Six reasons to do a self-drive holiday in South Africa

Instead of joining an organised tour for your annual getaway, why not do a self drive holiday in South Africa this year? Granted, organised tours save you a couple hours of planning and research – but we reckon the benefits of the do-it-yourself approach more than make up for it.

Here are six reasons why you should do a self drive holiday in South Africa:

1. South Africa has it all.

Can’t decide if you fancy a lazy beach getaway or a hiking holiday in the mountains? We’ve got the bush, beaches, mountains, deserts and forests – and you can experience it all on your self drive holiday in South Africa.

2. South Africa is filled with friendly, hospitable folk.

South Africans come in all shapes, colours and sizes, but one thing we all have in common is that we know how to make visitors feel welcome. We love a good party and we love showing off our beautiful land to our guests. Spend some time getting to know the locals and you’re likely to get invited to dinner at someone’s home for a braai (traditional South African barbeque) or a bunny chow (curry served in a hollowed out loaf of bread). What’s more, if you take the time to chat to local people and ask for advice, you’ll get more insider info than any tour guide could ever give you.

3. You can rough it or travel in style.

South Africa has a thriving tourism industry that offers accommodation and restaurants to suit any budget. Doing a self drive holiday in South Africa means that you can either rough it or travel in style – or just splash out once in a while. South Africa’s fantastic weather makes it an ideal country for camping; perfect for low cost summer road trips. On the other end of the spectrum we’ve got a range of top-class luxury hotels. If something like the snazzy One&Only is more your style, you can easily find luxury accommodation in all but the most off-the-beaten-track destinations.

4. Our major roads are in good nick and well signposted.

South Africa’s main roads are tarred and well-maintained, so you don’t need to hire a 4×4 for your self drive holiday in South Africa. That said, if you do plan on venturing deep into rural areas – like some parts of the Wild Coast, for instance – do some research beforehand to make sure that your vehicle will be able to handle the rougher roads.

5. Public transport isn’t always reliable.

Unfortunately, public transport in South Africa isn’t always reliable, so it’s better to have a dependable set of wheels that you can count on in emergencies.

6. A self drive holiday in South Africa gives you the freedom to truly explore.

This is probably the biggest advantage of doing a self drive holiday in South Africa rather than opting to just hop on a tour bus. Self drive holidays give you the freedom to go where you please, to follow your nose and to give in to your impulses. Maybe you’ll fall in love with a small fishing village and decide to stay an extra day, or maybe you’ll feel in your gut that you should take the advice of that weathered old man at the bar who tells you about a little-known hiking trail to the most sensational view in the country. When you’re at the wheel, your destiny is in your hands – and that’s when the real magic happens.