Be guided on a cycle tour through an exceptional part of the world
Bike tour South Africa and peacefully ride this scenic route
Roaming giraffes and other mesmerizing creatures will fill your view on this tour
Breeze down the declines and be richly rewarded with amazing vistas as you go
Glide your way through the remarkable scenery
Spend some memorable days getting up close to magnificent animals

Cycling the Drakensberg & Kruger

Duration
12 days
Site savings
$69
From
$3,365 USD

Cycle between the jagged peaks of the Drakensberg to the big game of Kruger National Park on an unforgettable bike tour over 12 days. Ride through vast mountain scenery, forests, waterfalls and canyons and discover the magnificent Drakensberg Mountains. Search for the big 5 in Kruger National Park as you embark on two full days of safari drives and epic adventures in this beautiful and wild land. With perfect road surfaces and idyllic sunshine, there is surely no better way to experience eastern South Africa than by bike.

  • Category
    Adventurous
  • Type
    Fully Guided
  • Duration
    12 days
  • Culture Level
    Adventurous
  • Skill Level
    3 - Intermediate
  • Activity Level
    3 - Active
  • Elevation
    3 - Intermediate
  • Terrain
    Hilly
  • Distance
    261 miles
  • Avg. Daily Distance
    32.6 miles
operated by
Exodus Travels
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  • Where does the tour start and end?

    The tour starts and ends in Johannesburg, South Africa. The airport is Johannesburg or O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB).

  • How long is the tour? How many cycling days?

    The tour is 12 days long with 8 days of cycling.

  • What's the tour like?

    There are 8 days of cycling with an averaging distance of 55km a day with full vehicle support.

    The cycling is all on good condition paved roads, apart from two short stretches of hard-packed gravel road on days 5 & 7. Most of the cycling is over undulating terrain with some challenging climbs that are followed by long flowing descents. Your cycling guide leads the group and a support vehicle follows at all times with snack stops set up every 15km where you can re-fill water bottles and help yourself to sweets and snacks. Helmets must be worn by all cyclists in South Africa.

    Legal Note: all group members joining this tour will be asked to sign an indemnity form at the start of the holiday. This indemnity form is a requirement of the South African Tourism Service Association which our local supplier is a member of.

  • What's the weather like?

    Although the greater part of South Africa lies north of the tropic of Capricorn, the temperature is moderated by the altitude. The average midday temperature is likely to be about 22C on the coast and 24C inland. This trip covers various different weather regions.

    Generally inland areas will be dry between the months of April and October (although storms can occur), whereas in the Drakensberg Mountains rain is more common at this time. In August the nights can be very cold, especially in the Drakensberg where temperatures can drop below freezing. However, the days are warm and crisp with generally cloud-free skies.

    During the months of November through February rain can sometimes be expected and the temperature will be higher. However, as anyone who has travelled to these parts will say, rain is often a blessing, it manifests the local colours, drops the sometimes sweltering temperatures and never generally lasts too long. It also means the night times are incredibly clear.

  • What's the food like on the tour?



    11 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 5 dinners are included on this tour.

    For breakfast, you can expect a good selection of cereals, toast, jams, fruit and yoghurt as well as coffee and rusks. Occasionally you will have a cooked breakfast or buffet in some locations. Meals which are included in the trip are cooked and prepared by your guide and drivers.

    On two days you will have a cooked lunch, but most days you will have a large selection of sandwich ingredients including cold meats, bread, salad, cheese and crisps. Vegetarian and other dietary requirements are well catered for but please inform us at least two weeks before you travel. The tour leaders do all the shopping and meal planning for each group. Each tour has a cool box for cold drinks and you will be made aware of nights when alcohol is not available so you can purchase some beforehand. 

    The tour operator supplies the following drinks on all tours: fruit juice and squash served with breakfast & lunch, tea and coffee served with breakfast and dinner. All other beverages will be at your own expense.

  • Do I need vaccinations for this tour?

    No vaccinations are obligatory but some vaccinations are recommended. These include typhoid, yellow fever, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and influenza.

  • Is a bike available?

    Yes, a Giant Escape hybrid bike is included in the tour. E-bikes can be hired but is subject to availability and price changes.

