The KTM Adventure Rally returns to the Champagne Sports Resort in Drakensberg from 30 April – 3 May 2026, and honestly, there are few places in South Africa more fitting for an event built around pushing limits and chasing horizons. This is a landscape that feels purpose-built for adventure bikes—towering basalt cliffs, winding gravel passes, unpredictable weather, and views that stretch on forever. It’s raw, untamed, and endlessly rewarding, the kind of place where every kilometre ridden feels earned, and every stop reminds you exactly why you ride in the first place.
That’s what makes this rally more than just another date on the calendar. It’s an escape from the everyday, a chance to trade routine for something real. Out here, it’s just you, your machine, and a group of riders who understand the pull of the unknown. The KTM Adventure Rally has always been about that shared spirit—the connection between people who don’t just ride for convenience, but for the experience, the challenge, and the stories waiting on the other side of the trail and of course, the tip-overs along the way.
And this year, the experience is dialled up even further. Riders won’t just be carving through some of the most breathtaking terrain the country has to offer; they’ll also be among the first to get up close and personal with the all-new KTM 1390 Super Adventure R. It’s not often you get to throw a leg over a machine like that before the rest of the country even sees it, and it adds a serious sense of occasion to an already stacked weekend.
As if that’s not enough, every rider who enters will also stand a chance to win a brand-new 2025 KTM 390 Adventure X—the kind of prize that turns an incredible weekend into an unforgettable one.
What really sets the rally apart, though, is how effortlessly it brings everything together. The routes are carefully designed to suit a range of riders, offering just the right mix of challenge and flow, whether you’re looking to test your skills or simply soak in the scenery. There’s a full support crew keeping things running smoothly behind the scenes, leaving you free to focus on the ride itself. And when the day winds down, you’re not roughing it; there’s proper accommodation, great food, and that unmistakable KTM atmosphere where the day’s stories get told and retold around the fire.
Of course, an event like this naturally shines a spotlight on the machines that make it possible, and right now KTM’s adventure line-up is giving riders even more reason to get involved. The KTM 890 Adventure R continues to stand tall as one of the most capable middleweight adventure bikes ever built. That’s just my opinion, but I stand firm in saying so. It’s the kind of bike that has earned its reputation the hard way, proving itself time and again in terrain where precision, balance, and confidence matter most. There’s a sharpness to the way it handles off-road, a sense that it’s always ready for more, whether you’re threading through technical sections or opening it up on fast gravel. It doesn’t just keep up—it leads.
Every time I swing a leg over one, I fall hopelessly in love with adventure riding, and that sometimes makes getting office work done tough—adventuring is so much more tempting and enjoyable. And with current offers including a free single-occupancy entry to the 2025 KTM Adventure Rally on 2025 and 2026 models (worth 14K), it’s a compelling package for anyone looking to step into that world. What a first adventure it could be!
Then there’s the KTM 1290 Super Adventure R, a bike that, despite being around since 2021, still commands serious respect. In a class where size and weight can often work against you, the “1290 R” somehow turns that equation on its head. It’s powerful, yes, brutally so when you want it to be, but it’s also remarkably composed off-road, with a level of control and capability that continues to set the benchmark in the big adventure segment. Even with the arrival of the 1390 Super Adventure, the 1290 hasn’t lost its edge. If anything, it’s a proven, refined package that riders know they can trust when the terrain gets tough. With R50,000 off the 2024 model, a free Tech Pack, and a free single occupancy entry to the 2025 KTM Adventure Rally included, it’s the kind of deal that’s hard to ignore.
All of this builds toward something bigger than just a weekend away. The KTM Adventure Rally in the Drakensberg is about rediscovering that sense of freedom that only riding can deliver. It’s about waking up to mountain air, spending your day chasing trails that challenge and inspire, and ending it surrounded by people who get it. The bikes, the scenery, the camaraderie, it all comes together in a way that sticks with you long after the dust has settled.
Spots are limited, and experiences like this don’t come around often. The Drakensberg is calling, the bikes are ready, and the adventure is waiting.
Register for this year’s KTM Adventure Rally here – www.ktm.eventpress.co.za
