This trip through South Africa and Swaziland offers an unforgettable Adventure for motorcyclists who wish to incorporate Africa into their globe-riding plans. This 14-day Adventure could have been named “Best of South Africa”; we've incorporated more of South Africa's highlights into our Southern Cross Adventure than you'll find in any other South African tour. Highlights which are included as standard features of this trip include:

Our Southern Cross Adventure includes plenty of the country's most popular motorcycling roads, coupled with an opportunity to truly enjoy the wildlife and cultural aspects of this fascinating area of the world. Although our route is totally paved and ideal for two-up riding, this tour offers exciting off-pavement alternate routes as well. Off-pavement opportunities include South Africa's Swartberg Pass, Prince Alfred Pass, Montague Pass, Swaziland's Saddleback Pass, and many others. Departures dates: Sep 11; 2010, Mar 11, 2011, Sep 10, 2011

Cape Town is the second most populous city in South Africa, famous for its harbour as well as its natural setting in the Cape floral kingdom, including such well-known landmarks as Table Mountain and Cape Point. Popular day activities include; Robben Island (Nelson Mandela's prison), Cape Point, Stellenbosch winery tour, diamond buying shops, and great white shark diving.

We’ll meet you at the airport and get you checked into the hotel. In the afternoon, at your convenience, we’ll turn your motorcycle over to you so that you can familiarize yourself with it and get prepared for tomorrow’s ride. We’ll have a kickoff meeting in the hotel at 6:00 PM where you’ll be introduced to the tour leaders and to your fellow riders. We’ll distribute additional materials that you’ll need for the trip and we’ll answer any questions that you may have.

After the kickoff meeting, we’ll have dinner at one of the fine restaurants on Cape Town’s Waterfront.

Upon arrival you will recieve all of your neccessary documents for your trip which contains a detailed personalized itinerary, maps, restaurant suggestions, Top Tips for exploring each city or region and a 24 hour concierge service (for restaurant reservations, spa treatments, child minders, day tours etc).

Kensington Tours donates a portion of proceeds to our charitable initiative www.kensingtoncares.com which supports education-based initiatives in disadvantaged communities.

Situated in the heart of the most successful Waterfront Development in the world this apartment caters to both the leisure and the corporate traveller with stunning views of the canal and a variety of restaurant and entertainment options. Take the time to enjoy a sun-downer at the famous Bascule Bar at the Cape Grace.

Overnight at V&A Waterfront Apartments.

Cape Agulhas is a rocky headland in the Cape Peninsula of South Africa. This is also the geographic southern tip of Africa, and the official dividing point between the Atlantic and Indian oceans.  Historically, the cape has been known to sailors as a major hazard on the traditional clipper route and is sometimes regarded as one of the great capes. It was most commonly known in English as Cape L'Agullas until the 20th century. The town of L'Agulhas is located near to the cape.

Some of the most spectacular motorcycling on the Southern Cross Adventure begins just outside our hotel in Cape Town. The ride includes Chapmans Peak Drive, renowned as one of the most scenic drives in the world. We'll head back to Cape Town along Signal Hill, which provides a spectacular view of the city, harbor and coastline. After our brief loop of the Cape Peninsula we’ll ride to Cape L’Agulhas. The route has plenty of twisties and passes through several coastal towns. We’ll pass through the charming little town of Hermanus, which has become a popular town for whale watching. If you’re on the September trip, you may see Southern Right Whales close to the beach.

The motorcycle rent charge includes: Deposit of $5000 need to be guaranteed with a credit card. According to insurance conditions, renter is responsible for all damage up to the deposit amount. Additional damages will only be covered by insurance if the rider is not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and has not broken the traffic regulations, otherwise renter has a full responsibility for motorcycle damange and recovery.

Aghulas Country Lodge is one of the most interesting places we’ll stay. The building is less than ten years old, but was built with stone and 300 year-old timbers from a mine. Experience the southern most tip of Africa, where the two oceans really meet. Built from natural stone, set against the hill, Agulhas Country Lodge has spectacular sea view from nearly every vantage point. Guests can enjoy hospitable service and exceptional cuisine with the emphasis on fresh seafood in the Country Lodge's own restaurant. En suite bedrooms each have private balconies and sea views.

