When you add these attractions to three award-winning international airports, numerous regional airports, and a (largely!) well-maintained road network spanning almost 750 000kms, it’s not hard to see why South Africa attracts over 10 million international tourists every year.

While many of these tourists choose to base their stay in one particular city or area, others opt to hire a car and hit the road! Exploring a country by road is definitely one of the best ways to really experience its true character and beauty. With the largest road network of any country on the continent, South Africa is the perfect place to discover from the comfort of your car.

Ramp Up Your Road Code

South Africa has a great road infrastructure, and driving conditions are usually really good. So if you have a bit of basic common driving sense, you’ll have no problems doing a self-drive holiday through our beautiful country. Knowledge, however, is power, so here’s a bit of road knowledge to give you a better idea of how to plan your routes.

South Africa has over 16 000kms of National roads. You’ll recogise these from the letter “N” and then a number – the N1 and N2, for example, from Cape Town, the N3 from Durban to Johannesburg and the N6 from East London to Bloemfontein.

We also have Metropolitan freeways, which are designated with an “M,” and Provincial Main Roads, identified with the letter “R,” such as the R21 from OR Tambo International Airport to Pretoria, and the R27 from Cape Town to Upington.

These major arterial roads are supplemented by a massive network of secondary roads, which can either be gravel or surfaced, and which are designated with a number. There are actually around 300 000kms of excellent “country” gravel roads that can easily be negotiated with a normal two-wheel-drive vehicle, and another 170 000kms of roads (surfaced and non-surfaced) in urban areas that are also in great driving condition.

Even most of the unclassified roads in rural areas are fine for two-wheel drive vehicles (except in very wet weather), although you will definitely encounter some bumps, lumps and potholes! There are actually only a few roads in the entire country that are exclusively four-wheel drive. Even most of those in the National Parks and other game reserves are fine for normal cars.

Helpful Hacks For A Happy Holiday

If you’re planning a South African road trip, we’re very excited for you!! We know you’re going to have a wonderful time and will fall in love with our beautiful country. There are a couple of things you might not know about driving in South Africa, so to help you prepare fully for your trip, here are a few helpful holiday hacks and hints:

Download Before You Hit The Road

In some of the more remote places in South Africa, data speeds are slow. In fact, you may not have 4G at all, or even a cellphone signal, for that matter. So, before you leave home, download to your smartphone any maps you might need for your holiday. And make sure your Maps app is as up to date as possible. Even in those areas where you have connectivity, road names may have changed.

Rules Are Cool

Yes, we know you’re on holiday. But a hefty fine for a traffic violation could put a dent in your spending money so it’s worth take a few minutes to brush up on local road rules and regs:

• Carry your international and national driver’s licenses with you whenever you’re driving. You will definitely need both these documents in order to hire a car in the first place.
• We drive on the left-hand side of the road in South Africa. On dual carriageways and highways, keep in the left-hand lane and use the right-hand lane for overtaking.
• All speed limits are in kilometres – 120 kms/hr on major routes (although slower speeds are common in high accident zones or when passing through towns or villages), 100kms/hr on secondary roads, and 60kms/hr on urban roads.
• It is compulsory to wear seatbelts in the front and back seats.
• Talking on your phone while driving is illegal unless you have Bluetooth or a hands-free kit.
• The maximum legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05%.
• Four-way stops are common. The first vehicle to arrive should be the first to leave, but this is not always adhered to. Drive cautiously through these intersections.
• At roundabouts, give way to the right. Again, exercise caution as driver’s don’t always observe this rule.

Learn The Lingo

No, don’t panic! There are 11 official languages in South Africa, but English is widely spoken and understood. There are, however, a few unique “South-Africanisms” you may encounter on our roads…

• Robots – This is actually what we call traffic lights! So if someone tells you to “turn left at the robot,” don’t think he’s lost his mind!
• Bakkie – the local word for a utility vehicle or pick up truck.
• Minibus taxi – the 15-seater vehicles that make up the majority of South Africa’s public transport system.
• Padkos – collective term for food and drink for your road trip.
• Takkies – usually a term for sports shoes or trainers. However, it is sometimes used to describe vehicle tyres – “look at the takkies on that bakkie!”

Being Po-light

You might find that sometimes, motorists coming towards you flash their headlights. This most commonly means that you are approaching a speed trap so should slow down. It could also, however, mean there is another hazard coming your way. Perhaps a herd of cattle or goats crossing the road. This is actually quite common, especially in more rural areas.

Drivers often also flash their lights if they are coming up behind you at speed and want you to move over (to the left) to allow them to pass. Often, on single lane, long distance roads, motorists will temporarily move over onto the hard shoulder to allow the faster vehicle to pass. This is not the law, and is not even strictly allowed, but is a common practice. It should only ever be done, however, when the hard shoulder is clear for a long way. And of course, should never be attempted on a blind incline.

If a driver pulls over for you to pass, it’s customary to thank him by switching on your emergency indicators for a couple of flashes. He will then usually acknowledge your thanks with a quick flash of his headlights.

More Helpful Information

There are some very useful websites you can visit to find out more about road travel in South Africa, as well as some general safety hints and tips and other really handy info:

• Arrive Alive https://www.arrivealive.co.za
• The South African National Roads Agency Limited https://www.nra.co.za
• The Automobile Association of South Africa https://www.aa.co.za

If you’re looking for a car hire company to start your South African road trip off in style, chat to SA Car Hire.  With over 20 years in the business, you can trust us to make your holiday in our beautiful country a truly memorable one.

The post Just Tripping – Making The Most Of Your South African Road Trip appeared first on Tony's Car Hire.

