CAPE TOWN & WESTERN CAPE
MOTORBIKE-on-TRAIN TOUR to
2011 RHINO RALLY in HARRISMITH

Train tour: 27 to 31 October 2011
Rally: 28 to 30 October 2011

You always wanted to attend the biggest motorbike rally in South Africa but it was too far to travel by bike. Now we've made it easy for you to be able to attend. Don't miss it.

If you are a “big biker” and you've done all the roads and routes in the Western Cape and you would like to attend the 2011 Rhino Rally - please read on.

Our company does many train tours from Gauteng and other cities to various destinations in Southern Africa and this will be another one departing from Cape Town. Be part of it. We are ready to take you from the Western Cape to the Eastern Free State for a most enjoyable motorbike-on-train transfer. By the way, we did these trips many times since 2007.

Visit places and roads that you've never seen before (or heard off); experience the scenic mountain passes with curves and corners galore; attend the 2011 Rhino Rally in Harrismith and make life long biker friends. Avoid the long riding and boring stretches through the Karoo and spare your bike, bum and tyres accordingly!

This tour is a combination of: travelling by train (with your bike on the train with you); doing some new routes and attending the 2011 Rhino Rally.

When travelling by train we make use of the scheduled Trans Karoo Tourist Class train. It is safe & secure, comfortable and very affordable.

All the roads from Klerksdorp to Harrismith (337 km) are on good tarred roads.

The group is limited to a maximum of 16 motorbikes per tour - plus a pillion per bike (is very welcome). I.e.: Max. 32 passengers per tour.

Why travel by train?

  1. To cut out the longs straight roads of the Karoo (CPT to Harrismith = 1334 km's)
  2. To do something different
  3. 'Cause the bike can travel along on the train
  4. To start fresh when arriving in the Free State
  5. To have fun the moment you depart from Cape Town
  6. To rest and relax on the way back
  7. To enjoy the scenery from a different angle
  8. 'Cause it is safe & secure
  9. 'Cause travelling by train is ‘lekker'
  10. To discover new routes, places and people
  11. To reduce the ‘wear & tears' on your bike.

Who may come along? Any person who is interested in visiting and attending the 2011 Rhino Rally and surroundings can ride a big bike (500cc+) and would like to travel. By the way, you must bring your own bike! All genders welcome. It is NOT a pre-requisite that you have to belong to any club or bikers' forum.

Note:  Do it together. Take your pillion along. (Sorry, no Sheila's provided!)

Our company hosts various other train tours to destinations all over Southern Africa. I.e.: Namibia, Namaqualand Flowers, Lowveld, KZN, Art Festivals, Sports tours, etc.

Name of tour  2011 Rhino Rally Motorbike Train Tour

Tour dates 27 to 31 October 2011  Thursday morning to Monday afternoon

Tour number RR

Departure times

Cape Town 10:00 Platform 24 Day 1
Worcester 13:30 Platform 1 Day 1
Klerksdorp 16:25 Platform 1 Day 4

Arrival times

Klerksdorp 08:14 Platform 1 Day 2
Worcester 11:50 Platform 1 Day 2
Cape Town 15:30 Platform 24 Day 5

Tour price Compartment on Train: 4-Bed        2 Beds/Room in Hotel

Price per Biker Persons per
4-Bed Comp'ment
R3600 4
R3870 3
R4400 2
   
Price per Biker Persons per
2-Bed Coupe
R3800 2
R4600 1

The Pillion pays R2000 per person less than the biker.

Children

Children pay the above prices. Sorry, no discount.

Deposit

A R1000 per person non-refundable deposit will secure your place. The balance must be paid by latest six weeks before departure date. If NOT paid, your place will be cancelled automatically.

Cancellations

No cancellations accepted. You may transfer your booking to someone else with the consent of the organisers.

Included in price

Return transport by train to Klerksdorp, 2 nights’ accommodation on the train, your bike on the same train, tour guide, as well as certain meals as per the attached program.

Excluded from the tour price

Entry fees at Rhino Rally (+-R200), accommodation at Harrismith, bedding on the train (use your sleeping bag), expenses of a personal nature, fuel, toll gate fees, breakdowns or bike recovering costs, tie-downs for your bike. Anything else not mentioned in the Information Document.

Meals

Breakfast 2x and dinner 2 x on the train. All other (tasty) meals are available at very reasonable prices on the train.

Bar facilities

Available on the train.

Train Route

You will travel on the Trans Karoo Tourist Class Train from Cape Town via Worcester, Laingsburg and Beaufort West to Klerksdorp. You may join en route with your bike at Worcester only.

Bike ride routes

The shortest route on Day 2 from Klerksdorp to Harrismith goes via Orkney, Viljoenskroon, Kroonstad, Steynsrust, Lindley and Bethlehem. A total distance of 337 km.

During your stay at the Rhino Rally, you may choose to travel over Van Reenens Pass to Bergville and back over Oliviershoek Pass to Harrismith via the Sterkfontein Dam. Both are very scenic routes.

We would like to suggest that on the return trip you travel from Harrismith via QwaQwa, Golden Gate and Clarens to Bethlehem and back to Klerksdorp. This is a VERY scenic route.

Accommodation on the train

Passengers will be accommodated in a 4-bed compartment or 2-bed coupe.

