South Africa Travel Forum

We are still working on our South African trip itinerary. It looks like we will have 4 days to get from Johannesburg to Cape Town in late July. A couple of questions that we are wrestling with:

1. It seems like almost everyone recommends doing the Garden Route section of the coast. Is it still nice to see at that time of year? Are there any towns along the way that people strongly recommend that we stay in or visit?

2. What route should we drive from Johannesburg to the coast? Are there any interesting sights to see along the way? Or, should we fly from Johannesburg to Durban or Port Elizabeth, and therefore shorten our drive to focus on the Garden Route and/or free up some extra time to spend in and around Cape Town.

3. From a safety standpoint, should we be careful what type of car that we rent? Is a trunk/boot important to have (to keep things out of sight from the bad guys)? Is 4-wheel drive important to have? It seems like the roads are good, but we don't know if not having 4WD limits our ability to see certain areas or sights along the way. Finally, is a larger car a crime magnet? We will be driving for a few weeks during our trip, so we would prefer to get a car with some extra room rather than be cramped.

Sorry for the long-winded, multi-part question. However, we would definitely appreciate any help that you can provide us.

1. Yep, the Garden Route is stunning. Places recommended to visit would include: Jeffreys Bay (famous for surfing); Tsitsikamma National Park; Plettenberg Bay; Knysna (best oysters I've ever had!); Sedgefield; Mossel Bay Oudtshoorn (Cango Caves!).

2. Driving from Joburg to Durban would be via the N3. Not too much to see. I'd fly to PE and set out along the N2 to visit areas mentioned above.

3. It is good to be aware of the safety issues. You are correct in taking precautionary measures such as keeping property out of sight. Both my mother and sister have had their car windows smashed by thieves grabbing items of property from the front passenger seat while they were stationary at traffic lights. You don't particularly need a 4WD. I would say 'yes' if you were on safari much of the time, as I believe the higher position of occupants increase sightlines. Roads are generally good, but inconsiderate road use is a problem so beware of animals on the road and speeding motorists. Just days ago, the driver of a vehicle - a father seated next to his children - was shot dead by another motorist when he failed to respond quick enough when the murderer flashed his lights to urge the victim to change lanes. Unable to say whether large cars are more of a target for criminals than smaller vehicles.

Hope this helps.

Johan is right with everything that he has posted. I would join him in his recommendation that you fly between JHB and PE - there's little between the two along the N3 and you don't have that much time. It would be easy to spend 4 days (and more) driving the Garden Route.

Definitely keep your belongings in the boot - and don't have it open on display unless necessary.

Depending on your interests, Oudtshoorn has some great architecture and the Cango Wildlife Ranch (?at least, I think that's what it was called) is a big cat sanctuary where you can go in with some cheetahs and get up close and personal - an experience that I truly enjoyed!

Yep, just checked - here's their website - http://www.cango.co.za/

Hello there,

1. This is really a question of taste. The Garden Route is SA's Tourist mecca, it is beautiful and has nice scenic drives, some good towns with atmosphere, but in winter it is raining a lot and looks much like Europe's mediteranean area. I personally prefer Natal in winter, but this is a bit of a detour. If you are traveling not to arrive but to be on the road, it is a very beautiful route going via Durban and than along the coast. The Transkei section of the Eastern Cape, however, has a reputationa s being dangerous and roads can be bad. But this is real Africa.
The quickest road is on the N1 via Bloemfontein (worth a short stop for some historic buildings) and than branch of after Colesberg to de Aar, a beautiful historical town.

I agree with Johan and Gillybob... The area can get very cold at night, but the days should be 18 - 20 degrees. Cape town is a winter rainfall area, and you are really at the mercy of the Gods. You could have a week of sunshine, or a week of rain...that is cape Town in winter


Regards

Mike

1. Garden Route is a definite must-do. Funnily enough, July is the driest month for the town of George, average day time temp 19 C. So, the winter weather is no excuse to miss the Garden Route. Towns for staying in: Plettenberg Bay, Knysna, Oudtshoorn. Also worth a detour for a visit: Jeffrey's bay and Nature's Valley (mainly for beach walks/play if the weather is fine), Mossel Bay. Other small places like Wilderness will be right on your route.

2. I would drive Johannesburg to Garden Route. Either via:
a. Central Drakensberg (eg. www.champagnecastle.co.za), Wild Coast (eg. www.umngazi.co.za) and Grahamstown or Port Alfred,or
b. Clarens (eg. www.clarenstourism.co.za/patchamplace/), Lesotho (only http://www.malealea.co.ls/), Cradock or Addo area.
This is the only way to see the vastness and vistas of the country, woth the smaller almost-forgotten (and friendly!) communities

3. Secure (out of view) luggage space is going to be important for you, and that is already good reason to stay away from 4x4's. A standard comfortable sedan is all you need. The crime magnets are German cars (and 4x4's). Something like a Toyota Avensis from Europcar should be just the ticket to be comfortable yet not too flashy. In my experience, the car hire companies all have the nicer sounding cars as the example of what they will be renting you, but when you get to their desk on the day, they give you the alternatives in the supposed same class. This is when the French & Korean cars are offered, for a very good reason - nobody wants to steal them! (Car hire companies are self-insured).

