South African Road Trips
South Africa offers some of the world’s most diverse landscapes, from sparkling oceans and stark deserts to snow-capped peaks and wildlife-dense savanna.
But it’s not just the land that makes South Africa so enthralling – the wealth of the country’s diverse cultural groups, each contributing its own architecture, traditional cuisine and customs, adds to the alluring mix. Traveling by car, with the ability to stop, explore and wander on your own schedule, might be the ideal way to take in all this variety.
Here's our pick of the six best road trips in South Africa.
The Ultimate Road Trip Essentials Packing List (+ Free Checklist!
I we went on my first road trip from Cape Town to Grahamstown Before that, I drove all the way along the Garden Route, up to Durban and then spent five days in the Kruger National Park before driving back down to Cape Town.
Oh, and after both those trips, the wide-open road called my name once more, and I drove from the Mother City up to Johannesburg.
All in all, (who only had 25,000 km before all this madness) is now cruising around on 32000 km and counting!
Not sure what to pack for a road trip? I’ve got you covered!
Below, you’re going to find a list of:
• All the things to bring on a road trip (+ eco-friendly options)
• Everything I didn’t know was important (like where to find your jack)
• What I forgot
Road Trip Car Essentials
Spare Tire: Do not reverse your car out of the garage without a spare tire in your boot! During my epic road trip from Cape Town to Kruger National Park, we spent three days in Coffee Bay, and I got my first ever puncture. And ladies, make sure you know how to change a flat tire and where to find the spanner and jack in your car.
Emergency Car Kit: You never know what might happen while you’re cruising down the open road. Be prepared for any kind of drama with an emergency car kit. It includes a breakdown roadside kit, a high visibility best, jumper cables, rope and much more.
Emergency Puncture Repair Kit: If you’re stranded in the wilderness with a flat tire, you can use an emergency puncture repair kit to get you safely to a car repair shop. It can fix a flat tyre in seconds, BUT it’s only a temporary solution.
Car Fluids: Some of the extra fluids you’ll want to keep in your car are a litre of water (in case it overheats), brake fluid, extra transmission fluid, oil and antifreeze.
Drivers License: Probably one of the most important things on your road trip packing list. South Africa traffic cops love a good roadblock and issuing fines for every little thing. If you’re taking your car across borders, don’t forget your papers!
Car & Travel Insurance: World Nomads Travel Insurance is one of the best insurance options for travellers. It covers extreme sports, protects all your gear and will pay out for any unexpected trips to the hospital. For car insurance, I recommend taking the tire & windshield if you’re renting.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.
Owner’s Manual: I won’t lie. The first time I opened my owner’s manual was four years after I bought my car. I had no idea where to find the jack in my car. If you’re renting or still learning new and wonderous things about your vehicle, double to check to make sure the owner’s manual is packed and ready for your trip!
Roadside Assitance: When you’re planning a road trip in a foreign country (and your own!), it’s a good idea to have the phone numbers of roadside assistance.
Portable Garbage Can: After a few stops at Wimpy and Steers, your car will start to look like a moving trash can. Keep your vehicle clean with a portable garbage can. It takes up hardly any space in your car and folds up when not in use.
Sea Point Promenade
Strolling along Sea Point’s wide, paved and grassy promenade is a pleasure shared by Capetonians from all walks of life. Once a white-only area, it’s now a great place to observe the city's multiculturalism. There are kids' playgrounds, a well-maintained outdoor gym and several public artworks.
The coast here is rocky and swimming is dangerous, although you can get in the water at Rocklands Beach. If you’re too thin-skinned for the frigid sea, try the Sea Point Pavilion pool complex, towards the promenade’s southern end
Sea Point to Hout Bay
Sea Point blends into ritzier Bantry Bay and Fresnaye before culminating in the prime real estate of Clifton and Camps Bay, where white modernist villas climb the slopes above golden beaches. South of here, the stunning coast road passes beneath the Twelve Apostles range, and urban development is largely curtailed by Table Mountain National Park until you reach delightful Hout Bay. This harbor town has good access to both the city and, via Constantia Nek pass, the vineyards of Constantia.
S A Road Link
16 Park Rd, Willows, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa, Bloemfontein · +27 51 430 9061
The Garden Route
The Garden Route is a must-see on the list of most visitors gracing the shores of South Africa. The beauty of this region stretches for miles from Mossel Bay to Storms River and is a self-drive destination that will beguile you with its natural beauty. It has a wonderful mix of awe-inspiring beaches, dappled forests, peaceful lagoons and quaint seaside towns. It’s easy-to-navigate roads and short driving distances makes it an ideal destination for independent, self-drive vacations. It’s also perfectly paired with safari adventures in the Eastern Cape.
The Wild Coast, Eastern Cape
The ruggedly beautiful and aptly named Wild Coast runs from the coastal city of East London in the south of the Eastern Cape to the border of Kwa-Zulu Natal some 350km to the northeast.
As you drive across this region’s rolling hills, along its jagged coastlines or veer off the N2 onto the gravel roads that cut inland, you’ll often have the sense that little has changed here in the past hundred years. The hillsides are dotted with turquoise rondavels (round huts topped with thatched roofs) and small pastoral farming plots.
Formerly known as the Transkei during apartheid, this region has a rich and often bloody history and birthed struggle icons including Nelson Mandela and Steve Biko, both of whose lives can be revisited at a number of local heritage sites.
