1. Why Choose Us? |
| Inspired by the magical beauty and the sheer sense of wilderness Africa offers, Swartberg Biking set out to create a masterpiece of a lifetime experience. Our attention to detail, from the choice of accommodation to the food and activities, all speak of the meticulously vacation that is almost bespoke in its nature. Our website is an open invitation to experience what we are able to offer. Take a look at the adventures from the eyes of those who have shared in the experience. We set out to create an experience, a sense of involvement that is second to none. It's in our nature. |
2. How Much Riding Experience Do I Need? |
| Boulevard cruising takes a different mindset to crossing continents and chances are you'll know best where your interest lies. Hence, you should also feel comfortable with your own level of riding skill you already have as you are with your choice of motorcycle. As Swartberg Biking strives to offer a tailor-made package for our individual clients, we don't' own our own motorcycles. Instead, we have access to a large variety of motorcycles of a different nature. Under our preferred rental agreements our suppliers prefer at least 24 months riding experience and a minimum age of 25 years. You need to be comfortable in riding on the wrong side of the road and in some cases, such as our Namibia tours, a certain amount of experience on gravel. |
3. How Many Kilometers/Miles Will We Ride Per Day? |
| The distances vary depending on the route. On our Garden Route tour the average daily distance is 330km with the longest distance 430km, whereas on our Big 6 tour the daily average is 370km and the longest distance 500km. Some days are longer than others but we make sure on those days that the distances can be achieved with ease. Might we also mention that in South Africa the speed limit is 120km/h on our highways and open roads. On our Namibia tour the average daily distance is 335km with 420km the longest. We need to however mention that traveling 335km on gravel is normally more tiring than doing on a tar surface. Our overland tours has varied daily distances but nothing in excess of 400km per day, but not on consecutive days as we place a high premium on safety and managing rider fatigue. You are here to enjoy and experience and our daily distances will allow you enough time to take in what is around you |
4. Do We Ride Every Day? |
| No. We try to space our riding days to enjoy every third or fourth day as a rest day, after all we need to do the washing at some stage. On these days there might be optional ride outs, but the day is yours to do whatever you wish to do with it. We try to enjoy our rest days at venues and destinations that will revitalize tired bodies and relax restless souls. Each rest day is highlighted on our detailed itineraries and with a little bit of homework participants can enjoy these days to the fullest. The tour guide will also assist you with information on what activities are available. |
5. What Road Conditions are We Likely To Encounter? |
| South Africa and Namibia has an excellent road infrastructure with both excellent tar and gravel routes to be enjoyed. The South African tours - Magical Garden Route and Big 6 - can be done on either tar roads exclusively (sealed surface) or for the more adventurous rider a combination of tar and gravel roads. Our Namibia tours on the other hand are 80% gravel roads and 20% tar. Our overland tours are a combination of approximately 60% tar and 40% gravel. Should other products like our planned Karas Namib Expedition interest you, then the road conditions will be communicated well in advance as it might require a more specialized skill due to the technical nature of the terrain we'll cover on some days. |
6. What Weather Conditions are We Likely To Encounter? |
| South Africa has great year-round riding weather with nice hot summers days and pleasant evenings in summer with the occasional thunder storm. During winter our days are much cooler with the nights fairly cold with the occasional sub zero temperatures, especially in the interior where the altitude has an affect on conditions. Down at the coast the night temperatures are not as low as the interior but temperatures will remind you its winter. The Western Cape, more specifically the Cape Peninsula and Cape South Coast have a Mediterranean climate with result that it is considered a winter rainfall region. Other than the period between June and August which is the rainy season, the weather is more than favourable for riding in the Western Cape. See www.weathersa.co.za for more on the climate. |
7. What Riding Gear Do I Need To Bring Along? |
| Due to hot and dry conditions that prevail most of the year all over South Africa and Namibia, we recommend "summer type" riding gear for the summer months from October till April. Fortunately the concept of layer clothing has made life easier for motorcycle enthusiasts due to us being able to dress-up or un-dress according to climatic conditions. As fellow riders, we at Swartberg Biking believe in having rain-suits and fleece tops packed at all times as these can come in handy in those precarious weather conditions Mother Nature sometimes throws at us. The most important however, is that your riding gear should provide adequate protection against natural elements such as both the cooler conditions and heat which might be experienced from time to time, as well as against injury. A good helmet and riding boots are essential. |
8. What Documentation I Need To Bring? |
| You need to bring with your passport which still needs to be valid for 6 months after completion of the tour, a valid international driver's license with the original motorcycle license issued back home and visas should you require any. "Bring with your original yellow fever vaccination certificate and the original of your travel insurance document. You won't need motorbike insurance cover, we'll take care of that!" |
9. Can I Rent Gear and Other Accessories? |
