For years, there had been talk about doing an exclusive Triumph weekend away. It was one of those ideas that kept coming up, being discussed and then disappearing again as life and the demands of running a motorcycle business got in the way. Eventually, after plenty of planning and location scouting, the team settled on a destination that offered far more than just a tranquil weekend away: the Lowveld.
The idea had actually started a few years earlier. In June 2022, we launched the Tiger 1200 range and once again needed to find a location that could showcase the bike's ability to handle both off-road adventure and the kind of twisty asphalt that makes almost any rider want to keep going for another corner.
Fortunately, South Africa gives us plenty of options. We are spoilt when it comes to riding, whether your preference is dirt, tar or a combination of the two. But time and time again, the Lowveld stands out. There is something about riding in this part of the country that is difficult to beat. One minute you're working your way through sweeping bends, the next you're surrounded by mountains, thick vegetation or seemingly endless roads disappearing into the distance.
The decision was therefore an easy one. The Lowveld it was, and our friends at Hippo Hollow Country Estate were more than happy to accommodate us. Tickets went live and, within the first two weeks, the event was almost sold out.
Then, finally, Friday 4 September arrived.
THE RIDE TO THE LOWVELD
With a fully booked event and riders leaving from both Triumph Johannesburg and Triumph Centurion, the weekend was always going to start with a proper day in the saddle. The Centurion group, led by Ian van der Merwe, DP of the Centurion branch, took a slightly longer route to make the most of the riding while the weather was still on our side, while the Johannesburg group gathered at the dealership for a catch-up and rider briefing before heading towards Dullstroom with Bruce Allen, CEO of Triumph Motorcycles South Africa, leading the way.
Our group was a proper mix of Triumph machinery, from Tiger 1200 Rally Pros and Tiger 900 GT Pros to Bonnevilles, Roadsters and even a Rocket 3. It was a great combination and a reminder that, although we may ride very different Triumphs, we are all ultimately chasing the same thing: a good road and somewhere worth riding to.
The first challenge arrived sooner than expected. The wind had picked up considerably, and while a headwind or tailwind is something most riders can live with, a strong crosswind is an entirely different story. Near Delmas, some of the bikes were leaning at what felt like a 20-degree angle just to keep travelling in a straight line, with riders constantly countering the gusts.
It was challenging, but this is also part of what makes riding a motorcycle so different from travelling in a car. You don't simply experience the weather; you experience it physically. You feel the wind, the temperature and every change in the road beneath you. You're not only connected to your machine, but to everything happening around you.
About 10 km outside Dullstroom, one of the riders experienced a problem and pulled over. Initially, we assumed it was a puncture, but Bruce turned around to assess the situation and discovered that the valve had torn. Unfortunately, that was a slightly bigger problem than a simple puncture.
Bruce quickly started working out a solution, and as luck would have it, another attendee had family travelling towards Dullstroom with a custom-built T120. They were only around 20 km away, which meant help was on the way.
The rest of the Johannesburg group continued into Dullstroom and stopped at the Duck & Trout Country Pub for something to eat. By now, however, the weather apps had become almost as interesting as the motorcycles. We still had roughly 150 km to go, the grey clouds were gathering and the wind was continuing to pick up.
We also knew what was waiting for us: Long Tom Pass.
LONG TOM PASS
Some of the Triumph crew had already left earlier to get everything ready at Hippo Hollow, and Mike called Bruce with a warning that the wind through Long Tom was particularly bad. The message was passed on to the group before we set off for the final stretch.
I was pretty excited about what lay ahead. From Mashishing (Lydenburg) towards Sabie, Long Tom Pass climbs from around 1,456 metres to a summit of approximately 2,150 metres. Originally a wagon route used in the 1800s by transport riders travelling towards Mozambique, the pass now offers something considerably more enjoyable: 66 bends, beautiful asphalt and some spectacular views.
As we climbed, the temperature dropped and the wind became stronger. The conditions meant we had to take things seriously, but thankfully the rain stayed away and the road remained dry. Strong winds are one thing; strong winds combined with a wet mountain pass would have been a very different proposition.
We made our way through at a comfortable pace, which was exactly what the rider briefing had called for. This wasn't a race to see who could reach the venue first. The message was simple: ride at a pace you're comfortable with, don't push your limits and enjoy the journey.
That familiar saying came to mind: “it's not about the destination, it's about the journey.” And this weekend was a pretty good example of why that saying exists. There was no reason to rush. The more time you spent looking around, the more you realised just how much there was to take in.
Once we had cleared Long Tom and made our way towards Sabie, another highlight of the trip was waiting for us: the infamous 22.
The 22 km stretch between Sabie and the Kiepersol turnoff is regarded as one of the best motorcycling roads in South Africa, and for good reason. Once we hit it, everything seemed to come together. The road was dry, the weather had settled and, remarkably, there wasn't a car in sight.
The bends just kept coming. It was almost as if the bike and the road had fallen into their own rhythm, with one sweeping corner leading naturally into the next. After the challenges of the wind earlier in the day, this was exactly what we had come for.
Eventually the bends gave way to the road into Hazyview, but the scenery continued to change. We were getting closer to Kruger National Park, and the signs warning about monkeys, hippos and antelope were a pretty good reminder that we were entering a very different part of the country.
There is an almost immediate sense of safari around Hazyview. The pace of life seems to change, and after spending so much time riding through the mountains and forests, it felt good to simply take it all in.
