Best Motorcycle Routes Around Cape Town & Beyond: 10 Unforgettable Rides for Adventure Riders
Cape Town is one of the world's great motorcycle destinations. Within a few hours of the city, riders can experience dramatic coastal roads, winding mountain passes, remote gravel tracks, vineyards, deserts, and some of the most spectacular scenery in Southern Africa.
Whether you're visiting South Africa for the first time or you're a local rider looking for your next adventure, these are the routes we believe every motorcyclist should experience at least once.
1. Chapman's Peak Drive
Few roads anywhere in the world can match the scenery of Chapman's Peak Drive. Carved into the cliffs between Hout Bay and Noordhoek, this spectacular stretch of road delivers sweeping ocean views, dramatic rock faces and corner after corner of incredible scenery.
It's a road we locals never really get tired of. Even after riding it countless times, there is always another viewpoint, another change in the light or another moment when you find yourself slowing down just to take it all in. On a motorcycle, you experience it all that much more intensely—the sound of the engine, the ocean beside you and the road unfolding around every bend.
Chapman's Peak is also one of the highlights of our Explorer Tour, our Cape Town day adventure designed for riders who want to experience some of the best roads and scenery around the Cape without committing to a multi-day tour.
It's the perfect introduction to riding with Altitude Adventures and a great way to see why we believe some of the best travel experiences happen when you leave the main road behind and simply enjoy the ride.
Highlights:
Ocean views at every turn
Spectacular sunsets
Smooth, flowing corners
Easy access from Cape Town
Our must stop: Monkey Valley Resort
Best for: All riders and motorcycles
2. Franschhoek Pass
Connecting Franschhoek with the Overberg, Franschhoek Pass is a rider's dream. The road climbs quickly out of the valley, winding through the mountains before opening onto breathtaking views across the vineyards and surrounding valleys.
The combination of sweeping bends, changing elevations and dramatic scenery makes this a road that's just as enjoyable to ride as it is to look at. As you climb higher, Franschhoek and its vineyards become smaller behind you, while the landscape ahead opens towards the rugged mountains of the Overberg.
It's worth taking your time here. Stop in Franschhoek for a coffee before tackling the pass, then settle into the corners and enjoy the changing scenery as you make your way over the mountain. At the top, take a moment to look back at the valley you've just climbed out of—it's one of those views that makes you appreciate exactly where the road has taken you.
For motorcyclists, Franschhoek Pass is best enjoyed without rushing. Let the road set the pace, enjoy the corners and leave enough time to stop along the way.
Altitude Adventures tip: Ride the pass early in the day if you can. The roads are generally quieter, the light is beautiful across the valley, and you'll have the rest of the day to explore the Overberg.
Highlights:
Perfect twisties
Mountain scenery
Wine country atmosphere
Excellent road surface
Our must stop: Franschoek Station Pub
Best for: Sport touring and adventure motorcycles
3. Clarence Drive (R44)
This is exactly the kind of road that makes the Western Cape so special for motorcyclists. You can spend the morning carving through the bends with False Bay stretching out below you, stop to watch the waves crashing against the coastline, and continue towards Hermanus with the mountains rising on your other side.
Clarence Drive is also one of the highlights of our Coastal Drift tour, our three-day Whale Coast motorcycle adventure. The route combines some of the Western Cape's best riding with coastal scenery, charming towns and plenty of time to actually enjoy the journey rather than simply ticking destinations off a map.
For riders visiting Cape Town, Coastal Drift is a great way to experience this part of the province without having to plan every kilometre yourself. We take care of the route and logistics, leaving you to concentrate on the road, the scenery and the ride.
Highlights:
Coastal riding
Whale watching opportunities (seasonal)
Ocean viewpoints
Great day ride option
Our must stop: Coffee on Clarence
Best for: Riders seeking spectacular scenery
4. Bainskloof Pass
Built in the 1800s, Bainskloof Pass remains one of the Western Cape's most enjoyable mountain roads. Tight corners, historic stonework and rugged mountain scenery make it a favourite among local riders.
As you wind your way through the pass, there's a real sense that the modern world has been left behind. The old stone walls, narrow road and surrounding mountains give the ride a timeless feeling—as though you've been transported back to another era.
Altitude Adventures tip: Take your time through the pass. The best part isn't reaching the other side; it's enjoying every corner along the way.
Highlights:
Historic mountain pass
Technical riding sections
Incredible viewpoints
Excellent photography opportunities
Our Must stop: Calabash Bush Pub for some local fun!
Best for: Riders who enjoy mountain roads
5. Swartberg Pass
If there is one road every adventure rider should experience in South Africa, it is Swartberg Pass.
What makes Swartberg Pass particularly special on an adventure motorcycle is the feeling of getting away from everything. There are no major towns, traffic lights, or busy tourist roads here—just gravel beneath your tyres, towering mountains around you, and an enormous sky overhead.
The road surface can vary, and conditions can change with the weather, so riders should always check the current conditions before setting out. A capable adventure motorcycle, sensible speeds, and some experience on gravel will make the journey far more enjoyable.
Take your time, stop at the viewpoints, and let the landscape unfold around you. Swartberg Pass isn't a road you rush through—it's a road you experience.
Highlights:
Iconic gravel mountain pass
UNESCO World Heritage surroundings
Stunning viewpoints
True adventure riding
Our must stop: Swartberg Hotel
Best for: Adventure motorcycles and experienced riders
6. Route 62
Route 62
Often described as South Africa's answer to Route 66, Route 62 winds its way through a changing landscape of mountain passes, vineyards, small Karoo towns and wide-open semi-desert scenery.
