Ride the Wild: South Africa’s First Electric Dirt Bike Safari

Could this be the quietest safari on earth? A groundbreaking electric dirt bike tour through a protected South African reserve is changing the way riders experience safari country.

For Australian riders heading to South Africa, the journey between Johannesburg and the Kruger National Park has always been little more than a transit route. Now, there’s a compelling reason to stop, stay for a night or two – and ride.

High in the Steenkampsberg mountains lies the small town of Dullstroom, a cool-climate outpost better known for fly fishing than throttle control. But just beyond the town, something entirely new is unfolding. e-Dirt Bike Adventures is offering what is believed to be a world-first: guided electric dirt bike safaris operating within a UNESCO-recognised RAMSAR wetland reserve.

For riders used to the roar of internal combustion, the experience is immediately different.

“You switch the bike on and there’s almost nothing,” says Greg Horn, founder of e-Dirt Bike Adventures. “And then you realise — that’s the point. You’re hearing the wind, the birds, your tyres on the ground and are able to chat to a mate in the jeep track next to you. It changes how you ride.”

The bikes are SurRon electric dirt bikes — lightweight, responsive, and perfectly suited to the terrain. Riders follow jeep tracks across open grasslands, along escarpments and through shallow river crossings, all at a controlled pace designed for exploration rather than speed.

What sets this experience apart isn’t just the technology — it’s where it takes place.

The Verloren Valei Nature Reserve is a protected high-altitude wetland system, rarely accessible to the public. Through a detailed proposal process and a proven track record of responsible operations, Greg secured special permission to guide small groups through this fragile environment.

“This is not about riding hard or fast,” Horn explains. “It’s about access — being able to move through a landscape like this without damaging it or disturbing the wildlife.”

And the wildlife is very much part of the ride. Zebra and antelope graze across the plains, while, cranes, ibis and raptors and more, continue feeding in the grasses, sedges and wetlands. The reserve is also home to an extraordinary diversity of endemic plant life, particularly ground orchids, alpine grasses and proteas that are unique to the region.

All rides are conducted in small groups and led by FGASA-qualified guides, ensuring both safety and a deeper understanding of the environment.

For visiting Australians, the logistics are straightforward. Dullstroom sits approximately 2.5 hours from Johannesburg and makes an ideal overnight stop en route to Kruger. Riders can settle in, enjoy a morning ride, and — if time allows — head out again for a second session before continuing their journey north east to the Lowveld.

Ride options range from a one-hour introductory session to more immersive two- and three-hour experiences suited to riders with stronger off-road skills.

Greg believes the appeal lies in the balance.

“Australians understand off-road riding and they understand big landscapes,” he says. “What we offer is something different — you’re combining that riding experience with wildlife and wilderness in a way that’s very difficult to replicate anywhere else.”

It’s a simple addition to a South African itinerary — but one that shifts the journey from a drive into an incredible experience.

And in a country known for its safaris, this may well be the most memorable one on two wheels.

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