South Africa Kruger National Park Safari Bike Tour
South Africa Bike Tours
Experience safari and wildlife on this bike and safari tour in Africa
Combining a bike tour in South Africa with a wildlife safari? Have you ever heard of such an experience? Talk about unique!
This is a biking and adventure tour in Northeastern South Africa in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces. You will visit the fascinating Greater Kruger National Park and the breathtaking Blyde River Canyon with the Three Rondavels, with God's Window and Bourke's Luck Potholes. In addition to your safari experience and cycling, you will also have the opportunity to participate in a different activity each day.
Featuring stunning panoramas and game drives, as well as hands-on experience in cultural customs and everyday life, this tour has it all.
Your incredible adventure will be led by two licensed tour guides and will be accompanied by a support vehicle ensuring reliable luggage transfer and support during the cycling itinerary and guaranteeing a unique, relaxed, and stress-free travel experience.
Highlights:
- South African wildlife
- Diverse South African cultures
- God's Window
- Greater Kruger National Park
- Blyde River Canyon
- Lisbon Falls
- Local hospitality
- Typical South African cuisine
- Extra daily activities (fishing, visit to citrus packhouse, bush walks or a game drive)
Check out Tripsite founder, Hennie's blog of this tour:
2020
Twin/double: $ 3820 £ 1990 $ 3,435 € 2310 $ 3965 kr 24845 $ 2,612 Single supplement: $ 529 £ 276 $ 476 € 320 $ 549 kr 3442 $ 362 Two-day pre-extension in Soweto
Twin/double: $ 289 £ 151 $ 260 € 175 $ 300 kr 1882 $ 198 Single: On request
Three-day post extension Hoedspruit
Twin/double: $ 1009 £ 525 $ 907 € 610 $ 1047 kr 6561 $ 690 No single surcharge
Three-day post extension Sausage Tree Camp
Twin/double: $ 1306 £ 680 $ 1,175 € 790 $ 1356 kr 8497 $ 893 Single supplement: $ 198 £ 103 $ 178 € 120 $ 206 kr 1291 $ 136 Pre/post extensions in Cape Town
Two-day Cape Peninsula Tour:
Twin/double: $ 728 £ 379 $ 654 € 440 $ 755 kr 4732 $ 498 Single: On request
One day Cape Peninsula
Twin/double: $ 265 £ 138 $ 238 € 160 $ 275 kr 1721 $ 181 Single on request
extra options
Electric Bike (limited): $ 364 £ 189 $ 327 € 220 $ 378 kr 2366 $ 249
Non-private shuttle service: from Hoedspruit Airport to O.R. Tambo International Airport: $ 149 £ 78 $ 134 € 90 $ 154 kr 968 $ 102please note
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Information to read before you book.
Travel
Fly to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg.
Local Travel
Tour start: The tour starts at the O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) in Johannesburg. The pick-up time on Sunday (the first day of your tour) will be at 11:00 am at the airport. Please ensure your flight arrives before 10:00 am. If you would like to arrive the day before the tour starts, we can offer you a pre-extension program. Please see the Soweto and Johannesburg Pre-Extension tab. Transfer time is 4 hrs.
Tour end: The tour ends at 10:00 on Monday. The flights from Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (HDS) depart at 12:00, 13:20 and 13:55 depending on your destination. Guests will be transferred to the Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (HDS) in time for their flights. If you would like to transfer on to Johannesburg by car, a private transfer can be arranged.
Please note the transfer takes approx. 6 hours with a stop along the way.Climate
The best months for an adventure in South Africa are the cooler months starting in March and ending in October. South Africa is a subtropical region, moderated by the ocean on two sides and the altitude of the interior plateau. These account for the warm, temperate conditions so typical of South Africa. Please do check local conditions before your arrival. A good website to use to research average high/low temperatures, average rainfall, and other weather related facts is weatherbase.com.
