Route 62 Motorcycle Tour

Experience Route 62 by motorcycle

Route 62 is made for motorcycle travel. Stretching through the Western Cape and into the Klein Karoo, the route connects mountain passes, vineyards, small towns and wide-open landscapes while offering riders a completely different experience from South Africa’s coastal roads.

For riders beginning their journey in Cape Town, Route 62 can form part of a multi-day motorcycle adventure through the Western Cape or become one of the major stages of a longer journey towards the Garden Route. The attraction is not simply where the road leads. On a motorcycle, the road itself becomes part of the destination.

Amakhaya Harley Tours is based in Hout Bay, providing a starting point for riders wanting to explore Cape Town before travelling further into South Africa. Our South Africa motorcycle tours introduce some of the wider touring possibilities available from Cape Town.

From Cape Town into the Western Cape

A Route 62 motorcycle trip can begin with several very different riding experiences before reaching the Klein Karoo. Cape Town’s Atlantic coastline provides dramatic ocean and mountain scenery, while travelling inland brings riders towards the vineyards and mountain ranges of the Cape Winelands.

This gradual change in landscape is one of the reasons the Western Cape works so well for motorcycle touring. Within a relatively short journey, riders can move from the coastline to vineyards, mountain roads and eventually the drier landscapes of the interior.

Visitors with time before beginning a longer journey can explore the Cape Peninsula by motorcycle or experience the famous coastal road on our Chapman’s Peak motorcycle tour.

Ride through the Cape Winelands

The Cape Winelands provide a natural transition between Cape Town and the longer roads of the Western Cape. Stellenbosch, Franschhoek and the surrounding valleys combine vineyards, mountain scenery and country roads that can easily become part of a larger motorcycle itinerary.

Instead of treating the Winelands as a separate excursion, riders planning a longer South African motorcycle trip can incorporate the region into the first stages of their journey. Our Cape Winelands motorcycle tour explores this riding experience in more detail.

Mountain passes and open roads

One of the defining features of a Route 62 motorcycle adventure is the combination of mountain roads and open countryside. As the landscape changes, so does the character of the ride. Mountain sections give way to longer stretches of road, while towns scattered along the route provide natural places to stop, refuel and experience a slower side of South Africa.

For motorcycle riders, this variety matters. Route 62 is not simply a road that needs to be completed as quickly as possible. Allowing enough time to enjoy the changing landscape makes the journey considerably more rewarding.

Motorcycle touring through the Klein Karoo

The Klein Karoo gives Route 62 much of its distinctive character. The semi-arid landscape, surrounding mountain ranges and long stretches of road create a sense of space that contrasts strongly with Cape Town and the greener coastal regions.

Towns along the route make it possible to divide the journey into comfortable stages rather than attempting to cover large distances in a single day. This makes Route 62 particularly suitable for riders who want their South African motorcycle holiday to be about the journey rather than simply reaching a list of destinations.

Connect Route 62 with the Garden Route

One of the advantages of riding Route 62 is that it can be combined with the Garden Route to create a larger motorcycle journey. Riders can travel through the interior before moving towards the coast, experiencing two very different South African landscapes within the same trip.

The contrast is significant. Route 62 and the Klein Karoo offer open, drier landscapes and mountain scenery, while the Garden Route introduces forests, coastal towns, lagoons and greener surroundings.

Explore our Garden Route motorcycle tour for more information about riding this region, or see how the journey fits together on our Cape Town to Garden Route motorcycle trip page.

Continue towards Port Elizabeth

Route 62 can also become part of a much longer eastbound journey. After travelling through the Western Cape and connecting with the Garden Route, riders can continue towards Port Elizabeth, officially Gqeberha.

This creates a motorcycle trip that begins in Cape Town and changes repeatedly along the way: Atlantic coastline, Winelands, mountain passes, Klein Karoo, Garden Route and finally the Eastern Cape.

Our Cape Town to Port Elizabeth motorcycle trip explores how these regions can form part of one larger South African riding adventure.

How long should a Route 62 motorcycle trip take?

There is no single ideal length for a Route 62 motorcycle tour. Riders can experience sections of the route as part of a shorter Western Cape journey or incorporate it into a multi-day trip extending towards the Garden Route and beyond.

The advantage of allowing additional time is freedom. Shorter riding days provide opportunities to stop in towns along the way, enjoy the scenery and change the route when something interesting appears. For international visitors, this can turn a motorcycle rental into a genuine road trip rather than a race to cover distance.

Guided or independent motorcycle travel

Experienced riders may prefer to explore independently, choosing their own overnight stops and adjusting the journey as they travel. Riders unfamiliar with South Africa may instead prefer the structure and local knowledge provided by a guided experience.

If you want to begin with local riding before heading further into the country, explore our guided motorcycle tours in Cape Town. Independent riders can also view our motorcycle rental Cape Town and motorcycle rental South Africa options.

Make Route 62 part of your South African motorcycle adventure

Route 62 adds something important to a motorcycle trip through South Africa. Cape Town provides the coastline, the Winelands introduce mountain valleys and vineyards, the Klein Karoo opens into wide landscapes, and the Garden Route can take the journey back towards the coast.

That variety allows riders to build a trip around the kind of riding they actually enjoy. Route 62 can be a destination in itself or one stage of a much larger journey through the country.

Discover more ideas in our guide to the best motorcycle tours in South Africa, or visit Amakhaya Harley Tours to explore motorcycle touring and rental options from Cape Town.