    Alternatively, you can bring your own bike (BYO) but this is on a request basis and additional charges may apply to cover the transportation of your bike during the tour.

    Conditions

    1. The equipment remains the property of the supplier and you may not sell, hire out or part possession with the equipment.

    2. You must not misuse the equipment and must return it in the same condition as when received (ordinary wear and tear excepted). The supplier is entitled to charge for any damage caused to the equipment during the period of hire.

    3. You must ensure that the equipment is adequately secured when not in use. In the event of the equipment being lost or stolen, you may be liable for the replacement value of the equipment

    4. You must not use the equipment whilst under the influence of drink or drugs and should immediately notify the Supplier in the event of breakdown or loss.

    Extra Bike Bits

    You may like to bring your own pedals and saddle (excluding the seat post) or gel saddle cover to fit to the hire bikes. The tour operator encourages this, if it is your preference. However, please note that you are responsible for your own equipment, and removing your saddle/pedals at the end of the trip. They cannot guarantee the return of any bike parts left behind.


  • Can I have private room? What is the single supplement cost?

    A single supplement is applicable if you are travelling alone or wish to have your own room. The price varies depending on the dates chosen with minimum price starting at AU$736.00.

    If you would like to book a single room please contact us.

Overall Rating:
5.0/5
Simply the best!
Heather Ward
(Review obtained from Tour Operator)

This was our first [tour operator] cycling holiday and it won’t be our last! The scenery was varied and beautiful, the hotels were better than I was expecting and the cycling was challenging but manageable and a great way to see the countryside. We were able to ride at our own pace through out the trip, with one of the guides at the front and one bringing up the rear and breaks every hour or so for water and snacks. Food from the [tour operator] Mobile Kitchen was excellent - every meal was something different and we were often the lunchtime the envy of other tour groups! The buffet meals in the hotels were also good - a range of options to suit everyone.


What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Probably the safari in the Kruger - we saw an incredible volume and variety of wildlife, often quite close up - lions 3ft away, elephants crossing the road in front and behind our vehicle. The crowning glory was a leopard spotted by one of our group which just seemed to want to show off for us!


What did you think of your group leader?
Bradley, Skhu and Rea did a fantastic job of looking after us all. From fixing bikes (and the truck) to cooking (including baking a cake on the barbecue!) to sharing their knowledge and love of South Africa and its animals, all three were amazing.


Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
It is worth doing some training ahead of the trip, some days were quite tough - up to 2000m of climbing. But we could all ride at our own pace - there was never any pressure to keep up - so don’t let it put you off. There is always the option to get a lift from the truck!


Is there anything else you would like to add?
There is no bar or other access to beer or wine on the first night, so if you want a drink (and you might after a long transfer), you will need to buy something either at the airport or at one of the stops on the drive.

Cycling and Safari in South Africa
Janice Eastman
(Review obtained from Tour Operator)

This was a good trip with a great balance of cycling and safari. However, there are some really long transfers between days, not just the transfer to and from the airport. With 14 in a 14 seater minibus it was not the most comfortable of journeys, especially for the men with their larger shoulders. Make sure you do some training before you go as there are some long hills, which require endurance. The guides were most helpful and encouraged everyone. They also prepared some good meals, taking into account everyone's dietary needs.


What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Getting really close to some of the animals in Kruger


What did you think of your group leader?
Bradley was informative and helpful, also a great cyclist.


Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Train for the hills. There are many and they require endurance, especially in the heat. If you take your own bike, like I did, it would be preferential to have a 11-32 cassette. I only had 28 and it was very hard work at times.


Is there anything else you would like to add?
[The tour operator] could improve the experience if a bigger minibus was used. It was very tight with 14 passengers in the back in a 14 seater bus, when some of the transfers are over 4 hours long.

Cycling Drakensberg and Kruger
Denise Hall
(Review obtained from Tour Operator)

This tour is not a race it’s about taking your time and embracing the scenery, culture and everything the trip has to offer.


What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing the diversity of the scenery and the wild animals in Kruger.


What did you think of your group leader?
Tallis ably assisted by Vuyo were first rate tending to all our requirements. All the meals prepared by the leaders were excellent considering the facilities available to them, more than enough for everyone and dietary requirements well catered for.


Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared for some long challenging hill climbs but scenery is worth the effort.