[imagesource: Albrecht Fietz from Pixabay]

You don’t need us to sell you on the awesome that is South Africa. There’s no way around it. Mzansi is one of the greatest tourist destinations in the world – and a good road trip is the way to see it. The first step to a successful South Africa Road Trip is to rent a car from Avis. The type of car can vary, depending on whether you plan to stick to the main byways or head out off-road. 

But the principle remains. Get a car in top condition, with the reassurance that there’s little chance of mechanical failure – and in case of emergency, you’re covered! With that said, all that’s left is to play your route. 

How Long Should a Road Trip in South Africa Itinerary Be? 

Tough question. If you can find the time, block two weeks in South Africa out of your year to really experience the South African road. There’s a lot to see and do, and even tick off your SA bucket list, but South Africa is best enjoyed when you take a day or two in each place to let the country sink in.

It might be a beach stop on the Garden Route or a country town in the Karoo. Take the time to feel the land, and you’ll never be the same. 

You may need to go through a South Africa visa application if visiting from overseas.

7 Classic South Africa Road Trips

There are dozens of road trips South Africa has to offer, but just seven are considered iconic must-dos, with recommended stops. 

The Garden Route

Between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth lies on one of the most iconic coastal road trips in all of South Africa – perfect for a ‘2 weeks in South Africa’ itinerary. Like many of these routes, you can choose to drive in either direction – although most people drive from the Cape Town end. The main aim is to get a feel for the southern coast’s coastal towns, beaches, and waters.

Make sure to stop in at Tsitsikama’s beautiful reserve and Storm’s river, which is officially the start (or end) of the Garden Route proper. From there, Nature’s Valley, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, Wilderness, Mossel Bay are just a few of the highlights.

If you like, you can make an excursion to Cape Agulhas, the true southernmost point of Africa. 

Image by Christoph Friske from Pixabay 

Route 62

One alternative to the coastal N2 Garden Route is Route 62. It’s slightly inland, officially kicking off in Wellington and heading to Port Elizabeth. This route meanders through winelands and beautiful inland scenery.

Among the must-stops are Tulbagh, Barrydale, Ronnie’s Sex Shop, Oudtshoorn. By the time you reach Humansdorp, you’ll have been transformed by the gorgeous farmland and scenery of the Western Cape.    

The Panorama Route

The name says it all. This road trip in Mpumalanga will expose you to the true beauty of the Highveld and Lowveld. Unforgettable landscapes rise and fall along the Blyde River Canyon (one of CNN’s ‘Best Places to Visit in SA’). Many natural features, towns and historical sites along this route are well worth a lengthy stop. 

Pilgrim’s Rest, for example, is an entire town declared as a South African national monument. Hazyview claims to have the best climate in the world for banana-growing. And of course, there’s Sabie, a beautiful forestry town on the banks of Sabie River.

Along the way, you can stop at several waterfalls and pools, walking trails, catch a view over endless valleys and flatlands, and take a look through God’s Window. 

The West Coast

If you’re the kind of person with a flair for the dramatic, the West Coast Route may be something you’re looking for. In sharp contrast to the green, lush feel of the east and southern coast, the west is dry, seemingly arid, and desolate. 

In reality, it’s a fascinating stretch of long, isolated beaches, sparse towns, and quiet life. Paternoster and Saldanha are popular stops along the way. The route reaches up to the border of Namibia when the road finally gives way to open deserts.

The Wild Coast

The Wild Coast stretch of road between Port St Johns and East London in the Eastern Cape is ideal if you’re the kind of person who likes relatively empty beaches. Most of the stops here will allow you to take long coastal walks by yourself.

Be sure to pack a satnav or map. While the main highway (the N2) winds through the central passage, you’ll want to branch off often to get to the best places to see. Coffee Bay and Hogsback (not technically part of the Wild Coast, but close enough) are regularly cited as highlights.

Cape Town to Johannesburg

If you’re looking to traverse the country, there are two basic directions to go: The first is the trip between the country’s two major cities – Cape Town and Johannesburg. The most direct way is about 1400km on the N1. 

That’s the dullest way to think about a South Africa trip itinerary, though. This is a country that needs to be savoured, so plan to spend a few hours, even a few overnights, along the way. The town of Colesberg is more or less halfway. But you could also stop by Bloemfontein or Prince Albert on either side of that.

Around Prince Albert, the Swartberg Mountains and Swartberg Pass are particularly gorgeous in the late afternoon light. 

Springbok to Durban

Another way to go is east to west (or vice versa). Durban and Springbok lie more or less on opposite ends of the same latitude – one on the Indian Ocean, the other on the Atlantic. This will give you a wonderful sense of the contrast between coasts as you witness the landscape change along the way.

It’s about 1600km, with the famous diamond mining town of Kimberly more or less halfway across. To the east of Kimberly, Bloemfontein is once again a fabulous big town stop. To the west, Upington offers fabulous wines and is the gateway to the Kalahari Desert. 

Photo by Sergey Tarasov on Unsplash

Final Thoughts on a South African Road Trip

Some of the best places to see on these South African roads, may need gravel track or off-road navigation. That’s why it’s good advice to make sure your car rental is appropriate for your plans and your route. Beyond that, you’ll find SA’s road trips, stops, and people to be some of the most beautiful, fascinating and friendliest in the continent, if not the world. Happy road-tripping!