Advice on Joburg trip
 

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice on what I hope will be my first ever! bike trip. I'm going to Johannesburg mid April for a friends wedding and I'm hoping to hire a bike and take off on my own. Unfortunately I will only have around a week and am unsure of where to go. I had considered JB to Lesotho to Durban to Swaziland to JB but is this feasible? Another route would be JB - Victoria Falls - JB. Would this be better?

The other thing I'm concerned about is that I'll be on my own - single female and all that and I only passed my bike test on Tuesday so I'm not overly experienced.

Can anyone offer any advice / pointers? is this feasible or am I just being completely insane to even consider this at all?

Thanks,
Sharon

When I visited South Africa, I went to Lesotho, Johannesburg and the Kruger park. In the Kriugerpark I did a safaritour for a day.
You can read all about it on my website: http://www.xs4all.nl/~jkrijt/trips/lesotho/index.shtml

Staying in a lodge near the Krugerpark and doing the safaritour was not cheap but it was realy worth it !

Being alone on the road in South Africa as a female with little experience ........ I don't know your age but I would not let my daughter do that. Why noy try to find someone to ride with you ? Contact some off the HU communities in South Africa. They may have some advise and help for you. (http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/com...tEnglish.shtml)

If you are well prepared and use common sense, I think you could have a wonderfull trip.
Have fun !

Thanks for the advice, I've contacted one of the HU communities in South Africa so hopefully they'll be able to help.

As for age, well I'm a little :) over thirty and a big fan of travelling - I last went to India on my own which was awesome. I wasn't really concerned about travelling alone initially but my friend who lives just outside Joburg though it wouldn't be too smart so I thought I'd try to get some advice. Also I wasn't too sure what the roads would be like over there as I've only ever driven on tar roads.

no worries
 

hi sharon
just do it,it's easy.
just don't drive after sun set and there lot's of backpackers to stay in.
sa is quite developed,lot's of tarred roads too.
have a wonderful trip
all the best gerd

single woman in rape and murder capital of the world travelling alone....it's a beautiful country, just be very careful.
I wouldn't let my wife/daughter do it thats for sure.
and yes I have lived there....

Well, Johannesburg isn't exactly what one could call a safe city, so make sure you stay clear. But the rural areas are great for travelling. Beautiful country, for sure!

Here are some South African links that would be of interest:
As far as I know BMW Pretoria rents out bikes: BMW-Motorrad South Africa
Besides that, Pretoria is far safer than Johannesburg.

Try the following links as well:
Wild Dog Adventure Riding - Index
Motorcycles

Travelling eastwards from Pretoria, you'll come to the escarpment, where the Highveld drops from nearly 2000m down to 300m. Very impressive around Hazyview, Pilgrims Rest etc. Lesotho might be an option, but there I would suggest not to travel on your own. Northwards you could ride through Botswana, Caprivi (NAM) to Sambia and head for the Vic Falls. Also a very nice option.
As you see, one week is very short, but at least a startsomething to start with :D

Enjoy!
Hans

I agree with your friend. It is not too smart, but then, sometimes doing things that are not too smart is a lot of fun ...............
But serious, if I where in your place, I would try to find a travel companion.

No problem in South Africa. I was riding a Harley Lowrider, not exactly a dirtbike, with no problem. Most roads are tar roads and the dirtroads I had to ride were very good quality and no problem to ride with a big road bike.
Lesotho has only a few tar roads. There is a tar road from Fouriesburg in South Africa to the Katze dam in Lesotho. A very nice trip, you can read about it on my website. The problem is that there are no gas stations on this road so make sure you have enough gas. We took a jerrycan in a saddlebag with us on the Harley.
I have no experience with the roads in Botswana (but I hope to get that experience some day :-)

@ Jkrit-


depends on where you go. The main road north via Gaberone and further on to Ngome (through Chobe Game Reserve) is tarmac, but from Ngome to Popa Falls (NAM) is partly dirt.


@ Shaz-

so IMO renting a 650 Beemer would be the best choice.

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Your just OFF YOUR HEAD.

Single female, Jo'burg, new rider.

Listen, this is just a recipe for disaster.

Welcome to Jo'burg, Crime Capital of The World !

Another female solo traveler in Africa (and North and South America)
 

Here is a website to get some inspiration about traveling by motorcycle as a single female.
Lois on the Loose

Lois is on this forum sometimes so maybe she can give you some advice :-)

Hi,
I live in Hazyview (about 4hrs East of Jhb), near the Kruger and also community member. If you find yourself in the area, feel free to pop in and share your tales. I will be away in the Kruger from the 9th to 13th so will be out of reach but once here, my mobile is 0823237415. have 3 little boys who are bike crazy so would love to meet you. roads are good enough not to worry, other road users could be the main worry. Safety....well as anywhere in the world, just keep your wits about you and don't venture into dodgy areas and yes best not to travel after dark. I would say no problem, but each to their own.

Just do it.
Martin

Rsa
 

I am South African.

Go where ever you want to go. Just dont advertise. Simple.

I go everywhere and as long as you look out you will be fine.

Funny thing is i got mugged 3 times in London and never in RSA. Again it can happen wherever whenever,

As for roads ALL our main roads are tarred. Only rural areas and farmlands are not. What would be the point of off roading if we never had em. we have the only decent roads in Africa.

You would be crazy not to travel rsa ..its incredible place.


As mentioned above dont drive after dark...anywhere in Africa!!!!!!! I did it once...and only once....


Go for it!

I live in Johannesburg (Crime Capital of the World according to many here), and I must say that the biggest threat on a bike is people driving very dangerously.

Avoid peak traffic hours and especially Friday: 07h00 to 08h00 and 15h30 to 16h00, because many drivers have absolutely no consideration for bikers.

I ride my bike through Alexandra (a 'dangerous' township) everyday, I can't say it's safe, but it's not as bad as many say.

As a lonely lady traveler, just make sure that you book accommodation in advance, and in decent places. Just to be safe.

I have many friends that have been hijacked off their motorcycles in Paris. You can't even park a bike outside in the streets of Paris, they'll steal it immediately.