Plan your trip

Everything you need to know.

Rider requirements, booking and payment, add-ons, the motorcycle and every question riders ask us, in one place.

RequirementsBooking & paymentExtrasThe motorcycleFAQRider’s Guides

Who This Is For

Rider requirements.

You've been riding for years. Gravel doesn't unsettle you. You've done the Alps, maybe Morocco, maybe Iceland — and you want something more remote. If that's you, this tour was built for you. Review the checklist below to confirm you're good to go.

Riding Licence

Riders must be at least 25 and have held an appropriate unrestricted motorcycle licence for at least two years. Carry the original licence and an International Driving Permit where required. Pillion passengers are not permitted.

Gravel Experience

Riders must be comfortable on unpaved roads. Around 70% of the route is gravel. Prior adventure riding experience is essential.

Riding Gear

Full protective gear is mandatory — jacket, trousers, gloves, boots and an approved helmet. Gear is not supplied and must be brought by the rider.

Travel Insurance

Comprehensive travel and medical insurance — including motorcycle riding cover — is required. This is non-negotiable.

Physical Fitness

Six hours of riding daily on technical terrain requires stamina. Riders with relevant medical conditions should consult a physician before booking.

Group Size

Solo riders, pairs and small groups are all welcome. Every tour runs privately, from a single rider upwards. Each rider receives the same professional preparation and support.

Before you book

Planning your trip.

Arrival, accommodation and the practical details to consider before confirming your adventure.

Arrival and airport transfers

Fly into Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in Gqeberha / Port Elizabeth, approximately 100 km from St Francis Bay. We arrange a complimentary arrival transfer to St Francis through a third-party provider. Return airport transfers, onward travel and car hire are at your own expense; we can arrange them and include them in your quotation.

Your room and extra nights

Each rider has their own room every night of the tour, with breakfast included. We recommend a night in St Francis Bay before you collect the motorcycle and a night after you return it. These two nights fall outside the tour itself, so you’re welcome to book them yourself, or we can arrange them for you and add them to your quotation, whichever suits you.

Booking, payment and date changes

Unless agreed otherwise in writing, a 30% deposit is required, and your booking is confirmed when we issue written confirmation. The balance is due 60 calendar days before you collect the motorcycle. Bookings made within 60 days require full payment unless otherwise agreed. Date changes must be requested in writing and are subject to availability, written approval and any additional charges.

Cancellations

Under our Booking & Participation Agreement, cancellations must be received in writing. More than 60 days before departure, the deposit is retained and additional payments are refunded less permitted deductions. At 60 days or less, the full tour price remains payable and payments are non-refundable. Different provisions apply to cancellations by Outbound Moto: if a motorcycle is unavailable and alternative dates cannot be agreed, all payments, including the deposit, are refunded. The full agreement sets out other circumstances and preserves rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.

Motorcycle insurance and security deposit

Every rental motorcycle is covered by our commercial motorcycle insurance policy. This does not remove your contractual responsibility for damage. A refundable R25,000 (about €1,340 at current rates) security deposit is charged to your card by secure payment link, due 48 hours before handover. Credit and debit cards are both accepted, provided the card is in your own name. If no damage is recorded, the deposit is refunded in full within three working days of return, less any refuelling charge. The deposit is charged and refunded in rand, so exchange differences and bank fees are for your account.

Damage responsibility and recovery

Where the contractual damage limit applies, you pay the lesser of the repair cost or R20,000 (about €1,070), plus a R1,800 (about €95) administration fee, per motorcycle. A replacement motorcycle is assessed separately. The limit does not apply in the exceptions listed in the Rental Agreement: riding under the influence of alcohol or drugs, riding without a valid motorcycle licence, carrying a pillion, allowing anyone else to ride, racing or other unlawful use, taking the motorcycle outside South Africa without our written consent, riding on prohibited roads, leaving the motorcycle unsecured or the key unattended, criminal or deliberate acts, and fraud or misrepresentation.

Recovery caused by a rider’s act or omission is charged separately at R4.95 (about €0.27) per kilometre for the return journey from the handover point, plus specialised third-party recovery charges where necessary. These costs are outside the damage limit, and amounts exceeding the deposit remain payable. Recovery for mechanical failure not caused by the rider is at Outbound Moto’s cost.

Your travel and medical insurance

Travel insurance is a condition of booking. Your policy must cover medical treatment, emergency evacuation and repatriation, and riding a motorcycle above 750 cc as the rider on unsealed (gravel) roads. Provide your insurer’s name, policy number and 24-hour emergency assistance number by the balance-payment deadline. Cancellation and interruption cover is also recommended.

How a custom tour is prepared

Tell Willem which places or routes interest you and how many days you have available. He’ll research adventure tracks and overnight stops, contact accommodation providers, and prepare a proposed itinerary and personalised quote. Once agreed, the arrangements are made in advance and the GPX route updated. Custom tours, additional nights and onward travel are quoted individually.

These are summaries of our booking and rental terms. Ask Willem for the full Booking & Participation Agreement and Motorcycle Rental Agreement before payment; the agreements set out the complete conditions and exceptions.

Beyond the Route

Make more of your trip?

A few optional add-ons, booked separately.

Staying longer? Add a fishing charter or safari to your quotation.

