Traveller from Sweden - Bring&Braai

Hello,
I'm coming to SA to hire a bike and drive alone from Cape Town to Johannesburg. I looking for BMW-friends to give me tips, help with tours, contact with people and placese to stay. I will drive of from Cape Town on the 16 of november and have to arrive in Johannesburg on the 23.

I really look forward for any help.

Richard


Me at Nordkapp this summer, eh winter for you

Hi Richard
Welcome to the Forum!
I must say its a good choice to come to SA and do some biking here!
Most of us on the Forum are situated in Pretoria/Johannesburg area - but who knows, maybe there are people who will respond positive to your request.
From my side for starters:
Don't be in too much of a hurry to get immediately out of Cape Town. There are beautiful roads along the coast - a must.
The shortest way will take you through the Karoo - a semi-arid area with lots of road construction sections.
My suggestion is to rather go along the coast up to George ...
I'll leave the rest to others who have been on those roads more than I have been . .

btw.. nice bike!

Any other tips & info for our Traveller from Sweden?

Hello again,
I have been planning the whole weekend. Mostly just to see what distances there are. I would like to drive some dust roads but I don´t know which one is good. Planning so far is very loose and especially the last 3 days are unsure. If someone lives along the route and is interested in stories from Scandinavia and Nordkapp I would gladly stop for lunch/dinner or a coffee break (even though I don't drink coffee )
My plans so far:
1. Cape Town
2. Bettys Bay (Hermanus-area)
3. Knysna-area
4. Port Elisabeth-area
5. Hogsback, perhaps, read somewhere that it's nice.
6. Port St John
7. Swaziland? Nice? Secure ?
8. ??
9. Johannesburg - area.
I can easily drive about 500 km/day.

Hello Richard..
I'm going to travel from Cape to Pretoria on Nov. 7th to No. 15th. with a friend from Brazil. You are more than welcome to join us, if you change your agenda. We can't change ours, because work trip after the Pleasure one !
We are planning to stay 3 days in Cape Town and then travel off shore by Garden Route up to Port Elizabeth and then go up to Jobug, taking a deviation throw Golden Gate National Park before going direct to Pretoria.

Hi,
oh, that would have been nice. But I can't get to SA any earlier than 15/11. Thanks for the invatation anyway.

Richard, your intended route is fine but just be aware that the route through Swaziland is very slow (animals, speed limit & potholes), so allow enough time. An alternative would be to go inland from George/Knysna and then around Lesotho through Golden Gate like BON is doing. Have never been through Lesotho, but with a GS that is also an alternative. Maybe some GS friends have some advice. Enjoy the trip. South Africa has beautifull scenery and is lovely for motorcycling

It is worth spending another day in Mpumalanga (the Blyderiver area on your route) as it is some of the best roads to do with a bike. I have never been through Swaziland, but can recommend Golden Gate as well.

Enjoy

ADMIN will move this thread to UPCOMING TRIPS > Cape Town to Jhb

When will you be in the Pretoria area, Richard?
(Great name, by the way...!)

Perhaps we could host a braai (grill, barbeque) at Bavarian for the Swedish adventurer?

Wow!
This sounds very nice. I'll be in Johannesburg late afternoon on the 23/11. (I'll have to give up the bike ). I'll stay somwhere waiting for my Safaritrip into Kruger which starts on the 24/11.

From where does your Safari trip start - Johannesburg?

Hi the Richards

23rd is a Sunday.. If the logistics can be worked out, I'll join.

Hello,
yep it's starts off from Johannesburg. At 5 in the morning ! But thats ok, I can sleep some other time. I was recomended to stay in Amadwala Lodge in Honey dew. If there will be a BBQ (I really hope so) I can take a taxi back in the night - I hope!
I'll bring some specialities from Sweden if you like...
I'll give the Bike up at Johannesburg Airport in the afternoon. Take a taxi to the lodge to get rid of all luggege and then off to Pretoria.

Ok, so now we know.
I'll work on it for a day or two and post here...

If you are interested in my planning for the trip to SA, please look in to my blog. later I will also write a bit about my trip I made to North cape.
http://sjogardh.wordpress.com/
/Richard

I see you are planning to go to "Die Hel". I did it last year December on a 650GS. It was quite an experience. Well worth it but give yourself ample time. Best to stay there overnight. The trip down takes a long time. (50 kays take about 1.5 hours)

Hi Richard
Thanks for the link to your blog - wow what a journey! Excellent!
RichardH mentioned a get-together when you're in our area - and I suggest we have it at our place?
We can even come and pick you up on the airport. Are you committed yet elsewhere regarding accommodation for the night of the 23rd?
Forum members are most welcome to join - any interest?

Hi Richard.

"BMW" (see post above) have offered to host you for both a braai and accommodation at their home.
We will ask members who would like to join to come and meet you there... !

I would like to get some idea of your transport needs:

Where are you dropping off the bike in Johannesburg?
Where do you need to be taken to meet the Safari tour operator?

Taxi's are an unnecessary expense when there are friendly BMW Motorcycle Club Pretoria members available to help out...
After all, we may be up in Sweden sometime, 'Inte så?'

Hi there,
fantastic. I love you all .
I've been reading about Die Hel and I understand that I need to give it enough time. Therefore I planned the route in and out of Die Hel in shorter distances, 300 k or so. I will by staying the night there. Thanks for the tip.
I will gladly accept your invitation and would be enormously happy if I some time could do the same for some of you.
I will drop of the bike on Frank Road:

From there I will have to get to the Airport to switch my luggage. I would therefore be best if I could meet you somewhere at the airport.
Early on the next morning (5 pm) I will meet the tour operator in Honey Dew, NW from Johannesburg.

Så är det! You know some swedish

CU all!

Good Morning to our Swedish Friend !!! We are welcoming you to South Africa!!
The 'Think Bike" website is also available to get to know fellow bikers all over South Africa. Have a look at www.thinkbike.co.za. You can also register there, and I am sure the bikers from Cape Town will also give you a warm welcome.
I wish you a wonderful stay in South Africa !!!!!!

No, Richard, I'm am sorry I don't know Swedish...!

Jag kan inte tala svenska.
Kan Google översätta?

Some pictures from my trip to "The Hell"
The last 5 kays to the valey.

The Restaurant

Caravan accommodation in the valley

Having a "braai" in the rain

Die Hell looks fantastic, really looking foreward to it.
Swedish, google - ok. I didn't know they had swedish as well. Have to try.
Hmm, very strange:
It translats "Jag kan tala svenska" to I can speak English! Svenska means Swedish! Funny
I will look in to thinkbike, thanks for the tip.

Richard, do you need to be in Honeydew on Monday 24th at 05:00 or 17:00?
(You said 5PM??)