Riding on Skeleton Coast as easy as an asphalt road on the 500’s

New rental offering from Wildwood.

In 2025 we began phasing out our trusty KTM 690 Enduros and introduced KTM 500 EXC’s & Husqvarna 501’s into our fleet of rental motorcycles. With the 100% positive feedback received we’ve decided to only offer the 500cc bikes going forward. We’ll keep a couple of the big 690’s for the brave and remember you are welcome to join any Wildwood tour on your own motorcycle.

Why 500’s?

We’ve always sought to make our tours a little more adventurous than the average tour offering. We’d hate to have to skip a special destination or view because of a patch of soft sand, mud or tricky rocks that would be a step too far for the average rider’s skills on a bigger adventure bike. The compromise is perhaps riding a little slower on the easy stuff but we see that as another bonus.

The part of renting motorcycles we find the hardest are the cost of damages to crashed bikes and the obvious unpleasantness of having to retain accident damage deposits. The 500’s designed as enduro models are tougher and much less likely to incur costly repairs.

EXC 500 (KTM) & FE501 (Husqvarna) – Our bikes

The new generation of KTM / Husqvarna 500cc dual-sports are a massive evolution from the earlier unreliable bone shakers of the recent past.  Terrain and obstacles that would be daunting on bigger adventure steeds become mundane on these thoroughbreds, opening up the possibilities of  so much more adventure to a greater audience.

We offer the bikes in stock form with only the addition of larger fuel tanks to make them suitable for greater distances. Tires are chosen to compliment the routes most dominant terrain and all bikes are fitted with Michelin Bibi mousses that 100% rule out punctures.

Any negatives?

Other than having to reduce speed a little on open gravel and asphalt we can think of nothing. (the bikes are capable of 160kph but no wind protection and a lack of weight make it little fun)

Perfect for our Wildwood Tours.

For our rougher tours like Kaokoland (north west Namibia), Lesotho Mountain Kingdom, Richtersveld / Northern Cape the 500’s make it possible for regular adventure riders to join without fear and allows us to take those lesser known tracks around the garden Route and Baviaanskloof.

All bikes safely back in Swakopmund after another successful Kaokoland / Damaraland Odyssey Tour