our gear and providing our lunches), but with such diverse and beautiful landscapes, we’ve included a number of off-bike activities that make this trip so memorable.
We start at the southeastern tip of SA, in Port Elizabeth with a safari through Addo Elephant Park, a vast wilderness reserve. Have your camera ready for close-ups of roaming elephants, giraffes, antelopes and rhinos. Next we ride through the famed Garden Route, famous for tropical forests, exotic birds and plants, reed-banked rivers and pristine beaches. Throw in a coastal hike along the roaring Indian Ocean and a ride through the rainforest along a decommissioned road and you’ll see why this area deserves its UNESCO Heritage status.
Leaving the coast at Mossel Bay, the road climbs over Robinson Pass and winds down into the land of the ostrich known as the Klein Karoo with magnificent landscapes of towering cliffs and clear streams. The abundance of trees and vegetation makes it one of South Africa’s most diverse natural regions so we stay two days here, offering side trips to explore the wondrous Cango Caves, hike to the scenic crest of the Swartberg mountains, and have an up-close and personal experience with the elephants at Buffelsdrift game reserve.
Riding west, we pass through arid semi-desert and crest a mountain pass to emerge into the verdant, rolling vineyards of the Cape Winelands – home to numerous world class wineries. Savour the wines, enjoy exquisite cuisine and take in the dramatic views of craggy limestone peaks as we spend five days exploring this unique corner of South Africa.
We’ve left the best for last! No words can adequately describe the scenic beauty our final stretch of the tour has to offer. We return to the coast through picturesque countryside dotted with vineyards, Cape Dutch homes, and historical villages such as Franschhoek. Now, riding along the Atlantic Ocean, we hug the coastline along spectacular roads hewn from the cliff, through quaint surf towns, the Cape of Good Hope, and the incomparable Chapman’s Peak Drive (arguably the world’s most beautiful road) until we finally reach our destination of Cape Town, one of the world’s most beautiful and modern cities.
