7-Day Garden Route 62 Self-Guided Motorcycle Tour

South Africa’s Garden Route and Route 62 in a single loop out of Cape Town. Nine days, eight nights and around 890 miles, self-guided, through the Klein Karoo, the ostrich country around Oudtshoorn and the lagoon town of Knysna.

It heads inland first. Montagu comes after 161 miles through the Winelands, then Route 62 carries the route east through Barrydale and over the Huisrivier Pass to Oudtshoorn, with a meerkat excursion and an ostrich farm along the way, which sounds improbable until you are standing next to one. Knysna follows, on its lagoon behind the Heads, and gets an anchor day.

The coast fills the second half. The return runs west to Arniston by way of the Overberg, then Hermanus, which sits above a bay where southern right whales come close to shore in season, and the final 163 miles reach Cape Town through the Cape Peninsula. One oddity worth knowing: the product is sold as a seven-day tour, but the operator’s own itinerary runs to nine days and eight nights, of which seven are riding days.

EAGLERIDER supplies the motorcycle and books all eight nights, working through a local partner on the ground. Fuel, meals and insurance are arranged separately, and the route notes come with the booking. Daily distances sit between 75 and 226 miles on good roads carrying very little traffic. For a first trip to South Africa on two wheels, this is the straightforward introduction to it, and Cape Town at both ends keeps the flights simple.