An epic tour across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabue
Epic is maybe too small a word to categorize this two-week tour in the Mother Continent. Too many highlights to list here, too many superlative words that make us wonder: is it possible to see and live all that on a motorcycle? The answer is definitely yes. We'll be at the very tip of Africa, at Cape of Good Hope, round Table Mountain byChapman's Peak Drive. From there we head North to the leopard sanctuary ofCederberg Mountains. In Namibia we will ride to the border of Fish River Canyon, we will climb some of the highest dunes on the planet, we'll visit the red sands ofSossusvlei and stand at the mystical Dead Vlei.The incredible gravel roads of theNaukluft Mountains will take us to the next challenge, the crossing of the Kalaharidesert. There, we'll have the oportunity to meet the San people and maybe try to learn a few words on their strange clicking language. At Botswana, we will visit theOkavango, the world’s largest inland river delta, where we'll be using a traditionalMokoro canoe. From there we'll be taken along the Makgadigadi and Netwetwe salt pans and the Elephant Road to the Chobe National Park with one of largest concentrations of game in Africa. After seeing elephants, hippos, buffalos, crocodiles, waterbucks... the tour must end. We will party in Victoria Falls, the largest waterfall in the world. See..."largest, highest, bigger", is it possible? Come see it yourself!
Highlights
Cape Town and Cape peninsula, rallyraid visit to the Sossusvlei dunes, canoing the Okavango Delta, game drive and river safari at Chobe National Park, guided tour to Victoria Falls...
Day by Day
Cape Town > Victoria Falls Victoria Falls > Cape Town
01/11/2017 to 14/11/2017 15/11/2017 to 28/11/2017
Day 1 Arrival to Cape Town Day 1 Arrival to Victoria Falls
Day 2 Ride to Cape Good Hope Day 2 Chobe National Park
Day 3 Cederberg Mountains Day 3 Elephant Road
Day 4 Orange River (Namibia) Day 4 Okavango Delta
Day 5 Fish River Canyon Day 5 Kalahari Desert (Botswana)
Day 6 Namib Desert Day 6 Windhoek
Day 7 Sossusvlei Dunes Day 7 Sossusvlei Dunes
Day 8 Windhoek Day 8 Namib Desert
Day 9 Kalahari Desert (Botswana) Day 9 Fish River Canyon
Day 10 Okavango Delta Day 10 Orange River (Namibia)
Day 11 Elephant Road Day 11 Cederberg Mountains
Day 12 Chobe National Park Day 12 Ride to Cape Good Hope
Day 13 Victoria Falls Day 13 Cape Town
Day 14 Departure Flight Day 14 Departure Flight
The route and the accomodation may change due to logistic reasons.
Rest Days
Sossusvlei, Namibia
Tour Profile
Good quality asphalt 75%
Graded Gravel Roads 20%
Challenging Off-Road 5%
Total Distance: 3900m km
Riding hours a day: 4-7
Daily Distances: from 200 to 550 km most of the route is on good asphalted roads and graded gravel roads
Included
Use of BMW Motorcycle
BMW Motorrad Tour Guide
Transfers
Support vehicle 4X4
Passengers in support vehicle
Luggage transport
All Lodges and Hotels
All breakfasts
All dinners
Game drive in Sossuvlei N. P.
Scenic flight in Okavango Delta
Game drive in Chobe N. P.
Sunset cruise in Chobe River
Entry fees in 5 Natural Parks
Motorcycle visit to Cape Point
Local insurances in motorcycles
All taxes
Amazing landscapes
Accommodation
Hotels and Lodges of 4 and 5* category. Half board regime, all your breakfasts and dinners are included
Not included
Flights
Visas
Lunches
Drinks
Motorcycle fuel
VIP Insurance (not available)
Personal expenses
Reservation Process
Reservations are made on HorizonAdventures website (www.horizonadventures.pt). Several extras can be added during the booking process, right after the selection of your tour. The optional extras will be displayed in several lines right below the booked tour. When finalizing the booking the participant will NOT be asked for any payment. We will first check the availability on the tour, and only then we will ask you a first payment of 25%, calculated on the tour price including the selected extras. A 3,5% handling fee will be added to cover administrative costs.