Remarks
Tour dates are officially confirmed or cancelled 10 weeks prior to tour date. The minimum number of guests needed to guarantee a tour is 7. In order to guarantee a tour earlier than 8 weeks, we can do so for bookings of 2 with a supplement of €300 per person. This amount will be refunded as soon as the group reaches a minimum size of 7. Please note if the number of guests are below 4, only one tour guide will accompany the tour. If the number of guests are above 5, a cycling tour guide as well as a tour guide driving the support vehicle will accompany the tour. On this tour, an extra activity is offered daily apart from the cycling tour, for example: a visit to citrus packhouse, a bush walk, a game drive, a visit to the Echo Caves, a visit to the Bourke’s Luck Potholes and a visit to Kaross. This is included in the tour price.
Excursions
PRE-EXTENSION JOHANNESBURG & SOWETO
Take the time to extend your holiday and add an additional evening (Saturday) in Johannesburg with a 4-hour cycling tour in Soweto.
Included services for the pre-extension
- 1 night’s accommodation at a hotel with breakfast
- Transfer to Soweto and back to the hotel
- 4 Hour Cycle tour in Soweto with lunch (10 am or 2 pm)
Price per person:
Twin/double: 175 euro (double occupancy)
Single supplement: on requestPOST-EXTENSION PROGRAM HOEDSPRUIT
3-day stay after hotel and bike trip at Buffelshoek Camp or at Ndzhaka Camp
Would you like to experience South Africa’s wildlife even more intensively after your tour? If you are looking for a Big 5 experience, then Buffelshoek Camp or Ndzhka are the perfect place for you. Located in the heart of Manyeleti Game Reserve, which shares its unfenced borders with Kruger National Park, Sabi Sand, and Timbavati Private Nature Reserves, Ndzhaka or Buffelshoek offer a rustic bush retreat. Manyeleti is renowned for Big 5 animal sightings and offers a real African bush experience. This three-day additional program offers you both pre-organized and leisure activities.
Included services for the post extension
- Transfer from the last accommodation of the regular tour to the Camp
- 2 nights’ accommodation at the Camp (including breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- 2 guided game drives per day
- Transfer from the Camp to Hoedspruit Airport at the end of your stay
Price: 610 euro per person (there is no single surcharge)
POST-EXTENSION PROGRAM SAUSAGE TREE CAMP
3-day stay after bike tour at the Sausage Tree Camp.
If you are looking for more luxury, the Sausage Tree Camp is a small, intimate, luxury tented camp in the Greater Kruger National Park offering you a Big 5 experience. Situated within the Balule Conservancy with dramatic hilltops, valleys, and open plains providing breathtaking views of uninterrupted bush all the way to the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountain.
Included services for the post extension
- Transfer from the last accommodation of the regular tour to the Camp
- 2 nights’ accommodation in luxury tent (including breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
- 2 guided game drives per day
- Transfer from the Camp to Hoedspruit Airport at the end of your stay
Price:
Twin/double: 790 euro per person (double occupancy)
Single room surcharge: 120 euroPRE/POST-EXTENSION IN CAPE TOWN
Extend your cycling holiday with additional day tours in and around Cape Town.
2-day Cape Peninsula Tour
Day 1: Cape Town – Cape Point Nature Reserve – Boulders Beach - Simon’s Town, 28 - 41 mi. (45 - 65 km)
You will be met by your guide at your accommodation for the start of the tour. Cycle south along the Atlantic coast and climb the famous Chapman’s Peak to the viewpoint over Hout Bay. After a wonderful downhill, cycle through the beautiful coastal town of Kommetjie and past the Slangkop lighthouse towards Cape Point Nature Reserve. Once inside the Nature Reserve we take a leisurely ride up to Cape Point. After lunch, we head downhill to Simon’s Town where we visit the penguins at Boulders Beach. (Overnight in Simon’s Town)Day 2: Simon’s Town – Fish Hoek – Noord Hoek – Cape Town, 28 mi. (45 km)
After breakfast, you proceed to cross the Peninsula at its narrowest point from Fish Hoek over to Noord Hoek. We traverse Chapman’s Peak in the opposite direction back down to Hout Bay via Llandudno and end our tour in Cape Town.Included services
- Pick-up in Cape Town and transfer to starting point
- Drop-off in Cape Town after completion of day tour
- 1-night accommodation at a guesthouse in Simon's Town (breakfast included)
- Guided bicycle tour (please note: this tour is non-vehicle supported but guided by a qualified cycling guide en-route)
- Bicycle rental and helmet
Price:
Twin/double: 440 euro per person (double occupancy)
Single supplement: on request1-day Cape Peninsula Tour
Included servicesPick-up in Cape Town for the start of your cycling tour and drop off at the end of the tour
Guided bicycle tour (please note: this tour is non-vehicle supported but guided by a qualified
Cycling guide en-route. If you would like vehicle support, it is an additional 65 euro.)
