South Africa Enduro Tour

This time, the bike trip to South Africa begins with a pleasant surprise. You simply fly "straight down", and at my age I especially appreciate that there's no time difference and therefore no jet lag - a real plus for any rider who'd rather save their energy for the off-road.

It feels like just a stone's throw into a completely different world. When rally legend Alfie Cox greets us at Umtata Airport the next morning with his trademark smile, anticipation soars beyond measure. Our tour kicks off right at the airport, uncomplicated and friendly. The brand-new 2025 KTM EXC 300 TBI enduros are already waiting on the trailer, and after a quick distribution of luggage into the support vehicle, we head off to our first base camp.

We spend the first four days in the Coffee Bay area on the Indian Ocean. As a European plagued by mass tourism, I can hardly believe what I'm seeing here: miles of dream beaches line up like pearls along the Wild Coast - and they're empty of people. Instead, we share these paradisiacal bays with cows, sheep, and goats. Our accommodation, with direct beach access and ocean views, makes us quickly forget the icy European winter.

What surprises me most: we're riding brand-new 2025 KTM EXC300 TBI two-strokes, fitted with super-soft Mitas Hard Enduro tyres. This combination offers almost unbelievable grip - no sign of worn-out rental bikes on cheap tyres. Alfie Cox clearly bets on premium equipment, which allows us to master even the most demanding terrain.

After the first climbs, Alfie quickly recognises the potential of our Austrian Hard Enduro group, and his mischievous grin reveals that he expects a lot from us. Even after 28 years of guiding tours, the racing veteran hasn't lost an ounce of his enthusiasm. With every successfully mastered steep climb he beams like a kid at Christmas, and even when someone dabs a foot during a river crossing, his hearty laugh is infectious.

What makes this region special is its incredible variety. From steep cliff climbs with ocean views to technical forest sections, it's all here. The biggest challenge often isn't traction - that's astonishingly good thanks to the great tyres - but rather finding the perfect body balance on the bike. On our rainy day, some forest climbs become real tests of strength, but the breathtaking coastal trails make up for every bit of effort.

Anyone who thinks it's just about riding is mistaken. The Hard Enduro tour gives us a unique insight into the country and its people. We immerse ourselves deeply in the landscape, visit small, authentic local spots, and experience both the beauty and the darker sides of South Africa. The famous "Hole in the Wall", an impressive rock formation off the coast, is just one of many highlights. It's the countless small moments and the absolute freedom of riding enduro that make this tour something truly special.

Our guide Alfie Cox is no ordinary tour guide - he's a genuine motorsport icon of South Africa. In his impressive career, he wrote himself into the history books of rally sport, particularly with KTM. At the toughest rally in the world, the Dakar, Cox stood on the podium several times between 1998 and 2006. His best result came in 2002, finishing second in the motorcycle category on a KTM LC4 660R. But Cox's successes aren't limited to desert sand - at the legendary Erzbergrodeo in Austria, he won the very first Erzberg event in 1995. He also won the "Roof of Africa" in Lesotho, one of the toughest enduro races in the world, no fewer than nine times. After his successful two-wheel career, Cox switched to the car category of the Dakar Rally in 2007. When he talks about his racing adventures, you immediately sense: here speaks someone who doesn't just live off-road sport but has decisively shaped it.

Coffee Bay, nestled within the spectacular Wild Coast of South Africa's Eastern Cape province, owes its name to a curious historical event: in the 19th century, a ship carrying a cargo of coffee beans ran aground here, and the beans, washed ashore, allegedly began to sprout. Today, this region is a fascinating example of South Africa's geological and cultural diversity. The coastline is shaped by dramatic sandstone and shale cliffs that formed around 280 million years ago during the Karoo Ice Age. Over millennia, the power of the Indian Ocean carved out spectacular formations such as the famous "Hole in the Wall" - a massive freestanding rock with a natural breach through which the surf thunders at high tide. The region's climate is strongly influenced by the warm Agulhas Current, which creates subtropical conditions. During the South African summer (December to February), temperatures can climb above 30°C, while in "winter" they stay pleasantly mild at 15-20°C. The lush vegetation is dominated by evergreen grassland, interspersed with isolated coastal forests. Wildlife here is surprisingly diverse: alongside the ever-present Nguni cattle of the local Xhosa population, dozens of bird species live here, including the majestic crowned crane. Dolphins and whales frolic in the waters during migration season, while various fish species can be found in the rivers. The area's relative unspoiled nature is not least thanks to the complicated history of apartheid - as part of the former homeland of Transkei, the region was spared mass tourism and to this day retains its original character.

