South Africa on your own
Two oceans, vineyards, the Big Five on a self-drive in Kruger and one of the world's finest coastal roads: the continent-country made for a varied road trip.
South Africa concentrates on one territory what other countries offer separately: a spectacular metropolis (Cape Town), a mythic coastal road (the Garden Route), a self-drive safari park as accessible as Etosha (Kruger, tarred roads included) and three-thousand-metre mountains (the Drakensberg).
Independent travel here is simple: an excellent road network, accommodation for every budget, moderate costs thanks to the rand. The trade-off: enormous distances between the blocks (Cape Town and Kruger are 2,000 km apart), which force a choice — or a domestic flight — and a sharper security awareness than Namibia, above all in cities.
The destinations that matter
- 01
Cape Town and its peninsula
3 to 4 nights
A flat mountain set between two oceans, penguin beaches and the world's most beautiful urban coastal road: Africa's most spectacular city stop.
- 02
Garden Route
4 to 5 nights
300 kilometres of coast between lagoons, primary forest and beaches: Africa's most famous coastal road is savoured slowly, over four or five nights.
- 03
Kruger Park
3 to 4 nights
The Big Five from your own car, on partly tarred roads: Kruger is the world's most accessible independent safari.
- 04
Drakensberg
2 to 3 nights
A 3,000-metre basalt wall raised above the Zulu grasslands: South Africa's hiking paradise, between two blocks of safari and ocean.
- 05
Route 62 and the Karoo
2 to 3 nights
The inland alternative to the coast: vineyards, spectacular passes, ostrich farms and the sleepy villages of the Little Karoo — South Africa's Route 66, only better.
- 06
iSimangaliso and St Lucia
2 to 3 nights
Hippos grazing the village lawns after dark, wild Indian Ocean beaches and a safari with sand between your toes: tropical South Africa.
On our publishing schedule
Coming soon“South Africa on your own”, the complete edition, is in preparation
Same method as our Namibia guide: day-by-day itineraries, driving, a costed budget and checklists. Leave us your address and you'll hear about the launch — at the launch price.
In the meantime, our reference
The “Namibia on your own” guide — €29
- The same method, already applied to Africa's easiest self-drive country
- 3 day-by-day itineraries, 4x4 insurance decoded, costed budget
- Instant download, 14-day guarantee — currently in French, English edition coming
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