It is possible to do the tour in one day instead of staying over in Simon's Town for an evening.The tour is the same as the 2-day extension, however, the cycling will be 120 - 150 km for the day.
An alternative option is starting and finishing the above in Fish Hoek. This would be a distance of approx. 80 km over undulating terrain.Price:
Twin/double: 160 euro per person (double occupancy)
Single supplement: on requestIt is possible to do the tour in one day instead of staying over in Simon's Town for an evening.
The tour is the same as the 2-day extension, however, the cycling will be 120 - 150 km for the day.
An alternative option is starting and finishing the above in Fish Hoek. This would be a distance of approx. 80 km over undulating terrain.* There is the option of extending your tour to include cycling the winelands, kayaking to the penguins, hiking Table Mountain and so many other fun activities. Please let us know if you would like to add onto your extension.
Tour Dates
2020
Sundays to Tuesdays:
March 8, April 19, May 17, July 26, August 9, August 30, September 13, October 18, and November 1, 2020
Minimum number of participants: 4
Maximum number of participants: 10
If you have another date that works for you, do not hesitate to contact us We will try to make it work!
Skill Level
This is a moderate level guided and fully supported tour with cycling on a combination of off-road, paved, and dirt surfaces. The pace of your daily activities is leisure and require a basic level of fitness and experience on your bike. The bike rides consist of 15 - 30 km per day with an elevation gain of 110 - 470 m.
Where You’ll Stay
This tour offers a variety of accommodation throughout the trip to give you a complete feeling of what this area has to offer. The 3-star accommodations range from lodges, to hotels, to chalets, all of which have been chosen to offer you the uttermost comfort after each bike ride.
What’s Included
- 10 days/9 nights tour in 3-star accommodation
- 6 days cycling with vehicle support (a combination of paved and gravel roads)
- Meals: 9 x Breakfasts, 8 x Lunch, 8 x Dinners
- Entrance into the Kruger National Park
- Activities as per itinerary
- Transfer from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) to first night accommodation
- Transfer from last night accommodation to Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (HDS)
- Bike rental (Silverback Spectra Comp 2017 Hardtail, 27 gear, handlebar bag, water bottle cage)
- Tour guide and support vehicle
- Water for the cycling stages
- Daily luggage transfer (one luggage per person (not to exceed 23 kg)
What’s Not Included
- Drinks and Gratuities
- Pre-or Post-Tour extensions (on request)
- Spa treatments (when available)
- Non-private shuttle service (Pick up at 11 am Hoedspruit Airport, arrive at OR. Tambo International between 5 and 6 pm.
- Bicycle Protection
- Travel Insurance
Extra Stay
EXTRA NIGHTS OR EXTENSIONS
Check out the extension packages available!
Most inbound flights incur a transfer in Johannesburg (JNB) or Cape Town (CPT) to Hoedspruit Airport (HDS) so it is convenient to spend extra nights in either cities. Transfers are available for a supplement.
Please ask!
