Car Hire in South Africa

South Africa has world-class roads, outstanding scenery and an extraordinary diversity of experiences within a driveable distance. The Garden Route between Mossel Bay and Storms River is one of the world's great coastal drives; the Cape Winelands are a short drive from Cape Town; and the roads through Kruger National Park offer self-drive safari unlike anywhere else on earth.

Best airports & pick-up locations

• Cape Town (CPT) — gateway to the Cape Peninsula, Garden Route, Winelands and West Coast.
• Johannesburg (JNB) — OR Tambo International. Access to Kruger, the Drakensberg, Pilanesberg.
• Durban (DUR) — KwaZulu-Natal, the Drakensberg, the Elephant Coast.

Driving in South Africa

• Drive on the left. Speed limits: 120 km/h freeway, 100 km/h national roads, 60 km/h urban.
• Avoid driving at night outside cities — wildlife, livestock and unlit vehicles are serious hazards on rural roads.
• Carjacking is a concern in certain urban areas — keep doors locked, windows up in city traffic and be aware of your surroundings.
• Potholed roads are common outside major routes — drive carefully and avoid swerving suddenly.
• Petrol stations require cash or card payment at the pump (attendant service is standard).

Local tips & best routes

The Garden Route from Mossel Bay to Storms River is a 300 km drive of lagoons, forests, beaches and the spectacular Tsitsikamma cliffs. The Cape Peninsula circuit from Cape Town via Chapman's Peak, Cape Point and the winelands is a perfect day trip. For wildlife, the Kruger Park loop roads offer the world's best self-drive big five safari.