4x4 travel · South Africa

Hi there, We’ll be traveling in January 2027 in a 4x4 with a rooftop tent with our three kids, from Johannesburg to Cape Town. We’ve already booked several campsites in national parks (Golden Gate / Mountain Zebra / Addo Elephant / Garden Route). We still need to reserve the stretch between De Hoop Nature Reserve and Cape Town. Any suggestions? We’d love to stay around Cape Town for 5 days to explore the wine route, the peninsula, and do some hikes in Table Mountain. Any camping recommendations? Or, on the contrary, places to avoid?

Also, we have 2 nights left near Wilderness National Park / Knysna. Any recommendations? Thanks so much for your help!

Hi there, My trip to South Africa is starting to take shape. However, I'm struggling to figure out the route through Kruger Park. I can't seem to find the information I need about getting around. Coming from the south, I plan to arrive on Day 1 in the early afternoon at Malelane or Crocodile Bridge. Do some shopping in Malelane (or Crocodile Bridge main area) and stay overnight outside the park. Leave on Day 2 at 5 AM for the park. Explore the southern part of the park. Stay overnight around Skukuza or Lower Sabie. (We don’t want to stay in one of the park’s big camps. We’re looking for a lodge around 200 €. Head out on Day 3 for a self-drive safari, maybe as far as Orpen. We’d like to stay in a private reserve on nights 4 and 5. We’re not sure which one or how to get into a private reserve. Do we need to exit Kruger Park? On Day 5, we’d like to leave to visit Blyde Canyon (on Day 6).

Could you help us with these different locations?

Thanks

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a road trip through Southern Africa during the 2025 austral winter—South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi... and if I feel like it, maybe back to Namibia, Botswana, etc. To make this happen, I’d like to ship my 4x4 in a high-cube container and pick it up in Durban. Has anyone had experience with customs clearance at the port of Durban (South Africa) using a CPD (Carnet de Passage en Douane)? Thanks in advance for any tips or firsthand experience on this!

Have a great day! Salar de Uyuni - Bolivia

Hi there!

I'm considering doing a round trip of Africa, starting in Morocco, then following the west coast down to the south, and finally heading back up along the east coast.

However, I have some big questions about the route:

From what I've gathered after a lot of research, the road seems quite doable without a 4x4 as far as Senegal, or even Benin?

It's between Benin and Namibia that it would get really tough, and I'd either need a 4x4 or to ship my vehicle if I'm in a converted H2L2 van (not 4x4)?

Could someone clarify this for me?

Otherwise, it seems like Southern, Northern, and Eastern Africa are accessible without a 4x4?

As for the vehicle, if a 4x4 is essential, I'm torn between: Kangoo 4x4 Lada Niva 4x4 standard C15 C15 4x4 Renault Trafic 4x4 (H2L2, so still quite large) or a Subaru Libero 4x4

Or would it even be possible with a simple Twingo? ^

But is that enough, or do I absolutely need a 4x4 like a Toyota, Land Rover, or something similar?

Those are my current questions! If anyone has some answers, that would be amazing!

Thanks so much!

I'm looking for reviews on the 4x4 rental company Britz, as we're planning to rent a vehicle from them next October. Thanks for any feedback—good or bad! Or even recommendations for other rental companies you've dealt with...

Hi everyone, we're planning a trip for August (Drakensberg, St Lucia, Blyde, Kruger, Marakele). There will be 4 adults and an 11-year-old child. That’s the intro!

Our issue is choosing the right vehicle. With luggage plus food for picnics and breakfasts, we need space. And since we’ll be driving for several hours, I’d prefer not to be squished with 3 in the back.

So, what would you recommend? An SUV? A van? And where should we rent from if you have any great tips—I’m all ears.

Thanks everyone

Hello, we’re starting this discussion to share our project and get a little help.

We’re French and passionate about Southern Africa. For over twenty years, we’ve taken several trips to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Zambia, always traveling independently and on the move. In 2009, we took a sabbatical and spent eight months in Southern Africa. To do this, we bought a vehicle in South Africa, with the help of a Frenchman living there who guided us through the registration and insurance process. Unfortunately, he has since passed away.

Now, we’d like to spend several months a year in Southern Africa, mainly in Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia, but also in Zambia and Zimbabwe.

We’d like to buy a 4x4, either already equipped or to be outfitted, but we’re not sure where it’s best to buy it: South Africa, Namibia, or Botswana?

We’re looking for someone who can help us with the registration and insurance process (we’re not bilingual, on top of everything!). Do you have any contacts you could recommend? We’d appreciate any information or recommendations to help us with our project.

We’re also looking for a rental or guesthouse in Johannesburg for November 2025, run by French speakers or people who speak French.

Once we’re there, the question of the 90-day tourist visa will come up. Apparently, it’s no longer possible to leave the territory for a few days and re-enter. We’re considering applying for a Retired Person Visa. However, the process from France seems complicated: no response from the South African embassy in Paris or from Botswana… So, we’re thinking of looking into it directly once we’re there.

Thank you so much for your help. Pedro Lyon (France)

My partner and I are planning a 21-day self-drive trip from Victoria Falls to Cape Town, flying from Montreal to Victoria Falls and renting a 4x4. I’d love to hear members’ thoughts on our itinerary and its feasibility, along with your recommendations for must-see spots, essential parks, lodges, etc.

Our ideal is to start our stay at the falls and head south to South Africa, finishing in Cape Town by the sea for two days of relaxation before returning to Canada. We’re big on photography, not so much on cities, and we usually book accommodations where we can prepare our own dinner. Is this itinerary too ambitious? I’ve read a lot of travel journals and sometimes it seems very doable, other times completely the opposite...

Proposed itinerary: 17 October: Montreal-Livingstone, Zambia (Z) 18-19 Oct.: Victoria Falls, Z 20 Oct.: Kasane, Botswana (BO) 21-22 Oct.: Chobe Park, BO 23 Oct.: Francistown, BO 24 Oct.: Khama Rhino Sanctuary, BO 25 Oct.: Palapye, BO 26 Oct.: Polokwane, South Africa (SA) 27 Oct.: Phalaborwa, SA 28-29 Oct.: Kruger Park, SA 30 Oct.: Malelane Gate, SA 31 Oct.: Winburg, SA 1 November: Bloemfontein, SA 2 November: Beaufort West, SA 3-5 November: Cape Town, SA

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a trip to South Africa / Zimbabwe this summer—4x4 with camping gear... After some reading, I’ve put together this first draft of an itinerary:

D0 Johannesburg - arrive around 11 AM + visit Soweto? D1 Vic Falls - arrive around noon D2 Vic Falls D3 4x4 familiarization + Hwange NP D4 Hwange NP D5 Hwange NP D6 Bulawayo D7 Bulawayo / Matobo NP D8 Mapungubwe D9 Mapungubwe D10 Waterberg D11 Waterval Boven D12 Golden Gate Highlands NP D13 Sentinel Peak D14 Tugela Falls or another hike D15 Additional hike to be determined D16 Return to Johannesburg + drop off 4x4 - flight at 5 PM

Any thoughts on this itinerary? Ideas for improving it?

One alternative would be to visit Gonarezhou Park, which really appeals to me... But that would take more time and change the rest of the route: probably going back through Kruger. And I’m not sure I’d have enough time for the Drakensberg.

I still have other questions... But I’d rather finalize the general itinerary first to sort out the 4x4 rental...

Big thanks to the travel community 😉