Ultimate African Cycling Safari FAQ's

Cancellations may occur. However, the boutique nature of our tour keeps our groups small, so this is unlikely. If we do have to cancel the tour due to insufficient participants, Covid-19 or for some other unforeseen circumstances, we will naturally provide you with prior notice and refund monies paid to date. However, we will not be liable for any flight or insurance costs you have incurred, as well as any other incidental bookings / reservations you have made.

Yes, we have access to top end carbon road bikes for hire. If you would like to rent a bike, please let us know when you book your trip, so we can discuss your specific requirements and guarantee the right size, gearing and specs are available.

Yes, however, these are hard to come by. Therefore, advance bookings need to be made for all E Bikes. If you would like to rent an E bike, please let us know when you book your trip.

In Cape Town, you will use your own road bike over asphalt surfaces (unless you wish to rent a road bike).
In the Wine Region, you will use a road bike on one of the days and an off-road bike supplied by us (at no extra cost) for the 2nd day in the Winelands area, for use over non-technical gravel surfaces.

In the Game Reserve, we will provide Mountain bikes (at no extra cost).

We will have riders on standard and compact crank set ups. It is not essential that riders change the crank set up on their current bikes for this tour. For the rear, we recommend at least a 28-30.

We would HIGHLY recommend that you leave tubular tires at home.
25mm-30mm tires.

We are never in a rush to get from Point A to Point B. This itinerary has been designed for everyone to be comfortable. We will always have a support vehicle for guests to use if needed.

Most importantly, we are here to Live the Ride safely and take in the beauty that these incredible landscapes have to offer. If necessary, we will offer 2 different ride groups.

The trip covers a combination of road cycling on bitumen surfaces in Cape Town as well as non technical gravel cycling on mountain bikes in the Cape Winelands and the Game Reserve.

Difficulty of this trip is rated at 3/5. We are not riding vast distances on a daily basis, and there are plenty of breaks and stops along the way.

This is not a tour for beginners and caters for seasoned and recreational cyclists with the required level of fitness to back up +70km days. If necessary, we will split the rides into two groups, to cater for different speeds.

We also expect that riders can ride safely in a bunch situation.

Located in Hoedspruit (within the Greater Kruger and Limpopo region), the lodge sits in a low-to-moderate malaria risk zone. While the risk is very low during the dry, cooler winter months (May to August), the summer months (September to April) bring higher temperatures and increased rainfall, elevating the risk of transmission.

Because of this, it is highly recommended to consult your doctor or a travel health clinic about taking antimalarial medication and other preventative measures before your trip.

With the Après Vélo Cycle Tour, you will always have at least one ride guide on the road with the group. Depending upon the group size, there may be two ride guides. We understand that everyone has different levels of fitness and therefore we often break into two groups, with a ride guide leading each group. We also have a support vehicle for safety, nutrition/hydration, a change of clothing, or a cosy place to rest up whenever.

We ask all customers to pay a deposit, which confirms their reservation. The balance is due 90 days before departure. If you book less than 90 days before departure, we will ask you to pay the full price upfront.

Our tour price is priced based on double occupancy. A Single Occupancy is an additional charge (speak to us when booking) that secures a private room for solo travellers. If you are traveling alone and would prefer a roommate, please notify us when booking.

It is a requirement that insurance is taken out for your tour of South Africa at the time of booking, as this should then cover you immediately, should anything occur between the time you book and departure/return.

100%. We cherish the opportunity of designing bespoke tours for groups of friends, corporate clients, teams and families.

Guests booking the Safari Only Experience will need to arrive in Hoedspruit by the afternoon of 5 April 2027.

To make things easy, we will arrange your domestic flight from either Johannesburg or Cape Town upon request. Please advise your preference at the time of booking to ensure a seamless arrival into the African bush.

South Africa is one of the world's most diverse cycling destinations, offering an extraordinary combination of dramatic coastlines, iconic mountain passes, renowned wine regions and unforgettable wildlife experiences. Few countries allow you to ride alongside the Atlantic Ocean one day, cycle through vineyards the next, and finish your journey on safari searching for the Big Five.

Absolutely.

South Africa has earned a reputation as one of the world's premier cycling destinations, particularly around Cape Town and the Western Cape. The region offers an extensive network of well-maintained roads, spectacular coastal routes, mountain passes and scenic wine country, making it ideal for recreational cyclists and experienced riders alike.

South Africa is a rewarding destination for cyclists, but a few local considerations will help you get the most from your trip.

The Cape's weather can change quickly, particularly around Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula, so it's important to be prepared for sunshine, cool temperatures and occasional coastal winds—all within the same ride.

South Africa is blessed with some of the world's most spectacular natural landscapes.

Highlights include:

Packing for a South African cycling tour is relatively straightforward.

We recommend:

The Western Cape offers some of the finest cycling conditions anywhere in the world from spring through autumn, with each season bringing its own unique appeal.

The Western Cape is extremely bike-friendly.

Cycling forms an important part of the region's sporting culture, with thousands of local cyclists riding every week. Popular cycling routes around Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek are well known by motorists, while numerous cafés actively welcome cyclists.

Cape Town offers several high-quality bicycle rental providers supplying premium road bikes, gravel bikes and e-bikes.

Our South Africa tour is designed for recreational to experienced cyclists who enjoy riding in beautiful locations rather than racing from one destination to the next.

Like any overseas destination, cycling safely begins with good planning and local knowledge.

The Cape Winelands combine beautiful cycling with one of the world's great food and wine destinations.

Absolutely.

One of the defining features of an Après Vélo tour is that non-riding partners are warmly welcomed.

One of the most unique aspects of our Cape to Safari tour is spending time in a private game reserve searching for Africa's legendary Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo.

At Après Vélo, we believe the best cycling holidays are about far more than simply riding great roads.

They're about discovering extraordinary places, sharing unforgettable moments with like-minded people, and finishing each day feeling you've experienced something genuinely special.

There's certainly something rewarding about planning your own cycling holiday. However, riding independently also means taking responsibility for every aspect of the journey, from navigation and logistics to accommodation, mechanical issues and unexpected situations that inevitably arise...