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Transkei Wild Coast tour
This 13 Day tour of the Wild coast is a gem of a tour. You stay in 3star
resorts, and spend a couple of nights in tents on the beach. The area reminds me of what
California might have looked like in the 1840's before the gold rush. The river
crossing are technical, the grasslands awesome to ride and everyone will have a
great time. A chase truck or Ranger is provided so if you get too tired, you can pack it
in. Game ranches are provided going and coming so you can get those animal shots
to prove you were in South Africa.
A DVD of this tour is available for only $15, which is completely credited
when you book your tour.
The
October issue of Quad magazine has a 14 page review of this tour.
ITINERARY
You start your tour with a Saturday departure to Johannesburg South Africa.
It will take about 20 hours to fly there, so you will arrive sometime Sunday.
On the Sunday evening prior to the tour you stay at the
Balalaika
hotel Sandton (a suburb of J-berg as the locals call it) a nice touch of luxury,
where you can touch base
with home via emails, do some last minute shopping, etc. However should you wish to sleep at
another hotel (early arrival etc) you must ensure you are at the entrance to the
Balalaika at 07H30 on Monday morning as we will depart at 08H00.
On Monday we will drive down at a steady pace in our custom tour bus down
towards Aliwal North to visit the hot springs and some interesting sites
on the way down.
On Tuesday we will drive the last few hours down to
Morgan Bay hotel where we
will be spending the night enjoying the sea and the hospitality.
On Wednesday morning we will receive the keys to the quads and load up the
luggage for the exquisite cross country ride to
Mazeppa Bay hotel where we will
be spending the next few days with 2 camping nights.
Route description --Note this varies slightly from tour to tour.
This trail on the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast is an epic adventure that showcases
the spirit of the 4x4 and quad bike lifestyle.
Day one
9.30
- 10.00 am
The convoy meets at the Kei River Ferry were we will head along the coastal
area, to Mazeppa Bay, along the way a total of six river crossings are made,
including a stop at the wreck of the Jacaranda for a swim in a beautiful bay.
Day two
8.00 - 9.00am Breakfast
9.30am depart hotel along coast to Stony Point where lunch will be served and
back to hotel for a relaxing game of pool, fishing or just doing whatever.
You have the rest of day for own leisure, there is fishing, swimming and other
resort activities available.
Day three
8.00 - 9.00am Breakfast
9.30am depart hotel to Salt Rock - Old Strandlopers shell site and then convoy
embarks on an exploration of the western bank of the Qora River, area
surrounding the Hotel - the trail’s base camp.
Lunch will be served. A number of short routes are driven before the convoy
enters the Manubi forest where one will have time to explore the indigenous
forest and do a bit of birding.
Day four CAMPING NIGHT
8.00 - 9.00am Breakfast
9.30am depart hotel and start with the first major obstacle of the trip, the
Qora gorge - a shallow ford used by the locals to move their ox-drawn sleds
across the river - which calls on all your ability and tests your vehicle to the
limit. Lunch at Beachem Wood and then on to Shixini to the camping hotel.
Day five CAMPING NIGHT
8.00 - 9.00am Breakfast
9.30am the convoy heads along the gravel road through the Five Kings pass and on
to Xora River Mouth. Were we will have lunch and then head on for the Bashi camp
site, where we will find the camping hotel.
Day six
8.00 - 9.00am Breakfast
9.30am depart through the Five Kings Pass and back to Mazeppa Bay with some
other obstacles and rivers along the way.
Day seven
8.00 - 9.00am Breakfast
10.00am depart for trip back to Kei Mouth were we will be ferried across the
river, where we are booked into the Kei Mouth Beach Hotel where we will be
treated to a seafood dinner with our hosts. It will give us time to sort our
luggage as the following day we are leaving back to the big Smoke.
Day eight
8.00 - 9.00am Breakfast whereafter we will say our goodbyes, ride the last few
kilometres and load our bikes and side by sides on the trailers and head on
home, wherever that might be.
Don’t miss the fishing, surfing, hiking, bird watching and a host of other
outdoor activities on this renowned stretch of unspoilt coastline. For the
fearless there is the Mazeppa swing bridge
Should we encounter full rivers, the pick-up will be sent through and a winch
cable will be attached onto a float and the bikes will be floated across the
rivers. All camera bags, and extra's can be accomodated onto the guide's vehicle
and or the Side by Sides that are going along.
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The following Tuesday night we will be spending the night at Morgan Bay hotel
again for departure early on Wednesday morning towards
Letsatsi Game reserve for
2 nights allowing us to see and capture on film some of the wonderful animals.
 On Friday morning we will depart back to JHB but with a stop over at the lion
cubs for a fondle and some photo opportunities.
Friday afternoon we will roll into Johannesburg where we will bid everybody
farewell OR we can carry on if you have chosen the extended option. You will be
booked into the same lodge/guest house .
Airport transfers to and from the airport will be arranged.
Use the following link to make a reservation deposit:
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