The open road is calling
Wanderlust, you will know it if you have it. The dictionary describes it as ‘a strong desire to travel and road trippers know the feeling well. A road trip from Johannesburg to Cape Town will reveal what this is all about.
South Africans are spoiled with a good road network that criss-crosses a country packed with a diversity of places to explore. Whether you are after culture, food, adventure, wildlife, romance, history, festivals, or just Instagram-worthy landscapes and epic drives, all you need is a great playlist, your favourite padkos, and a sense of curiosity to create unforgettable memories.
From day trips to weekend escapes and multi-week missions, there’s a road trip to suit virtually anyone, and with Southern Africa’s best safari destinations right on the doorstep, there are endless options for those who want to get across the borders, off the beaten track and into the African wild.
Get Inspired with Road Trip Explorer
Feeling the wanderlust but not sure where to start? Africa’s leading car rental service, Drive South Africa, has developed Road Trip Explorer, a free tool that puts hundreds of African road trip stories in one place. Uploaded stories include detailed routes, itineraries, photos, and interactive maps aimed at inspiring fellow road trippers to get out there and experience the best of Africa.
With 348 branches in 5 countries, Drive South Africa offers hundreds of affordable and reliable rental vehicles, including regular cars, 4x4s, camper vans, and minibuses. They are consistently rated 5-stars for excellent customer service and their convenient website is a breeze to use, so you will be on your way in no time.
Discover Africa with… Discover Africa
Seen the best of South Africa and hungry for more? Discover Africa is a leading provider of authentic, tailor-made luxury safaris that span 12 African destinations. The way they work is simple: Contact them with your wishlist of safari experiences and they will put together an itinerary that makes all your dreams come true. Check out their website to see the kinds of journeys and activities they offer – they have got a useful email guide to taking a safari that’s definitely worth subscribing to. You might even want to combine your road trip with a safari for a truly unique experience.
Jozi to the Mother City
Get out there and start exploring on a road trip of your very own. Here is a list of interesting places to visit, starting in Johannesburg and ending in Cape Town:
Route: N1
Stops:
Bloemfontein places to visit
- Anglo Boer War Museum
- Oliewenhuis Art Museum
- Naval Hill
- Free State National Botanical Garden
- Naval Hill Planetarium
- South African Armour Museum
- The National Museum
- Langenhoven Park Farmers Market
- Windmill Casino and Entertainment Centre
- Jazz on the lawn
- Loch Logan Waterfront
Colesberg places to visit
- Colesberg-Kemper Museum
- Doornkloof Reserve
- Horse & Mill Pub and Restaurant
- Bordeaux Coffee Shop & Restaurant
- Sea Cow River Restaurant
- Die Kleipot Restaurant
- Transkaroo Hiking Trail
Matjiesfontein places to visit
- Laird’s Arm Pub
- Anysberg Horse Trail
- Marie Rawdon Museum
- Laingsburg Flood Museum
- R354 Sutherland to Matjiesfontein scenic drive
Paarl places to visit
- Fairview Wine & Cheese
- Spice Route Destination
- Nederburg Wines
- Paarl Mountain Nature Reserve
- Plaisir de Merle
- Ashia
- KWV Wine Emporium
- Avondale Wine
- Afrikaans Language Monument
- Mellasat Vineyards
- Backsberg
Cape Town places to visit
- Table Mountain
- Boulders Beach
- Victoria & Alfred Waterfront
- Kirstenbosch
- Cape Point
- Castle of Good Hope
- Bo-Kaap
- Clifton Beach
- Muizenberg Beach
- Robben Island
Upload your road trip and stand a chance to win
Road Trip Explorer is always looking for new stories to add to the collection to show off the very best that Africa has to offer. If you have been on an epic African road trip and you want to share it with the world, upload it to the site before 31 August 2023 and you could win up to R50 000 in prizes.
