Watch: Our Karoo Webinar with Jaco and Katja

On Wednesday 30 September, Oli sat down for a conversation with our South Africa guides; Jaco and Katja. They are the reason we travel to the Karoo, and, dialling in from Cape Town they told us all about the Karoo to Coast journey: how it came about, what makes it special, and why it's the one Slow Cyclist destination that gets five-star reviews every single time. If you joined us, thank you. If you missed it, here's the recording in full.

Why We Go to the Karoo

The Klein Karoo is a part of South Africa that most visitors never see, tucked between the famous Garden Route and the vast interior of the Great Karoo. During the webinar, Oli talked through how The Slow Cyclist came to travel here, and the years-long relationship with Jaco and Katja that anchors the trip. As they put it themselves, even South Africans are often surprised the Karoo exists at all.

The journey moves through three entirely different landscapes over the course of a week, and guests often comment on how much the environment around them changes with a single day, let alone the entire week. It's these ever-changing landscapes, more than any single view, that guests talk about most.

The Trip in Summary: Karoo to Coast

Route: George, Prince Albert, Oudtshoorn, Kammanassie, Herold, De Vlugt, Knysna, Sedgefield.

Duration: 7 nights / 8 days on the scheduled journey

Activity level: 3 out of 5, by e-bike and on foot. Full cycling days run 40 to 65km, mostly on gravel farm roads with some tarmac, and a few steep ascents and descents. Walks are just over an hour and not technical, though expect some uneven ground.

When to go: January to May and August to November.

Scheduled departures

Prefer to travel with your own group? Private departures start from £3,895 per person, based on 12 guests.

Any Other Questions?

Oli, Jaco and Katja covered a good number of the questions we're asked most often about the Karoo during the Q&A. If yours didn't come up, our Karoo to Coast FAQ blog covers visas, flights, safety, wildlife and everything in between.

Want to know more? A few stories worth a read:

Ready to book, or still have a question? Get in touch and we'll help you find the right dates. Or head to our Karoo trip page for the full itinerary!