Expeditions

Epic Expeditions

London to Cape Town

Highlights

Due to the various political situations in North Africa and the resultant unrest from the Arab Spring, we have postponed our 2013 London to Cape Town until 2015. We want adventure, but we don’t want unnecessary risks or to lead you into danger that is avoidable. If you wish to register for updates on the 2015 trip please open this page and follow the enquiry link, at the bottom of the page.

The beauty of Africa is seemingly never-ending. Taking in the whole of this mesmerising continent this epic ride lets you experience the cultures, art, history and natural splendour of this diverse continent. It is a continent of huge contrasts; the expansive plains of the Serengeti, the tiny cells of Robben Island; Masai mud huts or the Pyramids; Kenyan Lions or South African Penguins; Africa has it all and so much more.

Route Map

View London to Cape Town in a larger map

Is it for me?

Number of Days/Duration	105 days (15 weeks)
Approx total miles	15,000
Accommodation	80% hotel bed & breakfast, 20% basic hostel or camping
Meals Included	All Breakfasts and 15 Group Evening Meals
Culture Shock Rating	Intense
Riding Difficulty	Moderate to Difficult

Riding Conditions

Riders must be confident road riders with advanced riding skills, with experience of riding over 400 miles in one day and have undertaken training or have practical experience riding a large capacity motorcycle on gravel & dirt roads. In some areas, roads can also be sandy. You must have some experience of riding overseas before tackling this trip. This trip is suitable for an experienced rider and pillion.

What's Included?

Pre-Expedition:

Two Days off road skills training
One Days advanced rider course
One Days FBOS first aid course
Two Days preparatory and final briefing meetings
GlobeBusters guidance handbook
Access to the GlobeBusters forum

On the Road:

All accomodation as described
All breakfasts
One group dinner per week
Motorcycle Guide
2nd Motorcycle Guide if group is over 12 riders
Support Vehicle
Detailed daily route notes with GPS information
Entrance to all national parks that form part of the route
Sea freight of your motorcycle from Cape Town to UK (UK/EU Price Only)*

*For a price including bespoke freight requirements please contact us.

Detailed Itinerary

Weeks 1 & 2 - Europe

We leave the Ace Café to get to Euro Tunnel and into Europe. Our first night is at the medieval town of Bouillon. From here, it’s France, Germany and Austria and the some beautiful riding through the Austrian Tyrol to Vienna. We’re perfectly positioned from here to enjoy a ride through the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia. Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria all come in quick succession. After Hungary’s capital of Budapest, it’s off to explore Dracula’s home ground in Romania and enjoy the magnificent Transfăgărăşan Pass, before entering Bulgaria and enjoying the Black Sea coastline at the ancient city of Nesebar. It’s our first non-EU border and a ride across the Bosphorus Strait into Asia!

Week 3 - Turkey

Two free days to explore Istanbul, stroll through the spice markets and marvel at the Blue Mosque & Hagia Sophia. Head to Eceabat, with the opportunity to visit the battlefields of Gallipoli. The next day’s ride takes in the ancient city of Troy, before stopping overnight in Selcuk and time to see the ancient ruins of Ephesus. The beautiful Mediterranean beaches of Olu Deniz and the ruined city of Termessos. More coastal riding, before we turn inland to the weird rock formations and cave dwellings of Cappadocia.

Weeks 4 & 5 - Syria & Jordan

Syria is packed full of ancient sites, many World Heritage Listed and the terrain changes to distinct desert landscapes. We stop at Aleppo, famous for its ancient citadel with medieval fortress, the great Umayyad mosque and the extraordinary souqs. We venture out into the Syrian Desert and the ruined city of Palmyra, before reaching the capital of Damascus, supposedly the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world. We cross to Jordan to Jerash. Our route then takes us to Mount Nebo and the Dead Sea. Then it’s a full days ride to Wadi Musa, gateway to Petra. You can swap your bike for a horse to visit the extraordinary lost city of Petra, one of the Middle East's most iconic images. Then it’s off to Wadi Rum before riding to Aqaba port to catch ferry across to Egypt.

