Who Wants to Go on a Road Trip Adventure in South Africa?

In mid-January 2015 I'm thinking of renting a car and driving along the garden route from Jo-Burg to Cape Town. It looks amazingly beautiful and to have the flexibility to stop along the way for photographs and video (I'm a travel writer so I need to take a lot of photos and want to document part of it on video), would be so much better than a bus. Apparently car rentals are cheap and I think this could be an awesome adventure. I'm a 29-year-old Southern Californian and I have traveled for almost 2.5 years now solo, mainly in Asia. This will be my first time in South Africa, and Africa in general. If you're down for an adventure (and obviously, to split the cost of the car and gas, and to help with driving), let me know!

I'm not so sure about the 'awesome adventure' part since you are slap bang in the middle of the South African school holidays - the inland provinces go back on the 14th but the coastal ones don't return till the 21st Jan meaning that many places along the Garden Route (which is between PE and CT by the way) will be booked solid and it will be pretty busy.

It is a lovely part of the world but is not the slightest bit off the beaten track but would be a very gentle introduction to Africa - the worst part is likely to be getting out of Jozi!

Then perhaps you could suggest a better route or something less touristy?

Should be an awesome trip but (as mentioned) try to delay it by a couple of weeks so that you miss school holidays. How much time do you have? If you want don't find others and don't want to rent a car alone, try the BazBus. However, renting a car is much better and easier to get off the beaten track.

Hi - I'd love to join if our timelines coincide. I will be on vacation in Johannesburg from Jan 19-28. Depending on your plan, I can road trip with you to Cape Town and book a one way flight back to Jo-Burg. I'm 24, from New Jersey, lived in Shanghai last year and traveled through Asia and Europe but have also never been anywhere in Africa. I am back in the US now and working a 9-5 so I am definitely up for an adventure!

I would suggest that you explore the Karoo (Very hot this time of year) and the Transkei. The Cape is very much like any other cosmopolitan city in the world. It is not very African at all. The school holidays are basically over so I would not worry about that. Possibly also do some of KZN. Let me know if you want more details.

You might be just a bit late for me. Was thinking of leaving earlier. Are those your only possible dates?

Thanks for that suggestion and you're the second person to tell me the Transkei would be even better. Always happy to have more details! Thanks a lot!!

Yes, unfortunately - I'm taking a week off work in between projects so I don't have much flexibility. I actually double checked my itinerary and those dates include travel time so I effectively have the 20th-27th. If you think that's workable for you let me know - I haven't made any solid plans yet.

I did the garden route trip during Xmas vacations..... 12 days and drove approx. 5000 kms (and I was the only person who knows driving out of two of us). Despite driving so much, I really enjoyed the route... It was an awesome drive with so much of natural beauty around to see. You would like it.

hey bemytravelmuse how are you doing?
just found your ad... and yeah i see, it's mid of jan :-)
anyway - i will be in Johannesburg soon (still in Greece, booked my ticket yesterday) & I am planning to do the same trip - just wandering if you already hit the road or if you are still on standby, looking for a travel mate???

greetings from Athens
cheers

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