As soon as we receive the first payment of 25%, the place on the tour will be reserved. This payment is non-refundable in any case.
Once we receive confirmation of the bank transfer, we will send an email notification confirming your place on the tour.
The remaining payment should take place no later than 60 days before the start of the tour.
Reservations are accepted only after the acceptance of the present Terms & Conditions, by ticking on the related check box.
Payments can be made by Paypal. Contact us for other methods of payment.
Definitions
“Organizers”, the Tours may be organized by HorizonAdventures or a certified partner, hereinafter mentioned as the ORGANIZERS.
“Ownbike”, in some Tours there is the possibility of using your own bike. During the reservation process you may apply the respective voucher that will give you a discount on the standard price tour. This option is available for GS PORTUGAL ADVENTURE TOUR and MOROCCO PREMIUM TOUR.
“Self-Guided”, these Tours don`t have a Tour Leader neither logistic support for luggage or pillions. During the reservation process you may apply the respective voucher that will give you a discount on the standard price tour. If you choose a “Self-Guided” Tour please check the “Included” and “Not Included”. For example, there are some minor differences to the standard program; the dinners are not included. “Self-Guided” tours are available for PORTUGAL PREMIUM TOUR, KINGS ROUTE and MOORISH ROUTE.
Cancellations
Cancellation of the Tour by the Organizers: If the Organizers cancel the Tour all participants will be reimbursed with the full amount that they have paid so far.
Withdrawal notice is received more than 30 days before the Tour: If the participant's withdrawal occurs more than 30 days before the Tour, the Organizers return half the amount paid to date by the participant, with the exception of the registration fee which is non-refundable.
Withdrawal less than 30 days before the Tour: If the withdrawal takes place within the 30 days prior to departure, the Organizers shall not return any payments to the customer.
The Organizers can cancel the Tour up to 60 days before the date in case of insufficient number of participants. In this case the customer will be immediately notified and your payments will be fully refunded, which constitutes full settlement.
The Organizers reserves the right to cancel or stop a Tour when for any reason the safety or comfort of the participants are not guaranteed in countries or regions of the Tour route, including force majeure as riots, floods, earthquakes, etc.
We recommend hiring a travel insurance that covers the costs of a possible cancellation of the Tour.
Motorcycle hire for the Tours
Tours departing from Lisbon: In all Tours departing from Lisbon, it is necessary to conduct a rental contract for the use of the motorcycle. This contract is celebrated directly between each participant and the Organizers that provides the motorcycles and it is absolutely necessary for the pilot to be legally authorized to drive the vehicle in which the Tour is done. The rental price is already included in the value of the Tour and there is no need for any further payment.
It is however necessary to have a compulsory excess or deposit to operate the motorcycle safely. The values of compulsory excess or deposit vary with the chosen model of motorcycle.
Tours departing out of Lisbon: Iceland and South Africa it is necessary to conduct a rental contract for the use of the motorcycle. This contract is celebrated directly between each participant and the local partner of the Organizers that provides the motorcycles. This process absolutely necessary for the pilot to be legally authorized to drive the vehicle in which will make the Tour. The rental value is already included in the total amount of the Tour and there is no need for any further payment. It is however necessary to have compulsory excess or deposit to operate the motorcycle safely. The value of the compulsory excess or deposit vary with the chosen model of the motorcycle.
The purpose of the contract is the temporary use of a motorcycle by the Client. The Organizers declares that to the best of their knowledge the rented motorcycle is in safe condition, free from faults or defects affecting its safe operation under normal use.
The conditions are general we reserve the right to any changes and specific agreements (to be established in writing).
The Client must be over 25 years old and have at least one year of driving experience on a motorcycle with the size and power similar to the one they wish to rent.