Overnight at Cape Agulhas Country Lodge.

Oudtshoorn is the largest town in the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The town is home to the world's largest Ostrich population with a number of specialized ostrich breeding farms such as the Safari Show Farm and the Highgate Ostrich Show Farm.

Be prepared for a beautiful ride, with stunning landscapes all day long. The terrain will vary from canyons to lush valleys to flowing grasslands. There's a great photo opportunity as you are leaving town. Look to the left for Cape Dutch cottages, where light from the rising sun is perfect. After riding the beautiful Tradouws Pass, you may wish to stop for a break at The Country Pumpkin, located on the north side of R62 at Barrydale. We provide a GPS waypoint for it. It’s a great place for lunch and the owner is “biker friendly.” He’ll often award riders with a special “Route 62” pin. From Barrydale to Ladismith you’ll enjoy a very pretty ride through the Witteberge Mountain Range, with nice sweepers and a stunning view. About midway between Barrydale and Ladismith you’ll see Ronnie’s Sex Shop on the south side of the road. Be sure to stop there. The place has nothing to do with sex. The proprietor found that by selecting that name, more visitors would stop. This is a nice place to stop for a drink or a snack. From Ronnie's Sex Shop, it is a direct ride to Oudtshoorn. Mind your speed as you enter town, as radar traps are common. Stay on the main road through the town until you get to the main set of traffic lights. Turn left onto R328 and follow signs to Cango Caves and Cango Wildlife Park. Buffelsdrift Game lodge is 7 km from the turn off, located on the right side of the road.

Unique, understated elegance in luxury tent accommodation. With mountains as backdrop and a magnificent waterhole at your doorstep, it’s the closest you’ll get to the wild of the Klein Karoo. Just off the famous Route 62, Buffelsdrift Game Lodge offers you an escape to something spectacular. Experience an array of wildlife including elephants, rhino, Cape Buffalo, giraffe, hippo and over 200 bird species. Just a stone’s throw away is attractions such as the culture-rich town of Oudtshoorn, the Swartberg Mountain Nature Reserve, the Cango Caves and the Gamaskloof Valley (“Die Hell”).

Overnight at Buffelsdrift Game Lodge.

Knysna stands out on South Africa's famed Garden Route thanks to the limestone cliffs that dramatically separate its tranquil lagoon from the pounding surf of the Indian Ocean. It's also home to the country's largest indigenous forest. Hop aboard the Outeniqua Choo Choo for a steam engine ride through the scenic highlights. The Millwood Mines at Jubilee Creek, site of a major gold rush in 1885, provide a picturesque spot for a picnic. Be sure to pack the renowned local oysters.

Today will be a day of spectacular riding through various mountain passes and valleys. The direct route takes us back through Oudtshoorn, where we will have the option of visiting an ostrich farm. You'll have an opportunity to test your ostrich- riding ability! The ride towards George offers more great photo opportunities as we cross Outeniqua Pass, Four Passes, and numerous smaller mountain passes. We will arrive in Knysna in time for lunch. Knysna is a top holiday destination for many South Africans and foreigners alike. Should you wish to do a little more riding and skip the ostrich farm, follow signs to Prince Albert along R328 which will take you over the amazing Swartberg Pass. Swartberg Pass is hard-packed gravel and is an easy ride, although you must exercise caution on the sharp switchbacks and drop-offs. After crossing Swartberg Pass, you have at least two options. You can continue to Knysna via the Meiringspoort and Outeniqua Passes or you can take the Meiringspoort and Prince Albert Passes. The former option is totally paved; the second requires riding on gravel similar to that on the Swartberg Pass. For either option, turn right at the T-junction on the paved road near Prince Albert. You’ll ride the stunning Valley of the Swartberg (Black Mountain) Range via the Meiringspoort Pass. The ride through this pass offers numerous photo opportunities. Be sure to stop at the rest area on the left side of the road. Just 59 kilometers from the T-junction, there are nice, clean, restrooms and a visitor center with an interesting display of plant and animal life in the area. There's a path beside the visitor center that leads to a very interesting “hidden” waterfall. At De Rust you’ll have the opportunity to take the Outeniqua or Prince Alfred alternate route.

Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa combines an all-encompassing lifestyle brand offering an extensive range of activities in a beautiful setting of rugged cliffs, ancient

forests, secluded beaches, majestic mountains, a sweeping lagoon and natural fynbos landscapes and is situated high above the lagoon-side town of Knysna on

the Western Cape’s Garden Route.

Overnight at Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa.

You’re on your own to select among the many fine restaurants in Knysna for dinner, but breakfast is included with lodging at the Protea Hotel.

Knysna is one of South Africa’s most popular resort towns, and you should have plenty of time to enjoy local area attractions. One of our favorites is the Knysna Elephant Sanctuary, a short distance from town. If you would rather spend more time on the motorcycle, we can suggest several interesting and very beautiful rides from Knysna. If you’re interested in bungee jumping, you can take the world’s highest bungee jump from the nearby Bloukrans Bridge. Other optional activities available in Knysna include a visit to Monkeyland or a train ride to George aboard an old steam locomotive.

Overnight at Pezula Resort Hotel & Spa.

Grahamstown is a city in the Eastern Cape Province of the Republic of South Africa. Located some 130 km from Port Elizabeth and 180 km from East London, Grahamstown is also the seat of Rhodes University, a diocese of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa and home to the College of the Transfiguration- the only residential provincial college of the Anglican Church in Southern Africa - and a High Court. However it does not form part of the South African Cities Network.

Board on the motorcycle for a ride from Knysna to Grahamstown. On your way pass via, Kruisfontein, Thornhill and Port Elizabeth. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

This stately house, with large grounds and plenty of space overlooks the greater part of Grahamstown, Rhodes University and The 1820 Settler's Monument. Situated in the upmarket, tranquil area between Kingswood College and Graeme College. The distance to the centre of town is approximately 2 km, just far enough not to hear the noise and traffic. The perfect place to wake up to the gentle sounds of the abundant birdlife in the area.

Overnight at The White House.

Kokstad is a town in the Sisonke District of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa. Kokstad is named after the Griqua chief Adam Kok III who settled here in 1863. Stad is the Dutch and African word for city. The town is built on the outer slopes of the Drakensberg and is 1,302 m above the sea level. Behind it Mount Currie rises to a height of 2,224 m. It is a centre for cheese and other dairy products for this region. Kokstad is currently the fastest growing town in KwaZulu-Natal, with approximately 45,000 people residing there, while the population rising monthly.

During the ride from Grahamstown to Kokstad via Umtata, you’ll see traditional South African life as it exists in rural areas of the country. We’ll pass through the former Transkei and Siskei areas, which, during the apartheid years, comprised the black “Homelands”. These areas were established as sovereign black states with their own governments. When passing through rural areas of the Transkei, be especially careful of cattle, pedestrians, and especially children. We’ve provided a GPS waypoint for the Whistle Stop – a good spot to stop for lunch and fuel. It’s about 204 kilometers from Grahamstown and 20 kilometers beyond Komga. Our destination for this evening is the historic Willowdale Lodge, a graceful centenarian farm homestead just a few kilometers from Kokstad, surrounded by endless mountains and wind-swept grasslands.

Surrounded by over 2000 hectares of panoramic highland countryside, Willowdale lodge provides the ideal environment in which to unwind. Set right on the N2 mid-way between Kwazulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, it is also the perfect stopover for travellers seeking the authentic. Set on a historic working farm in the heart of the East Griqualand Highlands, the relaxed environment and historic lodgings combine perfectly to ensure a memorable stay. With 10 spacious en-suite rooms, large country fireplaces, huge rambling Gardens and a sumptuous selection of food, this location is sure to be a sensual and gastronomic delight. In keeping with the country philosophy, the lodge makes its own yogurt and bread, milk and eggs purchased from the local farms, grow our own vegetables and herbs and take pride in their passage from the farm to your plate.

