Itinerary: Cape to Equator Tour
Copyright Great African Outdoors CC, 2009

The epic ride – Cape to Equator

A journey, as it cannot be more adventurously, from the Cape of Good Hope to the Equator. 36 days biking across six African countries on the back of a BMW F 800 GS or take your own bike. This is a biker classical and therefore a good reason for Great African Outdoors (GAO) to take this super tour once again in the program. It is hot ride across Africa and nothing for Sunday drivers. The tour requires endurance, fitness, courage and time. An adventure for men and women with petrol in their veins. Those having experienced this ride live even today on the memories. A must for bikers – once in a life time!

The start is in Cape Town, the most beautiful city of the world as well as the venue of the FIFA World Championship. From here the route goes to Namibia, straight across the Namib Desert. The name signifies “dry” and that is exactly the programme: sand and dunes up to the horizon. In the north of Namibia the bikers reach the bush, the Etosha National Park with its famous Etosha Pan, a gigantic dried out lake. In the Caprivi Strip the scenery and the climate change. The Caprivi is the region richest in water in Namibia. Mighty rivers like the Kwando, the Zambezi and the Okavango flow through the region.

The Okavango Delta in adjoining Botswana is the biggest inland-river delta of the world. It is an enchanting world of water and veld, forest and savannah. The scenery and the wildlife are breathtaking. The Chobe National Park in the North-East of Botswana inhibits the biggest elephant herds of the world. The park offers unique observations of the animals in the wild.

The Victoria Falls of Zambia and Zimbabwe are a bombastic spectacle of nature. The water masses of the Zambezi River fall thunderously in a gulch. The sprays can rise hundreds metres. The locals call the falls "Mosi-oa-Tunya" signifying “Thundering smoke”. An excursion in the South Luangwa National Park offers wildlife pure and an interesting vegetation, like the Mapone Trees, Leadwood, Winter Thorn, Ivory Palms, Marulas, Tamarind and Baobabs.

Crossing border to Malawi. The Lake Malawi is the third-biggest lake in Africa, right after Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika. It contains the richest biodiversity in fish worldwide. The area of the National Park has a third of the approximate 1000 species, of which are 90 percent are endemic. The indisputable jewel of Tanzania is the Ngorongoro Crater on the verge of the Serengeti. About 25,000 animals live here. The crater has the highest predator's density of Africa.

Lastly the Kilimanjaro: Already his name sounds mysterious. Nobody knows exactly what signifies his name. The Kilimanjaro is not only the highest crest of Africa, but also the highest free staying mountain of the earth. The 5,895-metre-high mountain rests in the secluded coastal veld.

Finally the finish: the village Nanyuki. It is a starting point for the ascent of the Mount Kenya, the second-highest mountain of Africa. Nanyuki lies directly with the equator. The end of the long biking trip is exactly on S 00°05'40,3'' / E 37°02'09,1''.

The tour is suitable for standard, confident riders.

To be continued for enthusiasts: Equator to Cairo!

Dates:
Cape Town – Equator: 04.Jun – 09.Juli 2010
Equator – Cape Town: 14.Juli – 18 August 2010

Rates (in USD) on fully accommodated tour:
The rate is calculated on a minimum Pax of 8 riders, if there will be more participants on each stretch, the rate will drop significant. The final price will be than announced 4 weeks prior to departure. A 25% booking deposit is required.
Rider on F 650/1 USD 15.220
Rider on F 800 GS USD 18.100
Own Bike or Passenger USD 7.340
Sgl. Room supplement USD 1.800

Bikes: free mileage, Insurance excess USD 2.500

Included:
All accommodation in lodges/hotels or permanent tented camps, bike, expert guide, support vehicle, trailer, technical service, 2 x Dinner (Cape Town and Nanyuki), activities & entrances as mentioned, luggage transport, Carnet de Passage, 3 party insurance,.

Not included:
Fuel, oil, visa, tips (“jumping” money at borders), tire damage, flights, personal expenses, activities not mentioned, meals: on a food kitty base

Not included if own bike:
Expenses for Carnet de Passage for Border Crossings, 3 Party insurance at Borders, Shipping of Bike.

Final routing depending on availability of accommodation at time of booking and might change slightly.