Touring South Africa on a Harley-Davidson

South Africa is a country of breath-taking beauty and sharp contrasts. Visitors from all over the world travel to South Africa to enjoy the many facets of this sunny country. From bustling cities to rural villages and from the flat dry Karoo to the mountainous verdant Garden Route, Harley-Davidson tours are becoming an increasingly popular way for motorcycle enthusiasts to explore South Africa.

Many travelers start off by using Cape Town as a home base and making a number of one-day Harley-Davidson trips into the surrounding areas. Apart from the fact that they get to see some of the most spectacular sights in South Africa, these shorter trips allow riders to get used to the motorbike as well as South African driving conditions – especially if they are not accustomed to riding on the left-hand side of the road.

A Harley-Davidson tour around the awe-inspiring Cape Peninsula will take riders along the Atlantic coastline past Clifton, Camps Bay and Hout Bay – areas considered to be the playground of the rich and famous. Heading for Cape Point – also known as the Cape of Good Hope – where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet, takes riders along roads cut out of the mountain-side overlooking the Atlantic Ocean crashing on the rocks below. From the Cape Point Nature Reserve the route follows along the coastline leading to Simonstown, which serves as home to the South African Navy and also has a thriving population of African penguins at Boulders Beach. During whale season it is common to spot these gigantic creatures frolicking in the surf. The route then turns inland, returning to the city via the Ou Kaapse Weg Pass and the dense forests of Tokai and Constantia, possibly with enough time to visit the famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

Heading inland, travelers can explore the vineyards of the Cape which are world famous for consistently producing award-winning wines. The oak-lined avenues of the 17th century town of Stellenbosch perfectly complement the historic Cape-Dutch architecture that is typical of the area. Stellenbosch is home to one of South Africa’s top universities and is temporary home to thousands of young students. This route continues to Franschhoek, a town also dating back to the 17th century which was originally home to a large French Huguenot community. The town is well-known for its wine and cheese making. The route back to Cape Town goes via Theewaterskloof Dam, Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, Viljoens Pass and finally down the magnificent Sir Lowry’s Pass, which offers unforgettable views of the surroundings.

There are many one-day, two-day, or longer Harley-Davidson tours that bikers can enjoy in the vast and diverse country of South Africa. With so many beautiful and interesting places to see in this land of contrasts, sometimes the most difficult decision is which destination to choose. But wherever travelers decide to go, they can be sure that traveling there on a Harley-Davidson is going to add an element of excitement.