Southern Africa Road Trip: The Ultimate Guide for an Epic Overland Adventure

If you're planning a southern Africa road trip, get ready for one of the most exciting adventures you can experience. From South Africa's coastlines to Namibia's deserts and Botswana's national parks, this region is full of dramatic scenery and unforgettable wildlife. Traveling by road gives you the freedom to explore hidden gems and go at your own pace, making it an incredible option for exploring this end of the world.

Road tripping through southern Africa can feel intimidating at first, especially if you're visiting from abroad. Each country has its own set of driving rules, road conditions, and border procedures, but with the right preparation, it’s more than manageable. Whether you're renting a 4x4 or doing a DIY transformation of a truck, there are a few important things to know before hitting the road.

In this guide, we're going to break down everything you need to know for a successful southern Africa road trip. From planning your route to safety tips, packing essentials, and must-see stops, this article will help you prepare for an unforgettable overland journey through the region.

Southern Africa Road Trip: a Brief Intro

Thinking of exploring Africa by car? A southern Africa road trip offers breathtaking scenery, thrilling wildlife, and some of the most diverse landscapes on the continent.

Before diving into all of the details of driving though, let's cover some of the basics.

 What Defines Southern Africa?

Southern Africa is a region that typically includes the countries at the southernmost part of the African continent. While definitions can vary, it commonly refers to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Mozambique. Some travelers also extend this definition to include Malawi and Angola, depending on the route, although these aren't often included in road trips.

For road trippers, southern Africa offers a mix of well-paved highways, rugged gravel roads, and remote wilderness tracks. Each country has something unique to offer, from South Africa’s Garden Route to Namibia’s Skeleton Coast and Botswana’s Okavango Delta.

The region is ideal for adventurous travelers looking to combine natural wonders, cultural experiences, and a bit of off-the-beaten-path exploration.

Why Do a Southern Africa Road Trip?

Doing a road trip in Southern Africa is SO much fun! If you are planning on traveling for several weeks like we did, then having your own car allows you to have flexibility, do your own self-guided safaris, and to explore more off-the-beaten-path.

Doing a road trip is not for everyone, as it certainly adds more work and potential stress to traveling in this region. But if done right, road tripping southern Africa can be one of the best trips of your life!

Where to Start Your Southern African Road Trip

The best country to start a southern Africa road trip is definitely South Africa. This is because Southern Africa is the most well developed and has the most options with the most affordable rates.

There are more companies to choose from, and more flexibility to customize your vehicle if you are doing a super budget-friendly road trip like we did.

For example, we were able to rent a really affordable pick up truck, and then transformed the back into a bed by buying custom foam, comforters, and pillows, which were all available nearby the airport. We also tinted the windows for safety, and were able to do this much more quickly than anywhere else.

 Which Countries to Visit on Your Southern Africa Road Trip

When we were first planning our southern Africa road trip, we were planning on visiting all of the countries in southern Africa! Well, we ended up only doing 4 of them in 6 weeks, and we really could've spent that in South Africa alone. 

Time will certainly depend on how many countries you should visit, but that's not the only factor! When we were getting our rental car we were reading a lot of the terms and conditions. The majority of cars will not let you visit certain countries (due to poor road conditions and safety), so you'll want to keep this in mind.

We noticed most of the companies in South Africa allowed (for an extra charge) for cars to go to Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia, and Lesotho. Countries like Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique were not available to add on - while we're sure there may be a company out there that accepts them, it's not typical.

Southern Africa Road Trip: What to Expect

Now that you know the basics of starting your southern Africa road trip, let's go over some of the things you'll need to get prepared, as well as what to expect along the road.

Getting Started on Your Southern Africa Road Trip

• Book your rental car/van
• Make a rough itinerary
• Get your visas & paperwork for the car
• Insure yourself and your belongings

 Renting a Car for Your Southern Africa Road Trip

The first step for planning your southern Africa road trip is getting a car. We did our car rental in Johannesburg, which we highly recommend. 

This is because Johannesburg is the biggest hub for southern Africa. It has the most flights going into it from other continents, and is also typically the most affordable to fly into.

We'd recommend getting your car right from the airport, but to book it in advance. You'll want to have a high-clearance vehicle, preferably a 4x4. It's doable without one in many places, but truthfully you'll want one if you plan on going to Botswana, or some remote parts of Namibia.

 Making Your Southern Africa Road Trip Itinerary

Planning an itinerary can be pretty overwhelming! But don't worry - we're here to guide you along the way. Here are the different countries that you can visit on your southern Africa road trip, and a quick overview of how long to spend in each.