Overnight at Willowdale Lodge.

Eshowe, "A City Set on a Hill", is situated close to the capitals of the old Zulu kingdoms.  Eshowe was once the colonial capital of Zululand and is steeped in Zulu and colonial history.  The city has been home to Zulu kings: Shaka, Mpande, Cetshwayo and Dinuzulu.  It also served as the British military headquarters.  Eshowe was the first British Capital of Zululand during its time as a separate British colony (1887 - 1897).

Upon leaving Kokstad, you’ll again find yourself riding through beautiful rolling hills along the Eastern Cape and the former Siskei Homeland. The small town of Umzimkulu and the Umzimkulu River form the provincial boundary between the Eastern Cape and the Kwazulu-Natal Province, home to the Zulu people. Soon after leaving Umzimkulu you’ll pass by Ixopo, the Zulu community mentioned in the opening paragraph of Cry, the Beloved Country. The Wartburger Hof is a very nice lunch stop. It is a German hotel and restaurant located approximately 190 kilometers from the Ingeli Forest Lodge in the town of Wartburg, a short distance north of Pietermaritzburg. From Wartburg, we’ll proceed to Eshowe. Although you may want to stop and visit some of the museums and other attractions of Eshowe, we’ll actually be staying a short distance beyond Eshowe at Shakaland. Shakaland is constructed as a make believe village. It was originally created for the film sets of Shaka Zulu and John Ross and offers visual explanations and lectures about Zulu traditions. After dinner (included) you can attend a re-enactment of native Zulu dancing.

Discover the tribal heart of Africa, with its fascinating rhythms and way of life, at an exclusive African bush hotel in KwaZulu-Natal. Protea Hotel Shakaland is a truly unique South African hotel, set in an authentic cultural village in Zululand. Originally built as a film set for the epic film sagas “Shaka Zulu” and “The John Ross Story”, this traditional Zulu homestead, or “umuzi”, offers an exhilarating South African bush lodge experience. Here, in traditional yet luxurious beehive huts, guests are able to re-live the excitement and romance of the days of Shaka, King of the Zulus, in an authentic re-creation of the Great Kraal overlooking the Phobane Lake.

Overnight at Protea Hotel Shakaland.

Today we suggest few optional activities. Explore Dlinza Forest Aerial Boardwalk, an aerial boardwalk that extends 125m through the forest just below the canopy, 10m above the forest floor. At the end of the boardwalk, you can climb a 20m observation tower. The viewing platform offers a panoramic view toward the Indian Ocean over the tops of magnificent Flat Crown, Giant Umzimbeet and Forest Iron Plum trees. The forest is home to more than 65 species of birds including the endangered Spotted Ground-Thrush, the rare Delegorgue's Pigeon, magnificent Purple-crested Lourie and Narina Trogon, to name but a few. African Crowned Eagles are frequently seen from the viewing platform as they soar high above the forest. Dlinza Forest is a popular bird watching destination and is part of the Zululand Birding Route. In addition to the birds, there are over 80 species of butterfly and many more moths, the rare tiny Clifden's Centipede Snail (found only in this forest), millipedes, frogs and chameleons - in fact, a host of interesting animal life.

You have the option to visit Zululand Historical Museum at Fort Nongqayi. This interesting museum offers a rare look at John Dunn, a Scotsman who became the only official white Zulu Chief, and husband to 48 Zulu wives. He sired more than 100 children. Alternatively you may visit Vukani Museum, adjacent to Fort Nonqqavi. The Museum houses the world's largest collection of traditional Zulu arts and crafts. It’s located next to Fort Nongqayi. Contact your sale advisor for a quote.

Overnight at Protea Hotel Shakaland.

Piggs Peak is a town in north western Swaziland. It was founded around gold prospecting in 1884, but its main industry is now forestry. The Phophonyane Falls lie near the town. Piggs Peak Casino takes its name from the area. In 2001 the 115m high wall of the Maguga Dam was completed in the Komati River 12 km south of town.  Piggs Peak was named after an early resident, William Pigg.

