Africa
South Africa
Table Mountain, the Garden Route and self-drive safaris in Kruger, all on one road trip.
South Africa packs a lot into one country. Spend a week in Cape Town, drive the Garden Route past forests and surf beaches, then carry on up the Wild Coast to the Drakensberg mountains and Kruger National Park.
Hiring a car is cheap and the roads are good, so it is one of the easiest places in Africa to see big game on your own. Cape Town is best in summer, from November to March, while Kruger is best in the dry winter from May to September.
Good to know
- Time zone
- GMT+2, no summer time
- Plugs
- Types C, M and N, 230V
- Emergency numbers
- 10111 police, 10177 ambulance, 112 from a mobile
- Tap water
- Safe to drink
- Traffic drives on the
- Left
- Tipping
- Expected: 10–15% in restaurants, and a few rand for car guards and petrol attendants.
- SIM cards
- Vodacom and MTN SIMs cost next to nothing, with a few gigabytes of data for around R100–200; you need your passport and an address to register it.
When to go to South Africa
Best months to go: March to May and September to November. Pick a month to see what it’s like.
Bars show rainfall; numbers are the average daytime high. Amber marks the best months to go.
SeptemberBest time to go
Spring flowers, whale watching and the end of the best Kruger season.
- Daytime high
- 19°C
- Rainfall
- 45 mm
- Crowds
- Busy
| Month | Daytime high | Rainfall | Crowds | Best time to go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 27°C | 15 mm | Peak season | No |
| February | 27°C | 15 mm | Busy | No |
| March | 26°C | 20 mm | Busy | Yes |
| April | 23°C | 45 mm | Busy | Yes |
| May | 20°C | 70 mm | Quiet | Yes |
| June | 18°C | 95 mm | Quiet | No |
| July | 18°C | 90 mm | Quiet | No |
| August | 18°C | 80 mm | Quiet | No |
| September | 19°C | 45 mm | Busy | Yes |
| October | 22°C | 30 mm | Busy | Yes |
| November | 24°C | 20 mm | Busy | Yes |
| December | 26°C | 15 mm | Peak season | No |
What South Africa costs
Work out a budget for your trip, then check what everyday things cost.
$826for 14 days, about $59 a day (R 14,700 in total)
| Cost | Per day | For the trip | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | $18 | $252 | |
| Food and drink | $15 | $210 | |
| Getting around | $12 | $168 | |
| Things to do | $10 | $140 | |
| Everything else | $4 | $56 |
Per person, in US dollars. Flights and insurance not included.
What things cost
- Quarter loaf bunny chow in DurbanR 80, about $4.49
- Boerewors roll from a standR 50, about $2.81
- Flat whiteR 38, about $2.13
- Bottle of beer in a barR 40, about $2.25
- Hostel dorm bed in Cape TownR 350, about $20
- Table Mountain cable car, returnR 450, about $25
- Intercape bus, Cape Town to KnysnaR 500, about $28
Routes through South Africa
Where to go and how long to stay, for the time you’ve got.
14 nights, 6 stops
Cape Town and the Garden Route by hire car, with whale watching, forests and surf beaches along the way.
Cape Town
5 nights
Hike Lion’s Head, ride to Table Mountain and drive round Cape Point.
Hermanus
2 nights
Whales from the cliff path from June to November, and shark cage diving nearby.
Wilderness
2 nights
Canoe up the river and paraglide over the beach.
Knysna
2 nights
Lagoon views, oysters and forest walks.
Storms River
2 nights
The suspension bridge and coastal trail in Tsitsikamma, and the Bloukrans bungee.
Jeffreys Bay
1 night
A world-famous right-hand break and cheap surf lessons.
Getting around
Private car
$20–40 a day to hire
The best way to travel. Roads are good, but avoid driving at night in rural areas, where potholes and animals are a danger.
Bus
$20–60 for a long trip
Intercape coaches link the big cities and the Garden Route. Comfortable and safe, but they rarely stop near the sights.
Flight
$50–100 one way
FlySafair, Airlink and Lift connect Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg cheaply if you book ahead.
Minibus
$1–3 a ride
Minibus taxis are how most South Africans get around. Fine by day in Cape Town with a local tip, but not recommended at night.
What to eat and drink
Bunny chow
A hollowed-out loaf of bread filled with curry, from Durban’s Indian community.
R 80, about $4.49
Boerewors roll
A coiled farmer’s sausage off the braai, in a bun with tomato relish.
R 50, about $2.81
Bobotie
Spiced minced meat baked under an egg topping, with yellow rice. A Cape Malay classic.
R 140, about $7.87
Gatsby
A huge Cape Town sub stuffed with chips, meat and sauce, made for sharing.
R 120, about $6.74
Biltong
Dried, spiced beef or game, sold by weight. The best road trip snack.
R 60, about $3.37
Malva pudding
A sticky, spongy baked pudding served hot with custard.
R 60, about $3.37
Say it like a local
A few words go a long way. Tap “Hear it” to listen, where your browser can.
Hello (to one person)
Sawubona
Say it like: sah-woo-boh-nah
Hello (to a group)
Sanibonani
Say it like: sah-nee-boh-nah-nee
How are you?
Unjani?
Say it like: oon-jah-nee
I’m fine
Ngiyaphila
Say it like: ngee-yah-pee-lah
Thank you
Ngiyabonga
Say it like: ngee-yah-bong-gah
Yes
Yebo
Say it like: yeh-boh
How much is it?
Yimalini?
Say it like: yee-mah-lee-nee
Go well
Hamba kahle
Say it like: hahm-bah gah-shleh
Questions travellers ask
Is South Africa safe for backpackers?
Most trips go smoothly if you take sensible precautions. Use Uber or Bolt after dark, keep your phone out of sight on the street and ask your hostel which areas to avoid.
Can I do Kruger without a tour?
Yes. Hire a car, stay in the park’s rest camps or campsites and drive yourself. Book camps well ahead, and budget for a daily conservation fee on top.
Do I need malaria tablets?
Not for Cape Town, the Garden Route or the Drakensberg. Kruger and the far northeast are a low-risk malaria area, so speak to a travel clinic before you go.
What are car guards?
People in high-vis vests who watch parked cars in exchange for a tip. Give R5–10 when you leave.
Are there still power cuts?
Load shedding has been rare since 2024, but it can return. Hostels usually have backup power, and the EskomSePush app shows any schedules.