PS, and apologies for spelling above . . .

My brother went to Umngazi a few weeks ago, for the first time in his life, always having been put off by stories of road conditions. Well, he reports that the roads are excellent, except for the about 10km of private road at Umngazi itself.

Gerald,

which route did he take? am planning go that side this july also.

bong

From Cape Town, the N2 to Mtata and then the R61 to Pt. St. Johns. Came back along R61 to Karoo area and then the N1 to Cape Town.

18 Months ago I did the N2 through that area and there were some potholes, but my brother says there is a lot of roadworks and the potholes are fixed.

Thanks Gerald. I will be coming from joburg so would it mean taking the N6 instead of the N3?

bong

Hi. All the other comments afre right, but just to point out one thing. I'm not sure from your question if you only have 4 days in SA or only 4 days to get from Joburg to C/T and then will do some more stuff (e.g. Garden Route).

If former:
The direct drive along the N1 is about 1,400KMs (i.e. 1.5 days driving). Distances in SA are a lot bigger than most people think looking at a map. The road is very good and the scenery is OK (poor relative to other parts of SA, until you come off the Karoo into the winelands in the Western Cape. Most of it is wide, open farming country with the ocassional koppie (hill). So there's not much time to do anything other than drive. I'd consider cutting off the N1 at Colesburg onto the N9 driving through the Karoo (beautiful open scenery, big valleys, farming communities, amazing stars and sunsets etc.) perhaps staying at Graaf-Reinert (historical town with some interesting architecture). Then either head to the coast and follow the N2 or (more interesting perhaps and less touristy) head along Route 62 (rural farms, vineyards, mountain passes, big skies etc.) into the winelands (Franschhoek is a favourite). But with just 4 days it's a lot of driving and I'd honestly consider flying to Cape Town and hanging out there, or heading out to the winelands for a couple of days.

If latter:[Apologies, this is in the wrong way round - I'm copying from another post I did where they arrived in Cape Town and left from Joburg]:
Day 1: Arrive at Cape Town International Airport. Hire you car and drive through to Camps Bay. Spend morning relaxing on the beach and - in the late afternoon (if the weather is good) take the short cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain. Return to Camps Bay for sundowners and dinner.

Days 2 & 3: Relax in this stunning city taking in the wide variety of activities that Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula has to offer; for example catching a ferry to Robben Island, lunch and people-watching at the Victoria and Albert Waferfront, drive along Chapman's Peak Drive to the Cape Peninsula to see the penguins and whale-watching (September to November), climbings Lions Head, visit District Six, fine dining in Constantia and partying on Long Street.

Day 4: Drive along the N2 through to Strand, then take stunning coastal road - the R44 - past Betty's Bay to the wild beach and a fresh seafood lunch at Hermanus. Take the R44 back to the N2, before coming off onto the R521 at Grabouw to take the spectacular mountain pass through to Franschhoek. Staying at one of the wide selection of boutique hotels or self-catering accommodation, indulge yourself in the gastro-capital of South Africa.

Days 5 & 6: Spend your days relaxing in the beautiful Franschhoek Valley taking in as many of the stunning wine-tasting vineyards as your liver can handle and your nights dinings at some of the best restaurants Africa has to offer.

Days 7 & 8: Start your long journey along the Garden Route, meandering along the fantastic Route 62 through the dramatic Little Karoo. Relax at a boutique guest-house in a historic farming town like Swellendam or Calitzdorp. If golf is your game, you'll want to base yourself in George, the golfing capital of SA.

Day 9: Drive along Route 62 before taking one of the dramatic mountain passes down to the N2 and dash along the coast on the long drive to Cintsa just outside East London. This is a full day's drive and you may want to break the journey with a short hike during a stopover at Tsitsikamma National Park or in a quaint beach-side guesthouse at Nature's Valley or Brenton-on-Sea.

Day 10: Enjoy the fabulous wild beach at Cintsa, perhaps interspersed with a horse-ride along the desterted beach. Dine high above the beach dunes in the wonderful location that Michaelas of Cintsa enjoys.

Day 11: Enjoy a morning on the beach before catching your flights from East London to Nelspruit. Hire a car and drive up to your luxury game lodge in a private reserve connected to Kruger National Park.

Days 12 & 13: Soak up the unique experience of an authentic African bush lodge, starting the day with an early morning game drive followed by an extravagent breakfast. Relax by the pool, before heading out on an evening game drive complete with gins and tonic at sunset. Bring plenty of camera film. You will use it, with a decent chance of clicking all of the Big Five and much more.

Day 14: Either drive through the Mpumalanga escarpment along one of our favourite drives in South Africa or fly back to Johannesburg or Cape Town to catch your flight home.

You shouldn't need a 4 X4 for any of the above (or most roads in SA). Recommend doing organised safari rather than self-drive. I'm not sure that type of car makes a difference (other than more expensive cars are more tempting for thiefs) - I've been living in Joburg for 4 years driving many sorts of car and have never had an incident.

Enjoy!

Thank you all for all of your great advice. We look forward to our trip!

Enjoy and stay safe!