ADV Riding - Done Namibia, where next?

[Tiggsy]

Last year (having not riden in 10 years when I got bored after doing every track in the Uk, Spa, Ring, etc) I did my Off Road Skills course on a 1200GS then flew to SA, hired a bike and spent 3 weeks riding solo up into Namibia and back.

Having done so much track stuff and now (fairly) extreme adv stuff I have no desire to ever own a bike in the UK as I'm bored of tracks and the local green lanes aren't the same as crossing deserts! So I plan to go away each year doing more Adv stuff.

Girlfriend (who came out at the end of my trip last year for a few days so we could ride down the coast from Cape Town to shark dive) has decided that was the first and last time she will ride on the back and is doing her test in a few weeks - followed by her Level 1 Off Road Skills in the summer when I go back to do my level 2.

So where next? Want a mix of gravel and tar in a place not to dangerous for couple/solo riding (Namibia felt VERY safe....aside from the obvious that if you fall off you might just die waiting for the next passer by!) So far interested in going back to SA and doing the Garden Route (very keen to include Cederberg again as it was stunning and something best enjoyed with someone else......I saw far to many amazing sunsets/night skys to go alone again!) but also interested in South America - Chillie/Argentina maybe? Or has Europe got anything worthwhile?

So....tips from anyone thats done a bit of "Long way down" stuff (minus the back up/support crew/budget ..... )

[CAPP0]

Morocco. Amazing place, as much tarmac, sand and gravel as you could ever want, friendly locals - the list goes on!

[2wheelsjimmy]

I long to do the Pamir highway and all the 'stans.

Balkans are amazing, well worth a trip.

[Kickstart]

Only been to South Africa once (Europe loads including all the way to Istanbul and the USA a bit) but so far its my absolute favourite
I went with Blazing trails from George up to Lesotho last month - truly epic - up the Sani Pass - total diversity of roads from perfect hairpins (with no traffic) to extreme off road

I am planning on going to Colombia in November which I am told is also great

[tig]

Interesting - I did Chile/Argentina January last year and doing Namibia this September. Patagonia was a great trip. Flew to Santiago then short internal flight to Osorno to pick up the bikes. If you fly to Santiago via Madrid they will probably lose your luggage so a night in Santiago is a good call while it catches up with you. 6 of us rode GS1200s 3000km over nine days down to Punta Arenas. Didn't bother going all the way down to Ushuaia as the scenery gets relatively boring and time is better spent exploring the other bits. The gravel roads are getting tarred over fairly quickly (incl Ruta 40) so I'd do it sooner rather than later - once the roads are finished it's going to get a lot busier. Until then you are in some really remote places.

Incredible terrain, really friendly Chileans, some not so friendly Argies (esp at border crossings - tried to mess up our stamps), and wind. Lots and lots of wind. Wind so windy you're sometimes crawling along at 8mph with one hand holding your head up to stop it getting blown off. I now know how to 'tack' a GS in a zig zag along a road made of railway ballast in a 45mph crosswind. Out of town there are ostriches at the side of the road and guanaco jumping about. In Osorno there are lots of wild dogs who seem to come out in packs at night to pick a fight with the traffic. ATMs are a problem in Argentina and fuel needs careful planning before starting out on Ruta 40 - we got ripped off so PM me for details of how to save a lot of money there.

It's a great ride - definitely do it.

I'm wondering how tough the sand is going to be in Namibia. We're riding from Windhoek to Cape Town on a lot of C and D roads

[creampuff]

Tiggsy said:

So where next? Want a mix of gravel and tar in a place not to dangerous for couple/solo riding

Do you want dirt roads because you want to go to remote places and remote places usually have dirt roads, or do you want dirt roads just because you want dirt roads.

Anyway I'd consider Laos or Ethiopia. Never biked in either but I have gone by 4WD. Safe. Cheap. Scenic.

[creampuff]

BTW you really want advrider.com rather than Pistonheads for this question.

[crofty1984]

Doncaster?

[Steve Bass]

creampuff said:

Do you want dirt roads because you want to go to remote places and remote places usually have dirt roads, or do you want dirt roads just because you want dirt roads.

Anyway I'd consider Laos or Ethiopia. Never biked in either but I have gone by 4WD. Safe. Cheap. Scenic.

Laos/Cambodia/Vietnam is worth a look.
Do a Top Gear reverse from Saigon to Hanoi via Dalat, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Ha Long Bay and all the way to the Chinese border. Fly home from Hanoi. Not so much gravel roads but apparently the best views/scenery in Asia.
Alternatively, SA (Pretoria) up into Mozambique, ride to the lakes of Cahora Bassa or Lake Kariba in Zambia. Go Tiger fishing. Dodge the crocs. Maybe run into Malawi and back via Zimbabwe..Or turn around and do some Mozambique beaches at Benguerra or Inhambane. Lots of off road and sand roads in Moz and around the lakes.

We're off to Phu Quoc Island this long weekend. 300kms. 8 hours riding. Nothing moves fast here...

Edited by Steve Bass on Thursday 27th April 12:14

[Tiggsy]

Kickstart said:

Only been to South Africa once (Europe loads including all the way to Istanbul and the USA a bit) but so far its my absolute favourite
I went with Blazing trails from George up to Lesotho last month - truly epic - up the Sani Pass - total diversity of roads from perfect hairpins (with no traffic) to extreme off road

I am planning on going to Colombia in November which I am told is also great

Thanks all - This one is looking good. I love SA and the Garden Route with the inclusion of the Sani Pass looks good.

[Steve Bass]

Tiggsy said:

Kickstart said:

Only been to South Africa once (Europe loads including all the way to Istanbul and the USA a bit) but so far its my absolute favourite
I went with Blazing trails from George up to Lesotho last month - truly epic - up the Sani Pass - total diversity of roads from perfect hairpins (with no traffic) to extreme off road

I am planning on going to Colombia in November which I am told is also great

Thanks all - This one is looking good. I love SA and the Garden Route with the inclusion of the Sani Pass looks good.

If SA is pulling you back, have a look at the Wild Coast in the Eastern Cape.....

[Killboy]

Botswana



Lesotho



Even Zimbabwe, although I'd head up the Botswana routes and cross into Zim near Chobe. Our next trip is likely Nambia, but another tempting trip is Lake Malawi.

Most of the guys I ride with steer clear of Mozambique, and heard some horror stories, but 15 years ago it was absolutely incredible. Maybe its blown out of proportion.

I would also not short-change what South Africa itself has. Lesotho above may not be big enough for a big trip, but a trip down the West Coast could be a gold mine of adventure.

Next I'd like to tackle Morocco and places like that, but all I know is the Southern part of Africa is just incredible.