Bicycle Touring through South Africa or Namibia - What to Pack

The items listed here may be long winded but from experience, needed. Please use this as a guide only. Cycle Africa Tours has listed the essential items required and welcomes any additions. Remember the number of days on tour, preferred types of accommodation, your addiction with technology and you wanting to do laundry will influence the things you pack.

Personal Biking Essentials

• Cycling gloves – for mountain biking tours we suggest long fingers, for road cycling we suggest fingerless
• Helmet
• Padded cycling shorts/ trousers x3
• Waterproof jacket
• Wind breaker
• Arm and leg warmers
• Biking socks
• Sunscreen (don’t forget your lips)
• Hydration system (for mountain biking)
• Bike computer/ GPS (not needed but great for those records)
• Cycling shoes (normal shoes work but you may enjoy cleeted shoes for MTB single track)
• Water bottle/ bottles (Water bladders are better for the longer off road MTB routes)
• Chafe cream

Own bike essentials

• Spare tubes x4
• Tyre levers
• Pump or bombs (don't forget the inflator)
• Puncture repair kit. (If tubeless then tubeless repair kit)
• Small nail (good to push thorns etc from tyre)
• Tweezers (good for extracting thorns etc that have just been pushed from tyre) 
• Chain specific “quick link”
• Bottle of chain lube
• Bike specific rear derailleur hanger
• Bike specific brake pads x2 sets
• We suggest a professional service prior to your cycle tour and dry lube on your chain
• Please bring any parts unique to your bike

Rental Bike Essentials

• You can bring your own pedals and or saddle

Personal & luggage

• Light backpack (great for our MTB tours and day hikes/ walks)
• Toiletries
• Personal medication
• Suncream (Factor 30+)
• Earplugs
• Insect repellent (Malaria prophylactic not needed and when, CAT will advise)
• Short clothesline and pegs (ideal should you wish to hand wash after a bike ride)

Clothing

• Cycling jerseys (short sleeved – use arm warmers if chilly)
• Casual light weight long pants
• Lightweight rain coat
• T shirts
• Socks (both for biking and casual)
• Underwear
• Fleece (Useful during the cooler months)
• Walking shoes
• Sandals (flip plops or crocks)
• Casual evening wear
• Bathing suite (NB)

Docs and Things

• Mobile phone (You can purchase a local SIM card for calls and data)
• Travel documents – Passport/ airline tickets/ drivers licence if needed
• Credit cards (All ATM machines accept CC, can also use in most restaurants)
• Cash
• NB - Make a copy of ALL pin codes

Now that you know what to pack, see our list of Bicycle Tours available through South Africa. Remember that all our bicycle tours can be tailored to meet your specific requirements. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details or should you have an addition to our list.