Author Topic: Bike friendly National Parks, reserves, ranches, etc. (Read 10978 times)

LuckyStriker · « **on:** November 16, 2006, 02:58:09 pm »

Here is a list of places I compiled in March 2005 for the HorizonsUnlimited forums. Updated June 2011.
Hopefully some of you will be kind enough to add to the list.

By visiting the South African National Parks website at www.sanparks.co.za and phoning every single one listed I was able to compile the following list on their policy on allowing motorcycles.

It is worth noting that parks that do allow bikes reserve the right to turn you away if you look like a troublemaker!!
Likewise I have found that some parks that normally refuse bikes may allow you in if you phone ahead and ask the park manager nicely.
If you phone, don't just talk to the person answering the phone (they are idiots), always ask for the manager or his/her secretary

South African National Parks (SANParks)

Addo Elephant National Park - Motorcycles not allowed
+27 (0)42 233 0556/7
Reason given: "Elephants sir! big elephants"

Agulhas National Park - Motorcycle friendly
+27 (0)28 435 6222

Augrabies Falls National Park - Motorcycles allowed
+27 (0)54 452 9200
Motorcycles previously not allowed. Reason given: "Motorcycles are not allowed, it's our policy"

Bontebok National Park - Motorcycles allowed
+27 (0)28 514 2735
Motorcycles previously not allowed. Reason given: "Bikers are hooligans!" (can you believe someone said that?)

Cape Peninsula National Park - Motorcycle friendly
021 701 8692

De Hoop Nature Reserve - Motorcycles allowed
0861 227 362 8873

Golden Gate Highlands National Park - Motorcycle friendly
+27 (0)58 255 0012

Karoo National Park - Motorcycles allowed after prior arrangement
+27 (0)23 415 2828 / 9

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park - Motorcycles not allowed
+ 27 (0) 54 561 2000
Reason given: "We have lions sir, lots of hungry ones!"

Knysna National Lake Area - Motorcycle friendly
+27 (0)44 382 2095

Kruger National Park - Motorcycles not allowed (Although BMW SA organises special trips now and again)
+27 (0)13 735 4000
Reason given: "Due to the risk associated with wild animals such as..." blah blah blah...

Mapungubwe National Park - Motorcycles not allowed
+27 (0)15 534 2014
Reason given: "...because we have dangerous animals sir; we have giraffe, cheetah and elephants"

Marakele National Park - Motorcycles not allowed
+27 (0)14 777 1745
Reason given: "No, it is the policy of national parks not to allow motorcycles" (If it's national policy then why do some of of the other parks say it's okay mmm?)

Mountain Zebra National Park - Motorcycles not allowed
+27 (0)48 881 2427 or 3434
Reason given: "No! *click* - No Reason given. slammed down the phone

Namaqua National Park - Motorcycles allowed
+27 (0)27 672 1948

Richtersveld National Park - Motorcycles generally not allowed
+27 (0)27 831 1506
Reason given: "Motorcycles are too noisy. They disturb the peace and quiet" (There are positive reports of bikes being let in from time to time

Table Mountain National Park - Motorcycles not allowed
021 701 8692
Reason given: "The mountain is inaccessible to all vehicles" (good luck trying to get your bike up there anyway hehehe)

Tankwa Karoo National Park - Motorcycles allowed
+27 (0)27 341-2389

Tsitsikamma National Park - Motorcycle friendly
+27 42 281 1607

Vaalbos National Park - Motorcycles not allowed
+27 (0)53 561 0088
Reason given: "...unsafe due to Rhino and buffalo"

West Coast National Park - Motorcycle friendly
+27 22 772-2144/5

Wilderness National Park - Motorcycles allowed
+27 (0)44 877 1197

CapeNature

Anysberg Nature Reserve (Cape Karoo) - No data

Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve (Winelands) - No data

Bird Island Nature Reserve (West Coast) - No data

Boosmansbos Wilderness Area (Overberg) - No data

Cederberg Nature Reserve (Cederberg) - Motorcycle friendly (main roads only)
Reported by LuckyStriker

