RIDING SOUTH AFRICA
SOUTH AFRICA and Australia have much common heritage, both historical and geological. Both countries were British colonies. Australia has more desert, coal and iron ore. South Africa has more gold, diamonds and magnificent mountain passes.
Some of Australia’s best mainland riding are the passes of the east coast hinterland on the escarpments that lead to the northern, central and southern tablelands. Double, treble and quadruple the altitudes and distances and this becomes the passes of the Drakensberg Mountains running for most of the length of South Africa and of the interconnected ranges demarcating the Great and Little Karoo across the bottom of the country.
This was the setting for three weeks and 5000km of amazing riding, scenic wonders, fascinating history, superb wining and dining, and luxury accommodation.
Such is motorcycling in South Africa with a group of friends already strongly committed to top class riding and life-enjoyment, both of which we indulge as frequently as possible.
THE JOURNEY COMMENCES
Our motorcycling journey began in Pretoria with collecting our bikes and stocking up for some self-catering.
After a couple of hundred kilometres heading north over the high veld, we turned east towards the Drakensberg Mountains. The large, long massif of the range loomed larger with each kilometre. Our first real encounter with the Drakensberg was Magoebaskloof Pass. It’s considered one of the most scenic passes in the Limpopo province; and it didn’t disappoint as it wound its way up and down ranges and valleys before it finally dropped us on the eastern side of the Drakensberg.
After a couple of days on safari in
