Blake Conner

January 12, 2022

Top Motorcycle Rides in South Africa

The best motorcycle rides and routes in South Africa!

1) South Africa: Cape Town to Cape of Good Hope

This route first heads up to the top of Lion's Head for a view of the city before heading south to the Cape of Good Hope, along the amazing coast road from Hout Bay to Noordhoek and then on down the Cape. You will have to pay an entrance fee at the park and we would highly recommend that you take the funicular to the New Cape Point Lighthouse once there. Beware of the baboons, that are very aggressive and will snatch any loose bags and or keys if left unattended. The return takes you through Simon's Town (a great place to eat on False Bay) and then north to Fish Hoek and back to Cape Town.

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2) South Africa: Stellenbosch to Cape Agulhas

This route starts out in the beautiful town of Stellenbosch then on through Franshhoek and heads over the amazing Franschhoek pass that you would swear was in the Alps also Lambrechts Road. Then head down and across Theewaterskloofdam and then to Gordons Bay, along the edge of False Bay, around the point through awesome coastal towns like Betty’s Bay, Hermanus, Gansbaai, and along some fast dirt road before arriving at Cape Agulhas, the southernmost tip of Africa.

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***The southern most point on the African continent***

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3) South Africa: Prince Alfreds Pass, Knysna To Uniondale

Prince Alfred's pass from Knysna to Uniondale is the longest publicly accessible mountain pass in South Africa. Starting out in Knysna, which is an amazing beach-front town in the center of the Garden Route National Park, you can’t go wrong. The area has so much to offer and is a great place to hunker down and then do day rides from. The views along this route are totally amazing, while it's a fun ride for ADV or dual-sport riders. Head east out of town on the 2 before heading north on the 339 toward De Vlugt, and then onto Uniondale. Make sure and fuel up in Knysna.

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4) South Africa: Chapman’s Peak Drive

Chapman’s Peak Drive on the Atlantic Coast between Hout Bay and Noordhoek in the Cape Peninsula is one of the most spectacular marine drives in the world. Chapman’s Peak Drive is affectionately known as “Chappies” and is a must for anyone who is passionate about the majestic scenery of Cape Town.

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***This is a short, but awesome ride south of Cape Town***

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5) South Africa: Jeffreys Bay To Willowmore

This town just west of Port Elizabeth is know for its world-class surf, and great beaches. That’s all fine and good if your a tourist, but you came to ride, right? Head north out of town on the 330 toward Hankey, and then jump on the 331 toward Patensie, and then jump on the 332 at Andrieskraal. You will then follow this gravel road west toward Willowmore through the Baviaanskloof Wilderness area. There are lots of great twists and turns on this route with awesome views, too.

***Jeffreys Bay: Surf, sand, and great ocean views***

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6) East London To Hogsback

Starting in the coastal town of East London on the Eastern Cape with its great beaches, there is plenty to keep you occupied, but there are some nice motorcycle roads in the area, too. This route heads north out of East London and then onto Highway 2. It then jumps onto the 63 and keeps heading west until the 345. Heading north into some great curves right before you get into Hogsback. Famous for its trio of flat-topped mountains, the area is scenic and well worth spending some time exploring.

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***The three tabletop mountains that make up landscape in Hogsback.***

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7) Alicedale Loop

This area in the Eastern Cape just north of Port Elizabeth has a ton of things to do. Down south the beaches, and coastal towns offer eating options and great places to stay. Wander north to Alicedale and Makana/Grahamstown and you’ll find some great ADV riding. This gravel loop can be ridden either CW or CCW. It starts/ends out of Alicedale and goes through Riebeek East, Kuzuko Lodge, and Soutkloof. Krom River Road to the south is a fun section. Fuel is available in Paterson just south on the 10.

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8) Alexandria Figure Eight Loops

On the southern shores of the Eastern Cape this route is definitely scenic and is a great day loop. Alexandria is the gateway to the Addo Elephant National Park, if you are interested in that sort of thing. The area is also famous for its dunes at the beaches to the south. This route starts in Alexandria west of Port Elizabeth and then loops down towards the sea at Cannon Rocks then heads back west before making a figure Eight back to Alexandria. If you you are looking for a fun ADV loop look at the Alicedale Loop to the north.

