South Africa.

So in February next year im off to south Africa with the fiancé. Were flying into joberg, borrowing a izuzfender?....discovezuzu?... Some jap thing anyways... I'm not impressed I want to ship my disco out but it's to big to go in my hand luggage. driving for 3 weeks to capetown and back to joburg as off the beaten track as we can get. properly excited now (apart from the izuzu). So who's been and where's the places to see? I've got a few in mind but some tips would be great.

Cheers

Can't you rent a defernder whilst ur there?

I probably could. But the Isuzu is free...

Ow fair enough! My brother did some training in the african bush my kilamanjaro he said its the most amazing place he's been too really liked it

tomseries3tom said:

Ow fair enough! My brother did some training in the african bush my kilamanjaro he said its the most amazing place he's been too really liked it

Click to expand...

Kili may be on the same continent but its in a different country thousands of miles northeast of Joburg.

Ok, on your route I assume your going to drive through Losotho? the Sani Pass is something you have to do which will take you down to Durban.

There are a number of game parks on your route many near the coast on the run in to CT. depends if your staying coastal(ish) or not.

Are you going to use a GPS? I can hook you up with some maps from T4A if you need them (I worked for them indirectly). Will require the use of Garmin though.

If your interested in wildlife check out the MAPA Project, they are based in Durban and are doing some excellent work with Google Earth/Tracks4Africa

G

Forget Sani pass,

This is what you want Van Zyl’s Pass, Kaokoland
Van Zyl's Pass (Namibia)
“Impossible” they all said, “can’t be done,

Vette

uk_vette said:

Forget Sani pass,

This is what you want Van Zyl’s Pass, Kaokoland
Van Zyl's Pass (Namibia)
“Impossible” they all said, “can’t be done,

Vette

Click to expand...

I agree, if it is proper adventure you are after, take the West coast (Atlantic ocean) route down to cape town via Etosha and the Namib. The East coast is more developed and has more in the way of little villages and green lush coastline (Warm Indian Ocean) but it is very populated and poor in places and all the plastic adventure companies go through there. I grew up in Cape Town and spent a lot of time adventuring up and down both coasts, I have to say the West coast is indeed the best coast

Hi Fleck, how old were you when you left CPT ?
I agree, the East route via Cairo can be done in a Fiesta, so not much, if any thing interesting.
It is generally safer though.
The West coast, is more adventurous, however, there are a few more risks associated, by way of hostilities flaring up from time to time.
I have been up around Swakopmund, Luderitz bay etc many years ago, when I lived in CPT.

vette

but the OP is not driving through Africa. He is driving from Jo'burg to CPT in 3 weeks in a jap mobile.

Therfore he wont be doing the things you both suggested!

G

Lived in Cape Town for a bit - so places to see would definitely be Cape point and the sights around there - and nip to Simons Town if you get the chance (Around 45 mins drive away) as it has a lot of whale watching around there - not sure if its the correct time of year for that but fingers crossed Oh and the Jackass ('South African') penguins are adorable

Been going to SA every winter for the last 6 years (family over there) - absolutely love it!

Not done the full drive from Joburg to Cape Town but have done it on the train - there's some amazing scenery en route.

Definitely stop off in Sutherland (in the Karoo desert off the road from Cape Town to Joburg)

It has got ridiculously clear skies and no light pollution and thus has research telescopes there including one that is the joint biggest optical scope in the world. A slightly nutty local guy called Jurg has a load of telescopes in his garden that he will show you amazing stuff through but just looking at the stars is magic.

Sutherland Karoo South Africa, Observatory, Accommodation, Sheep Milk Cheese, Fossils, Paleontology, Tour


I can second Shorty10 on Simons Town - my wife absolutely loves the penguins there.


If you like huge man made holes, Kimberly is worth a visit - amazing to see how much digging people will do with hand tools when there are diamonds up for grabs.


Depending on how much time you've got in Cape Town, a drive along the coast the east for a few days might be worth it. There's loads of nice tracks (nothing challenging but you won't see another car for hours at a time) and places to stay and if you like wine, there are more tastings on offer than you could ever want. There's a town called Franschoek in the mountains that has amazing food and a museum that is full of great classic cars (Franschhoek Motor Museum)

If you're planning on staying in any of the national parks then make sure you make arrangements in advance - I've heard of them being booked out at busy times.