Accommodation in Harrismith

Each passenger (biker & pillion) must take care of his own accommodation needs whilst in Harrismith. This is NOT included in the tour price. Book NOW!

The caravan park is very popular for campers with tents or alternatively B&B’s can be booked. The fact that you arrive only on the Friday in Harrismith will leave you with a small challenge for a good spot in the caravan park. Remember to bring your own tent & bedding. Visit www.bikesa.net and click on the Rhino Rally link for accommodation in and around Harrismith. OR visit http://www.bikesa.biz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=57

Loading of the motorbikes

All the bikes must be brought to platform 24 at Cape Town station by latest at 08:00 on the day of departure. Owners to be present when loading and fastening are done. Please bring your own tie-downs. 4 Would be sufficient.

The motorbikes are transported in the Guard’s Van and will be hauled with the passenger train. This carriage is totally enclosed and the bikes won’t be exposed to wind and weather.

Insurance

Each bike owner is responsible for his/her own insurance on the bike.

Medical

Bring your medical fund card and medicines along.

Clothing

Casual clothing plus your normal personal biking gear.

Luggage

Just take what you need. Don’t take the whole wardrobe. You have to transport it yourself. Please mark each luggage bag clearly with your name on it.

BOOK NOW! Please complete the attached Reservation Form (one per person) and fax it to us, along with your Bank Deposit slip. Closing date is when the limited number of places is sold out. Your booking will be confirmed in writing.

Groups, clubs, associations and mates are welcome.

Visit our Photo Gallery for pictures of recent Motorbike-on-Train tours.

Travel & Biker greetings

Johan Badenhorst &
The JB Train Tours Team

Note #1:          We are hosting the following other Motorbike-on-Train tours as well:

JHB to Western Cape & Boland
JHB to Garden Route (Eastern & Southern Cape)
JHB to Namaqualand Flowers in September (dual purpose bikes only)
JHB to BMW Bike Fest in Oudtshoorn
DBN to Western Cape & Boland

Johannesburg - Cape Town - Johannesburg

Train Station Arrival Departure Train Station Arrival Departure
Johannesburg   12:30 day 1 Cape Town   10:00 day 6
Krugersdorp 13:09 day 1 13:14 day 1 Bellville 10:25 day 6 10:35 day 6
Potchefstroom 15:16 day 1 15:29 day 1 Hugenot 11:15 day 6 11:19 day 6
Klerksdorp 16:09 day 1 16:25 day 1 Wellington 11:30 day 6 11:36 day 6
Christiana 19:11 day 1 19:16 day 1 Worcester 13:10 day 6 13:30 day 6
Warrenton 19:49 day 1 19:55 day 1 Matjiesfontein 15:31 day 6 15:36 day 6
Kimberley 20:54 day 1 21:10 day 1 Laingsburg 16:00 day 6 16:10 day 6
De Aar 01:18 day 2 01:35 day 2 Beaufort west 19:25 day 6 19:50 day 6
Hutchinson 03:30 day 2 03:35 day 2 Hutchinson 21:34 day 6 21:39 day 6
Beaufort West 09:05 day 2 09:15 day 2 De Aar 23:25 day 6 23:45 day 6
Laingsburg 06:27 day 2 06:47 day 2 Kimberley 03:32 day 7 03:46 day 7
Matjiesfontein 09:38 day 2 09:43 day 2 Warrenton 04:43 day 7 04:48 day 7
Worcester 11:50 day 2 12:05 day 2 Christiana 05:16 day 7 05:21 day 7
Wellington 13:50 day 2 13:54 day 2 Klerksdorp 08:14 day 7 08:26 day 7
Hugenot 14:05 day 2 14:09 day 2 Potchefstroom 09:08 day 7 09:13 day 7
Bellville 14:50 day 2 15:00 day 2 Krugersdorp 11:20 day 7 11:25 day 7
Cape Town 15:30 day 2   Johannesburg 12:16 day 7  

Please note that running times are not guaranteed.

 

Provisional PROGRAMME

2011 RHINO RALLY MOTORBIKE-on-TRAIN TOUR
Oudtshoorn

Day 1 Thursday
   
08:00 Passengers with bikes meet at Cape Town station – Platform 24
10:00 Train departs Cape Town – Platform 24
Dinner on the train (included in the tour price)
Travel overnight
   
Day 2 Friday
   
07:00 Breakfast on the train (included in the tour price)
08:14

12:00		 Disembark at Klerksdorp
Travel by bike to Harrismith – own route
Book in at Harrismith
Evening at leisure – own program & local music provided
Sleep overnight
   
Day 3 Saturday
   
  Rhino Rally & activities
   
Day 4 Sunday
   
  Last morning of Rhino Rally activities
Depart by bike for Klerksdorp
16:09 Loading of bikes on train – Klerksdorp station
16:25 Train departs for Cape Town - Platform 1
Dinner served on the train (included in the tour price)
Travel overnight
   
Day 5 Monday
   
  Breakfast served on the train (included in the tour price)
11:50
15:30		 Arrival at Worcester station – Platform 1 *
Arrival at Cape Town station – Platform 24
Off loading of bikes
Go home & rest!

*              CPT passengers may disembark in Worcester and ride home by bike = 118 km

NB          All running times are ETA

RESERVATION FORM

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRAIN