There are good reasons to choose South Africa for a self-drive safari – especially if it’s your first. Not least because the roads and local infrastructure are among the best on the continent. Surfaces on the network are generally well maintained, with the vast majority made from tarmac or paving. And road signs are predominantly in English.
Then there’s the variety. On a South Africa self-drive safari, you can easily mix wildlife spotting with wine tasting, and sightseeing with shopping.
Cape Town, Cape Winelands and the 300km long coastal Garden Route all regularly feature on most people’s self-drive itineraries. And if you’ve more time, you can experience some of South Africa’s national parks, of which these three are the most popular:
Kruger National Park - a location that’s over 19,000 km2 in size, in which you can spot the Big 5
iSimangaliso Wetland Park in Kwa-Zulu Natal – experience beaches, wetland and bushland and see crocodile, hippo and turtle
Addo Elephant National Park – home to the biggest elephant population in South Africa
Wherever you choose to go, you’ll have plenty of top quality accommodation to pick from, including hotels, tented camp sites, lodges and villas.
Choosing to self-drive also gives you the freedom to go where you want, and decide how long you stay in a particular location. Many travellers enhance this experience by adding a guided activity here and there, gaining local insight, expert wildlife spotting and a richer understanding of each area - all while keeping the independence that makes self-driving so rewarding.
Invest in a good pair of binoculars. These will ensure you get as close a view of the wildlife as possible.
Be prepared. Make sure you have enough food and water in your vehicle to last you for at least a day on the road. There’s nothing worse than having to waste time looking for food shops when you want to be looking for lions. Also, be sure to have insect repellent, a map, torch and warm clothing in your vehicle.
Learn to recognise animal behaviours that can lead to other sightings. Tip 1: If a herbivore is focusing on a certain area, chances are there’s a predator nearby. Tip 2: While lions are eating their prey, there’s likely to be a hyena in the vicinity, waiting for the leftovers. Knowing tips like these can help you increase the different types of animals you get to see.
Get up early. Most of the predators you’re likely to want to see are at their most active at dawn, making this the time of day you’re most likely to spot them. And starting your day earlier than other people means you’ll get to explore the wilds with fewer other vehicles on the roads. To make up for lost sleep, you can always grab a siesta after lunch, which is the same time most of the animals doze in the sun anyway.
Be patient. Spotting wildlife is a waiting game. Finding a quiet spot near a watering hole will almost always pay dividends if you give it time. Every animal has to drink at some point.
Drive slow. Not only will this keep you safer, it’ll also ensure you don’t scare off the wildlife, and give you more time to enjoy the views.
Get plenty of rest. Driving slowly can be surprisingly tiring, so you should take a break every couple of hours or so and get out of your vehicle to stretch your legs (assuming it is safe to do so).
Keep a low profile. Switch off your engine and lights while waiting. This will give you a better chance of seeing and not frightening off wildlife.
Learn from fellow travellers. Be sure to ask other self-drive adventurers you meet about their experiences. They could hold the key to the location of the wildlife you really want to see.
Let us know how long you want your South Africa self-drive safari to last, your budget, and what you want to see and do on your trip, and we’ll use our expertise to draw up an itinerary that’s perfect for you.
We’ll create a tour that’ll include daily driving distances, places to stay and things to do. If you’ve got specific species you just have to see, we’ll ensure your itinerary gives you the best possible chance of getting eyes-on animals such as the Big Five, crocodile, penguin and ostrich.
South Africa is so large and diverse, you can visit at any time of year and see some truly amazing sights.
But it’s worth knowing that December is peak summer time in this part of the world. It’s when schools are on holiday and temperatures are high, meaning it can be a hot and busy, which might not be to everyone’s taste.
The two months before and after December are likely to offer a better time to visit Cape Town, the Garden Route and the winelands. The eastern regions of the country are best visited between April and September when the region is at its driest.
South Africa is a big country. Really big. So you can’t expect to see it all if you’ve only got a short amount of time available. Here’s a realistic overview of what you could see on a self-drive with the time you’ve got to spare:
If you’re planning a short safari, you’ll need to stick to one region. It’s recommended you focus on Cape Town and the Garden Route for a week-long trip – a great introduction to the concept of a self-drive holiday. But even then, you won’t be able to see all that this region of South Africa has to offer.
Two weeks should give you enough time for a decent self-drive trip in which you can stay in one destination for more than one night, so you’re not constantly packing and unpacking. You’ll also have enough time to visit one of the National Parks to see the Big 5.
More time gives you more scope to really make your long-haul flight to South Africa worthwhile. As well as Cape Town, the winelands and the Garden Route, you can also spread your wings and head into one or more of the National Parks, and venture east to the wild wetlands of KwaZulu-Natal.
Can I drive to Namibia from South Africa?
What guarantee do I have that on arrival, everything is sorted and arranged as per the planned itinerary?
Is travel insurance really necessary?
Which side of the road do you drive on?
What happens if I have a flat tyre or my vehicle breaks down?
To what extent is my car rental vehicle covered by the insurance paid?
What type of car is best for Namibia, Botswana and neighbouring countries?
What if I can't drive a manual (stick shift) vehicle?
Want to make your South Africa self-drive safari the most memorable vacation of your life? That’s what we’re here for. We’ve been delivering dream experiences for our clients for over 35 years, making the whole experience hassle-free, from picking up your vehicle on day one to handing back the keys at the end of your safari.
If you need us to plan your itinerary from start to finish with all stops and accommodation included, we’re happy to do so. We can plan as much or as little as you need us to. Either way, when you use our expertise, you’ll have all the information and assistance you need to set off with confidence, knowing you’ll be supported throughout your safari.
See the difference we can make to planning and enjoying your self-drive safari in South Africa by contacting our friendly team today.
"A dream come true"
We had the most amazing family holiday, everything worked so perfectly, the arrangements and accommodation was spectacular!
"Unforgettable trip to Namibia – Thank you Namibia Tours & Safaris!"
We are a group of four from Romania and spent 3 unforgettable weeks in Namibia. We can't recommend them enough, and for any future travels in Namibia or other parts of Africa, we will definitely use their services again.
"We had a great experience"
From the time we put the key in the ignition till we boarded the plane in Windhoek nothing went wrong.
"Unforgettable bird photography trip in Namibia"
It was a fantastic experience, everything was very well organised, went smooth and according to expectations. It was our first self drive in Africa and it was a great, unforgettable time.
