Hey Daffers, greetings from Inverness in sunny Scotland (well,it is at the moment)
We did Capetown- Capetown up as far as Lake Tanganyika via Namibia and Zambia, Malawi and Zim. We had our own UK registered bike so had a carnet- you could get by on an SA registered bike without one buying a TIP each time you cross into a new country, but it is one more hassle at the borders when you will be queuing in the heat sweating cobs.
I thought I had sorted out COMESA insurance with a mob in Lusaka, but they couldn't quite get the certificate to us in time

Because of this I bought it at borders- easy peasy.
BTW, If you are crossing from Zambia to Tanzania at Tunduma then local fixer 'MP' is a good bloke. He was the onlyone we used- most borders are starightforward, but Tunduma is pretty mad. Oh, and if you can choose between Kazangula and Katima Mulilo to cross into Zam, got to Katima, it's very civilised.
Anyway, if you want an English/Scottish/Kiwi/old farts perspective on travelling in Southern Africa, my ride report is here:
http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=176316.0 and was the best thing I've ever done, the people are great, the landscapes are amazing and the riding is epic.
