Drivers License requirements:
Our insurance policy requires that all riders are at least 25
years of age and are in possession of a valid riders license for the class
of motorcycle to be rented. Only licenses issued in South Africa, its neighboring
countries and international driver’s licenses are valid.
What can I expect to pay for fuel in Southern Africa? Fuel in South Africa
and bordering countries may vary from about R7.00 to R12.00 a liter. (Use R10.00
a liter as an average to calculate an estimated cost for fuel on a trip through
Southern Africa)
Can I cross the border to neighboring countries?
(Rentals only) Any trips to countries beyond the borders of South Africa require
prior authorization from GS Adventures. Additional insurance cover might be
required from time to time, and country to country. You need to supply us with
a detailed inventory prior to departure. Contact GS Adventures for details.
Insurance:
Insurance cover is included in all rates quoted on our standard rate chart.
A deposit of €1500.00 will be required (held by means of a credit card
authorization or cash deposit) on every rental. Pannier use will attract an
additional deposit of €250.00. Deposits will be refunded once the motorcycle
has been inspected on return.
How far will my Money go in South Africa?
World Guide index price (estimates only)
Item Price in Rand Price & Euro
Can of Coke R4.50 €0.50
Small bottle of water R6.50 €0.80
Cup of coffee R10.00 €1.20
Hot dog R12.00 €1.40
Hamburger R15.00 €1.80
Movie ticket R25.00 €3.00
Souvenir T-shirt R80.00 €9.00
What should I not miss when visiting South Africa (rentals):
If you have only a few days in South Africa, this is what you should do to
get a flavor of the culture and country.
· Visit a game park to view the Big Five
· Take a cableway trip up Table Mountain
· Visit Robben Island from the V & A Waterfront, Cape Town
· Go down a mine at Gold Reef City
· Take a tour of Soweto, the country's largest township
Accommodation (tours):
We only sleep 3 (at least) or 4 (preferred) star guest houses or hotels and
assure you the best accommodation the region has to offer. If camping and
roughing it is your style, contact us to prepare a custom itinerary for the
more “wild at heart” type of adventures.
Where can I book tickets (rentals)?
The nationwide electronic booking service for cinemas, theatres, buses, sporting
events etc Tel: 011 978 5315 or 083 915 8000. Website:www.computicket.com
Drinking Water:
Tap water is safe to drink. Alcohol - only over 18s may purchase; may not be
consumed in public. For drivers, the legal blood/alcohol limit is 0.05mg per
100 ml. Do NOT drink and drive.
Driving:
South Africans drive on the left, and give way to the right. Drivers must have
a valid license, with photo, or an international driving permit. Speed limits
(on motorways- 120kph; elsewhere - 100kph; built-up areas - 60kph
Electricity:
Current is 200/230 volts at 50 cycles per second. A three-point round-pin adaptor
is required for razors and hairdryers.
Health/Medical - Malaria and other diseases:
In summer malaria precautions are advisable for tours to the North Eastern
areas. Extreme caution is advised regarding sexually transmitted diseases and
use of water in rural areas. Medical and hospital charges must be paid for
immediately. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Smoking:
Is not permitted in enclosed public premises. Restaurants normally have a smoking
section though.
Tipping:
Waiters and taxi drivers generally expect 10% of the bill. Porters expect from
R5 per bag.
VAT:
Value Added Tax, currently at 14 %, is levied on most goods and services. Visitors
may reclaim VAT on purchases over R 250 at international points of departure.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS:
· POLICE FLYING SQUAD 10111
· AMBULANCE 1022
Traffic and speeding fines:
The amount is recovered by a debit to the rider or guarantor's credit card,
and will include an administration fee of not less than R150. The signing of
the contract will give GS Adventures the authority to do this without prior
warning and without a time limit. Proof of any fines will also be provided
via email to the offender by GS Adventures.
How much riding experience must I have to participate in one of your
trips? First of all you must have a valid motorcycle license. Partaking
in one of our tours you should at least be able to travel comfortable 400km
per day, but be assured we won’t burn your backside as we have rest
days in between, and you should do fine.
For off-road trips you should have some off-road riding experience. We recommend
completing a official BMW’s Off-road Academy course. We can also arrange
for off-road courses before your trip. (http://www.countrytrax.co.za/)
If you have any doubt about whether your experience is adequate for the trip,
please contact us.
Can a non-riding guest join me on the trip?