Pre-Booked Add-On · Select at Enquiry

Deep Sea Fishing Charter

Port St Francis sits on the Agulhas Current — one of the richest fishing grounds on the South African coast. Charter a boat for a half or full day targeting Yellowfin Tuna, Marlin, Dorado and Cape Salmon. The charter supplies everything — skipper, rods, reels, tackle, lures and bait.

Half Day — approx 5 hrsFull Day — approx 8 hrsPort St Francis Harbour

Must be selected at time of enquiry. Pricing on request.

Pre-Booked Add-On · Select at Enquiry

Addo Elephant Park — Big Five Safari

Just two hours from St Francis Bay, Addo Elephant National Park is home to over 600 elephants — the largest concentration on earth — as well as lion, leopard, buffalo and rhino. A world-class malaria-free Big Five safari on your doorstep.

1 or 2 night stayGuided game drivesBig Five · Malaria free2 hrs from St Francis Bay

Must be selected at time of enquiry. Pricing on request.

The Machine

KTM 790 Adventure.

The benchmark mid-weight adventure bike — light enough for technical gravel, powerful enough for the Karoo. It's the right tool for exactly this kind of riding.

More on why the KTM 790 Adventure suits Eastern Cape touring.

Engine799cc Parallel Twin
Power95 hp
Weight203 kg
Tank Range~400 km
SuspensionWP Apex 43 — 21/18"
Tank Capacity20 litres
KTM 790 Adventure motorcycle fully equipped with luggage panniers, parked on a Eastern Cape gravel road
Questions

Frequently asked

Do I need previous adventure riding experience?

Yes. This tour is not suitable for beginners. ~70% of the route is unpaved mountain and Karoo tracks. You should be comfortable on loose surfaces and capable of managing a 203 kg motorcycle off-road.

What level of rider is this really for?

This tour is designed for experienced riders who are comfortable on unpaved roads. You don't need to be a trials champion, but ~70% of the route is gravel and some sections are technically demanding. When you enquire, Willem will have a direct conversation with you about your experience to make sure the tour is right for you.

Is it safe to ride in South Africa?

The route runs through rural and remote parts of the Eastern Cape — the Baviaanskloof, the Karoo, the Garden Route — which are among the safest regions in the country. You will have a loaded GPX route, a 24/7 emergency contact, and a recovery vehicle that can reach you anywhere on the route.

What happens if my bike breaks down on the route?

A standby motorcycle and recovery vehicle are available 24/7 for the full duration of the tour. If your bike suffers a genuine mechanical fault, we will come to you and replace it with a spare — at no charge. Every bike also carries a tyre repair kit, so most punctures you can sort yourself out on the road. Free recovery doesn't cover punctures or damage caused by rider error or misuse, but you're never without the means to fix a flat. Your tour continues.

Is the tour guided or truly self-guided?

It's fully organised, but not guided. Your route, accommodation, airport arrival transfer, prepared motorcycle and 24/7 backup are all arranged before you arrive. What you won't have is a guide riding with you, so you set the pace, choose your stops and ride each day your way.

Can I ride as a solo traveller?

Absolutely — solo riders are very welcome. Every tour runs privately, from a single rider upwards. There are no fixed group departures and no minimum numbers. Our rates are published for up to four riders, and larger groups are quoted on request.

What food and drink is included?

Breakfast is included at every overnight stop. Dinners, lunches and all drinks are for the rider's own account. Fuel is not included but fuel stops are planned into the GPX route.

When is the best time of year to ride?

Tours run all year round. October to April is the premium riding season, with conditions varying along each route. The Karoo can exceed 40°C in summer, so winter can suit riders who prefer cooler temperatures. Highland weather and road conditions remain important when planning Frontier & Mist. Tell Willem when you can travel and he’ll advise on the route and conditions.

What is the deposit and payment structure?

Normally a 30% deposit is required, followed by written booking confirmation. The balance is due 60 days before you collect the motorcycle; bookings within 60 days require full payment unless agreed otherwise. See Planning your trip for the payment and cancellation summary.

Do I need an International Driving Permit?

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is strongly recommended for all non-South African riders. We'll confirm what's needed based on your country of origin when you enquire.

What do I do with my extra luggage during the tour?

Any additional bags you don't need on the road can be securely stored at our base in St Francis Bay for the full duration of the tour. Your stored luggage will be ready and waiting when you return.

Can I customise or change the route?

Although the planned route has been carefully curated to ensure you ride the best of the region, it can be changed or adapted should you wish to do so. The trip duration can also be increased to suit your requirements — just mention this in your enquiry and Willem will discuss the options with you.

Can I ride both routes in one trip?

Yes. The two routes join into a single 14-day trip with 13 nights, each in a different place. They are linked without returning to St Francis Bay, so you don’t retrace your route, and you can start with either one. Booked as one trip, you save 10% on the combined rate. We put the itinerary together with you and quote it to suit your dates.

Will we ride the exact route shown?

The published route is the plan — but gravel roads, river crossings and mountain passes are subject to weather and repairs. Where a section is closed or unsafe, we substitute equivalent riding of the same character and brief you on the confirmed route before departure. Two independent routes also mean there's always a fully planned alternative.