2025 Victoria Falls & Beyond Overland Tour

Length: 16 days (15 nights) and 14 days motorcycle rental

Rating: Easy paved roads with exceptions of accommodation access roads

Motorcycle enthusiasts from all over fantasize about a road trip in Africa, exploring the wide-open spaces of the continent. At Swartberg Biking we have created another exclusive 16-day African odyssey to cater for all riders. Our journey presents riders with the authentic Africa. Here you ride through little villages, surrounded by curious, yet excited onlookers asking questions about you and the bikes.  It is here we you experience the wide-open spaces of Africa, where one disappear into the silence of nature, where time stands still. It is here where you are awakened by the mighty Victoria Falls and calmed by a pristine Africa sunset!  Finding luxury hotels or Michelin-starred restaurants out here is not easy, but you will enjoy the most inspiring, breathtaking, and heartwarming experiences of your life.

Our epic journey starts in Pretoria from where we head to the Botswana border.  Our first stop is in Palapye from where we head up north to Nata.  Outside Nata we reside in a tented camp, in the middle of nowhere!  This camp is build around a watering hole frequented by mainly elephants and numerous other wildlife. From here we ride to Kasane.  Our route traverses the eastern parts of the well-known Chobe National Park which translates into us riding through a national park.  Thus be prepared to encounter wild animals on the road between Nata and Kasane.  Proceed with caution, always be on the lookout for elephant, and other animals crossing the road! In Kasane we enjoy a late afternoon boat safari on the Chobe River. This river cruise gives us the opportunity to view a variety of wildlife from nearby.  Some of sightings might include hippos, buffalo and elephants.

Next we head to Zambia when we say farewell to the shores of the Chobe River and cross the mighty Zambezi River.  Zambia, a landlocked, mineral-rich country will be our home for the next few days.  After the border formalities, we enjoy a short ride to Livingstone.  The bustling, yet modern town is home to the mighty Victoria Falls, listed as one of the seven natural wonders of the world.  She announces her presence with an ever-present cloud of mist and a mighty roar as the Zambezi tumbles down below! We enjoy a dinner cruise on the Zambezi River and a guided tour of the Victoria falls. The town is known for its adventure activities such as white-water rafting and bungee jumping. Experience taught us that motorcyclists prefer the scenic helicopter & microlight flights for which we manage to make time for in our schedule.

During our next two-day journey, we cross Zambia from Livingstone in the southwest to Chipata in the east.  With the Zambezi behind us we head to Lusaka and finally Chipata. Lusaka is a big city, an ideal one-night stopover as we head east. During the 2-day ride we pass through numerous towns and villages with lots of people around.  We cross the mighty Luangwa River and traverse the high lying plains and forests before arriving in Chipata.  The newly constructed road between Lusaka and Chipata makes for easy riding!  With its winding curves following the contours of the landscape it is a joy for riders after the Lusaka traffic.  From Chipata we take a detour up north to Mfuwe, located near the South Luangwa National Park.  At Mfuwe we enjoy a 2-night safari stay, leaving us ample to indulge in safari activities in one of Zambia’s finest national parks.

From Mfuwe we had back to Chipata where we enter Malawi. We ride the along scenic Golomoti escarpment to Dedza.  In Malawi we see more traditional villages, this time most residents sell charcoal and dried tobacco leaves to passersby.  Prepare yourselves for 1000’s of cyclists with insane loads neatly stacked on their cycles. We overnight in Dedza which is south of Lilongwe where after we head further down south to the Mulanje region.  The southern regions are known for its agricultural activities where mostly tabaco and tea are grown. More than two thirds of Malawi’s 12 million residents live in the impoverished rural areas and farming is a critical job creator. Before heading north, we reside at the foothills of Malawi’s highest mountain, Mount Mulanje (3002m) which is near the Mozambican.  From Mount Mulanje we follow the back roads to the Shire River, one might say it’s uncharted terrain for most of us. Our last two nights in rural Malawi will be spent on the shores of Lake Malawi near Mangochi and Salima. We officially entered the Great Rift Valley at the southernmost end of Lake Malawi where it drains into the Shire River.   Our stay includes a sunset cruise to visit an island as well as a local village visit on foot.  The lake offers superb snorkeling and diving opportunities and with over 600 species of fish, there is an abundance of bird life which include the grand fish eagle. The laid-back atmosphere and relaxing sunset cruises are just what our bodies needs right now!

