12-night South African Self-Drive Itinerary Highlights:

• Arrive at OR Tambo International Airport, collect Avis car hire, and head to your hotel
• 1-night stay in Johannesburg with a traditional dinner and breakfast
• Scenic drive from Johannesburg to Nelspruit, via the Panoramic Route
• 2-night stay in Nelspruit, with breakfast 
• 1-night stay in Eswatini, with breakfast
• 2-night stay in Mabibi, KwaZulu-Natal with 3 meals and specified activities
• 2-night stay in a Big 5 Private Game Reserve, Zululand 
• Commercial flight from King Shaka International Airport to Cape Town International Airport
• Meet and greet arrival in Cape Town and road transfer to your hotel 
• 2 nights stay in Cape Town, with 1 dinner at Gold Restaurant and daily breakfast plus 1 full day guided tour
• Collect your Avis Car and meader from Cape Town to Hermanus and then scenic drive from Hermanus to Oudtshoorn
• 1-night stay in Oudsthoorn, with breakfast  
• 1-night stay in Knysna, with breakfast 
• Return your car at George Airport for a commercial flight from George to Cape International Airport for your connecting flight home

A South African road adventure that exceeded our expectations

Arriving in South Africa for the first time was somewhat different from our expectations because we had conjured this “Africa” movie image about wildlife running freely everywhere. We giggled and felt silly as we arrived in this huge city called Johannesburg, yet we were still blown away!

We collected our car and headed out into the Metropolitan "jungle" of Johannesburg, with highways and byways that connected to many routes. But our Waze navigator took us exactly where we needed to be. Just like that, our South African road trip began!

We quickly acclimatized and had our introduction into the country with a real spoil at Chief’s Boma Restaurant – a traditional dinner with live entertainment. This really whet our appetites for more!

With full tummies from a yummy breakfast, bags all loaded, cellphones fully charged and Secura Traveller App installed, we were ready to hit the open road. We meandered along the Panoramic Route from Johannesburg toward Nelspruit, Mpumalanga. We took in some amazing sites en route, including the gorge lift in Graskop, overlooking the most breathtaking views that words could not adequately describe. We arrived in Nelspruit timeously, after a long day of awesome sightseeing. 
After breakfast, we were ready to explore the town of Nelspruit where we visited the market, and animal rehabilitation center, and got to see the famous Jane Goodall Chimp Eden... a day that will be etched onto our souls forever. 

Before you could blink, we were on the road again, making our way through to Swaziland/Eswatini  (a new stamp in our passport). We visited the glass factory, and the candle factory and watched some traditional Swazi dancing. Not wanting to rush this experience, we stayed the night in this little country before making our way to South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal. This time we switched it up and headed to the beach in Mabibi for two nights! We drove to a little town, parked our car, were collected by the lodge, and headed to a special place where we had the most amazing snorkeling experience in the world. We swam in open waters with wild dolphins and sharks. It was the best experience ever!    

By this time, we had fallen in love with South Africa. It was time to be on the road again. This time, we wanted to go back to the bush for the last touch with Africa’s Big Five. We made our way down towards Hluhluwe for a 2-night safari adventure in Zululand. Not only did we learn about the animals, but our guide also kept us enthralled with stories of his Zulu culture. We left the lodge feeling like family.
En route to King Shaka International Airport, we stopped at St Lucia on the Isimangaliso Wetlands Park for a two-hour boat cruise on the Estuary, learning about this World Heritage Site. We returned the car and were on a two-hour flight from Durban to Cape Town.

Cape Town, fondly known as South Africa’s Mother City, was like being in a different country. It felt very "European" with the beautiful colourful buildings all surrounded by breathtaking mountains, making this part of Africa feel energised. We spent two days driving around the city on a private guided tour, so we didn't miss a thing. We visited Table Mountain, the famous Peninsular where 2 oceans meet, and ended our day on a wine farm close to the city. The one word that described our Cape Town experience was "WOW!"
We soon found ourselves driving to Hermanus for a morning sightseeing, and then meandered to Oudtshoorn along Route 62. We stopped en route to grab a famous milkshake in Barrydale... yummy! 
After seeing ostriches and visiting the Cango Caves, we headed to Knysna for our last overnight stop. We had more "Wow" experiences as we explored the town and ended our adventure with a sunset oyster cruise to the Knysna Heads. 

This trip was certainly THE best experience of our lifetime. We will be back to do a different route!

SOME NOTES FROM THE TRAVEL DESK:

- South Africa drives on the right side of the road
- A valid license is required 
- You can swap places to stay over, depending on the time you have to explore more!
- Recommended time of year: June - November for the Hermanus whales
- Compassline Africa Tours terms and conditions apply