Weeks 6, 7 & 8 – Egypt & Sudan

You need your wits about you for the ride into Cairo - traffic is everywhere and lots of it! Use your horn! We stop in Cairo, with time to do a guided tour of the Pyramids and Sphinx and visit the Egyptian Museum, as well as some bureaucracy for required visas further en route. It’s then south to Luxor – time to visit the Valley of the Gods and Temple of Karnak – and onto Aswan, our point to board the ferry across Lake Nasser to Sudan. We’ll have a few days here, giving you time to take a trip to Abu Simbel, go for a sail on a felucca and run the gauntlet of the Egyptian Police and Customs to get the right papers to leave Egypt! It’s a never-to-forget experience on the overnight ferry to Sudan, crammed full with local people, space is at a premium! There’s a few days in the port of Wadi Halfa to complete formalities. We continue south across the Nubian Desert. It’s some of the toughest desert riding conditions en route to the capital, Khartoum. Once here, you can explore the Omdurman Market and watch the amazing Whirling Dervishes. Leaving the capital, it’s over to the Ethiopian border via Gedaref and Gallabat.

Week 9 - Ethiopia

Our first stop is in Gondar to explore the the fortress-city of Fasil Ghebbi. We loop north into the Ethipoian Highlands through the Simien National Park and onto Enda Selassie, with a visit to Axum, before going south to Bahir Dar on Lake Tana and a visit to the Blue Nile Falls. At Dejen, you can explore the Blue Nile Gorge. We skirt the Bale Mountains and ride to Arba Minch on the shores of Lake Abaya, with commanding views over the Rift Valley. Then it’s off to the town of Moyale, the border with Kenya.

Week 10 - Northern Kenya & Nairobi

There’s more unpaved road through the Northern Kenyan desert to Marsabit National Park and it can be slow going. It’s onto Naro Moru and Mount Kenya, before reaching Nairobi and a few days of well earned R&R! Well done – you’ve ridden across the Equator too! In Nairobi, there’s time for you to take an optional trip out to the Masi Mara.

Week 11 – Nairobi to Tanzania

From Nairobi, we’re off to the world famous Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti National Park. We then ride to the coast via the slopes of Kilimanjaro, towards the coastal city of Dar es Salaam. From here it’s a local ferry to Zanzibar to explore the UNESCO Stone Town and night stopover on this famous spice island. Heading west across Tanzania’s rolling and hilly countryside, through Mikumi National Park and onto Mbeya.

Week 12 - Malawi & Zambia

Entering Malawi, our route runs alongside Lake Malawi, the third largest lake in Africa, with overnight stops on its shores so you can enjoy the beach life or water activities. There’s also time en route to visit the Nkhotakota Game Reserve. Then it’s west into Zambia, to the Zambezi and Lusaka. We ride to the historic colonial town of Livingstone, with time to visit (and get drenched by!) the Victoria Falls.

Weeks 13 & 14 - Botswana & Namibia

We cross the border to Kasane in Botswana. Kasane is the base for exploring the Chobe National Park and taking a river cruise to spot wildlife. We then enter Namibia and ride through the narrow Caprivi Strip to Bagani and onto Grootfontein “Big Spring” and see the Hoba Meteorite. See Windhoek, the capital and famous for its traditional German architecture, then head out to the Swakopmund and the Skeleton Coast. From here it’s dirt roads to the Sesreim Canyon for the night before heading onto a great lodge on the edge of the Kalahari for a day’s relaxation. Heading south, we detour to Keetmanshoop's eerie Quiver Tree Forest in the Giant's Playground, before reaching Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world. Soak in the hot springs at Ai-Aus and wash away the road dirt!

Week 15 - South Africa

Finally South Africa! We’re heading south via Springbok in the heart of Namaqualand. Then a fabulous ride through the Cederburg Wildness area and onto a great wine lodge in Robertson. From here we are perfectly placed to ride to the southernmost tip of Africa, Cape Agulhas. You made it! It’s a final ride to Cape Town, which nestles below the iconic Table Mountain. We celebrate the end of our Cape to Cape journey on the V&A Waterfront, maybe with a drop (or two) of South African wine!

Dates & Prices

	2015 (UK / EU) Includes Freight	2015 (Rest of World) Excludes Freight
Start Date	April 2015	April 2015
End Date	July 2015	July 2015
Rider Price	TBA	$TBA
Pillion Price	TBA	$TBA
Specific Prices	E-mail Us	E-mail Us
Availability	Postponed to 2015	Postponed to 2015

Useful Information

Country/Region Information

Check out country information on the websites below.

http://www.fco.gov.uk/

Weather Information

The weather will be extremely variable through the trip and altitude also impacts the temperature.

Visas Information

Travel Health Information

You must visit your GP or a specialised travel clinic to get advice on the recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures needed for the countries on this trip. As background, the websites listed below may prove useful.