Two Oceans (South Africa)

Thirteen nights in a loop from Cape Town, guided, around the Western and Eastern Cape, sold by the operator as an introduction to Africa.

That framing is fair. One country, no border crossings, a fortnight’s length and a route that takes in two oceans, a desert, a rainforest and an elephant park, which is a good deal of variety for a first trip.

Paternoster opens it up the west coast, a fishing village beyond the West Coast National Park, then Montagu through the Swartland wheat and wine country and into the Klein Karoo. Oudtshoorn follows on Route 62, the self-styled ostrich capital of the world, then Graaff-Reinet by way of the last single-lane concrete road in South Africa, with the Valley of Desolation above the town. Addo comes next, with a 4×4 drive in the elephant park, then Jeffreys Bay and the Supertubes break, and Brenton-on-Sea by Tsitsikamma and the Storms River mouth, with the Bloukrans bridge bungee, the highest in the world, optional on the way.

The bike hire is included, with a BMW F800GS as standard and upgrades available; the full inclusions are not itemised on the operator’s page and are worth confirming at booking. Fourteen days at this price makes it the cheapest fortnight Renedian runs in Africa, which fits its purpose. No wildlife sighting can be promised on any given drive. The southern African autumn and spring are the best of the weather, and the Garden Route works year round, which widens the choice of dates considerably.