Routes to the Cape

I am planning a ride down to Cape Town in December via P.E. and would like to know if any of the members have done so. Any interesting routes to follow on my way down? I would prefer to stay of the highway's and rather stick to nice scenic routes.

Please help!

Some things to include on your way:

Golden Gate
Sani Pass
Transkei
Baviaans
Swartberg Pass / Die Hel
7 Passes Road

I am working on a similar route for the future, also on all the back-raods. What is your time-frame ?

The plan is to leave JHB on the 20th of December and spend +- 4 day's on the road down and the same back

HI Kobus
Welcome to the Forum!
Have a look at the WHO's WHO topic and introduce yourself?

Good luck with your trip planning - sounds great!

ADMIN will move this topic to UPCOMING TRIPS > Other trips.

Kobus, what kind of accommodation are you planning to use on your trip?

Kobus - visit the link on the forum where we have already posted a number of routes done and planned. I have personally submitted a number of my routes to this thread. Enjoy the ride. Which dates are you looking at.

Well the period 20th Dec to 4 Jan is still open for me, and if camping is plan fr the journey I would be interested in joining you on this trip. Sounds interesting the routes suggested.

Alun, I am planning to do a little bit of both. (Camping and the guesthouse thing). Since my last thread, I have given it some thought and I am now thinking of going down to the Cape using backroads and good dirtroads through little towns such as Kenhardt, Van Wyksvlei, Carnavon, Loxton, Fraserburg, Sutherland, Matjiesfontein and then follow the N1 to Cape Town or alternatively more backroads. On the return, I want to do Route 62 and then back to Jhb. I have not yet planned the return but would cetainly look at the backroads through the Free Sate. The main idea is to visit these little forgotten towns enroute. I have read quite a bit on the Wilddog Adventure website and there are so many very interesting places to explore. So, this is the current plan. Hope to receive comments from members of the forum with possible suggestions.

Wow! That is an interesting route going to CT. I should be able to handle "good" dirt roads with my F650GS. I always wanted to travel through the Karoo, but never found an opportunity to do it with a sedan or bakkie. Yet doing it via a bike seems more appealing to me. Route 62 is rather nice, been along it in a bakkie from George. One stop much include the famous Rony' Sex Shop, which is actually a pub than anything to do with sex, and in the middle of nowhere too.

What sort of budget are you looking at? Think my 10000 km service would fit nicely between the Graskop trip and your planned trip.

Alun, I have done a very rough calculation(with the emphasis on ROUGH) and I think R6500-00 should do the thing. I still have to finalise the exact route and then calculate the exact distance and then add things like accommodation and meals etc. I know that there is cheap, reasonable accommodation available in most of the small towns and as I said, camping is also an option. This will make it a bit cheaper and furthermore, the budget given is based on 4000km travelling at a fuel consumption of 5,3 l/100km. As I have never done this before, I am not too sure what the fuel consumption with a fully loaded bike on dirtroads would be. Perhaps some of the experienced forum members can give us a rough idea. Would you be interested? Obviousely, the more of us, the safer and more enjoyable. From what I have read on the Wilddog Adventure website forum, most of the dirtroads in the Cape are in better condition than Gauteng tarroads. I have pesonally travelled on a few with the 4x4 and if it is anything to go by, then there is nothing to fear. Many of those routes are very scenic and a camera would be essential.

Kobus, thanx for the confidence on the dirt toads of the cape. Really makes me happier to attempt such a journey. Yes, it would be nice to hear from the more experience GS members regarding this very interesting journey.

As for accommodation, I would have to agree that the small towns for definitely have cheaper accommodation. CT would be the most expensive accommodation considering it is peak vacation period. If we can keep the accommodation down, by making use of camping I definitely would like to join you on this expedition.

My fuel consumption would be somewhat better than your R1200GS, with a F650GS typically using 4.3 l/100km at 120 km/h. Besides I also a very light person so me and bike fully loaded would be comparable to just a normal build person on a bike without luggage. So I definitely score of the fuel consumption front. Also by taking the back roads we be saving a huge amount on toll fees.

I sure looking into obtaining a camera. Never really had the need to have one, but now that I travelling around the country it seems like an essential biking item, along with GPS.

At my current riding rate and planned other journeys it seems like I be servicing my bike on the 18th Dec for it's 10000 km.

Of course travelling with another person is a lot safer than on one's own. Though more would be a lot more merrier and sure more safer.

Though if your ROUGH estimate of R6500 also includes accommodation then the cost seems reasonable to be for 8 day journey.

I really think that we should consider this and perhaps have a nice discussion regarding this trip. Will you be attending the next club meeting?

I will be at both the Year End Function and club meeting.

Unfortunately I won't be at the YE function as I am going on a hunting trip but I will certainly see you at the clubmeeting

Okay. We can in the mean time throw ideas around until the club meeting.

Great, let me know if you have any ideas.

If possible for me to get the route so far so I can plot it here at home.

Along route 62, in De Rust there is a biker friendly place called Olivier's Rust, with cheap accommodation going for about R100 per person per night. Meiringspoort seems like a popular biker visit.

will work on it tonight and will give you the info in the morning. That is for the jhb-cpt part of the route.

Goodmorning Alun

I see you did the off-road course was it the beginners course and did you benefit from it during your first GS ride?

Kobus, yes it is correct that I did the beginners off road course. It did help me with my first GS trip lead by Pieter. Like, stay the hell away from front brakes, standing position on very rough surfaces, etc. I only fell off when I took the wrong line and entered very soft sand to come suddenly to a halt as the sand grabbed the wheels. Other than that the rest of the trip was good, with increased roughness in the road surface, which Pieter did plan for.

Thanks for your reply. I didn't do the GS route to Parys as I had a pillion with me but plan to join the GS group to Swartruggens in November. I am really looking forward to it. I will work through the Capetown route today as we had a powerfailure yesterday evening. You are also more than welcome to look at the map and possible route so we can compare when we meet at the club meeting.

Having power problems too.

I lost a huge UPS over the weekend due to lightning, so my day at the office was rather crazy with no power.

I be doing the Swartruggens too. Need all the practice of off tar road riding I can get. I see Bruno will be leading the Swartruggens trip so we can sure ask him for advice.

That's what I like about being a member. Always someone to talk to and ask for advice. I want to do as many off-road riding as possible before December

ALUN, WORKED ON THE ROUTE LAST NIGHT BUT I THINK DOING IT OVER 3 DAY'S (DOWN TO THE CAPE) IS GOING TO BE HECTIC. MY IDEA IS TO DO A BIT OF SITESEEING ON THE WAY AND ALSO TO KEEP THE DAILY DISTANCES DOWN TO +- 400KM/DAY. OVER 3 DAYS WE ARE TALKING 554KM, 575KM AND 677KM. THAT IS TOO FAR FOR A DAY. I WILL SPEND MORE TIME TONIGHT IF I HAVE A CHANCE. THERE ARE PLACES LIKE VERNEUKPAN ETC. WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO VISIT. I DON'T THINK ONE SHOULD DO THE ROUTE WITH THE SOLE PURPOUS OF GETTING TO ONE'S DESINATION AS IT WILL DEFEAT THE OBJECT.