HIPPO HOLLOW
Riding into Hippo Hollow Country Estate, we were greeted by a beautiful row of fever trees alongside a small dam before being handed our goodie bags and room keys.
The rooms were spectacular, arranged in a circular layout that gave everyone plenty of privacy while overlooking the gardens and communal swimming pool. Some of the rooms on the outskirts of the estate bordered the Sabie River, and the setting made it remarkably easy to forget about the outside world.
That evening, everyone gathered at the restaurant overlooking the river and Elephant Whispers. With dense vegetation surrounding us, elephants across the river and a rather large crocodile sitting on the embankment, it felt less like we were at a resort and more like we had somehow landed in the middle of the bush.
After approximately eight hours in the saddle, a drink, some good conversation and a briefing from Bruce on the weekend ahead, it was time for dinner. A generous buffet was waiting, with just about everything you could ask for after a long day on a motorcycle.
SATURDAY ADVENTURE
Saturday started early with breakfast at 7am, after which riders could choose their own adventure. Some decided to stay at the estate and enjoy the surroundings, while others headed out to explore more of what the Lowveld had to offer, either on tar or off-road.
The tar group of around 30 bikes was split into two smaller groups for the day's outing, heading out on a loop of some of the scenic roads linking Hazyview, Sabie, White River, Mbombela and Sudwala Caves.
The tar riding in this area is simply sublime. There is a great combination of twisties to keep you engaged and the heart rate up, mixed with beautiful sweeping roads winding through the forest plantations. For everyone in the group, a full day on the bike was a treat, and thankfully the weather played along, keeping things dry and cool.
It wasn't all about pushing on, though. A welcome coffee stop at the Orchid Farm Stall gave everyone a chance to slow down, relax and, as always happens on these trips, chat to new friends and compare notes on the morning's riding.
Lunch was at the Woodsman in Sabie, where the hugely hospitable owner, Chris, had prepared a super-tasty shawarma lunch for the group. There was plenty of time to sit around, chat, warm up around the fire and enjoy the break before heading out for the final stretch back to Hippo Hollow.
All in all, it was around 220 km of Lowveld riding at its best. Great roads, beautiful scenery, a relaxed vibe and a group of genuinely cool people made the journey to Hazyview for the weekend more than worthwhile.
Meanwhile, the off-road group, led by Lowveld explorer Paul Carnell, headed towards Sabie once again, but this time through the magnificent Sappi forests towards Pilgrim's Rest. After a quick stop for a drink, the group continued towards the Chubby Pig, situated on the banks of the Treur River.
After a good dose of off-road riding, it was time to stretch the legs and, more importantly, fill the stomachs. The food went down well, but the generous coffee milkshakes deserve a special mention. They were, quite possibly, worth the ride on their own.
Whilst lunch was being enjoyed, it became pretty obvious that the weather was changing, and quickly. A cloudburst opened up above the group for around 10 to 15 minutes, enough to soak the bikes and turn the dirt road into something considerably more interesting.
That didn't bother anyone too much. We knew what we had signed up for: adventure.
With the weather deteriorating, the group decided not to continue north towards Blyde River Canyon and instead made their way back towards Graskop. A quick detour to God's Window unfortunately didn't offer much of a view, with the mist reducing the attraction to little more than water droplets steadily making their way down our visors.
The group eventually made it back to Hazyview slightly damp but still in good spirits, with just enough time to clean up and get dressed in our green and gold. Because Saturday night had one more important event on the schedule: the Springboks were playing the All Blacks.
BOKKE, BILTONG & BRAAI
Triumph had organised a private conference room with snacks, biltong and a large projector, and we settled in to watch one of the greatest rivalries in world rugby. The Bokke did what the Bokke do best, beating the All Blacks 29–24 and giving everyone something else to celebrate before dinner.
And, naturally, dinner was another buffet, this time featuring the traditional South African braai. Bruce addressed the group before dinner, thanking everyone for a fantastic weekend and wishing the riders a safe journey home the following morning. Then we ate, chatted about the day's adventures and slowly settled into another evening in the Lowveld.
ONE LAST RIDE
By Sunday morning, some riders were already packing up for the trip home, while others weren't quite ready to leave the Lowveld behind. My wife and I were among the latter, so we decided to extend our stay and finally tick Blyde River Canyon off our bucket list.
The ride there was every bit as good as we had hoped. The roads were phenomenal, the scenery seemed to change around every corner and the views into the canyon were the kind you normally associate with photographs rather than something you're lucky enough to experience from the seat of a motorcycle.
There were some wet patches along the way, but it was more than worth it. Waking up the following morning to fogged-up windows looking out over the canyon was the perfect ending to an already memorable weekend
Looking back, my wife and I couldn't have asked for a better motorcycle to take on the trip. Our Tiger 1200 Alpine Edition handled everything we threw at it, from the long highway stretches and harsh crosswinds to Long Tom Pass, the sweeping bends of the 22 and the wet roads of the Lowveld.
More importantly, the weekend was a reminder of why we ride. It's not always about getting somewhere. Sometimes it's about the road, the people you meet along the way, the unexpected weather, the detours, the conversations and those moments when you stop, take off your helmet and realise you've completely switched off from everything else.
For a few days, we had nothing to worry about except where the road was taking us next. And that's a pretty good way to spend a weekend.
Here's to the next one.
- Jarred Leslie
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