Day 2: Sandton to Dullstroom (~270 km) We'll depart Sandton after breakfast on a Sunday morning - an ideal time to leave Johannesburg when there will be very little traffic. In no time at all we'll leave Johannesburg behind and enter south Africa's "Cultural Heartland" - Mpumalanga Province. Our destination is the charming little town of Dullstroom - the fly fishing capital of South Africa. At al altitude of nearly 7,000 feet, Dullstroom is often the coldest place in South Africa but temperatures will vary between 60 and 80 degrees during our visit - ideal riding weather. With it's proximity to the "Big Five" towns of South Africa's Lowveld, there is no lack of good motorcycling nearby.

Day 4: Magoebaskloof to Hazyview (~295 km) We'll head back to Mpumalanga Province and we'll once again ride some of the most stunning roads on the African continent. Scenic stops will include several overlooks of the magnificent Blyde River Canyon and we'll visit the famous Bourke's Luck Potholes. Riders interested in a short hike through a tropical rain forest may also visit one of the most stunning overlooks of all at God's Window.

Our stop this evening in Hazyview is at "Hippo Hollow" - just a few kilometers away from Kruger National Park - one of the most popular game reserves in Africa. Hippo Hollow is named for the many hippo that populate the local rivers and you're almost guaranteed to see them during your two-night stay at Hazyview. The hippo is one of the most dangerous animals in Africa (more humans are killed per year by the hippo than by any other animal) and they pose a significant danger while out crossing the roads at night. We'll be fine, as they are almost never seen on the highways during daylight.

Hazyview will provide a nice two-night stop that will permit us to visit Kruger National Park tomorrow.

Day 5: Free Day in Hazyview - Safari in Kruger National Park. We'll leave the motorcycles behind today in favor of some open Land Rover vehicles for an all-day safari in Kruger National Park, including lunch at a game lodge inside the park.

Kruger is one of the largest game reserves in Africa - 40 miles wide and more than 200 miles in length. During your day in Kruger you're likely to have an opportunity to see all of Africa's "Big Five" - Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Rhino and Cape Buffalo. A popular YouTube video (Battle at Kruger) was filmed during a Kruger safari a few years ago and went "viral", with more than 20 million views. Click here to see it. Bring your camera and you may be able to capture your own "once in a lifetime" shots.

Day 6: Hazyview to Swaziland (190 km) We'll do a border crossing into Swaziland today, including a stop near the Swazi border for a visit to a Swazi village and cultural experience. We'll enjoy a beautiful ride through the Swazi Mountains with an overnight stay at a popular hotel/casino.

Day 7: Swaziland to St. Lucia (450 km) We'll ride south through Swaziland and re-enter South Africa in the KwaZulu Natal Province. We'll make our way to iSimangaliso Wetland Park - the third-largest protected area in South Africa. Our stay in St. Lucia includes an optional river cruise, providing the opportunity to enjoy close-ups of the wildlife, including hippo.

Day 8: St. Lucia to Vryheid (235 km) And now for something different! As we continue through KwaZulu Natal Province and make our way back toward Johannesburg, we'll have the opportunity to experience life in small South African towns. Vryheid is a great example - a charming and peaceful town situated in the center of the Battlefields area, close to the sites where epic battles took place during the Trek or the Anglo-Zulu war. These include Blood River and Rourke's Drift to name just two. The Battle of Rourke's Drift was depicted in the 1964 movie Zulu, starring Michael Cain. You may opt to visit the nearby Blood River Monument while you're in the area.