Day-To-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport. Overnight in Sandton, Johannesburg
Day 2: African Bush. Transfer to lodge from Johannesburg
Day 3: Safari cycling, 12.5 - 25 mi. (20 - 40 km)
Day 4: Letsitele and Kaross Workshop, 16 mi. (25 km)
Day 5: Wolkberg Mountains, 9.5 - 28 mi. (15 - 45 km)
Day 6: Blyde Dam and the Kruger National Park, 23 mi. (37 km)
Day 7: Kruger National Park (Full day)
Day 8: Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, 12.5 - 25 mi. (20 - 40 km)
Day 9: Echo Caves, 17 mi. (27 km)
Day 10: Departure
Changes to the order of the itinerary can occur due to the availability of accommodation. A bicycle tour can be affected by changing weather conditions and therefore the itinerary of a tour may change. But don’t worry, there is always Plan B and the best solutions will be researched and offered to for an equally exciting tour. This map corresponds with the itinerary for 2019. We will post the revised map for 2020 at the end of the 2019 travel season
Day 1: Arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport. Overnight in Sandton, Johannesburg
Welcome to South Africa! Upon arrival, you will notice that you are in a country filled with smiles. A guide will meet you at O.R. Tambo International Airport and accompany you to your overnight accommodation in Johannesburg. The rest of the day is at your leisure where you can rest or explore some of Sandton’s attractions. Please take a look at our recommendations below:
- Nelson Mandela Square (right across from your hotel)
- Hop-on-hop-off Johannesburg (www.citysightseeing.co.za/destinations/joburg)
- Sandton City Mall
- Soweto (depending on your arrival time, we can add a 2 or 4-hour cycling tour through Soweto. The tours start at 10 am or 2 pm and includes lunch and a transfer from your hotel to Soweto and back; Price: 90 or 110 euro per person).
Includes: Transfer to accommodation
Day 2: African Bush. Transfer to lodge from Johannesburg
Your transfer will depart at 10 am from your hotel. Travel time from Johannesburg to your overnight accommodation is approx. 5 hours. Along the way, you will stop to visit an Open-Air Museum which demonstrates the daily life of the Bakone people who inhabited the Polokwane area 250 years ago. The next two evenings will be spent at a Private Game Lodge near Bandelierkop. After settling in, you will end your day with a bushwalk to get acquainted with the African bush and a cozy dinner in an African boma. (B)
Includes:
- Transfer to lodge from Johannesburg
- Open Air Museum
- Bushwalk
Day 3: Safari cycling, 12.5 - 25 mi. (20 - 40 km). 500 - 1000 ft/150 - 300 m of elevation
Your first bike ride is an exploratory ride through the bushveld. The aim with this safari cycle is to have personal encounters with some of the animals of the African Bush. The Lodge has a wide variety of non-dangerous animals including Giraffe, Impala, Zebra, Kudu and many bird species. Learn more about the lifestyle and habits of the different species as well as the tracking of animals. Join us for a Sunset game drive or alternatively enjoy a relaxed afternoon next to the swimming pool. Dinner will be a unique South African experience served in the boma. (B, L, D)
Includes: Bike ride and Game Drive
Day 4: Letsitele and Kaross Workshop, 16 mi. (25 km). 500 ft./150 m of elevation
Your next location is the Letsitele Valley and the small subtropical farming town of Letsitele. Letsitele is well-known for the production and export of different varieties of Citrus fruit. The morning’s ride will take you through orange tree groves with a stop along the way to visit a citrus packhouse to learn about the workings of a citrus farm, from the planting and farming phase, ending with the packing and export of the fruit. From the packhouse, you continue along the canal to the Kaross embroidery. Kaross was started by Irma van Rooyen to create opportunities for rural women to make a living through their embroidery skills. Indulge yourself in the beauty of the embroidery followed by a typical South African lunch. Your stay for the next two evenings is at the Coach House Hotel and Spa. (B, L, D)
Includes:
- Kaross tour
- *Depending on the time of year, we may visit a citrus packhouse. Alternatively, we may visit an avocado/ macadamia nut packhouse
Day 5: Wolkberg Mountains, 9.5 - 28 mi. (15 - 45 km). 1,400 - 2,150 ft/420 - 650 m of elevation
