Ayres Adventures Motorbike Tours | Motorbike desert tours

"Call of the Wild" African Adventure

Description

The Call of the Wild Adventure is the component of our African Trilogy with the greatest focus on observing Africa’s wildlife. Although we concentrate on the wildlife in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa, the Adventure also includes Africa’s spectacular Victoria Falls, one of world’s most famous waterfalls. The Adventure features a leisurely pace, with several two and three-night stops at locations carefully selected to afford awesome game-viewing opportunities.

Arrival Day: Sandton. We’ll meet your flight at the Johannesburg International Airport and escort you to your hotel in the fashionable Johannesburg suburb of Sandton, where you’ll meet your fellow Adventurers, get introduced to your motorcycle, and meet your tour leaders. Our hotel is located across the street from a convenient shopping area with plenty of interesting shops and restaurants and it’s only a ten minute walk to Mandela Square. Mandela Square and the adjacent Sandton City is reputed to be the best shopping in the world after New York’s 5th Avenue. We’ll have a kick-off meeting and welcoming dinner at one of Sandton’s many fine restaurants.

Day 2: Sandton to Welgevonden Game Reserve. Within twenty minutes of leaving Sandton you’ll see the lovely Magaliesberg Mountains looming into sight as we head for the scenic motorcycling roads of the Hartbeespoort area and South Africa’s Limpopo Province. Continuing into the Waterberg Mountains, we’ll arrive at our destination – the malaria-free Welgevonden Game Reserve in time for a delicious lunch at our luxury game lodge. We’ll leave the motorcycles at the gate and board an open safari vehicle to be transported to the lodge. We'll have the opportunity to see our first African wildlife. The bushveld environment of this declared Heritage Site borders the Marekele National Park and is home to some of Africa’s most sought after game, including elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, eland, sable and many other varieties of antelope.

After lunch, you’ll have time to relax before we board the safari vehicle again for a late afternoon game drive and a “sundowner” celebration in the bush, as we enjoy some liquid refreshments and watch the African sunset. During the night game drive back to the lodge, you may be fortunate enough to see some of Africa’s more nocturnal wildlife, including leopard and aardvark.

Day 3: Welgevonden Game Reserve to Palapye, Botswana. You’ll have another opportunity to view wildlife on an early morning game drive. A hearty breakfast will await you on your return to the lodge – then we’ll depart for Botswana. Our ride takes us through lovely mountain settings and small South African agricultural communities until we reach the more flat landscape of Botswana. Your stay in Palapye will be your introduction to a typical small Botswana town atmosphere.

Day 4: Palapye to Nata. We’ll ride north from Palapye, stopping along the highway for numerous photo opportunities as we pass small, picturesque native villages with their rondavels and huts. Our destination is Nata, where we’ll stay in large safari tents complete with ensuite bath and toilet facilities. Located close to Nata’s famous bird sanctuary, you may opt for an afternoon drive through the sanctuary, complete with a stop for another sundowner. A bird lover’s dream, the sanctuary is home to more than 165 species.

Day 5: Nata to Kasane. From Nata, you’ll ride to Kasane, a small town near the point where four African countries (Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe) converge. Kasane is located a short distance from the Chobe National Park – home to one of the largest elephant populations in the world.

The road from Nata to Kasane is one of only a few major highways in Southern Africa where it’s likely that you’ll encounter wildlife – especially elephant and giraffe – crossing the road. It’s necessary to exercise caution soon after leaving Nata, as you are likely to see wildlife from the road, and you’ll sometimes encounter wildlife crossing the road. There should be some extraordinary photo opportunities along the way.

Days 6 and 7: Kasane. Our 3-night stay at a top-flight safari lodge at Kasane is one of the highlights of the Call of the Wild. The tour includes a game drive in Chobe National Park – home to more than 40,000 elephants – and a cruise up the Chobe River. From the safety of our boat, we’ll see hippo and crocodile up close, and we’ll see elephant, buffalo, giraffe, wildebeest, antelope, warthog, and many other species on the shore.