The motorcycle must be delivered in correct and safe technical conditions for circulation. You must also receive the documents of the vehicle, accessories and tools chosen. The Organizers should check and accept existing damage that is defined in writing on the damage form as part of the handover procedure. If even without Client's fault, repair work is necessary during the rental period to ensure the operation or proper functioning of the motorcycle, you must receive consent from Organizers prior to any repair. Other claims are excluded, regardless of any legal reason, unless loss or damage to the Client to be attributed to serious or intentional negligence by the Organizers.
It is the Client responsibility to ensure that the rented motorcycle:
a) Shall be used according to manufacturer's recommendations
b) Shall be used in full respect of highway codes of the countries in which it is driven
c) Shall not be used negligently
d) Shall not carry more passengers than its approved capacity allows
e) Shall not be used for racing or competition
f) Shall not be used for illegal purposes
g) Shall not carry more weight than it is allowed.
h) Shall not be used by anyone else except by Clients stated in the rental contract
i) Shall not be used if its mechanical condition is deemed unsafe
j) Shall not be used after consumption of drugs or alcohol or other narcotic substances.
l) Shall not be used when the Client's physical conditions are weakened by fatigue or illness.
Failure to comply with any of the preceding paragraphs involves the immediate cancellation of insurance and Client accountability on the total value of the motorcycle and accessories as new.
Compulsory excess or deposit: The compulsory excess or deposit is a locked value in the corresponding to credit card deposit to lease the motorcycles, this will be returned at the end of the lease and it is not liable to pay any fees for using the card. Deductibles may vary from motorcycle model to motorcycle model but in all cases represent the maximum amount payable by the participant in the event of damage to the motorcycle.
Motorcycle use limits: The motorcycles included in the Tour package are limited to travel only and only in the scope and course of the Tour. Not included and will not be permitted the use of the motorcycle outside the described route or private uses on rest days and / or at the end of the daily stages.
Spare Moto: In some Tours a spare motorcycle shall be transported, the inclusion or exclusion of this service can be found in the particular conditions of the Tour. The spare motorcycle will be used free of charge if there is a mechanical breakdown. During the Tour Organizers are not obliged to replace a damaged motorcycle by a fall or accident.
Rental period: The rental period is not interrupted due to an inability to fly by the customer or for any other reason.
Safety: personal and group safety is a priority of the Organizers. The use of the motorcycle in a reckless manner and disregarding the rules of transit or of the Tour will not be tolerated and creates an immediate suspension of the pilot, with the motorcycle locked.
The Client is responsible for all fines and penalties and legal fees for traffic irregularities or other breaches of law during the rental period of the motorcycle. Organizers will charge the Client for any penalty and has the responsibility to inform the authorities of the identity and other information regarding the Client. An administrative fee of 50€ shall be added to all notifications of fines, penalties and offenses of Clients, which are received by the Organizers.
The motorcycle is rented with a full fuel tank and must be returned in the same way. The return of the motorcycle without the full fuel tank involves the payment of a fee of 40€. The motorcycle will be delivered by HorizonAdventures with tires, brake pads and the general maintenance plan run by the network of authorized dealers BMW Motorrad ready for normal use in perfect conditions.
In the case of a mechanical failure, you must contact the Organizers stating your location accurately and with detailed information about the failure. If repair is necessary and possible, you must obtain consent before making such repair. If repair is not possible, the Organizers will seek to replace the damaged motorcycle at the earliest possible opportunity. The Organizers shall refund the value of the corresponding rental to the period when the motorcycle was immobilized due to the possible failure. If for any reason the replacement is not possible, the Organizers shall reimburse you for the rental days not enjoyed. The Organizers are not responsible for lost time due to accidents or mechanical failures that could delay or stop the Client holiday or travel plans. Mechanical failures caused by falls, accidents or negligent use, the motorcycle replacement and reimbursement for having an immobilized motorcycle are excluded.
In case of accident or injury, the Client is required to immediately notify the Organizers by phone. Towing services and/or repair should only be called when agreed by the Organizers. Police and rescue resources must be notified immediately in the event of an accident. Evidence must be ensured and fulfilling an insurance statement together with each of the other drivers involved. Note the their names, addresses, phone numbers, driving license numbers and issuing authorities, brands, models and colors registrations of vehicles, details of insurance (insurance company and policy number). Also the contacts of any eye witnesses should be collected, braking marks, and all the information that contributes to the correct and complete understanding of the sequence of events.