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 South Africa

This is the biggest country, and you'll definitely want at least 2 weeks, although you could easily spend several weeks. The top highlights are Cape Town, Kruger National Park, Drakensburg Mountains, and the Panorama Route.

Namibia

Everything is really spread out in Namibia, so you'll want to put into consideration long driving hours, having 1 destination (maybe 2) each day. We'd recommend 10-14 days for Namibia. The best places to visit in Namibia include Spitzkoppe, the Skeleton Coast, Sossusvlei, and Etosha National Park.

 Botswana

We spent the least amount of time in Botswana, but definitely needed a lot more time there. It's a country that highly depends on hiring a guide, or being a skilled driver with a really good 4x4 for getting through the thick dunes. We'd recommend 10-14 days to see the highlights.

 Eswatini

Eswatini is a really small country, but packed with fun things to do and see! You can get a good feel for some of the highlights in 3-4 full days, but we'd also recommend a full week to 10 days to really see all that it has to offer.

Lesotho

Lesotho is the one country in the area we didn't get to make it to, but heard from a friend that she'd recommend around a week. It's much bigger than Eswatini, but doesn't have nearly as many highlights. It's great if you're into hiking, but can be a quicker stop if you don't want to be int he mountains much.

Preparing Your Visas & Paperwork

Remember how we said we didn't make it to Lesotho? Well, that wasn't necessarily a choice. We had a bit of a slip up and completely forgot to check Fede's visa requirements, so we were denied at the border. 

Each country has different visa requirements, so you'll want to make sure you check each one beforehand! Visas for Lesotho can take a few days and must be done online, so you'll want to do this one in advance. His visa for Namibia was upon arrival, and the other ones we were able to go visa-free.

As an American, I didn't have any visa restrictions, but it's crucial you have enough room in your passport. I was at the very end of mine, and almost wasn't allowed entry back into South Africa. Make sure you have 3 blank pages, and that your passport is valid for at least 6 months when traveling through southern Africa.

Insuring Yourself for a Southern Africa Road Trip

A lot can go wrong on a road trip, especially in places that are more remote. That's why it's crucial to make sure you protect yourself, and your belongings.

We always recommend getting travel insurance so that you can be covered. in case anything goes wrong. We'd recommend for health and personal belongings to cover yourself with Safety Wing, which is affordable, and has coverage for the countries in Southern Africa.

We'd also recommend investing in car insurance - whether it's coverage from your credit card, or getting coverage directly through the company, this is definitely something that you'll want to make sure you have included before starting your southern Africa road trip.

Driving in Southern Africa

Now that you know how to prepare for your southern Africa road trip, let's dive into exactly what driving in this area of the world looks like. Here are some of the things we'll be going over:

• Type of car needed
• Road Conditions
• Safety
• Tolls
• Parking
• Gas

 Type of Car Needed in Southern Africa

If you're looking to just hit the highlights of each country, you may be able to get away with having just a regular sedan. However, if you plan on doing self-drive safaris, going to some unique accommodations in Namibia, or want to see some hidden gems, you'll want to really consider having a bigger and better vehicle.

We had a high-clearance truck, which really helped us in a lot of places! That being said, we got stuck in the sand numerous times in Botswana and Namibia, and a 4x4 would've absolutely made the difference.

Having a truck allowed us to save on accommodation by converting the back, and gave us plenty of room for all of our things. We also tinted the windows. If you have a big trunk you'll be okay - but you'll absolutely want to make sure that none of your belongings are seen, especially in South Africa.

Southern Africa Road Conditions

The roads in most tourist destinations are pretty ideal. Major cities are always well-paved, especially in South Africa and Eswatini.

Some game reserves in Eswatini have dirt roads and need a high-clearance vehicle, while most of the game reserve in Botswana have deep, thick sands, that need a 4x4. We know, because we got stuck multiple times! There are also towns far-and-few-between, so we had no one to save us for hours on end.

 Safety Driving in Southern Africa

Safety can be a big concern while doing a southern Africa road trip, and is not to be taken lightly! The places to be most concerned about are certainly Zimbabwe and Zambia, but chances are you won't be driving there. (If you want to go to Victoria Falls you should leave the car in Namibia and taxi in the border.)

We did hear that parts of South Africa can also be rough - and you should always be really cautious. Some people pose as police and then ransack tourist vehicles, or if vehicles are in dark, shady areas, then it's not uncommon for break-ins. Never leave anything on-sight, and try to stick to well-trafficked areas.

Finally, you'll have to be careful of wildlife! This wasn't necessarily an issue in most countries, but in Botswana we found everything from elephants and giraffes to ostriches and zebra along the highways. Try to avoid driving at night, and keep your eyes peeled at all times. 

