Driving in South Africa
Foto: Abri_Beluga
South Africa has leftside traffic. The road system is extensive, although the quality of minor roads can vary. Traffic in and around major cities and tourist destinations are sometimes very intense and the number of people injured or killed in traffic is very high. There are many bad drivers in South Africa and some are driving after drinking alcohol (although it is associated with high fines).
The extensive road system makes it easy to travel across South Africa in a rental car. South Africa is a country with plenty of hills and mountains, so if you’re planning to rent a car then we recommend that you aim for a larger car with an engine that can deal with a steep hill or three.
To drive a car in South Africa you need an international drivers license.
Practical tips in terms of road safety
By following a number of advice, you can also reduce the risk of being exposed to car theft and armed strikes (car hijackings):
- Keep the car locked and windows closed while travelling, and do not let handbags, cell phones or other valuables be visible (not while driving).
- Avoid driving long distances, especially in rural areas, during evening and night. If you are lost or need to stop, try to get to the nearest open gas station or somthing like that.
- Dont stop to help people / cars by the roadside, which seems to have had problems, but feel free to report the situation to the police so that they can help the person stopped.
Road map of South Africa
The Automobile Association of South Africa has created some very good roadmaps of South Africa. You can fina all the road maps of South Africa here:
Road maps of South Africa
This is good quality road maps of South Africa that contains all the information you need to plan your road trip, showing in detail the provinces, cities, small towns, national roads, freeways, and major and minor provincial routes.
Recommended routes in South Africa:
If you’re driving out of Cape Town it’s a good idea to take the “back road” or Route 62 from Cape Town to Oudtshorn and George. This is a very good alternative to the main road N2 on this stretch. Driving Route 62 you will pass through some of the most beautiful landscape in South Africa.
Oudtshorn, “the Ostrich capital of South Africa”, is a charming small town offering a lot of attractions and sights in addition to the obligatory visit to an ostrich farm. In Cango Cheetahland you can feel just how soft the fur of a living cheetah really is, in Cango Caves you will find amazing deep caves you can explore with the help of a guide, and in Swartberg you can drive through the most spectacular mountain pass in all of South Africa.
From George you can continue on the main road N2, which goes under the name of Garden Route. This road stretches along the coast, and the contrasts are many and big with the mountains rising straight up from the ocean beneath you. You’ll find a lot of popular sites along the Garden Route, like Knysna and Plettenberg Bay. The latter is a very popular beach resort with a lot of high standard lodges and inns.
Port Elisabeth is for many the last stop before turning back to Cape Town. Just outside Port Elisabeth there are good opportunities for a proper South Afrca safari. The area is very popular for families with small children as it is free of malaria. In addition you can use your own car and drive into the the safari area for a self-drive safari.