For motorcyclists, it's the kind of road where you can forget about the clock and simply enjoy the ride. The scenery constantly changes, the roads are wonderfully varied, and the little towns along the way give you plenty of reasons to stop and explore.
From the curves around Montagu and Barrydale to the wide-open stretches towards Oudtshoorn, Route 62 captures something special about travelling through the Karoo—the further you ride, the further you seem to get from everyday life.
Altitude Adventures tip: Don't try to cover Route 62 in a hurry. Build in time for the mountain passes, roadside stops and unexpected discoveries. This is a road made for taking the long way around.
Highlights:
Charming towns
Scenic mountain passes
Excellent overnight stops
Our must stop: Diesel & Crème Café diner & motel Barrydale
Best for: Multi-day motorcycle tours
7. Tradouw Pass
Located just outside Barrydale, Tradouw Pass is one of those roads that reminds you why the Western Cape is such a fantastic place to explore by motorcycle.
The road winds through dramatic rock formations and rugged mountain scenery, with a rewarding mix of flowing corners and tighter bends. It's not the longest pass, but what it lacks in distance it makes up for in character.
There is something wonderfully quiet about riding through here. The mountains close in around the road, the traffic thins out and, for a few kilometres, it's just you, the bike and the landscape.
Altitude Adventures tip: Take your time through Tradouw Pass and keep an eye out for the changing rock formations as you climb. It's an easy road to ride straight through—but you'll enjoy it far more if you slow down and take it all in.Highlights:
Quiet roads
Beautiful scenery
Great riding rhythm
Less traffic than major tourist routes
Our must stop: Warmwaterberg Spa
Best for: Riders seeking hidden gems
8. Cederberg Adventure Routes
For riders looking to leave the tar behind, the Cederberg offers a true taste of adventure. Rough gravel roads wind through rugged mountains, deep valleys and vast open landscapes, with every turn revealing something different.
This is the kind of riding where the road becomes part of the adventure. Traffic disappears, the scenery becomes wilder and you can spend hours riding without seeing another vehicle. From dramatic rock formations to remote mountain tracks, the Cederberg rewards riders who are willing to explore beyond the main highways.
For adventure motorcyclists, it's a chance to experience a side of the Western Cape that simply can't be reached from the tar.
Altitude Adventures tip: Give yourself plenty of time and check your fuel before heading deep into the Cederberg. Distances can be deceptive, services are limited, and that's exactly what makes this region so special.
Highlights:
Remote riding
Gravel adventures
Incredible rock formations
Authentic South African landscapes
Our must stop: Cederberg Wine
Best for: Adventure bikes and off-road enthusiasts
9. Tankwa Karoo
The Tankwa Karoo delivers some of the most remote and dramatic riding in Southern Africa. Vast open spaces, endless gravel roads and enormous skies create an experience that feels a world away from city life.
Out here, the landscape seems to stretch forever. The roads cut through a stark, beautiful wilderness where rugged mountains rise from the desert and you can ride for miles without seeing another vehicle. It's raw, remote and wonderfully unpredictable—exactly the kind of place adventure motorcycles were made for.
The Tankwa isn't about rushing from one destination to the next. It's about the freedom of the open road, the silence of the landscape and the feeling of being completely immersed in the journey.
Altitude Adventures tip: Come prepared. Fuel, water and supplies are essential, and always check road and weather conditions before heading into the Tankwa. Once you're out there, you're truly on your own—and that's what makes it unforgettable.Highlights:
Remote adventure riding
Endless gravel roads
Unique desert scenery
Unforgettable sunsets
Our must stop: Tankwa Padstal
Best for: Experienced adventure riders
10. The Garden Route
No list would be complete without the Garden Route. Stretching along South Africa's southern coastline, it combines mountain passes, indigenous forests, sweeping coastal roads and charming towns into one incredible journey.
From Mossel Bay and Wilderness to Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and beyond, the Garden Route offers an incredible variety of riding. One moment you're carving through mountain roads surrounded by forest, and the next you're looking out over the Indian Ocean with nothing but open road ahead.
It's exactly the kind of riding that makes you want to keep going—and why the Garden Route is such a favourite with adventure motorcyclists from around the world.
Our Voyager tour takes this experience a step further, turning the Garden Route into a multi-day motorcycle adventure through some of the most spectacular roads and landscapes in the region. Rather than simply following the main tourist route, we seek out the roads, viewpoints, gravel sections and hidden places that make the journey truly memorable.
For riders visiting South Africa, The Voyager is an opportunity to experience the Garden Route the way we believe it should be experienced: from the saddle, at a pace that leaves room for the unexpected.
Highlights:
Coastal scenery
Forest roads
Mountain passes
World-class touring opportunities
Our must stop: Elephant Sanctuary Plettenberg Bay
Best for: Riders planning a multi-day adventure
Choosing the Right Motorcycle
The best route often depends on the motorcycle you choose.
For mixed tar and gravel adventures, motorcycles such as the BMW F800GS, BMW F850GS, KTM 1290 Super Adventure R, and CFMOTO 450MT offer the versatility needed to explore everything from mountain passes to remote gravel roads.
Many riders combine several of the routes above into a single journey, creating an unforgettable motorcycle tour through the Western Cape and beyond.
Ready to Explore South Africa on Two Wheels?
At Altitude Adventures, we specialise in premium adventure motorcycle rentals and guided motorcycle tours from Cape Town.
Whether you're planning a day ride over Chapman's Peak, a Garden Route expedition, or a cross-border journey into Namibia, we're passionate about helping riders discover the very best roads Southern Africa has to offer.
Because the destination matters—but the memories are made along the way.
A Memory in Every Mile.