Shall be provided the keys corresponding motorcycle and luggage. No duplicate will be provided. The Client is responsible for the security of the keys during the rental period and must return all keys at the end of the rental. The Organizers are not responsible for damage arising from loss, theft or damaged keys that may cause the premature interruption or end of the rental period contracted. The loss of a key incurs a fee of replacement keys of 300 €.
Shall provide all documents necessary for the circulation of the vehicle in particular copy of the rental contract, registration, proof of ownership and proof of insurance. Client is responsible for these documents during the rental period and should return all documents at the end of this period. The loss of any of these documents incurs in a replacement rate of 100 € per document.
The motorcycle fleet is all equipped with an electronic identifier which allows the use of the Via Verde lane on the Portuguese motorways without stopping. The value of the toll is registered electronically and debited from rental company account until 72 hours after the passage.
Use of this system is included in the rental and provides a 30% discount on tolls.
At the end of the rental contract the Client will be charged by the Organizers the value of tolls on the motorcycle that was used during the rental period. These values will not include tolls from the last 72 hours; those shall be communicated to the Client for later payment
Inclusions and Exclusions
Included: Tours usually include all accommodation with breakfast, all dinners, BMW motorcycle rental, Tour Book, motorcycle guide and Portuguese Staff on the support vehicle. In “Self-Guided” Tours the dinners, Tour Book and support vehicle are not included. You can find the specific inclusions and exclusions in the particular conditions of each Tour and the Tour Information Pack.
Distribution of rooms: There are a limited number of single rooms that cost extra and will be reserved in order of reservation, but availability cannot be guaranteed. If traveling alone, but want to share a room, the Organizers will try to find you a roommate who is in the same situation. If Organizers are unable to find a roommate, you shall be charged extra for a single room.
Not included: Not included in the Tours; lunches, tolls, fuel, drinks, or personal expenses of any kind. You can find the specific inclusions and exclusions in the particular conditions of each Tour and the Tour Information Pack.
Insurance
Liability insurance: is included in all Tours liability insurance (third party) for the use of the motorcycle, when a motorcycle hire is part of the Tour package. Civil liability insurance and shock or collision insurance is valid in Portugal and Spain. Driving in other European countries may be permitted by in writing. If the Organizers become aware of unauthorized exit out of the authorized territory, the contract conditions are violated, resulting in immediate cancellation of insurance and Client accountability for all damage and theft that may occur outside the territory authorized by the Organizers, to the total value of the motorcycle and accessories as new.
Damage and Theft Insurance: When the Tour includes the motorcycle rental, an insurance regarding damage and theft of the motorcycle is included for values superior to the franchise.
The Client is responsible for taking the repair and replacement costs up to the value of the chosen coverage option (Basic or VIP)
In any case the Insurance conditions are cancelled, the Client is liable for all the damage to the rented motorcycle if:
- The Client leaves the scene of an accident in which he has been involved.
- The Client does not immediately report to the authorities and to the Organizers theft or disappearance of the motorcycle or accessories
- The rented motorcycle was intentionally damaged by The Client or someone for whom you are responsible
- The motorcycle is involved in an accident and the Client fails to notify Organizers at the earliest possible time.
- Motorcycle is piloted under the influence of alcohol, drugs, narcotics or other narcotic substances
- Motorcycle is piloted in areas not authorized by the Organizers as unpaved roads and racing circuits
Basic Insurance
The basic insurance is included in the value of the rental, this insurance covers all risks, which
include the following:
Full coverage against all risks in the event of damage, accident, fire or theft, with the value of the deposit:
1500€ on hire of BMW F700GS
2250€ on hire of a motorcycle model BMW 1200GS
2500€ on hire of a motorcycle model BMW 1200GS Adventure
This means that the Client is responsible for paying up to a maximum of these values for damage, theft or total loss of the vehicle. The rest is covered by insurance.
