5 GREAT LONG-WEEKEND ROAD TRIPS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

Five great long weekend road trips

Kalahari Red Dune Route

Personally, I love stormy winter days on the coast. While everyone is racing to get their last beach holiday of the summer, head to the Northern Cape for some R&R where there are fewer crowds and plenty of great cultural activities to enjoy like cooking classes, museums and quaint little towns. Check out the Kalahari Red Dune Route for some great ideas for where to stay and things to do while you’re in the area.

Augrabies Falls

Kokerboom Food and Wine Route

Still in the Northern Cape, where the Kalahari and the Nama-Karoo deserts meet, the Great Gariep River (known to most as the Orange River) flows bringing life to the typically arid worlds on both sides, turning the area into an oasis. The Kokerboom Food and Wine Route Route has something for everyone. In addition to visiting the popular Augrabies Falls travellers can relax in hot springs, river raft, go on 4×4 trips, hike, bird-watch, sample local delicacies and wines, touch the unique Kokerboom (quiver tree) and even take a leisurely donkey cart ride through town.

Drakensberg Experience

Drakensberg Experience Route

KwaZulu-Natal is known for its warm weather but places like the Drakensberg can experience snow in the winter months, making it a great Autumn road trip destination. The route is centred on the Drakensberg World Heritage Site, which includes Giant’s Castle and the Central and Northern Drakensberg. With activities like fishing, hiking, bird-watching, quad-biking, horse-riding and even canopy tours, there’s plenty to see and do and, if you time it right, you can still do some camping!

San rock art

West Coast Rock Art Route

A few hours’ drive from Cape Town, the Cederberg Wilderness Area in Autumn is simply spectacular. The days are still warm and the nights just getting chilly – perfect for getting cosy round the campfire at night.  While you’re taking in the beautiful surroundings, check out the San (Bushman) rock paintings in the Cederberg or nearby Nardouwsberg, Koue Bokkeveld and Olifants River Valley – some of the most accessible in the world.

The Clarens Route

Situated just a comfortable three-hour journey from Johannesburg and nestled in the arms of the Maluti Mountain range, Clarens overlooks fertile farmlands amidst stunning landscapes and has become a haven of tranquillity for artists, solitude seekers and nature lovers both from South Africa and abroad. Outdoor pursuits include birding, hiking trails, horse riding, 4×4 trails and trout and bass fishing, to name a few and the nearby Golden Gate National Park is worth a visit, too.

GUIDE TO SOUTH AFRICA

                                             DESTINATIONS...

                        PLANNING YOUR ITINERARY...

                                                                 Go on safari:
South Africa is home to the Big Five – buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhino – and a host of other animal, bird and plant species. To see the Big Five, your best bet is to head for the Kruger National Park and its environs in Mpumalanga or Limpopo, where many five-star lodges are located.
You could also opt for the malaria-free Madikwe Game Reserve in the North West, Marekele National Park in Limpopo, or head for any of the private lodges or parks in northern KwaZulu-Natal, which is famous for its rhino population.
Another iconic wildlife experience is the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Northern Cape. It’s a photographer’s paradise and home to the Kalahari black-maned lion.
Arm yourself with binoculars, a good field guide, a dedicated bird field guide, and take to the bush. Your encounter with wildlife big and small will count as among the most thrilling and memorable experiences of your life.


                                                            Soak up the sun:
South Africa has some of the most beautiful, pristine beaches in the world, and Cape Town’s famous beaches, such as Clifton and Muizenberg, along with Durban’s glorious beaches are extremely popular.
If you take yourself off to the Eastern Cape’s aptly named Wild Coast, or northern Zululand’s remote coast, you could well find yourself all alone with just surf, sand and sea to keep you company.
There are Blue Flag beaches, family-friendly beaches, beaches with African penguins, and beaches where you can watch whales breach and blow. And, of course, beaches where you can dive, snorkel, waterski, kayak, canoe or indulge in almost any water-based activity.




                                              Wine country:
Cape Town, iconic Table Mountain, Robben Island and the Cape Winelands are a must on any itinerary, and many visitors start their South African trip at the southernmost tip of the country for this reason.
The Cape Winelands offer unexpectedly lush scenery, the opportunity to sample excellent wines and superior dining in well-regarded restaurants, many of which are on wine farms. Don’t miss a visit to the university town of Stellenbosch and nearby Franschhoek. Hikers will also want to lace up their boots and get out into the spectacular mountains of this region.



                                                 History and culture:
Follow in the footsteps of some of the greatest freedom icons in modern history, such as Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and Mahatma Gandhi, among many others. There are numerous museums and sites of interest located around Johannesburg and in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
While you’re about it, spend time in Soweto or a city township; visit a Zulu cultural village; admire the intricate beadwork, metal neck rings and unique geometric mural art of the Ndebele people; enjoy the hospitality of a South African farm.
South African rock art is among the best in the world and easily accessible, especially in the Drakensberg.


                                                               Battlefields:

Don’t miss the fascinating battlefields of KwaZulu-Natal, where Brit battled Zulu and Boer battled Brit. Other parts of the country to have an interesting battle history include the Eastern Cape, site of the Frontier Wars (also known as the Wars of Dispossession), and the Northern Cape, where parts of the South African War (also known as Boer War) played out.





                                                               Garden Route:
This route takes visitors east along the coast from Cape Town, past spectacular coastal scenery and through indigenous forests surrounding the beautiful town of Knysna. End your Garden Route trip with a visit to the Addo Elephant National Park near Port Elizabeth, where you are guaranteed good sightings of these lumbering giants.


                                                               

                                                              Adventure:
Whether it’s diving with great white sharks, a tandem paraglide flight or backpacking in Big Five territory, there is no shortage of adventure on offer in South Africa. You’ll find the sharks at Gansbaai in the Western Cape, and can book a tandem paraglide from Lion’s Head in Cape Town and hike on foot in the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga or Limpopo with armed guides.


                                                              

                                                           TRAVEL TIP:
Arm yourself with a really good comprehensive guide to South Africa long before leaving home, and tweak and prune until you come up with a personal itinerary tailored just for you and your particular interests.