First, how do we pick our tour guides and drivers? To legally operate as a tour guide in South Africa, the individual must complete several training courses and be residing in SA or have a work permit if they are from elsewhere. These training courses are region specific and “guides to be” choose certain subjects depending on the region/s they chose to work in and qualify for. We distinguish between national and regional tour guides. At Motorcycle Tours Africa we use both depending on the tours we are running. Besides the training, they must spend time on the road to get to know the various regions, the roads and gain experience in general. Upon completion of the required training courses and obtaining a first aid certificate, the individual will register with the local Department of Tourism. This registration is renewable every three years and allows the individual to work as a tour guide. Besides having a good general knowledge and understanding of what a tour guides responsibility are, general knowledge of the day to day running of the country and elements influencing these are imperative. Being a good, compassionate and caring host is also part of the job! If the individual has all the above qualifications and attributes, we will consider them as a tour guide. The most important attribute we need to add is also the most obvious – they must ride a motorcycle, have a passion for motorcycling and understand the heart of our “motorcycling world”. The rest of the qualities we will work on as we progress……
Our drivers are seasoned individuals with a wealth of experience in the tourism industry. Some are also qualified technical people with a solid mechanical background to assist with any mechanical matters one might have to attend to on the road.