The Best Motorbike Events in Africa in 2025

• Whether you’re chasing Dakar-style navigation practice, dune-charged endurance, or a scenic adventure rally through mountains and coastlines, Africa delivered unforgettable two-wheel moments this year
• Rallye du Maroc remains the key preview test for the world’s rally-raid elite and teams
• Riders characterize Rallye du Maroc as merciless but fair

The motorbike events in Africa scene exploded in 2025, giving riders — from hardened rally-raid pros to weekend adventure bikers — a calendar full of sand, rock, speed, and spectacle.

Whether you’re chasing Dakar-style navigation practice, dune-charged endurance, or a scenic adventure rally through mountains and coastlines, Africa delivered unforgettable two-wheel moments this year.

Below are the top five not-to-be-missed motorbike events in Africa in 2025 — why they’re significant, what makes each stand out, and how to experience them.

1. Rallye du Maroc — The Pro Rally-Raid Test (Morocco)

Why it’s top of the list

Rallye du Maroc remains the key preview test for the world’s rally-raid elite and teams. In 2025, it again played an important World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) round, with factory teams and top RallyGP riders using Morocco’s mixed terrain to fine-tune navigation, suspension setup, and rider endurance. The rally’s mix of dunes, rocky tracks, and long liaison stages ensures it is both a technical and physical proving ground.

The two-wheel experience

Expect professionally managed timed special stages, paddocks bursting with KTM, Honda, and Husqvarna crews, and spectator points where riders pierce the horizon like comets.

Riders characterize Rallye du Maroc as merciless but fair — you learn in a week there what you would in a month of less intense rallies.

2. Morocco Desert Challenge (MDC) — The Tough but Accessible Desert Classic

What it is and who races it

The Morocco Desert Challenge has become one of Africa’s top desert rallies for professional and serious amateur riders. The 2025 rally reaffirmed MDC’s status: lengthy stages across Saharan terrain, professional timing, and a class system that enables amateurs to ride the same dunes as top riders.

Entry lists reveal a growing international mix of competitors, cementing its place among the best motorbike events in Africa.

Why riders love it

MDC’s balance of technical navigation and rider accessibility makes it a favourite for those seeking a true desert raid without the overwhelming logistics of larger international events. It’s a perfect training ground for anyone planning to step up to even tougher rallies later.

3. Baja Morocco / Merzouga Events — Merzouga’s Dune Theatre

The Merzouga hub

Merzouga and the Erg Chebbi dunes are a motorbike magnet. In 2025, the Baja Morocco (and related Merzouga rally events) again organized short-format, intensive stages focused on dune navigation and technical riding.

These events are shorter than multi-week raids, but they’re all about speed, sand technique, and day-after-day endurance.

Who should go

If you enjoy dune practice, technical sand driving, or a taste of Moroccan desert life (and less time investment), Merzouga events are ideal. They’re also visually stunning — Erg Chebbi sunsets turn every ride into a cinematic experience. Riders describe it as “the ultimate sand classroom.”

4. Fenix Rally (Tunisia) — The New North-African Contender

New on the calendar, but rapidly gaining respect

Tunisia’s Fenix Rally (2025 edition) positioned itself as a hardcore desert rally and a “gateway to the Sahara” for competitors looking for a modern, shortened rally format with tough navigation challenges. Staged in classic Saharan landscapes, the event has been gaining respect among both professional and semi-pro riders.

The appeal

Riding in Tunisia offers slightly different terrain compared to Morocco — more open plateaus, sandy washes, and cooler evening camps. For riders developing rally-raid experience, Fenix offers technical growth in a highly organized, community-driven setting.

4. Adventure & Rally Events in Southern Africa — KTM Adventure Rally / TrackFest (South Africa & Region)

South Africa’s emerging two-wheel festival scene

2025 saw Southern Africa driving harder towards adventure motorcycling. The KTM Adventure Rally and multi-make festivals like TrackFest (including BMW Motorrad and others) offered highly organized multi-day adventure tours, trail riding, and enduro schools in iconic landscapes like the Drakensberg and Garden Route. These events added a social, festival-like vibe to the motorbike events in Africa calendar.

Why South Africa is a must for riders

Southern Africa combines technical off-road stages, stunning scenery, and solid hospitality infrastructure, making it perfect for those who want to mix tourism with tough riding. Events here emphasize camaraderie, skill development, and exploration over outright competition — a refreshing contrast to the high-pressure rally-raid environment.

Head-to-Head — Which Event Is Right for You?

Each event reflects a different flavour of Africa’s rally culture — from hardcore competition to relaxed adventure tourism — ensuring there’s something for everyone.

What Made 2025 Special for Motorbike Events in Africa

1. Strong W2RC presence and pro focus. The World Rally-Raid Championship’s 2025 calendar prioritized African rounds, solidifying the continent’s role in professional rally-raid prep.
2. More accessible rally formats. Events like Morocco Desert Challenge and Fenix Rally focused on inclusivity, allowing amateurs to race alongside pros with manageable logistics.
3. Regional growth beyond North Africa. Southern Africa’s festival-style adventure scene expanded, creating a welcoming entry point for new riders.
4. Merzouga’s lasting popularity. The dune capital remained a go-to for navigation training, short-format racing, and community energy.

All of these combined made 2025 a breakout year for motorbike events in Africa, with participation, sponsorship, and global attention reaching new heights.

Practical Tips — How to Experience These Events

• Book early: Rally entries and accommodations sell out fast, especially in places like Oran, Merzouga, or Tunis.
• Use local assistance: Local mechanics and fuel trucks are lifesavers in the desert.
• Train navigation: Learn GPS and electronic roadbook systems before arriving.
• Handle paperwork: Make sure your travel insurance, licences, and bike documentation are valid across multiple borders.

Preparation makes or breaks your rally experience — even for the most seasoned riders.

The Growing Ecosystem — Why African Motorbike Events Matter

The boom in motorbike events in Africa showcases the continent’s importance to global motorsport. Morocco’s dunes, Tunisia’s plateaus, and South Africa’s scenic trails now attract both elite and grassroots riders. These rallies don’t just test endurance — they create community, drive tourism, and put African terrain at the heart of adventure sport.

This ecosystem lets riders evolve: from guided tours to amateur competitions, to eventually chasing factory-level rally-raid dreams. Africa, once considered a far-off playground, is now a central hub for motorbike culture and rally innovation.

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Conclusion 

If 2025 taught the two-wheeled world anything, it’s that motorbike events in Africa are no longer side notes — they’re essential chapters in the global motorcycling story. From the pro-level challenge of Rallye du Maroc to the community-driven buzz of the KTM Adventure Rally, Africa proved that no continent offers such variety, challenge, and beauty on two wheels.

Whether you’re chasing podiums or sunsets, Africa’s trails promise both thrill and soul. So, gear up — the desert winds are calling, the engines are warming, and the 2026 calendar is already shaping up to be even bigger.