Epic 52 day Southern Africa Road Trip

Road Trip Highlights

Botswana, South Africa, Namibia

Lesotho

Eswatini

4x4

52 days

9879 km

This route features a journey through some of Southern Africa’s most iconic national parks for unique wildlife encounters.
Journey through Botswana’s iconic Okavango Delta, South Africa’s Kruger National Park and Namibia’s vast deserts.
Stop and rest at South Africa’s beautiful cities for a break from the road.
Each day brings a different landscape for exploration.

View the original road trip story

Author Bio

Catie BrooksCanada

Catie is an avid traveller who, along with her husband James, decided to take a delayed gap year to explore the world without the constraints of limited vacation time. She documents their journeys, sharing stories and practical travel tips through her contributions. You can follow their adventures and gain insights from their experiences as they navigate across continents and cultures.

https://catietheexplorer.blog/

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Suggested Vehicles for hire

Toyota Fortuner SUV 4x4 2.8l 2 Pax Camping Equipped

4 Seats | 4 Doors | 4 Medium Bags

Aircon
Power Steering
ABS
Diesel

Minimum rental: 1 day

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Toyota Hilux Double Cab Camping Equipped 2.8l Automatic 4x4 2 Pax

4 Seats | 4 Doors | 4 Medium Bags

Aircon
Power Steering
ABS
Diesel

Minimum rental: 1 day

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Toyota Hilux Double Cab 4x4 Unequipped 2018-2021 Model

4 Seats | 4 Doors | 4 Medium Bags

Aircon
Power Steering
ABS
Diesel

Minimum rental: 1 day

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Road Trip Itinerary

	Activities	Kms	Stay
Day 1	For the first leg of this trip, you'll start in Johannesburg and cross the border into Botswana. Make your way to Gaborone; stay at The Capital Guesthouse for one day.	379	Gabarone
Day 2	From Gaborone, make your way further into Botswana into Serowe. While here you can camp at the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, a community-based wildlife project aimed at conserving both black and white rhinos. Stay here for one night.	336	Serowe
Day 3 - 6	After paying a visit to Africa's last unicorns, drive to Maun, the jumping-off point for the vast inland Okavango Delta. Stay at the Old Bridge Backpackers for three nights while you explore this vast natural landscape.	525	Maun
Day 7 - 8	After exploring the Okavango Delta, make your way across the border into Namibia through Bwabwata National Park. From here it will be a quick 30-minute drive to Ngepi Camp, where you will stay for two nights.	429	Divundu
Day 9 - 10	Once you have packed up, head towards Namibia's iconic Etosha National Park. Onguma Lodge is right outside the park gates and makes for a perfect campsite. Stay here for 2 nights.	627	Etosha National Park
Day 11	Leave the park through the Andersson gate and drive to the Toshari Lodge and stay there for 1 night.	189	Etosha National Park
Day 12	From Etosha, make your way to the Hoada Campsite in Kamanjab and stay here for one night.	219	Kamanjab
Day 13 - 16	Following your stay at Hoada, make your way towards Swakopmund, where you can drive along the iconic Skeleton Coast and explore some of Africa's finest desert landscapes. While here you might just spot some of the coast's famous shipwrecks and whale bones. Stay at the Sea and Wind Self-Catering Cottages for three nights while you explore the area.	472	Swakopmund
Day 17 - 18	For the next part of your trip, make your way down to the Sesriem Campsite in Sossusvlei and stay here for two nights. At this site you'll be able to see some of Namibia's iconic red dunes, including Dune 45.	350	Sossusvlei
Day 19 - 20	Drive to Aus from Sossusvlei. While here you can visit the Kolmanskop ghost town, an eerie abandoned town in the heart of the desert. While in Aus, you can stay at the Klein-Aus Vista Desert Horse Campsite for two nights.	346	Aus
Day 21	From Aus, drive towards Fish River Canyon and stay at the Hobas Campsite for one night.	298	Fish River Canyon
Day 22	Once you are done exploring Namibia, make your way down across the South African border into Namaqualand. Stay at the Highlanders Campsite for one night.	642	Namaqualand
Day 23 - 25	From Namaqualand make your way into Stellenbosch, one of South Africa's most iconic towns. While here you can appreciate some of its iconic wineries and fine cuisine. Stay here for two nights.	259	Stellenbosch
Day 26 - 28	From Stellenbosch, make the short drive to Cape Town, South Africa's oldest city. Explore some of its cafes, restaurants, bars and nightlife, or take a hike up Table Mountain if the weather allows. Stay here for two nights.	52.6	Cape Town
Day 29	From the busy streets of Cape Town, make your way to the quiet town of Gansbaai. Stay at the Gansbaai Tourist Lodge for one night while you explore the harbour and small shops.	166	Gansbaai
Day 30	From Gansbaai, drive along the scenic coastal route to Knysna and stay at the Diepwalle Camping Decks in the Garden Route National Park. Stay here for one night.	431	Knysna
Day 31 - 32	Continuing your path along the stunning Garden Route, make your way to Tsitsikamma and stay at the Storms River Mouth Camp for two nights.	94	Tsitsikamma
Day 33 - 34	Following your stay in Tsitsikamma, drive to Addo Elephant National Park and stay at the main campsite for two nights. While here you can embark on a self-drive safari and see some of the park's gentle giants up close. Stay here for two nights and make sure to book in advance!	279	Addo Elephant National Park
Day 35	Exit the Garden Route for a scenic trip along the Wild Coast. Drive to Morgan Bay and stay at the Yellowwood Forest Campsite for one night.	560	Morgan Bay
Day 36	From Morgan Bay, drive to Coffee Bay and stay at the White Clay Resort Campsite for two nights. While here you can take a hike to Hole in the Wall, one of South Africa's most beautiful trails.	284	Coffee Bay
Day 37 - 39	Moving on from the countryside, make your way towards Durban and stay here for two nights. While here, sample some of the city's iconic Indian food and wade in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.	523	Durban
Day 40	Make your way out of Durban and head towards Lesotho, aptly nicknamed the "Kingdom in the Sky". Stay at the Sani Stone Lodge for one night.	258	Sani Pass
Day 41	Once you've exited the rugged mountains of Lesotho, drive to Clarens and stay at the Highland Quarters for one night.	250	Clarens
Day 42 - 43	On your next stop, drive through South Africa's iconic Drakensberg Mountains, a must-visit for hiking enthusiasts. Here you can stay in the Royal Natal National Park for two nights.	132	Drakensberg
Day 44	For the final leg of your trip, head back towards Johannesburg. Stay at the Europrime Boutique Hotel for one night before making your way towards South Africa's iconic Kruger National Park.	349	Johannesburg
Day 45	Once in the Kruger, you can embark on a self-drive safari and enjoy some of Africa's most stunning wildlife right from the comfort of your own vehicle. Stay at the Numbi Hills Self-Catering Hotel for one night.	376	Kruger National Park
Day 46 - 47	Still in the Kruger National Park, make your way to the Letaba Rest Camp and stay here for two nights.	224	Kruger National Park
Day 48 - 49	After your stay in Kruger, head down to Eswatini and stay at the Ndlovu Camp in the Royal Hlane National Park. Stay here for two nights.	355	Eswatini
Day 50 - 52	For your final stop, make your way back to Johannesburg for a much-needed rest at the Signature Lux Hotel. Stay here for two nights.	475	Johannesburg