The Wild Coast also boasts the most idyllic and unspoilt beaches to be found anywhere in South Africa – at backpacking paradises like Coffee Bay or Port St Johns, you may find more cows lazing on the sand than people.
The Kruger National Park
South Africa’s biggest and best-known national park is home
to the country's greatest diversity of animals and exquisite safari lodges on private game reserves. As one of the oldest conservation areas in Africa, it boasts healthy populations of wildlife and highly sought-after sightings of cheetah and wild dog. But the Kruger’s pièce de résistance is the almost guaranteed encounter with the super-celebrities of the safari circuit: Africa’s iconic Big 5.
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape’s biggest draw is its reserves. It is a Big Five, malaria-free destination that is geared for travelling families in search of safari escapades. The Eastern Cape’s best-known reserve is the Addo Elephant National Park, most famous for its gentle giants. For big cat sightings and luxurious accommodation, there are a number of private reserves that have award-winning lodges, big cat sanctuaries and some being home to the rare white lion.
Route 62, Western Cape
Route 62 is so-named for the R62 road that cuts across the countless lovely vineyards of the Cape Winelands, through dramatic mountain passes and into the heart of the Little Karoo, a wild and dusty region of open scrubland, livestock farms and quaint rural towns.
Route 62 is considerably less popular and less developed than its coastal counterpart the Garden Route, but it has gained a cult following amongst South Africans for its beauty, untamed eccentricity and distinct lack of traffic.
The historic spa town of Montagu is well worth a visit for its pretty colonial architecture and hot springs, while the charmingly arty Barrydale has a number of good roadside cafés, including the Diesel & Crème Diner, known for its milkshakes and nostalgic American memorabilia.
The best of the raw semi-desert landscapes and spectacular star-studded night skies are to be found in the Karoo National Park, while the Breede River Valley is a favourite for riverside camping and kayaking excursions.
Panorama Route
Dipping in and out of Mpumalanga’s Blyde River Canyon, the world’s third largest, this cloud-high drive takes you through and along magnificent natural features – cliffs, waterfalls and forests, with eagles soaring above – while offering plenty of places to get out and stretch your legs.
It’s a short hike, for example, to God’s Window, an overlook peeking down through jungly, bird-filled foliage some 2745m (9005ft) below. The Three Rondavels are a trio of soaring, grass-topped peaks resembling indigenous cone-shaped huts. Trails wander around Bourke’s Luck Potholes, cylindrical holes formed over thousands of years by the swirling waters of the Treur and Blyde rivers.
Travel advice for South Africa
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to South Africa
South Africa is a country with diverse landscapes and breathtaking scenery, making it the perfect destination for a road trip. Whether you prefer the comfort of a motorcar or the thrill of a motorbike, there are endless routes to explore. From the coastal roads of the Garden Route to the winding mountain passes of the Drakensberg, South Africa offers a unique and unforgettable experience for any road trip enthusiast.
Explore the North of South Africa: Sun City and Madikwe game reserve
Before you start your South Africa road trip, there are a few essentials that you’ll want to make sure are in your car:
• Credit card to pay for tolls (or cash)
• Soy milk if you’re lactose intolerant or vegan
• Cellphone charger for the car
• A downloaded road trip playlist from Spotify
• Money to pay for entrance fees at national parks
• A spare wheel, spanner and jack
• Tyre repair spray for punctures
For those short on time, staying close to Johannesburg may make sense. On this trip, you'll arrive and depart in Johannesburg and then transfer to the theme park Lost City before continuing to Madikwe for a few days of game drives to spot plenty of wildlife.
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Road Trip Accessories
Umbrella or Raincoat: You can plan as much as possible around the weather, but a sudden downpour could always take you by surprise. A small travel-sized umbrella is one of those things you’ll always want to have in your car for a road trip. I’d also suggest investing in a raincoat that will easily fit in your day bag.
Polarised Sunglasses: Protect your eyes from the sun’s rays. You’ll need a pair of polarised sunglasses for bright white snow or long sunny days. I’m obsessed with Escape Society’s range at the moment! My favourite pair out of the three that I own are the Gold Vintage Round Lens. It comes with 100% UVA/UVB Protection and a microfibre pouch & cleaning cloth.
Travel Pillow: Travel pillows aren’t just for long haul flights. Pack one if you’re planning on taking a few naps while on the road. If you’re not a fan of the traditional travel pillow, try the latest Trtl Pillow. It takes up half the space and science says it’s better for your neck.
Day Bag: Whether you’re going hiking, camping or anything else, you need a road trip bag. If you’re in the market for a new day bag, I recommend splurging on the Rowdy Rucksack. It’s the perfect road trip backpack with enough space for a 15-inch laptop, all your camera gear and other essentials like your wallet, water bottle and sunscreen. If you’re looking for something smaller, I managed to fit my wallet, camera body and one lens in the Rowdy Sling.
Waterproof Bag Cover: If you’re adventuring with a bag that’s not waterproof, protect your gear with a waterproof bag cover. They hardly take up any space, and it’s always nice to know you have it.
Packable Down Jacket: When packing for a road trip in spring or autumn, bring along a packable down jacket. I used the white Lady Neva Insulated Jacket from Hi-tec during my Cape to Kruger trip. For colder climates, you’ll want something thicker, especially if snow is involved.
Blankets: Get cosy in the backseat with a warm blanket. You can use it to block the sun while you’re sleeping, to combat the freezing air conditioning or for extra warmth in your tent or hotel.