The enduro tours with Alfie are truly a great package - even for people who don't normally travel far. Alfie picks up his "boys" and "girls" at the airport and brings them back there too. In between, Alfie Cox, together with his wife Hazel, takes caring charge of his charges. You don't need any special vaccinations, and you don't even need local currency - Alfie takes care of everything. The 2300 euros include guide, rental bikes, food, drinks (alcoholic beverages not included), petrol, and snacks. Alfie's great strength is certainly his ability to read the group with a lot of sensitivity. He prefers group bookings of friends in group sizes of 5 to 10 people. Alfie has been running these tours for 28 years and has personally led every single one so far. Clear statement: in the last 25 years, I haven't come across anyone who does this job better than Alfie. He's the ideal combination of entertainer, coach, guide, and tour leader. And as a bonus, you get a motorsport chatterbox along for the ride. During meal breaks, he loves telling wonderful stories from his varied career. You can contact Alfie's wife Hazel here. She looks forward to hearing from you and to a shared tour. In principle, the tours are possible all year round. But most Europeans come during the European winter months.

The brand-new 2025 KTM EXC 300 TBI two-strokes prove to be the perfect choice for this African adventure, and after just the first few metres it's clear: nothing has been skimped on here. The combination of super-soft Mitas Hard Enduro tyres and a very ambitiously tuned mousse setup (120mm wide mousse in the 140 rear tyre) gives the bikes almost supernatural grip. On rental bikes I normally always find super-hard tyres that last forever. These luxury hard enduro tyres are exactly the choice Alfie would ride privately too. Simply proper good tyres for demanding terrain. The versatility of the terrain pushes both rider and machine to the limit. From steep cliff climbs with breathtaking ocean views to muddy forest sections, the KTM has to handle it all. The river crossings in particular are no joke: the water is extremely slippery due to the high nitrate content from the ever-present cattle herds and the soap residue from locals washing their clothes here. More than once, soaked boots have to be borrowed when one of the participants takes an involuntary bath. The particular challenge here lies not only in the slipperiness itself but also in the constant uncertainty about the actual water depth and the nature of the ground. What looks from the outside like a simple water crossing often turns out to be a treacherous trap with large, slippery rocks or unexpectedly deep holes.

What particularly distinguishes the KTM 300 EXC is its incredible robustness. Despite the harshest strains from constant clutch slipping on steep climbs, aggressive acceleration out of deep mud holes, and the inevitable crashes, the bikes show no signs of weakness whatsoever. The machines' ability to master even the trickiest sections impresses the whole group anew every single day. Especially the perfect balance between explosive power delivery and sensitive control makes the KTM the ideal companion for these extreme challenges. The characteristic two-stroke sound of the 300 echoes through the valleys and becomes a constant companion of this unforgettable adventure trip. On the other hand, we enjoyed the low weight on the descents and delighted in the handling through the tricky sections. Across the entire group, we didn't have a single technical defect or any problem whatsoever with any of the bikes during the week. Maintenance effort: lubing the chain, refuelling, and cleaning the air filters once.

A special highlight are the steep climbs right on the beaches of the Indian Ocean. Here it's less about raw engine power and much more about the perfect balance between rider and machine. The combination of the powerful two-stroke engine and the sensitive suspension proves ideal for the varied demands of this extraordinary tour. Particularly impressive is the rideability on the steep climbs - while the engine delivers its power gently and controllably down low, an impressive amount of power is available in the upper rev range, turning even the steepest ascents into a controllable pleasure. The changing weather conditions present an additional challenge. From blazing sunshine to tropical downpours, it's all there, yet the KTM masters every situation with flying colours. Especially in the slippery forest sections after rainfall, the quality of the suspension shows itself. The suspension elements soak up even the hardest hits with composure and always give the rider precise feedback from the ground. The engine character can be dosed perfectly - from gentle gliding over muddy sections to powerful pull out of deep mud holes.

• Clothing, helmet, boots, gloves: https://foxracing.at/moto/
• Communication: Cardo Packtalk Edge
• Waterproof Enduristan backpack: https://enduristan.de/collections/rucksacks-1
• The travel bag for enduro trips: Ogio 9800
• The tyres: Mitas EF-07 Supersoft

The feeling of roaming through Africa's wilderness in the saddle of a KTM makes even a spoiled journalist like me wax lyrical: "I can't imagine how people go through a life on this earth, 70, 80, 90 years, and never ride enduro. It's simply unimaginable!" The intensity of the experiences, the constant challenge of keeping man and machine in harmony, the deep immersion in nature - all of it is addictive. When the power of the Indian Ocean mixes with the adrenaline of a technically demanding enduro section, when the spicy scent of African earth is intensified by the rain showers, and when the next seemingly impossible climb waits on the horizon, it becomes clear: this here is enduro in its purest form.

The humorous moments of the tour also remain unforgettable. Like when Alfie Cox, after the first supposedly "easy" climbs of his Austrian guests, decided to significantly raise the level - with the result that the self-proclaimed "hard enduristas" suddenly started sweating. Or the moment when one of the participants performed an involuntary somersault over the handlebars during a river crossing and emerged from the muddy water looking like a drowned rat. "An obstacle smells your fear like a dog" became my new insight. Every time I hesitated in front of a steep climb again. You have to tackle the obstacle with your chest puffed out proudly - then you'll manage it. And that's exactly how it is with supposedly big trips too. Just do it - don't hesitate! The moments here in Africa were priceless and will stay with me forever!