Motorbiking the Baviaanskloof Route: A Two-Wheeled Adventure Through South Africa’s Hidden Wilderness
It was supposed to be a straightforward off-road excursion. A simple 160 km trail to check off the adventure bucket list.
But the night before departure, my weather app lit up with warnings. Flash floods. Mud slides. Trail conditions? “Questionable at best,” according to the local riders we’d messaged. Because clearly, Mother Nature wasn’t done testing my resolve—or my bike’s suspension.
I spent half the night convincing myself this route would be manageable—after all, I’d tackled the Sani Pass last year, and that had been such an “am I actually riding through clouds right now?” experience. How could the Baviaanskloof possibly top it?
The only thing tempting me forward? Those legendary river crossings I’d glimpsed in countless Instagram posts—just cutting through mountains….magnificent.
So morning came, still torn, I handed the decision over to Deon, my riding partner for this madness. “Should we proceed or return to port-side comforts?” His response, through a mouthful of rusks and coffee: “We’re already here. Let’s ride.”
The Beginning: Willowmore to Patensie
No pros and cons list. No further deliberation. And thank everything in the Eastern Cape that he decided that.
Deon. Honestly—where did I find him, and does he come with a replacement clutch?
We set off from Willowmore, the western gateway to the Baviaanskloof Mega Reserve. It starts off predictably enough—wide gravel roads with gentle sweeping bends, filtered sunlight through sparse vegetation—but quickly morphed into something else entirely.
I had expected relatively straightforward dual-track with some river crossings and finally that epic Combrink’s Pass I’d been obsessing over. Oh, and those infamous water crossings I’d been fixating on? Yes—technically possible to avoid in the dry season.
So that was… fine. I’ll admit, I had a little pang of disappointment about potentially missing the full “submerged motorcycle experience.” But honestly? I was already sensing this ride would deliver regardless. So even if some segments turned out to be tamer than advertised, I’d already committed to rating this adventure as legendary.
The Reality: What No One Tells You About Baviaanskloof
What we got instead? Inclines ‘a la Satan’s drawing board’…relentless…until the very end…scattered everywhere…and you just never know what’s coming next.
More adventure…more rocks..more technical descents…but this time…huge drop-offs, blind corners, and THE GORGE!!!
It was like someone had sliced open the earth, dressed it in fynbos and mystery, and said, “Survive this, if you dare.”
Rounding a bend and being unexpectedly faced with the gaping mouth of Combrink’s Pass made my engine stall. I could have spent hours there just…staring. Photos didn’t capture it. Words felt inadequate. It was the moment.
The Seven Challenges of Baviaanskloof
This is when I became grateful for my pre-trip amnesia. Because even though I’d probably scrolled past dozens of Baviaanskloof ride reports online—liked them, maybe even commented something generic like “goals!”—experiencing it firsthand? It was like I was laying tracks on virgin territory.
The route presents seven distinct challenges:
- River Crossings – Sometimes gentle, sometimes boulder-strewn traps
- Mountain Passes – Combrink’s and Grasnek being the most notorious
- Deep Sand Sections – Ready to swallow front wheels whole
- Rocky Ascents – Testing both machine and rider
- Narrow Ridgelines – With spectacular drops on either side
- Mud Pits – Appearing without warning after rain
- Wildlife Encounters – From baboons to Cape buffalo
Back to those river crossings… I mean, hard maybe from me. But when you’re facing water that reaches your engine cases, you have to make quick decisions.
Problem? Deon picked that exact moment to dramatically wash out in the middle of the deepest crossing. While I was mid-calculation, angling for the safest entry point through the flowing water.
When Things Go Sideways
And even after I yelled, “Are you okay?”—more than once, might I add—like the concerned, Florence Nightingale-level riding companion that I am… he had the audacity to drop his bike again. And again. He literally couldn’t get traction without sliding back down into the current.
Could he not have just stayed upright for, like, two to eight minutes? Let me finish plotting my own crossing strategy in peace, and then I could have helped him, dammit??
Honestly, maybe Deon just needs a gentle reminder of how fortunate he is to ride with someone who will always have his back… after I’ve plotted my own safe passage. Obviously.
Essential Gear for Surviving Baviaanskloof
- A capable dual-sport motorcycle with good ground clearance
- Proper off-road riding gear (this is not the place for fashion statements)
- At least 4 liters of water per person
- Emergency repair kit and spare tubes
- GPS with the route loaded (cellular service is non-existent)
- A riding buddy with a slightly unhinged attitude to match the terrain
This “straightforward trail” gave every other off-road route in South Africa a run for its muddy money. It was different. Rawer. Wilder. And that Combrink’s Pass—don’t even get me started.
It has to be the highlight. I mean, that “famous” Sani Pass I’d done last year…. Pfft. Please. Who needs it when you’re facing a gorge that feels like it was carved out by some dramatic ancient force just in time for your arrival?
The Verdict: Not Just Another Off-Road Trail
We had approached the day expecting a challenge. A noteworthy route. Something to brag about at the next bike night. What we got instead? A bold, beautiful odyssey. Baviaanskloof doesn’t do “moderate.” It does legendary.
Originally, I planned to lump this ride report in with other Eastern Cape adventures. You know, spare my abundance of adoring followers from content overload.
But after this 160 km assault on the senses?
Absolutely not.
This route deserves its own chapter, and maybe even a dedicated memory card in my camera.
Don’t let the “remote wilderness” description fool you—this is not the beginner-friendly trail you might be imagining.
Baviaanskloof doesn’t do gentle. It does epic. Every single kilometer.
The Final Word
So, thank you Baviaanskloof. For the challenge. For the fynbos. For the madness.
For the water crossings, the gravity-defying passes, the gorge that ambushed us, and the vistas that continued to humble us.
For reminding us that adventure doesn’t need international borders—just knobby tires and good company, preferably with mechanical skills to match your ambitions.
Baviaanskloof, you absolutely destroyed us. And we’re still not over it.