Unlike organised travel packages or tours, hiring a car gives you unlimited freedom to go where you want, when you want. You can take spur of the moment detours, and make up your own itinerary. It’s a very liberating way to travel!

Travelling by car also gives you a lot more flexibility in terms of luggage. You’re not restricted by weight allowances or numbers of suitcases, and can shop for souvenirs to your heart’s content!

Of course, although car hire gives you the freedom to follow your instincts and indulge your wanderlust, it is good to have a basic plan of where you want to go. It’s also helpful to have a rough idea of what you’d like to do while you’re there. Are you a culture vulture who loves museums and historical sites and buildings? Or are you more adventurous, looking for adrenaline-filled activities such as bungee jumping and shark diving? Perhaps you just want to relax on a sunny beach and catch up on some much-needed R and R?

Knowing where you want to go and what you’d like to do will help make your holiday easier to plan. It will also help you decide on the type of car you hire. Although most roads – even the gravel ones – are easily doable in 2-wheel-drive vehicles, there are some places where only a 4×4 will do. You will also need to think about how much boot (trunk) space you’ll need, how powerful the car should be, and whether you’ll be travelling in the summer or winter.

Remember that South African seasons are opposite to the Northern Hemisphere – we have our summer from December to February. Most of the country gets summer rain, except for the Western Cape, where the summers are usually dry.

Helpful Hints For Carefree Car Hire

Hiring the right car is one of the most important decisions you can make when planning a road trip in South Africa. Most people choose their car based on budget, but it really is worth taking the time to factor in a few other considerations as well.

Number Of People

If there are only two of you, and you don’t have much luggage, then a small car is ideal. Cheap and cheerful, a little hatchback is both budget-friendly and perfect for parking! It is also one the most fuel-efficient options. This allows you to travel further without breaking your budget.

If you’re a family travelling with children, you’ll naturally have more luggage. A family-friendly sedan would be perfect in this case. If you’re driving long distances, an SUV may be preferable, as it’s slightly roomier. SUVs also usually have bigger boot spaces than sedans. If you have items such as toddler pushchairs in addition to your luggage, this could be a better option for you.

Type Of Terrain

Most roads in South Africa are in good condition. We have over 16 000kms of tarred National roads. These are the main arterial roads linking the major cities, such as the N3 from Johannesburg to Durban, and the N2 from Cape Town to Durban and beyond. These roads are supplemented by metropolitan freeways and provincial main roads – all of which are tarred.

South Africa also has a massive network of secondary roads, which are either gravel or surfaced. Most of our 300 000kms of “country” gravel roads are in excellent condition, as are about 170,000kms of supplementary surfaced and non-surfaced roads in urban areas.

All of which means a standard 2-wheel drive vehicle is more than adequate for the vast majority of the roads you’re likely to encounter on your trip. However, if you’re planning a slightly more adventurous excursion, you might want to consider a bigger, more rugged vehicle. Some roads along the Wild Coast, for example, are usually only accessible by 4-wheel-drive – especially if it’s been raining. At the very least you’ll need an SUV, as it has higher ground clearance than the average sedan.

Although you won’t need one for the roads, a 4×4 in the many game reserves in South Africa can be very useful as it gives you additional height. This offers a better viewpoint for spotting game than lower-to-the-ground sedans.

Compulsory 4×4 Areas

Definite 4×4 areas include certain areas in the Drakensberg, the Western Cape coast and certain parts of the former Transkei. If you plan to include a trip across the border into Mozambique, Namibia or Botswana, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is highly recommended (compulsory, actually, for Mozambique).

A trip up Sani Pass in the Drakensberg is always a great highlight, but a 4×4 is compulsory here too. Border authorities at the South Africa/Lesotho border are likely to refuse you permission to drive up the pass unless you have the right vehicle. The conditions of the pass are testing, so enforcing this rule is in the best interests of safety for all drivers.

You also need to produce proof of vehicle ownership and insurance. If you are hiring a car, you can ask your rental company for written permission to take the vehicle across the border. This then acts as your Border Letter of Authority.

Distances Travelled

South Africa is a vast country, so the chances are you’ll spend many hours at a time in your car during the course of your road trip. The country’s two most iconic tourist destinations — the Kruger National Park and the city of Cape Town — are over 1 700kms apart. If you’re planning to visit both these places, you’re in for a long drive! In a case like this, it’s really worth hiring the best car you can afford to give you the most comfortable trip.

If you’re going to visit more remote areas, be aware of your fuel consumption. You will always find fuel along the main freeways and in all towns. But once you start venturing further afield, opportunities to get fuel will become fewer and further between. If you’re really going to be “out in the sticks,” consider hiring a vehicle with long-range fuel tanks. Alternatively, carry spare fuel with you in jerry cans.

Other Considerations

• Types of Transmission – Most rental cars in South Africa have a manual transmission. If you’d prefer an automatic, you need to mention this when you book. Automatic cars are usually more expensive to hire.
• Insurance – If you plan to travel on a lot of un-surfaced roads, check the damage policy of your car hire company. Some insurance policies won’t cover you if you’ve taken the car on “unsuitable” roads.
• Security – it is worth making sure you can pack your luggage in such a way that it’s not visible from the outside of your vehicle. In the case of a hatchback or SUV, check that the car you’re hiring has a sliding luggage cover. This is especially useful when parked in a town, or a busy tourist area.

If you’re looking for a car hire company with a range of cars to suit your unique South African road trip, chat to Tony’s Car Hire. We’ve got over 20 years in the business, so you can trust our advice and our vehicles.

The post Planning A South African Road Trip? Start With The Right Car! appeared first on Tony's Car Hire.