Clarence Drive (R44), Cape Town.
Clarence Drive (R44), Cape Town.
Image: Supplied

CAPE TOWN

1. CLARENCE DRIVE (R44)

For scenic beauty there’s little to beat this iconic 21km road that hugs the turquoise coastline between Gordons Bay and Rooi-Els. It’s a smooth road with plenty of corners, but wake up early if you want to experience the curves at a faster pace as later the road becomes popular with slow-moving, sight-seeing tourists.

2. FRANSCHHOEK PASS (R45)

This rollercoaster of a road provides dramatic scenery as it curves, rises, and dips through the mountains. A road like this deserves to be ridden twice, so after stopping for breakfast in Franschhoek and letting the adren-aline settle, turn around and ride it again in the other direction.

3. ROUTE 62

Fancy a longer ride? Head out to Route 62 and pick a section of this snaking, scenic road that stretches for 248km from Oudtshoorn to Ashton in the Klein Karoo. It passes through picturesque farming towns and entertainingly twisty mountain passes, including the Cogmanskloof Pass connecting the towns of Ashton and Montagu.

JOBURG

4. THE CRADLE OF HUMANKIND

The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site is home to fossils of some of the earliest known life forms on Earth, but is more recently frequented by helmeted homo sapiens on two wheels. It includes the scenic R540 Kromdraai road that passes the Rhi-no and Lion Nature Reserve and is a gateway to tourist hotspots like the Sterkfontein Caves and Maropeng.

Railroad station serving the Cullinan diamond mine, Joburg.
Railroad station serving the Cullinan diamond mine, Joburg.
Image: Supplied

5. MAGALIESBERG

Wide-open spaces and breakfast venues abound along the roads meandering through the Magaliesberg mountains via Hekpoort, Broederstroom, and Hartbeespoort. The R400 “satellite road” is a favour-ite of breakfast runners who like to open the throttle a little.

6. CULINAN

Located 30km east of Pretoria, the site of the world’s biggest diamond find is also a geographical jewel for bikers who come to experience the little town’s quaint restaurants, street cafes, and old-school charm.

 From the September issue of Wanted 2020.

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