12 Irresistible Reasons to Take a Road Trip for Your Next Adventure
The Best Way to see a country?
Take a road trip!
Have you ever had that feeling when you hit the open road on your road trip? Freedom. Anticipation. Exhilaration.
It’s awesome!
Northern Cape
I cannot tally up the number of trips let alone kilometres we have travelled by road – countless. I cannot even disclose which was my favourite one, because we adored them all.
Swartberg Pass
Some people hate road trips and I get that. They prefer to travel in the relative comfort of a plane to get from point A to B when the distance is far. They choose ready-made itineraries done for them so they can just sit back and enjoy. Nothing wrong with that but it can limit your experience.
Sani Pass
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Why is a road trip the perfect way to travel?
Road tripping is all about discovery. It allows you to unleash your spirit of adventure. You can choose your own route and destination. Travel at your own pace and pause when you want to take in the moments that touch your soul. It can offer the opportunity to see what you like, wildlife or beaches, mountains or culture, scenery or people. It can even serve you some culinary delights.
Kgalagadi
Compelling reasons to take a road trip
1. Create your own itinerary.
The advantage of exploring by car allows you to plan your own unique experience. You choose your own route and create a trip that will suit you, your partner or your family.
2. It allows you to be flexible.
It is up to you to arrange your own schedule. You can go where you want, when you want. You can even deviate from it - it is entirely up to you. You don’t even need to follow any schedule unless you have booked accommodation or experiences in advance.
3. Every stop along the way is a destination.
A road trip gives real meaning to the saying it is the journey and not just the destination. At the same time you reach your destination several times. Whether you are stopping for a breath-captivating view, a sumptuous bite to eat, setting up camp for the night or booking into luxury accommodation, your journey is the destination.
Cederberg Mountains
4. Home is where you park (it).
A road trip can offer you the option of on the go sleeping arrangements. In other words, home is where you park or park it, especially if you hire a campervan, caravan or even buy a tent. Snuggling up in your camper van or reclining under the stars? That’s million-star accommodation! Of course you can still opt for more luxury in the form of hotels, guesthouses etc.
5. Discover at your leisure.
Between the time you hit the road till the moment you stop for the night, there is a treasure chest of experiences, culinary delights or adventure. Don’t rush. You might miss out.
6. Meet interesting people.
One of the hidden surprises is to meet interesting people. As you amble along on a road trip you will meet and interact with far more people, a variety that you may not find anywhere else.
7. Discover extraordinary places.
All those travel guides that show you picture postcard places? That’s part of the magnet that lures you to a place.
Going on a road trip? You can still see some of those locations but you will discover other places that you never see in a brochure. You will find surprises from arty towns to coastal gems or other unique places the area has to offer. Hidden gems with charisma and locals with hearts of gold welcoming you.
8. Road trips allow for low budget travel.
Apart from the cost of fuel, road trips can be budget friendly. The only way to thoroughly see a country is to travel by road. This allows one to deviate from the main arterial roads rather than be confined to a city. One is then not restricted and you can choose your own type of accommodation, from budget friendly self-catering chalets or cottages, hostels, guesthouses or B&B’s.
9. Experience achievement, gratitude or fulfilment.
Setting off on a road trip can in itself give you a sense of achievement. It is not just a physical journey. When you meet local people along the way it often opens your mind to other ways of life. You are more exposed to the many wonders of nature. Who knows, you might even have moments of self-reflection or a deep sense of gratitude.
Meiringspoort
10. Discover the actual meaning of slow travel.
Yes, you can rush around from one destination to another, trying to squeeze it all in and see as much as possible. Or you can absorb each destination, utilize all your senses and truly experience a place. You don’t have to hop on a tour bus before you have finished sightseeing because your travel companions have seen enough of a place or moment that you are totally enthralled with or because the schedule says it is time to move on to another spot. Having your own vehicle you can choose your own itinerary and schedule.
11. Choose highways, byways or gravel travel.
The world is your oyster if you travel by road. You may prefer an adventure rather than traveling on a national highway and can discover off the beaten path destinations when taking backroads.
12. Road trips are the best way for family travel.
Having your own vehicle to travel in is perfect for families with toddlers or babies. You can drive at your own pace and stop when your little ones need a break. They can even nap in the car between destinations. It is also easier to cart their extra bits of clothing, snacks, blankets and toys or games. You might even have more space than in public transport.
KwaZulu-Natal road trip
Now that we have covered some of the compelling reasons to take a road trip for your next adventure, what is the next best thing?
Highways or byways, explore South Africa by road
Exploring South Africa by road!
Why a road trip is the perfect way to travel in South Africa.
Which country has a reputation of being one of the world’s best road trip destinations? South Africa of course! It is no wonder with its wildlife and safari destinations, magnificent mountains and gorgeous beaches. Let us not forget the fantastic wineries, foodie spots and interesting dorpies (hamlets).
Kruger National Park
There is no doubt South Africa is a land of beauty with everything a traveller could ask for. If there was only one road trip that you could take in your lifetime, choose South Africa.
Fever trees at Parfuri, Kruger National Park
City slickers? Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban tend to be the main destinations. Gqeberha (previously named Port Elizabeth) and East London are not far behind.
Cango Caves road trip
What if you are an intrepid traveller? Hold your horses, and curb that enthusiasm just for a little bit while I mention that it is easy to satisfy your adventurous spirit between driving through the Karoo or to the Kgalagadi. Rugged landscapes and bold experiences will be easy to find when you are off the beaten path.
