How to prepare for your next South African road trip
How to prepare for your next South African road trip
By Lauren E. White
South Africa is one of the world’s richest countries in terms of its history, wildlife and landscapes, so heading there for a road trip is one of the best travel experiences imaginable. From the stunning national parks like Kruger, to magnificent beaches such as on the Cape Peninsula, to the moving historical pilgrimages on Robben Island, there’s so much to do and so much to see. So, in light of all this, we have our top tips on how to prepare for your next South African road trip. You can never be too prepared, so sit down and absorb all of the information coming your way.
- Firstly, get a car to rent
There’s no such thing as a road trip without a car, so you need to start getting into the nitty gritty and finding a car to rent which fits your length of stay, budget and traveller needs. Make sure to be on the lookout for reputable hire vehicle companies who won’t let you down and who genuinely know what they’re doing.
Some of the best car rentals to investigate when preparing for your next South African road trip are Hertz and Avis, which are particularly good for long-term renting. Make sure you’re not expecting a luxury car or anything while road tripping South Africa – you’re not going to be able to rent one of those. Set the bar relatively low and you’ll be pretty happy with the results. If you want to rent out a campervan for your road trip, you are going to need to do some research, perhaps starting with Happy Campers in Cape Town.
In terms of insurance, make sure the cars are completely insured, and that you are too in case of any accidents when you’re driving.
- Buy a GPS
Unless you’ve got an instinct like no other to know your way around all of the roads in South Africa, you’ll be needing a GPS machine. They’re worth investing in because they’re quicker and easier than using a map and you can go about your business not having to worry about working everything out as you go along. Also, GPS systems will ensure you’re following the quickest route all of the time, so you have maximum time spent seeing the glorious sights of South Africa.
A GPS will also come in handy for the rest of your life, not just on this road trip. There’ll always be times in life when you need to head somewhere new and so need directions to it – a GPS will help you with just that. So, we’d recommend factoring this into your budget and packing list when you prepare for your next South African road trip.
- Make an itinerary
Often people love to romanticise road trips as unplanned and ‘just following the road’, but in reality, it just can’t be like that. You need at least a rough idea of where you’re headed every time you pull away in your car, so creating an itinerary is the best thing to do.
You don’t need to have every day planned down to the last minute detail, just a list of places you want to go in the order you want to see them in. Make sure that when you do this, you budget for how much it will cost you, on average, for fuel and, if necessary, accommodation. You’ll also need to work out places to stop along the way, be it to refill or to have a break from the roads of South Africa.
Whatever you do to prepare for your next South African road trip, make sure it involves creating said itinerary or you will be so stressed and confused while trying to ride the tarmac.
These are, without a doubt, the most important three ways to prepare for your next South African road trip. We recommend them because they’ve been tried and tested, so we know they work. We also recommend them because we want you to have a great time road tripping the ‘rainbow nation’, and these points will ensure you do just that, as well as the extra bits and bobs, like buying the right clothes, access to national parks and obtaining the correct visa necessary if applicable to you.
Happy road tripping!
