Not every adventure needs a week of leave, a fully packed pannier setup, or a destination hundreds of kilometres away. Sometimes, the perfect escape is sitting right on your doorstep.
I recently discovered exactly that on a short circular ride that I can only describe as a “Two-Hour Safari”, a scenic backroad route winding through game farms, rolling hills, quiet gravel roads, and even a few small mountain passes. It is the kind of ride that reminds you why motorcycles and backroads belong together.
Click images to enlarge map.
The route passes the impressive Hartbeeskuil Dam, and after the recent rains, the dam is an incredible sight. Filled right to the brim, the water stretches across the landscape like an inland sea, reflecting the clouds and mountains around it. It is worth stopping just to take it all in for a few minutes.
But the real magic starts once the road enters the surrounding game farm areas.
Within minutes I started spotting wildlife everywhere. Wildebeest grazed calmly in open fields while Zebra moved between the bushes. Springbuck scattered across the plains and massive Eland stood watching from a distance. Waterbuck appeared near the wetter areas and Ostriches casually wandered alongside the road. At times it felt less like a normal ride and more like a proper safari, just without the game viewer and khaki uniforms.
Then came the part that really got my attention.
For roughly six kilometres, the road runs directly through the spectacular Gondwana Private Game Reserve. Unlike many reserves where dangerous animals are kept behind separate fencing, Gondwana has free-roaming Lion, Buffalo, Elephant and Rhinoceros in certain areas. Suddenly the ride became a lot more exciting.
I must admit, I became slightly nervous.
Not long after entering the reserve section, I encountered some Elephants near the road. Seeing animals like that from the saddle of a motorcycle changes your perspective very quickly. You suddenly feel very small and very exposed. Add to that the antelope and other game occasionally running ahead of the bike on the road itself, and your senses become fully switched on.
It was thrilling, slightly intimidating, and absolutely unforgettable.
What makes this route so special is how accessible it is. You do not need complicated planning, expensive bookings, or days away from work. It is the perfect micro-adventure, a quick break from routine that still delivers scenery, wildlife, gravel roads, and genuine adventure.
Sometimes two hours is all you need to reset the soul.
And sometimes, the best safari is the one hiding just beyond your hometown.
Distance: 53km
Travel Time: 2 hours.
Road Surface: Mostly gravel with loose sections, can be slippery when wet.
Article: Johann van Tonder