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.
Showing 12 guides
Cape Town → George
The opener of the classic Garden Route — 440 km of N2 coast and mountain from Cape Town to George.
Drive Cape Town to George in around 4h 30m. 440 km, no toll plazas, R 310 for a sedan. The N2 through the Overberg and into the Garden Route.
Cape Town → Hermanus
The 120 km drive from Cape Town to Hermanus follows the Overberg coast to the whale-watching capital of South Africa.
Drive Cape Town to Hermanus in around 1h 30m. 120 km, no tolls, around R 84 for a sedan. The whale-watching capital of South Africa via the Overberg coast.
Cape Town → Stellenbosch
Fifty-four kilometres from the city to the Winelands — Stellenbosch is close enough for a half-day, worthwhile for a weekend.
Drive Cape Town to Stellenbosch in around 42m. 54 km, no tolls, around R 38 for a sedan. The gateway to the Winelands via the R310 or N2.
Durban → Pietermaritzburg
Eighty kilometres of N3 between the coast and the capital of KwaZulu-Natal — quick, busy, and famous for the Comrades.
Drive Durban to Pietermaritzburg in around 1h on the N3. 80 km, Mariannhill toll plaza, around R 90 for a sedan. The Comrades Marathon route.
George → Knysna
The classic 63 km Garden Route hop — lakes, forest, and the Knysna Lagoon at the end.
Drive George to Knysna in around 1h 12m. 63 km, no tolls, around R 45 for a sedan. The iconic Garden Route stretch through Wilderness and Sedgefield.
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.
Drive Johannesburg to Bloemfontein in around 4h on the N1. 400 km, 2 toll plazas, around R 320 for a sedan. The Karoo halfway-house on the Cape route.
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.
Drive from Johannesburg to Cape Town — 1 402 km, around 14h, 3 toll plazas. The Great North Karoo crossing. Full cost breakdown and stop guide.
Johannesburg → Durban
South Africa's busiest holiday route — the N3 from Joburg to Durban demands respect, especially in December.
Drive from Johannesburg to Durban in around 5h 42m on the N3. 568 km, 6 toll plazas, around R 630 for a sedan. Full road guide with stops and tips.
Johannesburg → Nelspruit
The N4 east from Joburg to Nelspruit is the standard Kruger gateway — 360 km through Highveld and Lowveld.
Drive Johannesburg to Nelspruit in around 4h on the N4. 360 km, 3 toll plazas, around R 320 for a sedan. The main Kruger National Park gateway route.
Johannesburg → Polokwane
The N1 north to Polokwane — 315 km of Bushveld transition and the gateway to Limpopo's game reserves.
Drive Johannesburg to Polokwane in around 3h 30m on the N1. 315 km, 5 toll plazas, around R 320 for a sedan. Limpopo gateway and Kruger northern access.
Johannesburg → Pretoria
Fifty-eight kilometres, no tolls, half a dozen route options — South Africa's busiest urban corridor.
Drive Johannesburg to Pretoria in around 48m. 58 km, no toll plazas, around R 40 for a sedan. The daily commuter corridor with multiple route options.
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.
Drive Pretoria to Hazyview in around 4h 12m. 368 km, Diamond Hill toll plaza, around R 310 for a sedan. Kruger's southern gates via the R40 Escarpment.