South African road-trip guides

Johannesburg→Nelspruit

The full cost picture for self-driving Johannesburg to the Kruger National Park: fuel, every toll on the N4, park fees, and car hire, written for visitors.

What driving Joburg to Kruger really costs: fuel in rand, the four N4 toll plazas, park conservation fees, and rental classes. Verified monthly.

Cape Town→George

The full cost picture for self-driving Cape Town to the Garden Route: fuel, the single toll, car hire and payment, written for visitors.

What the Garden Route really costs to self-drive: fuel in rand, the one toll plaza, rental car classes, and how to pay. Numbers verified monthly.

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.