After enjoying breakfast overlooking the majestic Wolkberg Mountain range of Limpopo we will explore this area on your bicycles. The Wolkberg Mountains separate the highveld from the lowveld of Limpopo. It also contains some of the most intensive and well established Avocado and Macadamia Nut farms in South Africa. Your bike route for the day is a circular one that passes through Pine and Eucalyptus plantations with splendid views of the surrounding mountains and farms. Lunch will take place at a local restaurant with picturesque views of the area. A relaxing afternoon awaits our guests at the Coach House Hotel. The Hotel has a Spa that offers optional massage and Spa treatments. Drinks can be enjoyed in the historical bar and lounge and guests can enjoy the breath-taking views of the Wolkberg Mountains from the comfort of their balconies or next to the pool. (B, L, D)
Day 6: Blyde Dam and the Kruger National Park, 23 mi. (37 km). 1350 ft./410 m of elevation
The cycling itinerary follows the Blyde River through the canyon to a spectacular viewpoint of the Blyde Dam. The Blyde River rises on the western slopes of the Drakensberg near Sabie in Mpumalanga and flows northwards past the town of Pilgrim's Rest for more than 62.5 mi./100 km, through a region of extraordinary beauty along the eastern escarpment and into the Blyde Dam which was completed in 1974. Along the way be on the lookout for kudus and baboons. After lunch, you will depart for the Kruger National Park. Enjoy your first evening in Kruger with a “braai”. (B, L, D)
Day 7: Kruger National Park (full day)
Today is your big Kruger Safari day. Although Kruger is renowned for the Big 5, it has so much more to offer. Get your cameras ready to capture the special moments in one of Africa’s largest national parks covering an area of 19,485 square kilometers. This wildlife sanctuary is like no other, its atmosphere so unique which will allow you to experience the true heartbeat of Africa. After your day in the Kruger National Park, we will be treated with a delicious dinner. Take time to share stories and photos of your special day in the African bush. (Brunch, D)
Includes:
- Full day in KNP
Day 8: Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, 12.5 - 25 mi. (20 - 40 km). 1400 - 2040 ft./420 - 620 m of elevation
Welcome to the Blyde River Canyon, the third largest and greenest canyon in the world. Your bike ride starts at the Pinnacle Rock where your bikes will be made ready whilst you savor the magnificent view. The route follows the escarpment all the way to Wonder View, which is said, on a clear day it is possible to see all the way to Mozambique. The next stop for the day is the Lisbon Falls which is the highest waterfall in Mpumalanga. Extend your bike ride by cycling to your lunch spot or hop into the bus for a relaxed drive to lunch, after which you will visit the Bourke’s Luck Potholes. The potholes were formed over centuries of water flowing from the Treur and Blyde River. From here it is a short drive to the famous Three Rondavels lookout point and onto our overnight stay overlooking this escarpment. (B, L, D)
Includes:
- Entrance to Lisbon Falls and Bourke’s Luck Potholes
Day 9: Echo Caves, 17 mi. (27 km). 1090 ft/330 m of elevation
This underground wonderland was stumbled upon by a local farmer in 1923, whilst looking for his lost cow. We will visit the cave before driving along the Abel Erasmus Pass and entering the Lowveld for your last evening. The adventure begins with a late afternoon game drive in an open game viewer with an experienced guide. Dinner will be served in a boma around a fire with sounds of the African night in the background.
(B, L, D)
Includes:
- Entrance to Echo Caves
Game Drive
Day 10: Departure
Your final day starts with a bushwalk accompanied by an experienced game ranger through Big 5 territory. Experience the bush as never before with the chance of a cheetah encounter on foot. After the bushwalk, enjoy a leisurely breakfast whilst saying farewell to your cycling companions. This will be the end of our time together. Return to your home country via the Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit or a transfer to Johannesburg. Advice on your return journey or an extended stay is available on request. (B)
Email or Call 800-951-4384 +1 570-965-2064
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Pricing Information
Travel Details
This tour is run by Panorama Pedals.
