South Africa is an extraordinary country to visit on any kind of holiday, but it might just be the world’s best place for a road trip. Why? The incredible coastal roads, the stunning variety of landscapes, the unparalleled wide-open spaces, the fantastic value for money – and that’s just for starters.

This is, of course, a country of living history, a place of jaw-dropping beauty and visible diversity. And if you want to explore what Africa has to offer – the wilderness, the adventure, the challenge of this incredible continent – but you still want the infrastructure, then South Africa is the place to go.

But, before you set off, it’s worth checking out the Secret Traveller’s guide to avoiding driving disasters on holiday. Once you have done that, you should be all set. After all, you don’t want to experience a mishap.

Here are six reasons why you should plan a road trip through South Africa.

1. You can spot the Big Five.

There are not many countries in the world that can offer you the chance to enjoy the cool, laid-back city life that you will find in Cape Town, as well as the incredible adventure that comes with going on safari.

South Africa can, however, and if you are willing then Kruger National Park is the place to go, with the ‘Big Five’ – lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards and the African buffalo – all on show in one day. However many times you see these animals on TV, there is nothing quite like seeing them for real. Truly a once in a lifetime experience.

2. The beaches are beautiful.

South Africa has some of the world’s most spectacular beaches unlike those anywhere else in the world.

Here are some of our favourites:

– Boulders Beach in Cape Town
– Muizenberg Beach, Cape Town’s best surf spot
– Grotto Beach in stunning Hermanus
– Dolphin Beach in wonderful Jeffreys Bay
– Hobie Beach in the beautiful city of Port Elizabeth

But our favourite of them all is Paternoster beach, which sits close to the charming fishing village of the same name. There are lots of excellent places to eat and drink here, the people are welcoming and laid back and the many crayfish restaurants are always busy and full of life. You can’t go wrong.

3. There is wine, wine and more wine.

We are certainly not condoning drinking and driving, that is against the law. But it is worth stopping for a few days to enjoy South Africa’s world-famous wine country. The Cape Winelands are a beautiful part of the nation, whether you are planning to stop at a vineyard or not. But if you are interested, there are more than 180 vineyards in the Stellenbosch Wine Route alone that will all be happy to welcome you in to taste the incredible delights they offer. The South African Pinotage is extra special.

4. You can take the kids with you.

It is a long flight to get to South Africa but if you can get over that hurdle without too much stress then you will quickly discover this is a country which is perfect for children. There are lots of activities to get involved with, the safari element makes it educational and the incredible modern history of Nelson Mandela makes it a place where they can have a memorable holiday.

5. You can watch whales.

If you plan it right and arrive in South Africa between June and November, then you might just be fortunate enough to see some whales. Head to the south of the country, close to the delightful town of Hermanus and you should find plenty of operators along that Overberg coast. They can take you out to see the whales and their young enjoying themselves in the ocean. If boats aren’t your thing, Hermanus offers excellent land-based whale watching, the whales often come very close to the shore so you can still see them up close. What an experience.

6. The sun is probably going to be shining.

South Africa has a lot of good weather. Even the sunniest destinations in Europe, for instance, get around 1,000 hours of sun per year. In South Africa, most places get around 2,500 hours of sunshine a year. Generally, the best time of year to visit is during the dry, warm winter months from October to March.

Guest post by Larry Newmann – larrynewmann.media@gmail.com

Feature image credit – Nadine Carroll