ABOUT
WHAT WE DO
Bonafide Moto Co creates purpose-led motorcycle adventures across Southern Africa — designed to take you off the beaten track, connect you with real people and places, and help you travel with intention.
At Bonafide Moto Co., we don’t just run motorcycle tours — we create purposeful adventures designed for people who need space to breathe, reflect, and reconnect. More and more riders are seeking time away from the noise of everyday life to reset, challenge themselves, and form genuine connections through shared experience. This is wellness without the clichés — real journeys, honest moments, and time in places that ground you.
Our motorcycle adventures through Southern Africa are rooted in authenticity. We’re deeply passionate about this wild and captivating part of the world, and there’s no better way to experience its spirit than on two wheels. You’ll ride through awe-inspiring landscapes, explore diverse cultures, and feel the raw energy of Africa with every turn of the road.
But this isn’t just about motorcycles. It’s about resilience, presence, and the clarity that comes from being out in the elements. Some days flow with ease; others will stretch you. Either way, every mile adds to a story worth telling — one shaped by effort, perspective, and growth.
Each adventure is carefully curated to strike a balance between challenge and calm. You’ll travel roads less ridden, discover hidden gems, and have time to simply be — away from the constant pull of the outside world, yet connected through shared experience. It’s not a retreat in the traditional sense, but it often becomes exactly what people didn’t realise they needed.
And when the riding day ends, there’s something special about gathering around a fire, sharing stories, laughter, and quiet moments after a full day on the road. These are the moments that turn strangers into friends and journeys into lasting memories. Many riders return year after year — not just for the routes, but for the connection they find out here.
If you’re looking for more than just a ride — if you’re after something real, immersive, and thoughtfully designed — this could be your next great journey. We’d be honoured to ride alongside you and share the spirit of Africa.
HOW WE STARTED
Bonafide Moto Co didn’t start as a business idea. It started as a ride.
In 2014, I rode from Gauteng to the Western Cape on my Harley with no real plan other than wanting to see South Africa properly — slowly, on the road, with time for detours and conversations along the way. That trip changed how I understood travel and deepened my love for this country.
As the miles added up, so did the desire to share what I was experiencing. The landscapes, the people, the small towns, and the roads in between felt too good to keep to myself. What started as solo travel soon turned into inviting others along.
Our first big adventure as a group was a ride up Sani Pass — a defining moment that showed what was possible when the right people came together with a shared sense of curiosity and respect for the road. From there, Bonafide Moto Co grew naturally.
Today, we create purposeful motorcycle adventures across Southern Africa — built around real routes, honest experiences, and a genuine love for this part of the world. We believe the best journeys aren’t rushed, and that some of the most meaningful moments happen when you take the long way.
THE TEAM
JOE FLEMING
Owner|Photographer|Creative Director|Adventurer| Ride Host
Born and raised in the United States, Joe Fleming is a US Army veteran who has called South Africa home since 2014. Shortly after arriving, he began connecting with local riders, organising weekend rides and longer journeys — what started as a way to explore his new home quickly evolved into something bigger.
Over the past 13 years living and travelling across Africa, Joe has developed a deep love for South Africa and the wider region. He identifies as South African in spirit and purpose, with a clear mission: to share the beauty, complexity, and adventure of this part of the world with others. Through Bonafide Moto Co, he now curates and leads motorcycle adventures for both local and international riders across Southern Africa.
Joe is also a seasoned commercial photographer and storyteller, working with leading brands and creating all content for Bonafide Moto Co and his platform @SoTallRightNow. Known for his ability to shoot from the saddle, Joe blends movement, landscape, and human moments into authentic visual stories rooted in real experience.
At the heart of everything Joe does is a belief that great adventures should change you. Bonafide Moto Co journeys are designed not only around exceptional riding through remote regions, but around personal growth, shared challenge, team dynamics, and honest connection — often found in the quiet moments around the fire at the end of a long day.
No matter the terrain, distance, or challenge, Joe and his team are committed to looking after every rider — ensuring that each journey is well-guided, considered, and that everyone arrives at camp safely, together, and with a story worth telling.
Alan Shenton
Owner|Producer|Managing Director|Adventurer
A born and bred Jo’burger, Alan spent the majority of the last 15 years on stage, performing both locally and abroad in popular bands like Zebra & Giraffe, Harris Tweed, & Cassette.
When not bashing an electric guitar on stage, Alan manages multiple businesses & platforms in the production and new media space, creating beautiful moving pictures as an Editor. He has a deep love for the bush and even chose to honeymoon in Botswana on an overland, tented adventure.
Catch him for a beer, and you’ll learn that he really just wants to be a pilot or a game ranger, when he finally grows up.
His motto is – Seek More.
Come experience the diversity that Sub-Saharan Africa has to offer.
We pride ourselves on providing our guests and riders with premium, end-to-end experiences. We want you to feel safe with us, with the other guests, and on our planned routes. More than that, we look forward to getting to know you around the campfire each night.
Our trips and events include all-inclusive packages where you just show up and we take care of the rest.
Depending on the moto-adventure or event you choose to be a part of, you can expect to have quality foods, drinks, and unique places to stay in the evenings. As much as we want you to remember the roads you travelled with us, it’s equally as important to enjoy those moments when you’re off the bike. We believe these are the times when you grow, meet new people, and feel a part of the country you’re travelling through.
Each experience is fully supported. We make sure that no matter the destination, we’ve got the right support and infrastructure to get you and your bike home safely. That's why on each adventure we travel with a fully equipped 4x4 vehicle, a motorcycle trailer, and a team medic. If there are issues along the road help is always close by.
SUPPORT VEHICLE
Each adventure has a suitable vehicle kitted out with necessary overlanding gear needed to get you to the next location and to be self sustained if required.
TEAM MEDIC
Your safety is one that we take seriously. Each moto adventure has a team medic to manage incidents encountered on the road.
LOGISTICS
If you’d like to arrive early before an adventure or stay on after our team can assist with making the most of your time in Africa.
MOTORCYCLE HIRE
We work directly with local suppliers to offer you the latest motorcycles at a competitive rate.
Event and Brand Content
We believe that a big part of every adventure is not only the memories you take away but having a record of those memories for afterward.
For that reason, we ensure that every trip comes complete with an event photographer and videographer to capture all the moments along the way. We do this so that you don’t have to, and can simply enjoy the ride.
After each trip, you’ll also receive a link to a photo album that you can keep and share with your friends & family upon your return.
Providing quality content to our guests is one of our value-added extras and has also enabled us to work with some great brands over the years who have helped us make our adventures even better for you.
We also work with brands to provide them with a full range of deliverables to meet their marketing needs. We use an organic approach when it comes to producing content so that your audience continues to feel the trust you created with them.
We’ll get hands on with your products to deliver you the goods you’ve always been looking for.
