This is the best motorcycle trip you can do in South Africa, says veteran motorcycle journalist Mick Matheson after his tour with SAMATours.
Matho went to South Africa for the riding and discovered the two-wheeled thrills were just one of many stunning experiences that make a trip there so appealing.
“I’d have been quite happy with the road trip, but Africa’s wildlife, culture and scenery all added up to a far greater experience than I could have anticipated,” he says.
His latest motorcycle travel video, The Best South African Road Trip Ever, captures the highlights and the enthusiasm of the group he rode with.
He happily admits he stole the title of the video from the tour organiser.
“I couldn’t think of a better name for it, really,” he says. “As road trips go, this is a classic that weaves the sheer joy of motorbikes through a whole range of things that happen on the road.”
“We’d ride for a while, maybe charging over a mountain pass, then stop and there’d be elephants or ostriches that you can hand feed.
“Another good stint of riding and we’d be high up in a remote range with beautiful gorges and the world’s highest swing — something for the few who are brave enough, because it’s about 80m high!”
He says the 17-day was one of the most affordable he’s done, mainly because of the 11-to-1 exchange rate compared with the Australian dollar.
“The food and wine were not only cheap, but really good,” he says.
“I’d go back, for sure. I saw a lot of South Africa this time but there’s still more to see, so I can’t really say I’ve ticked it off my bucket list yet — not completely.”
The African video follows his recent production showing the many virtues of riding the Oxley Highway.
The Oxley Highway is a road you have to ride at least once in your life, says Matho.
“There are about 300 corners, the traffic is usually light, and the experience covers more than just the ride because of the character of the places you visit along the way,” he says.
Stay tuned for more of Mick’s videos over the next few months.
“I’ve written about motorcycles and bike trips through my whole career, so telling stories in video format is a new challenge.
“I have a video production business now, so it was inevitable that I’d eventually combine it with my passion.”
- Mick Matheson is the editor of Australian Road Rider magazine and runs Phantom 2 Media, a video production business.