| Some of our suppliers have a limited range of gear available for rent, but we strongly recommend clients rather bring their own gear. The comfort of using your own gear just ensures an enjoyable hassle-free trip. Bike accessories such as tank bags, top cases and panniers can be rented from our reliable suppliers. Our BMW rental bikes will always be fitted with a top case and should a tour be conducted without a support vehicle, the bikes will be fitted with two side panniers as well as the top case. |
10. Are the Tours Suitable For Two-Up Riding? |
| Yes. Our South African tours are perfect for two-up riding and the vacation offer better value for money should a pillion ride with. Namibia is also suitable for two-up riding, but only for experienced pillion carrying riders and we would not recommend it for inexperienced gravel road riders and/or pillions. Our experience has taught us that sometimes the pillions suffer more fatigue than the rider when covering great distances on gravel. However, the support vehicle can carry limited passengers and this is a possible solution to the challenges that countries like Namibia with its gravel roads, posses. |
11. Can A Non-Riding Passenger Join Me? |
| Yes... but there is a but! Where we use a support vehicle on a tour, as is the case with most of our tours, a limited number of non-riding passengers can join the tour. Should there be a pillion who has "requested" a seat in the support vehicle, this request will get priority above the non-riding passenger. So where and when possible we will gladly accept non-riding passengers to join us on tour. |
12. Can I Ride Independently Or Must I Stick With the Ride Leader? |
| Yes...but. Each participant will receive a detailed route map and daily route plan for each tour they participate in to allow them such freedom within limits. A short informal briefing will be held every night during which the following day's route will be discussed. As mentioned previously, it is your vacation and you have paid for it, and in that spirit we would like to extend you the freedom any motorcyclist enjoy and longs for. So if you are comfortable and your tour guide is comfortable you may be granted "temporary independence" where the route allows it. In countries like Namibia the remoteness and road conditions sometimes are not favorable to allow riding independently and every request will be looked at independently and only declined in extreme circumstances. |
13. How Many Riders Will Be In the Group? |
| At Swartberg Biking we work on a minimum of 6 riders and a maximum of 12 with 10 riders being the ideal number. |
14. Do I Have To Pay For All My Food? |
| No. We don't all like the same food nor do we enjoy the same quantities. We have included the meals - some dinners and all breakfasts - we thought necessary to include and decided to exclude all lunches, but this varies from tour to tour. At remote venues where dinner at the venue is the best option we normally include the meal in the package. On most tours we are always in close proximity of a venue to enjoy a light lunch should you wish to and where not we can arrange lunch pack to be taken with. Where we stay in a town or city and you have a variety of eateries we leave it up to you to enjoy what you would like. Your guide will assist you with some advice as for what is available food wise where the dinner option has been left open. |
15. What Sort Of Food Will We Be Eating? |
| We strive to give all our participants a complete Southern African experience and part of that is what you eat and drink. We would like you to taste as much local food and drink as you possibly can and we plan our meals and venues accordingly so that we avoid having the same food types day after day. All venues we frequent are "safe" and you shouldn't be concerned about any surprises. We would like to warn you that you might go back home with some excess weight and tight fitting clothes. |
16. What Is the Accommodation Like? |
| All of our venues are 3 or 4 star luxury accommodation. We sometimes stay in lodges and sometimes in guesthouses and these might be out in the country side or in towns, but we try to limit our stay in hotels and venues which you can get back home. We have chosen privately owned intimate venues where possible so you can meet the owners and get to know the staff who in turn can tell you more about the daily life of a South African. You are here to experience and enjoy what Southern Africa has to offer and therefore we endeavor to let you enjoy the best we have experienced so far on our travels. |
17. What Happens If My Bike Breaks Down? |
| All bikes we rent are new or near new and in mint condition. When we use a support vehicle a spare bike on a trailer will be accompanying us on the tour. The purpose of this spare bike is to use in case of any breakdown. The trailer can also be used should any rider become ill or tired and would like to spend a day in the support vehicle. The spare motorcycle might not be the same as the one you have requested and use on tour, but the swop is a temporary measure and we will replace or repair your unit soonest. |
18. How Can I Stay In Touch With Home? |
| With modern day technology staying in touch is easy as pie. The mobile phone coverage throughout South Africa and the major centers in neighboring countries are good and should you have activated your international roaming facility staying in contact should not be a problem. It is cheaper to buy a local phone card to use in your mobile phone and use this card to stay in contact with loved ones back home. The mobile coverage in large parts of Namibia is poor or non existant, but where we stay you should find coverage. All the cities and towns have internet cafés and most accommodation venues have internet facilities available to send and receive e-mails. |
19. Tell Me About the Bikes? |
| Swartberg Biking has build up a sound relationship with a reputable local bike rental company. This company has the latest BMW models available such as the popular F650GS, the F800GS and the trustworthy R1200GS. A limited number of BMW R1200RT road bikes are available. The Harley rental agents have Harley Davidson Sportsters, Heritage Softtail Classics and Electra Glide Ultra Glide models available at all their agencies. |