You'll get loads of scare stories about security and you do have to keep your wits about you, especially around Joburg but we have found that the vast majority of locals are really friendly.

alternatively you could leave jozi, head west, cut across the bottom of botswana and enter the arse end of namibia and head down the west coast. that would be the way i would go, most fun and best scenery. I left CT about 8 yrs ago, miss it from time to time but have a good life here on mud island now whatever you end doing, make sure it is fun, you are going to an awesome place!

griffdowg ill be driving back to jo'burg to! if the japcrap makes it!

fleck, shorty10, actiondan..my fiance is south african, so im sure she will know those places youve all mentioned! unfortunatly we driving from jo'burg to her hometown back to jo'burg...i think we going to spend far to long in CPT because of all her friends and what family is still there. and end up rushing the rest of the trip.

uk_vette i dont think were going to get much coastal route either east or west and have to go more up the middle! due to time although id love to do the west coast maybe next time! but ill start here in the uk and go down in my disco!

sorry if this all seems abit mixed up this will be the first trip like this ive ever done and i have to find a balance between us having an amazing time seeing all we can and her having a good time with friends/family

RKServicing said:

So in February next year im off to south Africa with the fiancé. Were flying into joberg, borrowing a izuzfender?....discovezuzu?... Some jap thing anyways... I'm not impressed I want to ship my disco out but it's to big to go in my hand luggage. driving for 3 weeks to capetown and back to joburg as off the beaten track as we can get. properly excited now (apart from the izuzu). So who's been and where's the places to see? I've got a few in mind but some tips would be great.

Cheers

Click to expand...

Doesn't matter too much where you go, it is how you go. You should set off 2 or 3 hours before daybreak. From dawn for the next 90 minutes you should propose places to stop at the side of the road for breakfast. Don't bother slowing down because your fiancee will reject each one for some reason or another.
Novices will find a spot with a tree. This is not a good plan because it will have been used lots of times before, mainly as a toilet for first movements of the day. Just pick a place at the side of the road where you can get all four wheels off the tarmac.
Set up your table and camping chairs. Parasol is good if you've got one. Cook bacon, eggs and onion in your skottel. Lots of All-Gold tomato sauce and washed down with a cold can of Castle. Watch the passing traffic and make wagers on how long it will take to see a 'taxi' come past that would pass a UK MOT. Your money is safe for hours.
Get a bit of a dust covering to warrant another Castle. Pack up and get back on the road.

That's a proper start to the day.

G~

RKServicing said:

So in February next year im off to south Africa with the fiancé. Were flying into joberg, borrowing a izuzfender?....discovezuzu?... Some jap thing anyways... I'm not impressed I want to ship my disco out but it's to big to go in my hand luggage. driving for 3 weeks to capetown and back to joburg as off the beaten track as we can get. properly excited now (apart from the izuzu). So who's been and where's the places to see? I've got a few in mind but some tips would be great.

Cheers

Click to expand...

I live in S.A. it's fantastic.

I see three options.

1. West coast. It's unspoilt. Tiny towns with heaps of history.
2. Central route via bloemfontein and the karoo. My least favourite route.
3. East coast. JHB to sodwana bay, hug the coast. Go through the tiny seaside towns, and the garden route. That would be my pick.

No matter what...have fun. My country is amazing.

Pm me if you need any local help.

If you want, Lazarus car hire rents out disco 4 hse's for R2500 per day.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Oh...February is flippen hot. Bring sunscreen.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

so im finaly 3 weeks away! the route is going to be land in jo'burg, first night in pretoria, day 2 and 3 will go north to kruger national park. day 4 will be a drive back down to a place just north of lesotho (the name escapes me), day 5 and 6 will be to grahmestown will various stops on the way day 7 is head along the coast where we shall try the bungee jumping at bloukrans bridge and other various stops untill capetown on day 8/9. a couple days in capetown will squeeze in all that we can inc table mountain and shark cage diving, then depending on days left we will either do one straight drive for flight home or plan another route back with some more places to see/things to do!!! cant wait

RKServicing said:

where we shall try the bungee jumping at bloukrans bridge

Click to expand...

.
Do the Bloukranse,

Whats all this "try the bungee jumping "

Even though it scares you shirtless, just do it.

I have, got the photos and the tee shirt, and expect nothing less from you.

Gra.

its a done deal, will have the video up on youtube then in the near future for your enjoyment/**** taking (as ill be screaming like a girl)

thanks

so im back! what a country, not as much overlanding as id have liked but i dont care, theres to much to see and do in less time than living there! some of the pics are uploading to facebook at the min and its "rob keen" for anyone interested in looking, im not sure how to upload the volume of pics to anywhere else to put on here? oh and uk_vette, the bungee, most frightening thing ive ever done! when i find out how to put the video up i will!