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9) Port Alfred To East London

The town of Port Alfred is centered around the Kowie River and it’s super interesting island resort homes on the islands in the bay. This beach-front community has great places to eat, drink and stay at. If you want to continue the coastal theme, head northeast on the 72 toward East London. This semi-coastal route can be ridden either way. There are a quite a few excursions off the main route, so get out and explore. Like Port Alfred, there are tons of places to eat and explore in East London, so whichever way you ride this route, is the right way.

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10) East London To Port Shepstone

‍This route follows Highway 2 from East London to Port Shepstone. This is part of the coastal route from Cape Town to Durban. East London is also known as Buffalo City and sits between the Nahoon River and the Buffalo River on the Indian Ocean with its sub-tropical climate. It also is considered the northern swath of the Sunshine Coast. Popular things to see include Nahoon, Gonubie, and Orient Beaches. There are also a ton of game reserves in the region. Our route heads north east out of New London on the 2 through Mthatha then Mount Frere and onto toward the coast and Port Shepstone. This town is also known for its beaches and outdoor activities. The Mzinkulwana River cuts into town from the northwest and the Oribi Gorge.

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11) Port Elizabeth To Hankey Gravel Loop

This loop heads out of Port Elizabeth and heads clockwise primarily on gravel roads. Heading first toward Hankey and then up to the Elands River Road and back south east toward Port Elizabeth and the Sanrivier Dam. Port Elizabeth is one of the largest cities in South Africa and is the coastal hub of the Eastern Cape. Like much of the area, it is known for its beaches, fishing, and outdoor activities. But the motorcycle riding in the area is prime as well. This loop that includes a big chunk of gravel roads just inland is well worth the effort.
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12) Swartberg Pass

This route is all about one road, the Swartberg Pass. The route starts in Oudtshoorn and ends in Prince Albert. This gravel pass is considered a South African gem and definitely bucket-list worthy. The pass is not only a famous route but has been declared a national monument, with historical points of interest marked along the 24 kilometer route. Not only are tons of switchbacks fun to ride, but the route is littered with great scenery and views. Prince Albert itself is a town of around 7,000 people and offers plenty of lodging and culinary choices.

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13) Montagu Loop

You can jump on this loop anywhere, but there are some great sections of road all along the route. On the eastern end of the route there is a fantastic section of road on the Tradouw Pass (324) south of Barrydale and north of the 322. While on the western end, the Cogmanskloof Pass connects the towns of Ashton and Montagu and offers amazing scenery and a really fun stretch of road and concludes with a really cool rock tunnel as you approach Montagu. The entire area is made up of craggy rocks and mountains with the Twistniet Nature Reserve to the west and the Zuurberg Reserve on the East. Montagu offers a lot of choices for accommodation and eating, and even some great hot springs to dip into after a long day on the bike.

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14) Cape Town To Lambert Bay

This route skirts up the west of the Western Cape to Lambert Bay. This route is all about the scenery, so take it in. The natural thing to do when on the Western Cape is to head south and east of Cape Town, but this ride heads north towards Lambert Bay. This route is more about the scenery than epic twists and turns, but is still a fun ride. Take the 7 until you reach the 366 the head west for Elands Bay. From there you head due north on the Railway Service Road to Lamberts Bay. Like most of the coastal tourist towns there are plenty of places to eat and stay. Take a break and enjoy the white-sand beaches and relax.

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15) Sani Pass/Lesotho Loop

This route starts outside of Lesotho north of Underberg and then heads over the fantastic Sani Pass into Lesotho then heads southwest on the A3 toward Mohlanapeng then north toward the Malibiamatso River then up the A25, then back east toward Mokhotlong. Then back over the Sani Pass heading south. The pass is definitely the highlight of this ride and soars to an elevation of more than 2,800m (9400 ft.) above sea level. The road itself is gravel and can be quite treacherous in the rainy or winter seasons. The scenery is as epic as it gets. The pass itself is all in South Africa, but once at the top you will hit the border control to get into Lesotho. Check out the Sani Mountain Lodge, which is considered the highest pub in SA.

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"You don't stop riding when you get old, you get old when you stop riding."
― Anonymous