Exploring South Africa by bike is an experience like no other. Cape Town is one of the most beautiful places on Earth and provides a stunning backdrop to our cycling holidays in South Africa. The spellbinding scenery, rich cultural history, unique flora and endemic wildlife make South Africa a spectacular destination to cover on two wheels.
Wildlife lovers will be in their element with unforgettable game drives through Kruger National Park, while the Drakensburg Mountains provide an incredible backdrop for aspiring photographers wanting to capture some of South Africa’s most breath-taking scenery. As you cycle among lush vineyards, along pristine coastline and beneath awe-inspiring waterfalls, you’ll discover diverse and unparalleled landscapes like you’ve never seen before.
Known for its magnificent wildlife, South Africa is home to more than 20 national parks, and Kruger is one of the most revered for its epic game. Embark on thrilling safari experiences that take you to the heart of the country’s wilder side where great beasts such as lions, rhinos, elephants and giraffes will leave you in awe as you observe them in their natural habitats.
Oenophiles (wine lovers) can sample some of the world’s finest wines in the Cape Winelands region which are produced at vineyards in Stellenbosch and Franschhoek. This celebrated region is also renowned for its fascinating history, natural beauty and delicious cuisine. Cycling South Africa winelands steers you through scenic landscapes to see the iconic Table Mountain, along the Franschhoek Pass and to local villages and towns where you’ll be immersed in ancient traditions.
Top 5 Experiences on Cycling Tours in South Africa
Cable Car Ride up Table Mountain: Looming over the city of Cape Town, Table Mountain is one of the most famous mountains in the world, known for its unusual flat top. The summit lies at just over 1,000 metres but the views over the city, coast and the surrounding landscapes are phenomenal. Riding the cable car to the plateau is a smooth journey that lets you soak up 360-degree panoramas incorporating the Lion’s head on one side and city skyscrapers on the other.
Cycling Along the Franschhoek Pass: Located between the Wemmershoek Mountains and the Franschhoek Valley, the Franschhoek Pass snakes along the north of the Franschhoek Mountains to almost 2,500ft. Also known as Lambrechts Road, the pass is a favourite with avid cyclists owing to the extraordinary mountain views that reach across valleys and gorges. There are also switchbacks and corners along the route that add to the thrill of the ride and returning along the Villiersdorp side introduces you to some of the most beautiful scenery when cycling South Africa.
Cape Peninsula Ride: Incorporating some of the most beautiful views in South Africa, the Cape Peninsula is a stunning route for cycling. Ride through the Cape Point Nature Reserve which lies at the tip of the peninsula and along the picturesque coastal road where vistas seem to stretch on forever. At Cape Point, you’ll have the opportunity to spot local wildlife and a wide variety of flora. Keep your eyes peeled for whales as they swim through the waters in search of fish.
Cycling the Drakensburg: There are few greater adventures than cycling through the spectacular mountain scenery of Drakensburg. The area is famous for both its hiking and cycling routes that steer you between dramatic rock formations where you can see ancient rock art created by the indigenous San people. The area is also home to abandoned gold mines, wildlife-rich forests and cascading waterfalls. At every twist and turn through the mountainous landscapes, a new and wildly beautiful vision unfolds.
Game Drive in Kruger National Park: As well as giving you a well-earned break from the saddle, a game drive through Kruger National Park is filled with thrilling wildlife experiences. Begin your adventure early in the morning to increase your chances of spotting some of the world’s most revered animals as you go in search of South Africa’s famous Big Five: the elephant, lion, rhino, leopard and buffalo. Hiding in the mountains, forests and plains are hundreds more species of mammals and birds that live among the staggering 2 million hectares of national park.
Trip completed in Jan-Feb 2025. This was my first time in India. The cycling was excellent (one day with 900m elevation riding to Kumbhalgarh but otherwise actually easier in terms of elevation/distance than on other grade 3 trips I’ve been on). Cycling in the cities is somewhat of an adrenaline sport which was great fun! The Taj Majal, Udaipur and Jodhpur Fort were all excellent. The food is exceptionally good. The bus was the most comfortable exodus trip bus I’ve ever been on and made the longer journeys a pleasure. I enjoyed the experience of the overnight train journey.
The Shree Ram hotel, Kumbhalgarh Forest Retreat and Sariska Safari Lodge I found to be very good and enjoyed staying there. The room in Ashok Country Resort was somewhat damp/musty. With the swimming pool closed there isn’t much to do there and, other than the airport, there’s nothing nearby. Food there was good. Bathrooms in the vesta mayura palace and udai villas were dirty. A night club next to the vesta mayua pumps out window shaking music until around midnight. This holiday is really cheap for two weeks – I know I can’t expect too much of a three star hotel in India but I’d rather have paid a bit more and had a nicer cleaner hotel at every stop.
My second exodus trip in portugal and once again the food (especially the picnics) was exceptional. Not quite enough cycling to burn off all the calories from the pasteis de natas and other delicious pastries/cakes! The scenery on this trip was the best I have experienced on an exodus trip – on other trips I’ve found some great scenery interspersed with longer stretches on roads with nondescript views, on the porto to lisbon trip it was multiple stunning beach/cliff views with forest, boardwalk, bays and quaint villages. Hotels were generally of very good quality (worth the superior comfort level advertised). The start hotel was changed to the Hotel Vila Gale which was OK but could do with a refurb of the rooms (doesn’t look as good as the planned hotel neya).
