Monday, 18 July 2011

Trip plans for Joburg SA, to Botswana, to Zimbabwe for Giraffe Rally 2011

This blog interrupts the current trip to Cape Town blog, but is a one off description of one of our next trips, the details of which I will bring you in various future blogs on the topic, with pictures of the journey as it unfolds. The current Durban to Cape Town series will carry on again tomorrow after this plan is published today.

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I have been invited on a wonderful opportunity of a ride from Johannesburg, South Africa to Chobe Game reserve, Botswana, then on to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe ruins and the Giraffe Rally near Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. After that, back to Johannesburg again.

The bike riding part of the trip is all over a period of about 7 days, starting on the 25th July 2011. I live in Cape Town, which is some 1350km away, which means I have a double journey both there and back again, on-top of the 2500 odd km of the main trip to do. Due to time restrictions and to save the bike from long boring rides on tar, I'll do that part in the car, with the bike on a trailer from Cape Town to Joburg and back.

Since the group on bikes leave on Monday, I'll be able to leave early Saturday morning and get there with some time to spare on Sunday. On the return leg, leave eaither Sunday afternoon and get back Monday evening or leave Monday early and back early Tuesday.

Three Africa border crossings could be a bit testing, under some time pressure, but as in the past we should be Ok as it's on a Monday midday (not busy) and Sunday early too so not yet busy (hopefully).

This is our itinerary as it was about 3 weeks ago was lookign like this, however accommodation has still to be firmed up in some of the places.The chaps who invited me are organising all this so I am just taking my sleeping bag and hoping for the best! Nice not having to do all the hard work.


Date
Depart
Arrive
Distance
Accommodation
Comments
25th July Monday
Shell Ultra Midrand
Francistown
700km
TBC
Aim for Francistown as the best option for good accommodation. Quite a serious long haul today.
26th July Tuesday
Lodge Francis
Chobe
+- 490km
TBC
We need to book in at Chobe or somewhere close by in the general area.
27th July Wednesday
Lodge
Vic Falls
70km
TBC
We go in on the Zim side. Short ride giving time to enjoy the falls and take a bungy leap of faith. We need to book still.
28th July Thursday
Vic Falls
Bulawayo
438km
Hotel Rio
Leisurely ride through Zim to Bulawayo to spend the night on the town with some locals we know.
29th July Friday
Bulawayo
Todds Motel Giraffe Rally
+/-400km
Todds Motel
We still need to plan this part of the tour based on input from the locals. Want to try and get to the Zim ruins on route. Should not be more than 400km for the day.
30th July Saturday
stay
stay
Play by beer
Todds Motel
Whole day at rally there are some rides around and things to do. We decide on the day.
31st July Sunday
Todds Motel
Shell Ultra Services Midrand
+/-625km
Jhb
We need to leave the rally by 6am so that we clear the border quickly. We should arrive at the Ultra around 15h30.

We have a group of 5 or 6 people going so should be an excellent trip. I only know one of them Richard, but the rest are keen bikers so I can't wait!

I'll try and blog and tween on the trip, but knowing deepest Africa, don't hold your breath until the days afterwards. More route planning for future bike tours so all good fun and adventure from my perspective.

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