Karoo
Want to explore further than the South African borders? No worries, this country has got you covered and offers easy access to many of its African neighbours. In fact, it is often referred to as the gateway to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, eSwatini and Lesotho.
Mozambique
Lesotho
Kgalagadi & Mabuasehube road trip
Did I hear you say you don’t have a vehicle?
If you are an international visitor to South Africa and have arrived by plane, you can hire a vehicle for a road trip. A small sedan could suit your needs perfectly but if you are up for an adventure, you might need a 4x4 or off-road vehicle to tackle a bit of gravel travel.
Augrabies
Hot tip: No matter which vehicle you choose to hire, it is always advisable to get full insurance on a rental car in South Africa as well as other countries.
Camping in the Kgalagadi
If you want your budget to stretch you can buy a tent and some basic camping gear for part of your South African road trip. Alternatively you can rent a vehicle with a pop-up tent. These vehicles are often fully kitted and therefore no need to purchase any camping supplies. It may sound more expensive but if you work out the costs, it could be more economical paying the campsite fees plus the cost of hiring a vehicle than it would to stay in accommodation.
At Stormsriver
Furthermore you can create your own unique itinerary to suit your schedule, budget and sense of adventure. Where? Drive South Africa has you covered for various car rentals. They also have a brand-new tool recently launched, Road Trip Explorer, with an assortment of African road trips, including South Africa. These are from real travellers like you and me.
Disclaimer:
Roaming Fox is in no way affiliated to Drive South Africa.
Established in 2002 as a Cape Town car hire specialist, Drive South Africa with numerous car and 4x4 hires since 2006 to local and international customers, know how to keep customers happy.
They have some exciting news!
Calling All Africa Trailblazers!
Introducing Road Trip Explorer, the web’s biggest free collection of traveler-submitted
African road trips!
Developed by Drive South Africa, Road Trip Explorer is inspired by real travelers who’ve
embarked on road trips across the African continent. The aim of the tool is to share road
trips that showcase the diverse natural and cultural wonders of Africa, self-drive style.
Help inspire other road trippers just like you!
How do you get involved?
Simply share the story of your African road trip and it’ll be added to the collection at
Road Trip Explorer. All you need to do is visit the site and fill in the form. All and any
African road trip stories are welcome, from 4x4 adventures to family road trips, solo
journeys, road trips with friends, or even group road trips.
You can also email your road trip story to roadtripexplorer@drivesouthafrica.com and it’ll
be added to the collection at Road Trip Explorer.
If you’ve already covered your road trip story somewhere else on the web you can
simply submit your site URL.
To get your road trip listed on Road Trip Explorer, you’ll need to share:
● Your route or day-by-day itinerary
● Photos and/or videos
● Highlights of your trip
● A write-up of your trip (as long or short as you’d like)
● Some basic info about yourself
Share your road trip and you could win!
All Road Trip Explorer stories added before 31 August 2023 will automatically be
entered into a lucky draw to win:
● 4×4 rental vehicle (fully equipped for up to 4 people) for 7 days
● Camper rental vehicle (fully equipped for 2 people) for 7 days
● Car rental vehicle for 7 days
Drakensberg
Bonus content from Roaming Fox:
What to know when hiring any vehicle for your road trip:
1. Always book in advance to ensure availability of the vehicle you would prefer especially if it is a popular time to rent vehicles such as school holidays or summer vacation times.
2. Use a reputable car hire company and read the terms and conditions. Check the rental specs, insurance and taxes.
3. Check the license requirements for the country and car hire company.
4. Automatic vs manual (stick shift). In some countries it is the norm to use a manual but you may not be comfortable driving one.
5. Ensure you have insurance from your current insurer. If they do not cover you in a foreign country, check whether your credit card will offer coverage on foreign car rentals.
6. Many car rental companies prefer you to pay with a credit card when you hire a vehicle. Rental companies may only take credit cards and not debit cards for deposits. It gives them more financial security in case a repair bill is more expensive than the security deposit or if a fine only shows up a few months later.
7. Be wary of renting cheaper cars – they often have smaller boot space and your luggage may not fit. A small car for a family of four with all their luggage might not be suitable either.
8. Check whether there is a built in GPS (or bring your own). Traveling on unfamiliar roads can be daunting if you don’t know where to go. If you are traveling to remote places a printed map is a useful resource if there is no cellular data or signal coverage.
9. Focus on the road and stick to the rules of the country you are driving in. Drive safely as it will take time to adjust especially if you have just landed and then hit peak hour traffic.
10. Allow yourself enough time to return the vehicle on time.
I would love to hear from you if you have any further suggestions regarding road trips or hiring a vehicle.
Some road trips we’ve done:
Road trip to the Drakensberg Mountains
Itinerary and route to Kgalagadi
Route and itinerary Kruger National Park Safari
KwaZulu-Natal route and itinerary
Road trip to Addo Elephant National Park and traveling west
Road trip to western coast of South Africa in search of wildflowers
A two-week road trip to Mozambique
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about the Author
ALMA VAN AS | ROAMING FOX
Alma is a South African travel blogger and writer. She hopes to inspire you with facts and fables about her adventures, road trips and international travel.
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The Best Way to see a country? Take a road trip! Have you ever had that feeling when you hit the open road on your road trip? Freedom. Anticipation. Exhilaration.