 Tolls in Southern Africa

The only country that we had tolls in was South Africa. Our car rental had a pass installed, and we then had the amount deducted on our credit card after our trip was complete.

Parking Around Southern Africa

Parking varies greatly depending on the country and destination. South Africa was the country that had the most paid parking places, which were common in big cities like Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban. 

Do be careful of the people who offer to "watch your car". This happened in a few places in Namibia, South Africa, and Botswana. We'd recommend avoiding areas like this for your own safety, as they'll expect cash, and we don't trust areas like this.

 Gas Prices in Southern Africa

Gas prices can vary from country to country, so it's wise to fill up when you can in countries where it's more affordable. South Africa has medium prices for gas at around 22 rand/liter, while Namibia and Botswana have a price of around 20 rand/liter, and Mozambique and Zimbabwe have the highest prices.

Angola has the absolute cheapest gas prices, but if your rental company doesn't allow your car there, then you won't be able to fill up there.

Also keep in mind that not all gas stations accept credit card, so you'll also want to keep some cash on you!

 Places Not to Miss on Your Southern African Road Trip

Here are some places you absolutely will want to see on your road trip!

• The Panorama Route: an excellent route in South Africa with waterfalls, canyons, and viewpoints, all of which are really accessible with car.
• Game Reserves of South Africa: the most popular is Kruger, but Pilanesberg is also excellent.
• Cape Town: the number one city you don't want to miss out on!
• Quiver Tree Forest: a unique area concentrated with quiver trees
• Fish River Canyon: the Grand Canyon of Africa, located in the south of Namibia
• Kolmanskop: mining town turned ghost town in the south east of Namibia
• Sossuvlei/Deadvlei: incredible dunes and a petrified forest in the Namib desert
• Skeleton Coast: incredible coast line in Namibia with towering dunes and ship wrecks
• Spitzkoppe National Park: a national park with unique desert landscapes
• Etosha National Park: Namibia's best wildlife reserve
• Okavango Delta: inland delta known for its wildlife-filled wetlands and mokoro canoe safaris - the most iconic place in Botswana
• The National Parks of Botswana: Moremi, Chobe, and Nxai Pans are the most popular.
• The Pans of Botswana: vast, white salt flats - the Makgadikadi Pans is the number one to check out.
• The Game Reserves of Eswatini: Don't miss out on the giraffe walking safari and the rhino walking safari!
• Victoria Falls: the most impressive waterfalls in Africa, straddling the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia - You can leave your car in Namibia and cross by taxi.

Southern Africa Road Trip: Final Thoughts

Now you know all of about what a southern Africa road trip will look like! But if you found this a bit overwhelming, we're here to do a bit of a recap for you:

• The best countries for a southern Africa road trip are South Africa, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Botswana.
• South Africa is the best place to start your road trip.
• Make sure to get insurance for yourself, your belongings, and the car.
• Each country has different visa requirements, so make sure to look into them before traveling.
• For driving around the countries of Southern Africa you don't need a 4x4, but for some of the unique accommodations in Namibia and the game reserves in Botswana you'll really need a high-clearance vehicle, preferably a 4x4.
• Never keep belongings on site, and park in well-lit areas.

What's Next?

You're officially ready for a fun southern Africa road trip! Now it's time to take a deeper look into all of the fun things to do and see in this area. To continue your planning, here are a few of our top articles you should check out:

 Rhino Walking Safari in Eswatini

 Giraffe Walking Tour in Eswatini

 The Top Game Reserves in Eswatini

 Jessica the Hippo Encounter

 23 Bucket List Experiences in South Africa

 18 Unique Places to Stay in Namibia

 Is Botswana Expensive? A Cost Breakdown for Travelers

 Planet Boabab: A Unique Stay in the Heart of Botswana's Makgadikgadi

 Botswana Travel Guide

 Eswatini Travel Guide

 Namibia Travel Guide

 How to Drive from Namibia to Botswana

 First-Time Safari Tips

So are you ready for an epic southern Africa road trip? We hope our guide has answered all the questions you may have had about planning your trip - if you have any more though, feel free to drop them below!

Want to learn more about each of the destinations we traveled in Southern Africa? We have plenty of other Southern Africa travel guides you can read! Subscribe to our newsletter to get all of our most recent updates on new articles, and for discounts on our products and services.

Ready to book your trip but need help? Look no further! Scratch Your Mapa offers travel planning services to take care of everything from finding you the most affordable flights to getting you some of the most amazingly unique accommodations. Not only that, but we're creating really amazing group trips to Southern Africa soon!

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