It's easy to see why cycling is popular in South Africa: you can get to stunning destinations on good roads unclogged by traffic, and many towns have decent cycle shops for spares and equipment.

You'll need to be fit though, as South Africa is a hilly place, and many roads have punishing gradients. The weather can make life difficult too: if it isn't raining, there is a good chance of it being ery hot, so carry plenty of liquids. An increasing number of backpacker hostels rent out mountain bikes for reasonable rates, making it easy to do plenty of cycling without haing to transport your bike into the country. Cycling on the main roads is not recommended.