Jurgen Muess

OWNER

The name says it all. One of Karoo Biking’s owners is Jurgen, an impossibly tall German fellow with a passion for BMW motorcycles. He’s travelled extensively through the country and also lived in Johannesburg for a few years. He couldn’t stay away for too long though and, after a short intermezzo in Cologne, returned to set-up Karoo-Biking.

Today, he calls Cape Town home and is delighted to have taken that step. Meeting people from all over the world, touring this awesome country on top of the range BMW motorcycles, exploring and making your stay unforgettable are a few of his favourite pastimes. He couldn’t wish for a better job.

He completed his degree in Germany before starting the long climb up the corporate ladder. Jurgen worked in a marketing and sales capacity for approximately 15 years consulting to television broadcasters on what equipment they needed for their studios. His work took him to almost every corner of the globe “but,” says Jurgen, “I can honestly say that you would have to look long and hard to match the South African landscape, weather and way of life.”

But the corporate world and all its stresses are history! Its now time
to take a look at South Africa and one of the best ways to
experience it: on a BMW motorcycle!
Jurgen Muess

Menzi Cele

The newest and youngest addition to the Karoo Biking team is Menzi Cele. Hailing from the friendly shores of Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal, a former law student with an extensive background in the hospitality industry. This makes for a peculiar combination, but you can be guaranteed customer service is something very familiar to him.

Having migrating to Cape Town to try his hand in public relations world, he’s worked on some of South Africa’s leading alcohol brands whilst working his way up the corporate ladder. The change of stream was spear headed by a dream to travel and a desire get to know this beloved land we call Southern Africa, in the best way possible riding a bike.

He joins Karoo Biking in an administrative capacity primarily and as driver of the back-up vehicle on some of our guided tours. A well established young chap with a background as diverse as this nation, you couple this with a new found passion for bikes and for travel he has the makings of a great team member.

Jan de Toit

This ex-farmer traded in his tractor for a BMW motorcycle and never looked backed. That was back in 2000.

Jan owns and runs “Country Trax”, an Off-Road riding Academy, from the transformed farm in Amersfort. As an off-road specialist and with his superior command of the powerful machines, Jan leads the African Adventure tour that takes participants through the outback of Kwa-Zulu Natal and Mpumalanga.

His farm now also boasts bespoke log cabins hand crafted by Jan that can only be described as a ‘must see’.

Celia le Roux

The newest, perhaps youngest (!), but definitely female member of the team grew up on a farm in the Klein Karoo. She went to school in De Rust and had to travel on horseback with her many siblings to attend afternoon tennis games. Fortunately methods of transport have evolved and Celia is now the proud and prodigious owner of a BMW F650GS

After studying agriculture she farmed with wine and cattle in various parts of the country. Her quest for the perfect meal was realized when she co-owned the award-winning Jemima’s restaurant for 6 years in Oudtshoorn.

It is a constant endeavour for her adventurous spirit to travel and celebrate unfathomable horizons, so as a voyager she is now doing exactly what the wise man Lin Yutang dictated :

A good traveller is one who does not know where he is going to, and a perfect traveller does not know where he came from.

What people
say about us

Anja & Matthias Brandt, Germany

May 2022

We duly received a detailed testimonial from Anja and Matthias Brandt, after completing a trip around the Western Cape in May 2022.

For all the details please click on the link

Anja & Matthias Brandt,

Germany

Tom & Caroline, North Berwick, Scotland

January / February 2018
Selfguided Tour through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia from Johannesburg to Cape Town

Third trip to Africa using the expertise of Jurgen @ Karoo Biking. Four weeks Jan/Feb 2018 of pure magic through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia & back into South Africa, from the wonderful boutique accommodation, to fantastic non-metal roads, joining everything up to create a faultless very memorable self-guided holiday for myself and my partner. From route planning to restaurant options, both Jurgen and Menzi were extremely helpful. The Okavango Delta, was very special thank-you.

Tom & Caroline
North Berwick
Scotland

Marliese and Harald Weber, Germany

March 2015
Cape Town – Johannesburg Tour in March 2015

Hello Jurgen, hello Menzi and team,
Thanks to you we had very special and unforgettable two weeks in South Africa.
After one week at home this dream is still in our heads, again and again images of this wonderful trip appear in our minds.
We running again from the Rhinoceros mother with its Baby, we are impressed by Flagstaff, the width and the variedly landscape, the friendly African people, the sunsets, Jurgens’s knowledge of wine and of course the lovely Cappuccino and so on and so on … The choice of the localities, guesthouses and lodges was very impressive for us and there were no wishes left.
It was an all in on package and the approaches were often exciting. We pay you a compliment for the compilation/ arrangement / composition. Well done. Thanks to “our hero of the day”. In future, when we get on and off our bike we will remember South Africa, Jurgen and Karoo-Biking. Keep on going – so that many more of your guests can have the pleasure of such an adventure trip.
See you soon… Harald und Marliese
PS: to Menzi thanks for the shirt – it has the right size and fits perfectly. Marliese
Forst, Germany

Herbert Czeschka, Germany

March 2015
Garden Route Tour

Dear Jurgen and Marchant,
Thank you very much for the professional prepared tour. Jurgen you did a top job working out the tour, lodges and nevertheless the excellent places for dining and wining. All of us were very impressed about the quality of this tour. Jurgen you are a perfectionist. Well done.
Marchant it was such a pleasure to meet you and listen to your extreme tour stories (USA, Kanada, La Paz ++++). Very impressive but not possible for us, for a south african warrior no problem. Wish you all the best for your next idea of crossing Russia. We had a lot of fun together, thank you.
You both together are an excellent team for Karoo Biking. Stay together and be successful for many years to come. I think there will be at least 1 more tour booking in some time by Michael. He is very keen going from Capetown to Windhoek. He had really to battle a bit going after the tour by GS now again on his R1150R. I can only start the season on 01.04.2015. Hopefully there will be nice weather around easter to meet the other guys.


Attached a photo showing me on my bike.
Very best wishes to you
Herbert Czeschka
Vlotho, Germany

Pascal Boyer and a group of 6 friends from Paris, France

February 2015
Selfguided Cape Town to Windhoek Tour in January 2015

Dear Jurgen,
it was a pleasure dealing with you, thank you for everything you did during this trip. The hotels, restaurants, advise, journey program and your assistance for Philippe Babielle were perfect.
The bikes were simply fantastic. If you would like a letter in French, for your web site, no problem !! and if you would like some picture from the gang , please tell me.
We’ll be back next year, 12 to 13 days , Johannesburg to Victoria Falls.
MARTIN, PHILIPPE, CHRISTOPHE, JEAN MARC, BERTRAND, PHILIPPE and PASCAL
Paris, France

Hendrik von Kuenheim, Munich, Germany

April 2012
Letter of recommendation from Mr Hendrik von Kuenheim, General Director BMW Motorrad

It is with great pleasure that I send this letter of commendation to Karoo Biking, one of BMW Motorrad’s official tourism partners. Rarely does a supplier’s business ethos dovetail with our own. Passion, innovation and excellence are hallmarks of great companies and often measurable by the repeat business they secure. In me, you have secured a customer for life. Thank you for the exemplary planning and work that went into making the seven day BMW Motorrad press tour through Namibia an unforgettable success.
Sincerely
Hendrik von Kuenheim
General Director BMW Motorrad Munich, Germany