Motorbike Tour of Lesotho  Verified Listing

Day 1: Johannesburg - Michaelangelo Hotel
Arrive into Johannesburg International airport (own arrangements).
You will be met and transferred to the Michaelangelo Hotel in Sandton. The magnificent Renaissance architecture is in heart of the Richest Square Mile in South Africa, located on Nelson Mandela Square.
At 1:00pm a guide will return to the Palazzo to collect you for an afternoon tour of the colourful Soweto neighbourhood (previously known and the south-west township). This memorable tour delves into South Africa's Apartheid roots and grants travellers a look into the history, culture and people in this iconic destination.
Return to your hotel to freshen up. Meet your tour guide in the hotel restaurant at 7:30pm for a welcome dinner and introduction to the tour, as well as meeting your travelling companions.
Activities:
Soweto Township Experience Tour from Johannesburg
A visit to Soweto is an essential part of any Johannesburg experience. See the street where Nelson Mandela and Hector Pieterson lived and learn about the 1976 uprising that helped pave the way for freedom. Walk through Freedom Square and Freedom Charter Memorial, the Regina Mundi Church and drive along Vilakazi Street.
You will visit Mandela House Museum and the Hector Pieterson Museum and see the homes of Nobel peace prize winner Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. Before returning to your hotel you will visit a local shebeen and taste a type of beer drunk by the people of Soweto, if you’re older than 18 years (time permitting, beer for own account).
Overnight: Michaelangelo Hotel
Included: Transfers, accommodation, tour of Soweto (including entrance fees) and welcome dinner.
Excluded: International flights (own arrangements), lunch, all drinks and any other activities and services not listed.

Day 2: Harrismith - De Oude Huize Yard
Today is the official start of your bike journey from Johannesburg to Lesotho. Your guide will meet you at the Michaelangelo Hotel after breakfast and transfer you to the start point of the trip. Collect your motorcycles and ride out of the Gauteng Province towards Kwa Zulu Natal.
We have lunch in Harrismith for lunch at Dom’s With Love before embarking on some of the interesting souvenir shopping opportunities. Distinctive southern African curios and arty things are available at Marqwahouse. The Drakensberg range and Maluti Mountains provide a spectacular backdrop to Harrismith. We stay at ‘the place frozen in time’, De Oude Huize Yard Guest House.
The toll booths on the freeways will not accept overseas credit or debit cards - only South African - so you need cash.
Overnight: Drakensberg Sun Hotel
DISTANCE - 295 KMS
Included: Breakfast and accommodation.
Excluded: Tolls. All drinks, any other activities and services not listed.

Day 3: AVANI Lesotho Hotel- Maseru
We make an early morning start as we continue to enjoy rural Africa watching for any potholes, pedestrians or straying domestic animals, as we head into the Golden Gate Highlands National Park on our way to the Lesotho Border. As we cross the border the whole world changes into stunning landscapes, beautiful vistas and friendly waving children.
Arriving in Maseru, the capital, you will immediately notice the traditional crafts shop selling the cone-shaped Basotho Hat shop. The conical symbol is taken from the conical mountain, Mount Qiloane. We relax at the AVANI Lesotho Hotel and Casino in preparation for tomorrow’s ride through outstanding scenery.
Activities
Border Crossing at Maseru Bridge
Lesotho has two official languages — Sesotho and English — and the Basotho greatly appreciate being greeted in their own language. The Sesotho word for “hello” is “khotso”, which translates as “peace”. Lesotho is welcoming to visitors from all over the world, but it is as well to note that: Photographing the Royal Palace, the airport or government buildings is prohibited. In fact remember to ask before you photograph any person or personal items, including homesteads. Do not pick, collect or damage any vegetation as, according to Basotho custom, most plants belong to someone.
DISTANCE - 276KMS
Overnight: AVANI Lesotho Hotel
Included: Breakfast and accommodation.
Excluded: Any other meals, all drinks and any other activities and services not listed.

Day 4:Macleaar Apline B&B- Maclear, South Africa
Today we head off to explore Lesotho, taking an anti-clockwise route from north to south. Today will be a leisurely ride, taking in the scenery and allowing for local people and animals. Our journey takes us through Morija, Likupa, Mafeten and Mohales Hoek through some of the most dramatic landscapes.
DISTANCE – 462 KMS
Overnight: AVANI Lesotho Hotel
Included: Breakfast and accommodation.
Excluded: Any other meals, all drinks and any other activities and services not listed.

