South African road-trip guides
Hand-written guides for the routes South Africans drive most. Each one covers the road itself, where to stop, the best time to travel, honest cost breakdowns, and anything worth knowing before you leave. Use the trip planner to get exact numbers for your vehicle.
Cape Town → George
The opener of the classic Garden Route — 440 km of N2 coast and mountain from Cape Town to George.
Cape Town → Hermanus
The 120 km drive from Cape Town to Hermanus follows the Overberg coast to the whale-watching capital of South Africa.
Cape Town → Stellenbosch
Fifty-four kilometres from the city to the Winelands — Stellenbosch is close enough for a half-day, worthwhile for a weekend.
Durban → Pietermaritzburg
Eighty kilometres of N3 between the coast and the capital of KwaZulu-Natal — quick, busy, and famous for the Comrades.
George → Knysna
The classic 63 km Garden Route hop — lakes, forest, and the Knysna Lagoon at the end.
Johannesburg → Bloemfontein
The N1 south to Bloemfontein — 400 km of Free State Highveld and the junction point for half of South Africa's long-haul routes.
Johannesburg → Cape Town
Every South African considers this drive at least once — 1 400 km of N1 through the Great Karoo, ending at the mountain.
Johannesburg → Durban
South Africa's busiest holiday route — the N3 from Joburg to Durban demands respect, especially in December.
Johannesburg → Nelspruit
The N4 east from Joburg to Nelspruit is the standard Kruger gateway — 360 km through Highveld and Lowveld.
Johannesburg → Polokwane
The N1 north to Polokwane — 315 km of Bushveld transition and the gateway to Limpopo's game reserves.
Johannesburg → Pretoria
Fifty-eight kilometres, no tolls, half a dozen route options — South Africa's busiest urban corridor.
Pretoria → Hazyview
The 368 km drive from Pretoria to Hazyview takes you off the Highveld and down into the Lowveld — the gateway to Kruger's southern and central sections.