De Hoop Nature Reserve (Overberg) - No data

De Mond Nature Reserve (Overberg) - No data

Gamkaberg Nature Reserve (Cape Karoo) - No data

Goukamma Nature Reserve (Garden Route and Little Karoo) - No data

Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve (Overberg) - No data

Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area (West Coast) - No data

Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve (Winelands) - No data

Jonkershoek Nature Reserve (Winelands) - No data

Keurbooms River Nature Reserve (Garden Route and Little Karoo) - No data

Kogelberg Nature Reserve (Overberg) - No data

Limietberg Nature Reserve (Winelands) - No data

Marloth Nature Reserve (Overberg) - No data

Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve (Cederberg) - Motorcycle friendly (main roads only)
Reported by LuckyStriker

Outeniqua Nature Reserve (Garden Route and Little Karoo) - No data

Robberg Nature Reserve (Garden Route and Little Karoo) - No data

Rocherpan Nature Reserve (West Coast) - No data

Salmonsdam Nature Reserve (Overberg) - No data

Swartberg Nature Reserve (Cape Karoo) - No data

Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve (Winelands) - No data

Walker Bay Nature Reserve (Overberg) - No data

Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife Parks

Amatigulu Nature Reserve - No data

Beachwood Mangroves - No data

Blinkwater Nature Reserve - No data

Bluff Nature Reserve - No data

Cape Vidal State Forest - No data

Cathedral Peak - No data

Chelmsford - No data

Coastal Forest Reserve - No data

Cobham Reserve - No data

Dlinza Forest - No data

Eastern Shores State Forest - No data

Emakhosini Ophathe Heritage Park - No data

Enseleni Nature Reserve - No data

Entumeni Forest - No data

False Bay Park - No data

Garden Castle - No data

Harold Johnson Nature Reserve - No data

Highmoor Nature Reserve - No data

Himeville Nature Reserve - No data

Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve - No data

Impendle Nature Reserve - No data

Ithala Game Reserve - No data

Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve - No data

Krantzkloof Nature Reserve - No data

Lake Sibayi Freshwater Reserve - No data

Lotheni Reserve - No data

Mapelane Nature Reserve - No data

Maputaland Marine Reserve - No data

Midmar Dam Nature Reserve - No data

Mkhomazi Reserve - No data

Mkhuze Game Reserve - No data

Monks Cowl - No data

Mount Currie - No data

Mpenjati Nature Reserve - No data

Ndumo Game Reserve - No data

Nkandla Forest - No data

North Park Nature Reserve - No data

Nyalazi State Forest - No data

Ongoye Forest - No data

Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve -No data

Phongolo Nature Reserve - No data

Royal Natal National Park - No data

Skyline Nature Reserve - No data

Sodwana Bay National Park - No data

Sodwana State Forest - No data

Spioenkop Game Reserve - No data

St Lucia Game Reserve - No data

St Lucia Park - No data

St Lucia Marine Reserve - No data

Tembe Elephant Park - No data

Umhlanga Lagoon - No data

Umkhuze Game Reserve - No data

Umlalazi Nature Reserve - Motorcycle friendly
Reported by GundaGunda

Umtamvuna Nature Reserve - No data

Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve - No data

Vryheid Hill Nature Reserve - No data

Wagendrift Nature Reserve - No data

Weenen Game Reserve - No data

Queen Elizabeth Park Nature Reserve - No data

Municipal & Private Reserves

Reins Nature Reserve (near Gouritz / Struisbaai) - Motorcycles not allowedReported by Trailrider

Ama ride ride · « **Reply #1 on:** November 16, 2006, 03:08:19 pm »

Thanks LS.

Very handy and interesting list.

GIDEON · « **Reply #2 on:** November 16, 2006, 03:21:51 pm »

Thanks ne
I see you did phone them all Table Mountain

Jaqhama · « **Reply #3 on:** November 16, 2006, 04:43:25 pm »

I'm sorry LS, I couldn't help myself mate.

[quote

Addo Elephant National Park - Motorcycles not allowed
+27 (0)42 233 0556/7
Reason given: ?Elephants sir? big elephants?
There are small elephants?

:thumbright: Agulhas National Park ? Motorcycle friendly
+27 (0)28 435 6222

:x Augrabies Falls National Park ? Motorcycles not allowed
+27 (0)54 452 9200
Reason given: ?Motorcycles are not allowed, it?s our policy?
We're banning animals next year also!

Bontebok National Park ? Motorcycles not allowed
+27 (0)28 514 2735
Reason given: ?Bikers are hooligans!? (can you believe someone said that?)
He took the Mad Max movies too seriously.

