Best time to go on a
South Africa self drive vacation
Whatever time of year you travel, vast and diverse South Africa offers something incredible, somewhere.![]()
If you’re heading to Cape Town, the winelands and the Garden Route then October to March is the best time to go. School vacations and hot weather can make the summer month of December crowded, while spring-like October and November bring wildflowers to the Garden Route. If you don’t mind chilly nights, then Hermanus comes to life in September with festivities marking the start of the whale watching season. April and May offer excellent wildlife viewing in KwaZulu-Natal, and pleasant temperatures for hiking in the Drakensburg Mountains. And while South Africa’s eastern reaches are driest during April to September – perfect for some time on the Elephant Coast beaches – you’ll need your brolly handy in Cape Town.
Garden Route Weather Chart
MIN °C
MAX °C
RAIN (mm)
JAN
16
26
21
FEB
16
27
24
MAR
15
26
26
APR
12
23
65
MAY
10
20
105
JUN
9
19
133
JUL
8
19
123
AUG
8
19
120
SEP
10
20
65
OCT
11
21
50
NOV
12
24
27
DEC
15
25
25
Our South Africa self drive Vacations
South Africa vacation
Explore Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route
From
£2300 to £4500
15 days
inc UK flights
Zululand safari vacation, South Africa
Experience wildlife reserves, beaches and Zulu culture
From
£2600
11 days
ex flights
Garden Route vacation, tailor made, South Africa
Wildlife, mountains & sandy beaches, adventure and people
From
£1900
12 days
ex flights
South Africa family adventure vacation, tailor made
Family self-drive vacation, featuring whales & wildlife
From
£1400
11 days
ex flights
Kwa Zulu Natal self drive South Africa vacation
South Africa's best kept secret, a must for second time visitors
From
US $6457
15 days
ex flights
Self drive vacation in South Africa
Immerse yourself in natural beauty, history & wilderness
From
£1800
10 days
ex flights
self-drive trip into Limpopo, South Africa
A self-drive trip into Limpopo, South Africa's hidden gem.
From
£2150
12 days
inc UK flights
Classic South Africa self drive vacation
Ideally suited for the first-time visitor to South Africa
From
US $4347
16 days
ex flights
Kwa Zulu Natal self drive vacation
Explore Kwa Zulu Natal: Rich in culture, history & scenery
From
£2660
15 days
ex flights
South Africa self drive vacation
Beach and bush experience in South Africa
From
£2820
13 days
ex flights
Wheelchair accessible South Africa self drive vacation
Explore Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route
From
£2300 to £4500
15 days
inc UK flights
Cape Town & winelands vacation, South Africa tailormade
Explore this city, meet its people, and taste fabulous wine and food
From
£2000
7 days
ex flights
South Africa wine tasting self drive vacation
Drive through South Africa's "Mother City" in 7 days
From
£1175
7 days
ex flights
South Africa honeymoon, self drive
Cape Town, the Winelands, natural beauty & wildlife safaris
From
£1900
13 days
ex flights
Is a South Africa self drive vacation for you?
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Our top South Africa self drive Vacation
South Africa vacation
Explore Cape Town, the Winelands and the Garden Route
From
£2300 to £4500
15 days
inc UK flights
Tailor made:
This trip can be tailormade throughout the year and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary
This trip can be tailormade throughout the year and can be adapted to suit your interests, budget and requirements as necessary
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about South Africa self drive or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
Practicalities
Driving in South Africa is fairly straightforward and easy. You’ll drive on the left – so if you’re based in the UK there’s no tricky changing to the other side of the road – and the roads are well maintained, especially in the Western Cape. While you may be a bit nervous about driving in the city, Cape Town is a breeze compared to London. The city is relatively small, easy to navigate and parking is plentiful. To make things as easy as possible for you, your self drive specialist will usually arrange to transfer you from your flight into Cape Town and deliver your car to your accommodation a few days later once you’ve had a chance to settle in. Drivers need to be 21 to hire a car in South Africa, as long as you hold a valid driving licence, with no upper age limit.
If you’re planning to bring the family then a self drive vacation works well, giving you the independence to stop for loo breaks and snacks as often as you like, without holding up a larger group. Your self drive specialist will be able to create an itinerary with your family in mind, keeping driving distances short and experiences exciting.
Safety considerations
While South Africa’s crime rate is notoriously high, most incidents take place away from tourist areas and the majority of vacations here are safe and go without a hitch. It’s wise to be aware that hire cars can be a target for thieves, but easy precautions – for example, not leaving any valuables in the car while its parked, or leaving anything on display – will help mitigate the risk.
Be aware that other drivers frequently break the speed limit, and that overtaking can occur from any lane – even the hard shoulder. It’s also not advisable to drive at night if you can avoid it, especially along the approach roads into Kruger National Park and around KwaZulu-Natal.
Be aware that other drivers frequently break the speed limit, and that overtaking can occur from any lane – even the hard shoulder. It’s also not advisable to drive at night if you can avoid it, especially along the approach roads into Kruger National Park and around KwaZulu-Natal.
South Africa self drive vacation advice
Charlotte Maile, from one of our leading South Africa self drive specialists, Audley Travel, shares her advice:
Itinerary tips
“Incorporate Route 62 and a drive over the Swartberg Pass in to your Garden Route trip, or avoid the Garden Route altogether and focus more around the Cape Town and Winelands region itself, probably the most scenic part of the country with hundreds of spectacular mountain passes. The Cape West Coast self drive is a lesser known but no less impressive itinerary to consider. I would also highly recommend self driving the Kruger NP, it’s a very different experience to the private game reserves but for those with a sense of independence and adventure it’s a wonderful way to explore one of Africa’s greatest wildlife parks.”
Navigation advice
“Download offline Google Maps on your smartphone before you go. You mobile phone doesn’t use data roaming for the GPS positioning, so if you have the maps downloaded you can use Google Maps for navigation (albeit without traffic update info) but this is generally much better and more accurate nowadays than SatNavs – and costs nothing either.”
Simon Mills from another of our leading South Africa self drive specialists, Native Escapes, shares his thoughts on self driving in South Africa:
Sat Navs
“Sat Navs are not really required. They may take you the quickest way - but not necessarily the best way. Any operator worth their salt should provide detailed driving directions and maps for you.”Making the most of your time
“Go with a sense of adventure. You will find some lovely places to visit and restaurants that are hidden gems, with great coffee and food.”More about South Africa self drive
Garden Route self drive vacations in South Africa extend this classic chunk of coastline into an on-the-road odyssey including Cape Town, wine tasting in the Winelands and whale watching in Hermanus.
KwaZulu-Natal self drive vacations open up big game parks and battlefields, Zulu culture and an idyllic protected coral coastline.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Devon Janse van Rensberg] [Cape Town: Benjamin le Roux]
[Go don't go: Lina Loos]
[Practicalities: Ashley Jurius]
[Swartberg Pass: Cassie Matias]
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