The final day of riding is upon us.  We are heading to Lilongwe where we return the motorcycles and prepare to return back home.  Our ride to Lilongwe as well as the flight back home should give all plenty of time to reflect on more than two weeks packed with new experiences, new places and new friends.  Bon Voyage!  “May you go well”!

Distance to be covered: Total 3760 km and 315 km per day approximately.  

Important – Please note that this route might also be reversed and done from Lilongwe to South Africa.

Itinerary:

• Day 1 – Arrive at OR Tambo International Airport and be transferred to Pretoria where we all meet and collect our motorcycles.
• Day 2 – Our first day of riding where we ride north to Martins Drift border and enter Botswana to reside in nearby Palapye (490km)
• Day 3 – Continue north past Francistown to Nata to enjoy Elephant Sands lodge (410km)
• Day 4 – Follow the A33 north to Kasane with most of the riding in the Chobe National Park. Enjoy a late afternoon sun-downer safari cruise on the Chobe river (260km)
• Day 5 – We cross the mighty Zambezi to enter Zambia from where we head to Livingstone, home to the mighty Victoria Falls (100km)
• Day 6 – Enjoy a relaxing day in Livingstone where we explore the Victoria Falls on foot or enjoy a helicopter flight over the falls, ending our day with a Zambezi sun-downer river cruise (0km)
• Day 7 – Today we head to Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. It is the first of two long days in the saddle, one where we pass through numerous villages and explore rural life in Zambia (490km)
• Day 8 – The longest day in the saddle awaits us.  A pleasant journey on good roads swamped by wide open spaces and the occasional rural village directing us to Chipata (570km)
• Day 9 – From Chipata we head due north to Mfuwe for a two pleasant two night safari stay on the banks of the Luangwa river bordering the Luangwa National Park (140km)
• Day 10 – Our two night stay at Mfuwe includes safari jeep drives into Luangwa National Park and relaxing views overlooking the mighty Luangwa river surrounded by nature (0km)
• Day 11 – After our safari fun we head to Malawi for our last border crossing as we head to Dedza (360km)
• Day 12 – From Dedza we head south to Mulanje via Zomba.  Mulanje is home to the highest mountain in Malawi and the well-known Malawian tea plantations (320km)
• Day 13 – From Mulanje we loop back north via the back roads to Mangochi for some lake leisurely stays near the town of Mangochi where we also enjoy a village walk (300km)
• Day 14 – We continue further north to relax at another lodge near Salima where we enjoy a relaxing lake cruise to enjoy the views from the water (200km)
• Day 15 – Today is our last day of riding.  After a short ride we arrive in Lilongwe to return the motorcycles and start packing for our journey back home tomorrow (120km)
• Day 16 – Depending on our flight time, a lodge transfer will take all participants to the airport (000km)

Important information about the above rates:

• The rate quoted above is a net rate based on a minimum of six participants. Swartberg Biking reserves the right to cancel any tour if we have not received bookings for the minimum number of participants.
• The above rates are subject to change if any unforeseeable price increase or currency exchange rate occurs.
• The rates quoted above exclude the use of a support vehicle on the above package.

Swartberg Biking Motorcycle Tours is a registered tour operator affiliated with the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (www.satsa.co.za) and insured with Safari and Tourism Insurance Brokers (www.satib.co.za).

Swartberg Biking is a proud partner in the 2024 Rhino Ride awareness campaign, supporting conservation efforts across Southern Africa.