Cape Town to Malawi and back
 

Hey HU,

In less than two weeks I am headed out for my longest trip yet, 40 days from Cape to Monkey Bay. Could you check out my itinerary and let me know if you have any suggestions? Id especially like some tips from Northern Botswana (Chobe) to Gabarone.. what do to, where to stop..

My rough plan so far:

July
2 - Pick up bike in Cape Town and ride north. I have 2 nights to get to Namibia (camp reservation), not sure where to stop?
3 - Northern SA ?
4 - Hobas
5 - Hobas
6 - Luderitz
7 - Naukluft
8 - Swakopmond
9 - Windhoek
10 - ? Need to figure out a middle point to stay overnight (Botswana)
11 - Maun
12 - Bwabata National Park
13 - Bwabata National Park
14 - Livingstone / Victoria Falls
15 - Livingstone / Victoria Falls
16 - ? Need to figure out a middle point to stay overnight (Zambia)
17 - Luksaka
18 - ? Need to figure out a middle point to stay overnight (Zambia)
19 - Monkey Bay
20 - Monkey Bay
21 - Monkey Bay
22 - ? Need to figure out a middle point to stay overnight (Zambia)
23 - Kariba
24 - Ferry from Kariba to Mlbizi
25 - Arrive in Mlbizi, ride into Botswana from Zimbab
26 - Northeast Botswana / Chobe ?
27 - ?
28 - ?
29 - ?
30 - Gaborone
31 - Vryburg
August
1 - Bloemfontein
2 - Bloemfontein (Yamaha Service)
3 - Addo
4 - Addo
5 - Port Elizabeth
6 - Plettenberg Bay
7 - Ladismith
8 - Cape Agulas
9 - Arrive Capetown


Cheers!

G'day and welcome to the HUBB.
first of all - which bike will you ride? Many sections of your planned trip are on dirt roads, some of them sandy. How are your off-road abilities? It's quite a drag encountering sand when you're not used to it.
Second: Game Reserves are not open to motor cyclists, so you'll have to rent a car for that purpose, or go with an organised day-touring company. The Caprivi Strip is tarmac, but Bwabata Reserve sports some very sandy tracks. You need a permit to leave the main road to Katima Mulilo. Same applies to Chobe and to Addo. Incidently, there's a nice lodge at Katima.
Botswana Parks are generally only open to 4x4's except for the through roads. The wildlife is very interesting in BOT, but the landscape is boringly flat. So is the eastern part of the Freestate (SA).

Apparently you need to go to Bloem. When carrying on don't go straight for Addo, but rather transverse Lesotho. I'd suggest Maseru - Thaba-Tseka, Sani Pass and then along the eastern border SA/LES southwards. An interesting stay could be The Falls Backpackers - Maclear - Eastern Cape Their GPS co-ords are on their homepage.
West of PE is the Baviaans Kloof Nature Reserve. Great ride east -west, but only for dual-purpose bikes.
On your way to Ladismith go through Meirings Poort to Prince Albert and from there across the very rewarding Swartberg Pass southwards.
Near Cape Agulhas take the man-power ferry across the Breede River.
Around CT are many scenic mountain passes.

Enjoy your trip bier