20. Do I Need Travel Insurance? |
Yes, we advise our clients to take out the necessary travel insurance to protect them against any unforeseen circumstances or problems. Ensure you have medical insurance and it is always advisable, whether travelling or not, to have adequate life insurance cover. Also make sure the insurer is aware of the fact that. You should be covered for personal accident, medical and repatriation costs as well as the usual loss of luggage, theft and damage. Should you book through a travel agent they will gladly assist you in this regard, but if you book direct with us, it is best if you take out the insurance to travel with piece of mind. Please enquire with us about the insurance options we have available for you. |
21. What About Visas? |
| It is advisable to check up on whether you need a visa for any of the countries you intend visiting whilst on tour to Southern Africa. Other than South Africa these might include Swaziland, Lesotho, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Namibia. You should be able to find guidance on this matter via the internet or a local visa guide and from you local authorities. The use of a local visa agency to help you in this regard might be a good idea. They take care of all the hassles and arrange the documentation well in time before you depart and sometimes even deliver it to you in person. |
22. What About Medical Vaccinations? |
| Certain parts of South and Southern Africa are classified as malaria areas. Depending on the tour you choose it might be required of you to drink the required malaria medication, and we strongly advise you to do so. Some neighbouring countries might require yellow fever and hepatitis inoculations, but your local travel clinic will be able to give you guidance in this regard. We highly recommend that you speak with your doctor and/or check out the World Health Organization website at www.who.int/country and have a look at their excellent International Travel and Health book, available online. Other websites to consult are www.travelclinic.co.za or www.mdtravelhealth.com. |
23. What About Car Rental and Accommodation For Extended Stay? |
| Should you wish to arrive a few days before the tour departure date or maybe extend your stay in South Africa with a few days, then Swartberg Biking will gladly assist you in arranging accommodation and car rental. It is part of our service to you as a trusted client to assist you and offer you a hassle free vacation. |
24. Air Flights |
| We normally leave the air flights up to the respective participants to arrange. Where participants make use of travel agents to arrange the tour on their behalf, they will normally assume responsibility for the air flights. As the local agent, Swartberg Biking will gladly advise you with regards to which airline carrier is best for which destination or country so feel free to contact us in this regard. |
25. Prices and Bookings |
| The prices you see are fixed prices quoted in South African Rands (ZAR) and payable in South African Rands. We have used the BMW F650GS as our base model on which all prices are based on and calculated it on a per person sharing basis. Single rooms are available with a single supplement being payable to upgrade. As we all know the price of fuel for example, is unpredictable but even despite this our quoted price to you is the price you pay once we have confirmed it in writing to you. The price you see on the website is a base price to be used as a guideline and needs to be looked at in conjunction with the list of items included and excluded. We do have incentives from time to time like discount for early bookings and deposits. Please send us an e-mail should you like to know about these. Please download and complete our tour booking form and return it to us. |
26. Tell Me About the Support Vehicle |
| Swartberg Biking owns a Mitsubishi Colt twin cab pick-up truck which can carry three passengers and carry limited luggage per participant. On board it has a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit as well as limited tools and spares to cover the most basic problems. A cooler box with non-alcoholic drinks is available. An on board air compressor is also available to inflate or deflate tyre pressures when needed too. |
27. Tell Me About the Crew Who Will Be Accompanying Us On Tour? |
| Each tour will be accompanied by a local, multi-lingual guide who is registered with the local authorities and who has a sound knowledge of all aspects related to your tour. The chances of your tour guide being the owner, Gavin Green, is very good seeing that he likes to guide and lead the tours himself. He is a qualified national guide and holds and valid certificate as a medical first aid responder. Should a back up vehicle be used, a certified driver with the required public driving permits will assume responsibility for the support vehicle. |
28. Spending Money |
| At Swartberg Biking we try to follow a balanced approach with regards to additional out of pocket expenses. There will always be additional expenses like the petrol/gas, drinks and limited food expenses as well as personal expenses that no one can get away from. With our dinner approach we are sure we are giving you the benefit in allowing you to choose what and how much you want to eat on certain nights and the same applies to certain activities like game drives. We will always negotiate on your behalf and use our clout as a tour operator and the quantities interested to participate to get you the best possible price. Yes you should have spending money as some things will be optional but it will be within limits allowing us to give you value for money at all times. |
29. More Information |
| If you have any concerns or questions which have not been addressed in this forum, you are welcome to e-mail it to info@swartbergbiking.co.za and we'll gladly address it soonest. |
30. What Are The Terms And Conditions Of Purchasing From Swartberg Biking? |
| Please view our terms and conditions. |