Many riders also opt for an excursion to Victoria Falls, a mere 70 kilometers away on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Day 8: Kasane to Maun. You’ll continue to be on the lookout for wildlife as you travel from Kasane to Maun, located on Botswana’s famous Okavango Delta. Between Nata and Maun, you’re likely to see wild ostrich, warthog, and other wildlife as you travel the Trans-Kalahari Highway along the northern section of the Kalahari Desert.

The hustle and bustle in this rural community may remind you of an Indiana Jones movie, as safari outfitters in every size overland vehicle imaginable use the town as a point of departure for trips into the Okavango Delta and other big game areas in Botswana. You can enjoy a sundowner and a delicious dinner at our lodge situated on the banks of the Thamalakane River.

Day 9: Maun to Ghanzi. It’s a relatively short ride from Maun to Ghanzi. You’ll want to stop for a break and a photo opportunity at one of the giant Baobab trees along the way. You’ll see quite a few of these fascinating trees during this trip. The tree can live for several thousand years and can attain a girth of more than 40 feet, requiring as many as 15 adults joining with outstretched arms to cover its circumference. Many people describe the tree as having been plucked out of the ground and stuffed back in upside-down.

You’ll also want to stop in the small native town of D’Kar where you may wish to purchase some native crafts. Your visit is certain to attract the attention of the town’s children, who delight in meeting riders and in posing for photos with the motorcycles.

Day 10: Ghanzi to Windhoek. After arriving in this capital city, we’ll retire the motorcycles and switch to 4x4s for our 3-night excursion into Etosha National Park, renowned as one of the world’s greatest wildlife-viewing areas. We’ll visit a very special authentic African restaurant for dinner.

Days 11, 12, 13: “On Safari” – Etosha National Park. The area is home to more than 100 species of mammal and more than 340 species of birds as well as numerous reptiles and amphibians. With three nights to spend in Etosha, Ayres Adventure is in a class by itself. Be sure to bring plenty of videotape and film or memory chips for the digital camera, because we can promise you countless, extraordinary photo opportunities. What a wonderful way to culminate an unforgettable Adventure!

Day 14: Etosha National Park to Windhoek. After a final early morning game drive, you’ll return to Windhoek to spend your last night in Namibia. We promise to make our celebration dinner as memorable as the rest of this very special Ayres Adventure.

Day 15: Departure from Windhoek. We’ll escort you to the airport in Windhoek for your return flight.

Note: The daily program described for this Adventure illustrates the intended itinerary. In some instances, it may be necessary to modify the itinerary based on availability of accommodations and other factors.

	From	To	Km	Overnight
Arrival		Sandton	0	Sandton
Day 2	Sandton	Waterburg	330	Waterburg
Day 3	Waterburg	Palapye	325	Palapye
Day 4	Palapye	Nata	340	Nata
Day 5	Nata	Kasane	325	Kasane
Day 6	Kasane	Kasane	0	Kasane
Day 7	Kasane	Kasane	0	Kasane
Day 8	Kasane	Maun	610	Maun
Day 9	Maun	Ghanzi	300	Ghanzi
Day 10	Ghanzi	Windhoek	530	Windhoek
Day 11	Windhoek	Etosha National Park	600	Etosha National Park
Days 12-13	Etosha National Park	Etosha National Park	100	Etosha National Park
Day 14	Etosha National Park	Windhoek	440	Windhoek
Day 15	Depart Windhoek		0

Route:
     Johannesburg, Waterburg, Palapye, Nata, Kasane, Maun, Ghanzi, Windhoek
Duration:
     15 days - 14 nights
Dates:  (Arrive at departure city on start date, depart final destination on end date): on request
Cost in US$:
     On request. Includes BMW F650GS or F650GS Dakar.
     Additional charge for a BMW R1150GS or R1150 GS Adventure.
     Additional charge for a BMW R1200GS.

     Single room supplement.
Meals:
     Most dinners.  Breakfast included with lodging.

Ride Profile:
     - Motorcycle: 98% Pavement; 2% or less good, hard-packed gravel
     - Total Miles - 2,500 (approx.)

Reservations are only accepted in writing: by fax or via e-mail.
Final availability confirmation: in writing: by fax or via e-mail.