We rented 4 motorcycles from Johannesburg with this company in January 2018. Contract was made of 4 BMW 800 GS adventure models more than 9 months before. About 2 weeks before the start of rental period gs africa mailed us that 2 adventure models are stolen and they offered us lesser models with smaller tanks and worse specs. This was not a good thing cause we were planning to ride long distances in 5 countries with uncertain refuel possibilities. We also did not have time to change rental company. The lesser models were of course cheaper but gs africa did not pay us anything back. Instead they promised free off road tires, gps surveillance and things like that. Crossing the first border we noticed that paperwork for one of the bikes was wrong. They managed to mail us new paperwork but it was for wrong bike again. So we ended up swapping the drivers at borders. In the contract there was no comment on 30000ZAR deposit that was to be made in Johannesburg before start. We made that deposit. On the road we had multiple flat tires. Gs Africa provided repair kit for tubeless tire. Good thing but. The tires had inner tubes so that kit was useless and tells that this company doesn't know that their motorcycles have inner tubes. We had to use primitive tools on the road to remove tires for fixing cause the company didn't provide the tools. Of course this damaged the rims a bit. Company commented that we should have used lisenced BMW service to repair tires. There is no BMW service in remote Zimbabwe though. Side panniers that Gs Africa provided were plastic and the fixation system in them was already loose so they kept falling in rough terrain. Of course they got damaged then. One of the bikes had aluminun panniers and they were already welded here and there. The welding seams broke in rough terrain.
The worst part was when we got back home. We noticed that the deposit 30000ZAR was actually gone from our bank accounts. This was not told us beforehand. Usually rental companys a deposit on hold and release the deposit later. This company actually recuired payment! The bikes were not inspected at return. They told us the bikes needed to be washed before inspection. Weeks later we received damage report. All bikes had substantial damage according to Gs Africa. The bill was high. Every little scrape and mark had to be payed. Gs Africa wanted to replace all parts that had even the tiniest mark of wear. For example seats had to be replaced in 2 motorcycles. Damaged panniers had to be payed. They couldn't remove a sticker and had to replace a windscreen for that sticker! The situation was totally absurd. Now they wanted us to pay the offroad tires that they had promised beforehand in compensation for the lesser bikes they provided us. So they actually compensated nothing for not fullfilling the contract they had made with us.
We negotiated with Gs Africa for months and kept receiving impolite emails and the negotiations didn't proceed. Then they announced us that the negotiations were over. There was also errors in their calculations. They had for example calculated the VAT wrong. They told us we could come get the damaged parts knowing we live in Finland. We are sure they did not replace the parts. They just took our money. We think that rentall price should include normal wear and use of the motorcycle. There will be marks on the motorcycles when you ride them in gravel for 2 weeks. These are adventure motorcycles, they should know this. You just can't as rentall service replace everything on customers expence.
So as the negotiations ceased, we moved the negotiation process to our credit card companies. Our credit card companies gave Gs Africa a possibility to explain the expenses. We all got full refund from our credit card companies. So. Gs Africa could not explain their action to credit card companies!!!!! This gives you hint about what kind of company are we dealing with here.

We seriously recommend you to stay away from this business.

I found GS Africa on the net and couldn't be more pleased with the experience. Candi was great to work with setting up the rental, had everything sorted when I arrived and made the process so easy. Of course I rode of without my wallet but no worries, they chased me down and brought it to me!

I had scheduled a two day rental and when I pulled into the hotel after a long day one the check engine light came on. I called, not wanting to cause any damage to a really nice 800. Paul answered, after business hours, and we discussed the problem. He indicated it was probably just a warning and said it would probably reset itself after being turned off. That is exactly what happened and i enjoyed the next day without incident. Thanks Paul for the great service.

The countryside was amazing and the ride was wonderful, what a great way to see the
area. Some reviews question the final inspection and the cost of repairs. I found Paul and his team to be very clear on any damage that was evident on the bike prior to my use and certainly not looking to charge users with non-existent damage. I recommend the folks at GS Africa for your Africa riding adventure, enjoy their great service!

Kim