South Africa is an adventure rider’s paradise: you could ride for years without repeating yourself. Many South African riders are happy to head out into the wild unknown on their own or in company with a friend or two, but for those who prefer to take part in an organised group ride, there are always plenty of options.
Anyone starting to plan their riding for 2026 could do no better than to consider the Pangea Rally, taking place in October 2026 down in the Cape and organised by some of the most respected adventure guides in the business.
The Pangea Rally is a premium multi-day motorcycle adventure across South Africa’s Western Cape, covering more than 2,100 km of coastline, 20+ high mountain passes and open desert plains, including over 800 km of gravel. It is designed for adventure riders who want a professionally supported, world-class rally experience that blends approachable terrain, spectacular scenery and genuine camaraderie. “Rally” in the international sense of the word, perhaps not what many South Africans perceive a rally to be.
The rally includes seven nights of accommodation, all meals, full mechanical and medical support and a rider gear issue. It is a timed navigation-based event rather than a race, so riders enjoy the landscapes at their own pace. The rally starts beneath Table Mountain in Noordhoek and finishes in Franschhoek in the Cape Winelands, with an optional prologue on registration day to Cape Point. A large fleet of rental bikes from 450 cc to 1300 cc is available, fuelled and waiting at the start line, or riders can ride their own bikes.
The rally is aimed at passionate adventure riders, both local and international, who want a fully supported multi-day ride through some of the most dramatic and diverse terrain in South Africa. It is positioned at the higher end of the market. Riders can fly in, ride and fly out. The Pangea Rally team handle all the logistics behind the scenes so the focus stays on the experience.
It is aimed at a niche audience, but that is exactly what sets it apart. Packages were announced a month ago, and so far, 30 of the 80 available slots have been allocated. Riders have signed up from the US, UK, Australia, Europe and South Africa.
The rally was founded by Greg Bergh and Ant Butler, who have been riding together for more than 15 years. Greg lived in Europe recently and completed several long-distance rallies in the UK, Europe and the Arctic, which sparked the idea of bringing an event of similar calibre to the Western Cape. Ant is a lifelong rider and craftsman who knows the Cape’s backcountry intimately and rides it year-round.
Greg’s wife, Kasia, oversees rider experience and marketing, while Renée Jordaan is in place as Rally Director. Renée previously managed the Comrades Marathon, the Cape Town Cycle Tour and the Cape Town Marathon, so the operational and safety components are in excellent hands.
Route description
The route showcases the incredible range of landscapes in the Western Cape. Riders link the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, crossing the 300-million-year-old Cape Fold Mountains, the Little Karoo, the Garden Route coastline, the edge of the Tankwa and the red sandstone formations of the Cederberg.
Day zero: registration. Optional prologue ride out to Cape Point. Welcome dinner.
Day one: Chapman’s Peak to Swellendam
Day two: Southern Cape passes into the Little Karoo
Day three: Swartberg Pass, Prince Alfred’s Pass and the Garden Route
Day four: Outeniqua Mountains and the Karoo plateau into the Cederberg
Day five: deep Cederberg wilderness
Final day: open plains, Bainskloof Pass and Franschhoek Pass to the finish. Celebratory dinner.
Each night, riders arrive at a different private venue, with three teams working ahead to set up camp in advance. Every location has been selected to feel uniquely distinct from the previous one to reinforce the sense of progression and transition underlying the essence of being on a journey. The event organisers place a strong emphasis on good food, hospitality and regional touches that make each stop memorable.
Anyone who is feeling the adventure riding itch and needs to scratch it could do no better than to head to Pangea Rally to find out more about the event, the various packages on offer and other details…