(Guided Tours) Yes. Our support vehicles are spacious and comfortable
providing an enjoyable ride for non-riding companions. For each trip,
we will accept reservations for up to two non-riding guests who may travel
in the support vehicle. The cost is the same as for a motorcycle passenger.
Is it necessary for me to have a GPS receiver?
It isn't necessary, but if you are accustomed to using one, bring it along.
We can also supply you with a GPS unit as part of our accessories offering.
How many riders will be in the group?
(Guided Tours) Trips are usually between 6(min) and 12(max) motorcycles, plus
the tour leaders. We think customers will prefer the more custom, intimate
nature of a trip with fewer motorcycles.
What type of accommodations do you provide?
(Guided Tours) We provide the best accommodation available in the area never
rated less than 3 star but preferably rated 4 star. The basic tour price
includes double occupancy, but you can reserve a private room if you want
to pay a single room supplement.
What's for dinner?
(Guided Tours) In most cases, you'll order whatever you want from the restaurant
menu. You can count on restaurant selections to be first class. Occasionally,
dinners may be served buffet-style. Alcoholic beverages are not included
as part of the tour package.
Can you commit that I will ride the model of motorcycle that
I request?
Once we confirm that the model you requested is available for the period you
require, we will guarantee that you will ride the model of motorcycle that
you requested. We will notify you immediately if all units of that model are
already booked, and we will offer a different choice.
Should we experience a technical problem with the model you selected
and it cannot be fixed before your departure, we can substitute a more
expensive model for the model you requested with no extra cost to you.
.
I need a motorcycle with a lowered seat. Can you provide one?
Yes, we can provide a lowered version of the BMW F650GS. Just let us know what
your requirements are, and we will confirm whether we can assist you.
I am tall and need raised handlebars? Can you provide it?
Yes, we can equip your motorcycle with raised handlebars in order to provide
a more comfortable ride. Just let us know what your requirements are, and we
will confirm whether we can assist you.
What if the motorcycle breaks down? We are committed to
provide you with a spare motorcycle, while yours is fixed. We don't have
an obligation to replace a motorcycle that has been rendered inoperable due
to any accidents.
What riding clothing should I bring?
We recommend that full rider gear is worn at all times. Make sure your gear
is suitable for warm to hot climates as well as protection for wet weather.
Should you require any gear, we can provide you with it if you let us know
in advance. Although Southern Africa is warm and summer days hot, always
be prepared for a bit of rain – so remember to pack in your rain gear,
especially if you are using air ventilated riding gear. Contact us if you
need more details.
How do I stay in touch with home in case of an emergency?
(Guided Tours) Our tour leaders are equipped with cellular phones and/or satellite
phones and can accept calls in the support vehicle during the day, or in the
hotels in the evening. We can assist you in obtaining your own cell phone for
use during your stay. The base rental for the phone is about €1.00 per
day. Outgoing calls are expensive, but incoming calls to the cell phone are
very inexpensive if you subscribe to the telephone service we recommend before
you leave home. Then, friends and family members can contact you on your own
cell phone when you aren’t riding.
What's included in the cost? (Guided Tours)
The tour price includes lodging based on double occupancy. Riders
wishing to reserve private accommodations may do so by adding a single
room supplement to the cost of their trip.
Our trips include all breakfasts and dinners. Alcoholic beverages are
excluded. The trip price also includes airport transfers to and from
the starting location of the trip (provided you arrive at the airport
closest to the departure point – see tours for details. Premium
activities like the hot-air balloon flights, games watching on elephant
back or helicopter flips are included as well.
The base price includes the cost of the motorcycle with unlimited mileage.
A motorcycle larger than the base unit may be reserved at additional
cost. The motorcycles are equipped with a top case and panniers. We deliver
the motorcycle with a full tank of gas and ask that it be returned full.
The cost also includes route maps, directions, addresses and contact
information for our hotels, emergency contact numbers, GPS coordinates
and routes, and an overview of the activities and attractions for each
day of the trip.
What's not included? (Guided Tours)
The fee does not include airfare or other transportation costs
to the starting city of the trip or alcoholic beverages when on tour.
While the tour price includes many planned premium activities such as
helicopter and hot-air balloon rides, game drives, park and entertainment
admissions, it may not include an activity of specific interest to you.
Petrol is for the drivers own account – please make sure you have
some cash in hand as credit cards are not accepted as payment method
at garages. The fee also does not include medical evacuation coverage.
The coverage, very modest in cost, is strongly recommended. We'll suggest
how to obtain it.
Any items not mentioned as included are not included.
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