Today’s ride will be very beautiful. You’ll enter Swaziland at the Emahlathini Border crossing shortly after leaving Piet Retief, South Africa. Be sure you have your passport with you on the bike! Have a great lunch at Swazi Candles! It is the best restaurant in town, but you will want to beat the tour buses. We recommend stopping at the Ngwenya Glass Factory, which uses recycled glass to create beautiful animal and bird figures and interesting wineglasses, cocktail glasses, bookends, vases, and a variety of other objects that you can purchase at the factory.

The ride is especially pretty as we ride through the Ngwenya hills between Piggs Peak and Swaziland’s capital of Mbabane. The mountains would appear stark if they weren’t covered with such a lush, thick, green blanket of foliage. We’ll pass through the lovely Ezulwini Valley, often called the Royal Valley because it’s the traditional home of Swazi Royalty.

Welcome home!! This is exactly how guests are greeted, and is what guest will experience when they visit Piggs Peak Hotel & Casino, their very own home away from home! Nestled in a picturesque mountainous valley, just across the border of the Kingdom of Swaziland, Piggs Peak Hotel & Casino is such a place for those who yearn to break away.

Overnight at Piggs Peak Hotel & Casino.

Kruger National Park was established in 1898 to protect the wildlife of the South African Lowveld, and is nearly 2 million hectares. It is home to an impressive number of species: 336 trees, 49 fish, 34 amphibians, 114 reptiles, 507 birds and 147 mammals. Man's interaction with the Lowveld environment over many centuries - from bushman rock paintings to majestic archaeological sites like Masorini and Thulamela - is very evident in the Kruger National Park.

We’ll take a very scenic route from Piggs Peak to Kruger National Park, where we’ll leave the motorcycles in favor of Land Rovers as we are driven, safari-style, to our luxury lodge within Kruger National Park. There’s a Swazi cultural center at the border (on the Swazi side) that includes a restaurant, souvenir shop, and a replica of a Swazi village.

Enjoy or a tour of the village along with a nice dance show (optional).Live dancing is performed by approximately 25 children of a Swazi chief and his two wives. The family lives in the cultural center. Except that the dancers wear nice coordinated costumes and the dancing is choreographed, this is an authentic Swazi village.

Jock Safari Lodge incorporates the romance and elegance of the past colonial era, and reflects in its unique style the indigenous Zulu and Shangaan cultures. This luxurious lodge is situated in the southern area of the KNP at the confluence of the Mitomeni and Biyamiti rivers, half way between Skukuza and Malelane. It is approximately 35 km to the Skukuza airstrip and 150km to the Kruger International Mpumulanga airport in Nelspruit.

Overnight at Jock Safari Lodge .

The free day will provide additional opportunities to enjoy the game viewing, including a “sun downer” and another evening game drive, sign up for additional activities or simply relax.

Overnight at Jock Safari Lodge .

Johannesburg or Jo'burg, as the locals call the city of the gold, is the biggest metropolis in South Africa. With its 3.2 million citizens the city on the Witwatersrand is the predominant commercial centre and the economic motor of the Republic of South Africa. It is the international flight gateway for most of southern Africa.

The ride is primarily on a high-speed highway, but it is very scenic nonetheless. We’ll encounter urban traffic as we approach Johannesburg, which can be heavy at times, and several of the highway interchanges can be confusing, so it’s advisable to stay with the tour leader and the rest of the group.

The Courtyard Hotel in Sandton offers lots of different rooms to suit the needs of every guest. Choose from studio rooms to one or two bedroom units complete with kitchenette and lounge area your needs are sure to be catered for with both comfort and charm. With a great location opposite the Village Walk Shopping Centre and within walking distance from the great shopping hubs of Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square the Courtyard Hotel in Sandton is a great place to shop, eat and just explore all that this marvelous city has to offer.

Overnight at Courtyard Sandton.

Airport transfer to/from your hotel with private vehicle

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart (Int`l Airport) (standard).