Day 5:Kapenta Bay- Port Shepstone
Leaving the Drakensberg for the Indian Ocean we stop for lunch in Kokstad at the Loafers Café. Winding our way through the north of the Transkei towards Kokstad we discover a town with many attractions and interesting sites for us to explore, museums which display the history of the town and the Griqua people. Kokstad is a town filled with natural wonders and a proud and exciting heritage that is most definitely worth the visit.
DISTANCE: 336 KMS
OvernightKapenta Bay
Included: Breakfast and accommodation.
Excluded: Any other meals, all drinks and any other activities and services not listed.

Day 6: Ocean Reef Hotel, Zinwkazi Beach
After a peaceful day we spend some time relaxing by the Indian Ocean we ride north along the N2. Riding serenely along the coastal road towards Durban, we pass through many coastal towns, stopping for lunch in Amanzitoti at The Book Boutique. Arriving into the semi-tropical Zinkwazi beach we relax in the resort.
DISTANCE - 205 KMS
Overnight: Ocean Reef Hotel, Zinkwazi Beach
Included: Breakfast and accommodation.
Excluded: Any other meals, all drinks and any other activities and services not listed.

Day 7: Newcastle Garden Court, Newcastle
This ride takes us to Newcastle. We stop for coffee in Greytown, at the Tranquil-Tea restaurant. Our route takes us through The Valley of a Thousand Hills, fertile sugar farms, into the rolling hills of timberland around Greytown and the through the magnificent scenery of The Tugela Basin, South Africa's largest river.
As we travel on the N3 linking Durban and Johannesburg, only 8 km off the motorway near Ladysmith, we arrive at the famous Battlefield of Spion Kop. Over a century ago on the 24th January 1900, Spion Kop was the scene of a bloody and futile battle fought between South Africans and British forces during the South African War, 1899 to 1902. Raymond Heron, a renowned historian, has a fascinating presentation on the war and the far-reaching effects it had on Britain and South Africa. During Raymond’s vivid presentation, one is able to relive memories of the war and walk in the footsteps of three great leaders – General Louis Botha, later to become the Union of South Africa’s first prime minister, and Mohandas (later the “Mahatma”) Gandhi, as well as Winston Churchill. After an interesting afternoon we continue on to Dundee.
Overnight: Newcastle Garden Court
DISTANCE – 355 KMS
Included: Breakfast and accommodation.
Excluded: Any other meals, all drinks and any other activities and services not listed.

Day 8: Michaelangelo Hotel, Johannesburg
Stopping for lunch in Newcastle at the Pint and Pigout Restaurant we ride north to Ermelo. From KwaZulu-Natal the N11 continues through Newcastle, where it meets the R34 from Ladysmith to end at the N3 freeway. The N11 is arguably a difficult road because it carries 1000 trucks a day due to being an alternate route between Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal to the N3 freeway. We travel carefully here in an unhurried ride north.
Continuing north west along the N17 we return to Gauteng Province and Johannesburg. Arriving back in Johannesburg around lunch time you will have the opportunity to repack your souvenirs. Although this marks the end of our tour, before you say farewell to sunny South Africa, please do not rush off, there are many local attractions not to be missed. At our farewell dinner we get the opportunity to exchange photos and addresses as we tick our tremendous journey off our bucket-list.
DISTANCE - 188 KMS
Overnight: Michaelangelo Hotel
Included: Breakfast and accommodation.
Excluded: Any other meals, all drinks and any other activities and services not listed.

Day 9: Departure
Say farewell to sunny South Africa. We will be collected from our hotel and transferred to Johannesburg OR Tambo airport to connect with our international flight, travelling under our own flight arrangements If you wish to extend your journey Harleys Safaris/ Ker & Downey are able to assist you at additional cost.
Included: Breakfast and transfers.
Excluded: Any other meals, all drinks and any other activities and services not listed. Internal and international flights.

Please note that you need to be 25 years or older to hire a motorbike, however, you can travel as a pillion passenger on the bike or in the back-up vehicle.