:thumbright: Cape Peninsula National Park ? Motorcycle friendly
021 701 8692

:thumbright: Golden Gate Highlands National Park ? Motorcycle friendly
+27 (0)58 255 0012

Karoo National Park ? Motorcycles allowed after prior arrangement
+27 (0)23 415 2828 / 9

Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park ? Motorcycles not allowed
+ 27 (0) 54 561 2000
Reason given: ?We have lions sir? lots of hungry ones!?
Well bloody feed them man! (or feed them women?)

:thumbright: Knysna National Lake Area ? Motorcycle friendly
+27 (0)44 382 2095

:? Kruger National Park ? Motorcycles not allowed (Although BMW SA organises special trips now and again)
+27 (0)13 735 4000
Reason given: ?Due to the risk associated with wild animals such as?? blah blah blah?Black Sheep, gotta watch them, ferocious.

Mapungubwe National Park ? Motorcycles not allowed
+27 (0)15 534 2014
Reason given: ??because we have dangerous animals sir? ??we have giraffe, cheetah and elephants?
Giraffe and Cheetahs killed many bikers have they? :shock:

Marakele National Park ? Motorcycles not allowed
+27 (0)14 777 1745
Reason given: ?No, it is the policy of national parks not to allow motorcycles? (If it's national policy then why do some of of the other parks say it's okay mmm?)
Because they need to feed their animals Sir, and at a pinch even a motorcyclist will do. Tasty critters, but they're a bugger to peel.

Mountain Zebra National Park ? Motorcycles not allowed
+27 (0)48 881 2427 or 3434
Reason given: ?No!? *click* - No Reason given ? slammed down the phone
Cheetah got him while you were on the phone.
He was actually trying to say"No, oh my God, no please, arghhhh."

:thumbright: Namaqua National Park ? Motorcycles allowed
+27 (0)27 672 1948

Richtersveld National Park ? Motorcycles not allowed
+27 (0)27 831 1506
Reason given: ?Motorcycles are too noisy. They disturb the peace and quiet?
Took the Wild One too seriously.

:oops: Table Mountain National Park ? Motorcycles not allowed
021 701 8692
Reason given: ?The mountain is inaccessible to all vehicles? (good luck trying to get your bike up there anyway hehehe)
Two words...Trials Bikes.

:thumbright: Tankwa Karoo National Park ? Motorcycles allowed
+27 (0)27 341-2389

:thumbright: Tsitsikamma National Park ? Motorcycle friendly
+27 42 281 1607

Vaalbos National Park ? Motorcycles not allowed
+27 (0)53 561 0088
Reason given: ??unsafe due to Rhino and buffalo?
But at least no Giraffe and Cheetah, whew.

:thumbright: West Coast National Park ? Motorcycle friendly
+27 22 772-2144/5

:thumbright: Wilderness National Park ? Motorcycles allowed
+27 (0)44 877 1197[/quote]

Lito · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2006, 06:30:35 pm »

They took one look at this weirdo and said Naai Bru...

michnus · « **Reply #5 on:** November 16, 2006, 06:44:41 pm »

Tieties Baai told us to take a hike

Double drift game park allowed us entry.

Would it help if we send this info of LS to Wegbreek,Getaway and all the other mags for print and responses, atleast we get this out in the public.

Stephan · « **Reply #6 on:** November 16, 2006, 06:53:48 pm »

Quote from: "Lito"

They took one look at this weirdo and said Naai Bru...

Now Lito why did you have to bring sex into this?

Lito · « **Reply #7 on:** November 16, 2006, 06:54:31 pm »

Quote from: "michnus"

Tieties Baai told us to take a hike

Double drift game park allowed us entry.

we got entry into tietties baai on the bike! (last ride on the katoom too, with forum members. so its not that long ago....)

Lito · « **Reply #8 on:** November 16, 2006, 06:57:48 pm »

Quote from: "Stephan"

Quote from: "Lito"
They took one look at this weirdo and said Naai Bru...

Now Lito why did you have to bring sex into this?