We value the strong relationship we have with our local partners and the services we provide.
We are not a broker.
We do not inflate tour prices.
We are simply travelers helping travelers.
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| Tour | Bike |
|---|---|
| Type | Guided |
| Skill | Moderate |
| Length | 12 days |
| From | $2735 |
Tour Reviews
john ronan 9 months ago Verified Reviewer
Are you looking for an adventure? This is the tour for you, it is visually, mentally and physically stimulating. The most organized trip I have ever been on, the day starts early and ends with a fire around the boma, just awesome. The guides are a wealth of knowledge about the history of the country and the wild life. The mountain biking rides are well planned and exciting. Accommodations and food are top notch. You will not be disappointed regarding wild life, we saw the big 5 and much much more.
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Leonie H. 1 year ago Verified Reviewer
Riding with a local guide has so many advantageous. We were taken to places that we wouldn't have seen if we organized this by ourselves. We learnt so much about the country and its culture through our experienced and knowledgeable guides; and we always felt safe. The scenery was amazing. The organization of the food, accommodation and bike routes was outstanding. The highlight was riding our bikes right next to giraffes, hippos and baboons. The last night we were able to pat a cheetah and watched a bob cat join us for breakfast. I will never forget this trip. it had everything plus more.
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Ann M. 1 year ago Verified Reviewer
Every aspect of this trip was superb! The attentive and experienced guides, the beautiful country, the amazing wildlife, the accommodations, the food. There is not a single thing that could have been improved. Every day contained a variety of new and delightful adventures and we were constantly in awe of the things that we saw and did. It was definitely the trip of a lifetime!
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Mary M. 1 year ago Verified Reviewer
The trip experience was beyond my expectations. Loved all the close encounters with the animals. The guides were very knowledgeable and always there to assist when needed. Home cooked meals were delicious. The scenery was outstanding. We toured orchards, farm lands, hills and mountains, and, of course the game farms. You do need to feel comfortable on a mountain bike and riding off road, where there is occasionally rough terrain. I definitely recommend this trip.
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Elizabeth S. 1 year ago Verified Reviewer
Our South Africa bicycle and safari tour was a trip of a lifetime. This tour was a unique experience. Our guide was a local who shared "her South Africa" with us. We cycled private game parks with giraffes, kudos, zebras and much, much more. We even got to pet a cheetah. We saw most of the big five on our game drive in Kruger as well as many species of birds, impala, wild dogs, wart hogs, and much more. I will never forget watching the elephants crossing the road right in front of us. We cycled by spectacular scenery, stayed in excellent accommodations and enjoyed great food. We were very glad that we brought binoculars with us.
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Marjorie B. 1 year ago Verified Reviewer
It will be difficult to surpass our trip to South Africa. Biking on dirt roads while viewing wild life was amazing.
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Kathryn Bertram 2 years ago Verified Reviewer
The biking on this trip is all done on mountain bikes. The terrain and rides vary, and we added miles onto the routes on a few of the days. The guides allow your group to set the bike pace, and there is always the van to tour in if riding isn't an option. However, our entire group loved all of the biking. My personal favorite was all of giraffes we saw on our bikes. It is amazing way to see the sights!
My only concern prior to this trip was the food, but we ate like kings and queens. Who knew they served cold and hot breakfast?! We enjoyed tons of fresh produce, including avocados and grapefruits straight from the trees.
This Read more… trip is a great balance of touring and biking, and if you are even considering going, you must go. You, too, will leave plotting a way to get back again. Enjoy sunny South Africa!
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Margie H. 3 years ago Verified Reviewer
Petting a cheetah & having breakfast with her were most memorable. Guides were outstanding. They were full of information & happy to share their knowledge & experience with everyone. We received a genuine glimpse into rural South Africa.
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