Tour Summary

14 Days

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Eastern Highlands

Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa: Experience the diverse beauty of three Southern African countries on the Eastern Highlands Tour.

After a gentle start on the banks of Botswana’s breath-taking Chobe River, we meander into Zimbabwe to visit its landmarks including Victoria Falls, Bulawayo and Harare, and explore its lesser known Eastern Highlands.

Between Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, we spend two nights in the breathtaking Hwange National Park, where we get the chance to go on a guided safari. We save the best till last with a trip to the breathtaking Victoria Falls. Via the Beitbridge we cross borders into South Africa’s Limpopo Province before reaching the City of Gold, affectionately called Egoli, but more familiarly known as Johannesburg.

With some off-road riding, the tour is mainly on paved roads and, is peppered with game sightings. Major roads often stretch through national game parks and with the limited fencing, wildlife and game as well as domestic and agricultural animals are frequently sighted, so too, is the odd Elephant crossing.

HIGHLIGHTS

Botswana

  • Chobe National Park Boat Cruise

Zimbabwe

  • Victoria Falls National Park
  • Nyanga Mountains with World’s View
  • Honde Valley
  • Bvumba Mountains
  • Great Zimbabwe Ruins

South Africa

  • Panorama Route with Blyde River Canyon and God’s Window
  • Dullstroom
Price: R 119,900.00

incl, 4 star hotels/guesthouses/lodges, meals, BMW F750GS, luggage transport

DAY 1/14

Chobe (Botswana)

ca. 0 miles

The first night is spent at a lodge on the banks of the Chobe River, which marks the border between Namibia and Botswana. Your bike awaits you. With numerous connecting flights from Johannesburg to Katsane, transfers are arranged by our team from the airport to the lodge and are included in the tour price. A sunset boat cruise through the park delivers a spectacular game viewing experience and comes highly recommended.

Karoo Biking delivers a concise briefing and Q&A session on the first night, to discuss the route, safety regulations and top recommendations for an unforgettable adventure. This is followed by a sumptuous welcome dinner at the lodge.

DAY 2/14

Chobe (Botswana) – Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe)

ca. 56 miles

The first riding day is also our shortest, but includes the border crossing into Zimbabwe. Our aim is to ease you into Africa which beats to own rhythm. There is ample time to explore the surrounds and take-in the sights.

Activities abound at Victoria Falls including a visit to the National Park, bungee jumping, swimming in Devil’s Pool or enjoying a helicopter flip over the Falls which comes highly recommended.

We’ll be staying at the most beautiful hotel in Victoria Falls, a very special dinner will be served.

DAY 3/14

Victoria Falls - Bulawayo (Zimbabwe)

ca. 274 miles

We head in a south easterly direction, through several small towns, interesting rural villages and Hwange National Park, the largest park in Zimbabwe.

We travel onwards to its second biggest city, Bulawayo. The name ‘Zimbabwe’ is derived from two Shona words namely ‘dzimba’ (houses) and ‘mabwe’ (stones) and can be translated into English as ‘Big houses of stones’ or ‘honourable houses’.

Bulawayo’s rich colonial architecture pays credence to this heritage and harks back to a different era.

DAY 4/14

Bulawayo – Harare (Zimbabwe)

ca. 280 miles

We note a dramatic shift in the landscape on this leg of the route; the usual thicket of trees which corridors both sides of the roads opens onto vast African plains. Almost midway, we pass through Gweru, home to the air base and the military museum.

We continue to ascend into the interior and high onto the country’s central plateau to reach Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, our destination for the evening. In contrast, the city bustles with energy and friendly faces from sunrise to sunset.

DAY 5/14

Harare – Nyanga (Zimbabwe)

ca. 162 miles

On this leg of the tour we make our way into the Eastern Highlands, a mountain region on the easternmost side of Zimbabwe. Because of the elevation the roads here make for some splendid riding possibilities and are set against a breath-taking backdrop.

Our stop will be just outside the town of Nyanga where we will spend 2 nights.

DAY 6/14

Nyanga – Nyanga (Zimbabwe)

ca. 162 miles

We will be exploring the surrounding areas a little bit, weather and circumstances permitting we may go down into the Honde Valley to see the tea plantations, continue to Mutarazi Falls and to see Worlds View.

The day will be filled with riding in this glorious mountain region; upon its end we will return back to the hotel for some rest and to have dinner.

DAY 7/14

Nyanga – Bvumba (Zimbabwe)

ca. 81 miles

After a hearty breakfast we continue to explore the Eastern Highlands heading into the Bvumba Mountains, just outside of Mutare overlooking Mozambique.

We’ll spend the night in the heart of an enchanted forest at the foot of granite rock.

DAY 8/14

Bvumba (Zimbabwe)

ca. 0 miles

Leisure day, we’ll be spending a sencond night at our beautiful hotel in Bvumba.

DAY 9/14

Bvumba – Masvingo (Zimbabwe)

ca. 280 miles

This ride takes us back, more into the interior of Zimbabwe passing several towns heading out towards Chimanimani to see the great Red Woods rumoured to be over 2000 years old, then on to Birchenough, a city famed by the bridge designed by the same man who designed the Sydney Harbour bridge.

As the day draws on we work our way to Masvingo formerly known as Fort Victoria and is next to the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, neighbouring a world Heritage site, where we will be spending the night.

DAY 10/14

Masvingo (Zimbabwe)

ca. 0 miles

The next morning we get to explore the world heritage site the Great Zimbabwe Ruins, from which this nation takes its name.

They are the largest collection on Ruins in Africa, South of the Sahara. Built between the 11th and 15th century we get to explore and learn in detail how this great monument came about. The rest of the day will be spent leisurely at the lodge.

DAY 11/14

Mashvingo (Zimbabwe) – Louis Trichardt (South Africa)

ca. 280 miles

This being the day we leave Zimbabwe, we need to get an early start as the border process can be quite lengthy. As we heading further South, the road winds down its way through some spectacular granite rock formations with some rural dwellings surrounding them. We pass through a few small towns such as Runde, Rutenga and Lutombe.

The last stretch to the border is almost littered with some incredible Baobab Trees. On the South African side we will pass though the small town of Musina before we work our way up Wyllie’s Poort Pass to get to Louis Trichardt, where our accommodation spot for the night is nestled in the mountains just outside of town.

DAY 12/14

Louis Trichardt – Dullstroom (South Africa)

ca. 299 miles

A great day for riding enthusiasts as you head onwards to the Panorama Route up the Abel Erasmus Pass to the Three Rondavels, along the Blyde River Canyon and past God’s Window into the old gold mining town of Pilgrims Rest and finally into the misty cliffs, where the town of Dullstroom rests. Famed for its Trout fishing farms and plantations, this will be where we spend the evening.

DAY 13/14

Dullstroom – Johannesburg (South Africa)

ca. 156 miles

After a leisurely breakfast we’ll have some time to explore this little hamlet of Dullstroom. Dullstroom is situated on the Highveld at an altitude of nearly 2,000m and very well known for trout fishing, art galleries and its numerous coffee shops.

On the final leg of this tour we’ll be heading for Johannesburg and our departure is set for late morning. The bikes will be returned to our depot and the last evening of this tour will be spent in the City of Gold (Egoli).

DAY 14/14

Departure from Johannesburg (South Africa)

ca. 0 miles

As most international flights leaving Johannesburg by late afternoon/early evening, there is plenty of time to do an optional city tour, or head to Vilakazi Street in Soweto, where Mandela and Tutu have lived.

You’ll be transferred to the airport in time for the departure of your flight.