Not sure if you can say ls and sex in the same sentence

But hey Tietties Baai and Naai is all good right?

chrisB · « **Reply #9 on:** November 16, 2006, 08:29:21 pm »

Fanx LS!

macduff · « **Reply #10 on:** November 16, 2006, 08:57:35 pm »

thanks LS,
now can you clear the comments from the riffraff, and make it a sticky for future reference?
thanks

JourneyMan · « **Reply #11 on:** November 17, 2006, 09:09:36 am »

Quote from: "macduff"

thanks LS,
now can you clear the comments from the riffraff, and make it a sticky for future reference?
thanks

Agree. Very nice data base to have. I think it can be expanded to include biker friendly places in general. Maybe what places requires permits to enter as well. As in Namiba.

Thanks LS.

>Herman< · « **Reply #12 on:** April 11, 2007, 02:21:17 pm »

* BUMP *

LuckyStriker · « **Reply #13 on:** April 11, 2007, 02:39:06 pm »

*UPDATE*

Quote from: "LuckyStriker"

:x Augrabies Falls National Park ? Motorcycles not allowed
+27 (0)54 452 9200
Reason given: ?Motorcycles are not allowed, it?s our policy?

We just came back from Augrabies. The staff were very friendly. The gate guy chatted to us and shared his desire to own a bike. The receptionist was kind enough to store our ATGATT behind her desk.
Nobody had a problem with us sleeping over or exploring the park on our motorcycles.

Worth the visit if you are in the area!

Clockwork Orange · « **Reply #14 on:** April 11, 2007, 02:46:22 pm »

Quote from: "LuckyStriker"

*UPDATE*

Quote from: "LuckyStriker"
:x Augrabies Falls National Park ? Motorcycles not allowed
+27 (0)54 452 9200
Reason given: ?Motorcycles are not allowed, it?s our policy?

We just came back from Augrabies. The staff were very friendly. The gate guy chatted to us and shared his desire to own a bike. The receptionist was kind enough to store our ATGATT behind her desk.
Nobody had a problem with us sleeping over or exploring the park on our motorcycles.

Worth the visit if you are in the area!

You beat me to it. I was about to post a comment about Augrabies too. Awesome place to visit on a bike.

cbekker · « **Reply #15 on:** June 16, 2007, 07:30:09 am »

BMW tours to the Kruger might only be through adjacent/adjoining parks.
Can anybody confirm this as true or crap?

I would be more scared of the damn vehicles in the Kryger.
Like rush hour and you definitely got trouble if some poor creature breaks cover and gets spotted.

Tonteldoos · « **Reply #16 on:** June 16, 2007, 09:59:41 pm »

Nylsvley.. and you thought toll gates area rip of.. check out this

Entrance fees:

Adults R10
Children (6-12) & Pensioners R5
Vehicles R20
Bicycles R5
Combi R30
Bus/Truck R50
Motorbike R60

Camp per site/night R50
Group camp per person/night R50

Trailrider · « **Reply #17 on:** May 13, 2008, 04:10:24 am »

Reins Nature Reserve near Gouritz / Struisbaai - No bikes allowed.

Stephan · « **Reply #18 on:** May 13, 2008, 08:40:20 am »

Quote from: cbekker on June 16, 2007, 07:30:09 am

BMW tours to the Kruger might only be through adjacent/adjoining parks.
Can anybody confirm this as true or crap?

I would be more scared of the damn vehicles in the Kryg er.
Like rush hour and you definitely got trouble if some poor creature breaks cover and gets spotted.

Confirmed. No motorbikes allowed in any of the National Parks. Tried to get permission to cross to Mocambique at Pafuri, they're not even interested in discussing it even though they allowed a bunch of bicycles to cross under escort. Motorbikes have to be on the back of a truck or a trailer.

CrazyPorra · « **Reply #19 on:** May 13, 2008, 02:53:43 pm »

Quote from: Stephan on May 13, 2008, 08:40:20 am

Quote from: cbekker on June 16, 2007, 07:30:09 am
BMW tours to the Kruger might only be through adjacent/adjoining parks.
Can anybody confirm this as true or crap?

I would be more scared of the damn vehicles in the Kryg er.
Like rush hour and you definitely got trouble if some poor creature breaks cover and gets spotted.

Confirmed. No motorbikes allowed in any of the National Parks. Tried to get permission to cross to Mocambique at Pafuri, they're not even interested in discussing it even though they allowed a bunch of bicycles to cross under escort. Motorbikes have to be on the back of a truck or a trailer.

Yeap you would think that with all the interest that they have received from bikers wanting to do that stretch that they would invest in a trailer and maybe make some money out of transporting the bikes through the park. Just a thought.