VIP Insurance
The VIP insurance is optional available for rentals of 5 days or more, with a daily cost of 25€, which includes the same coverage of insurance against all risks but that decreases in the deposit to the following values:
Full coverage against all risks in the event of damage, accident, fire or theft, with the value of the deposit:
400€ on a lease of BMW F700GS
500€ on a lease of a motorbike model BMW 1200GS
600€ on a lease of a motorbike model BMW 1200GS Adventure
This means that the Client is responsible for paying up to a maximum of these values for damage, theft or total loss of the vehicle. The rest is covered by insurance
Travel insurance: To participate in the Tours it is required by each participant to hire a travel insurance in your country of residence that does not exclude the motorcycle as means of transport and to ensure medical and health care with repatriation to their country of residence in case of emergency doctor in any of the countries that during the Tour.
Optional accessories such as GPS, helmets and motorcycle equipment are not covered by insurance, the cost to repair or replace due to damage, loss or theft will be sustained by the Client.
Rules during the Tour
In the initial briefing basic rules shall be communicated to the outstanding group during the Tour.
Failure to follow these rules and by any Organizers staff member that compromises individual safety or any other member of the group, results in immediate suspension of the participant.
Each Tour has specific rules that can be found in the particular conditions, these are general rules in all Organizers Tours:
Do not exceed the Tour Leader*
Do not leave the road, so as to maintain insight of the support vehicle*
Respect traffic rules and local speed limits.
Do not consume alcoholic beverages during the Tour stages
Comply with the schedule established in the daily briefing*
Respect the instructions and decisions of the Tour Leader.*
*non applicable to “Self-Guided” Tours
Changes to the Tour calendar
The Tours operate seasonally, where conditions in weather may vary and the state of the roads can cause changes to the Tour and route, which shall be adjusted with the use of alternative restaurants and hotels.
Required Documentation
Valid passport: You must have a valid passport with expiration date not less than 6 months after the end of the Tour. We also recommend that you have at least 4 pages fully free for stamps.
International drivers license: Mandatory for all Tours with the exception of Portugal and Spain.
Credit Card: Required for conducting insurance franchises in fulfilling the rental agreement of the motorcycle that is used on the Tour. We recommend VISA or MasterCard; American Express is not always accepted.
Travel Visa: The application for visas is the responsibility of each participant; contact us to find out the specific requirements for your nationality.
International Vaccines Card: Required in some Tours, see the particular conditions or contact us for further information.
Travel Insurance Policy: Each participant must hire travel insurance in their country of residence that does not exclude the motorcycle as means of transport and to ensure health care with repatriation to their country of residence in case of accident or medical emergency. This insurance must be valid in all countries where the Tour takes place. A copy of your insurance policy must be handed to the Organizers at the beginning of the Tour.
Photo and Video Equipment
The photos and videos produced by the Organizers during the Tour are the property of the Organizers. Copyright are held by the Organizers. The Organizers are authorized to use all this material for advertising and marketing purposes, including images which individual members of the Tours can be recognized, and the member is not entitled to make a claim against the Organizers for the use of this material.
Statement of responsibility
Piloting a motorcycle is an activity that has a high risk, at the beginning of each Tour each participant will be asked to complete and sign a liability statement which recognizes that the Organizers, its owners, employees and agents are not safety guardians of any of the customer and they, individually or collectively, could not be responsible in any way for any occurrence related to accidents that may result in injury, death, or damage to the customer, your property, your family, heirs, or assigns.
This document includes a field where you should fill in the details of an emergency contact from your country of origin, the contact details and details of your travel insurance policy.
Acceptance of the General Conditions of the Organizers Tour
Read carefully the conditions described above and clarify all of your doubts. By confirming your reservation in sending the booking confirmation form, also confirms the acceptance of these conditions.
Competent Court
Both the Client and Organizers agree that all disputes arising from this contract shall be resolved exclusively in the District Court of Lisbon in Portugal.