South Africa Round Trips for Self-Drivers by Rental Car

Together with your personal Elefant-Tours travel expert, you design your tailor-made self-drive trip through South Africa.

You can get involved as much or as little as you like. Our South Africa specialists have extensive local knowledge, have driven the routes themselves and visited the accommodation themselves – a real advantage for your planning.

On our website you will find initial tour suggestions. We are happy to adapt these individually to your wishes – whether in terms of route, duration, accommodation or activities.

South Africa is very large, and the possibilities for experiences and activities are varied: safari, beach, mountains, cities; as a family with small children, on honeymoon or a road trip with friends. Tell us about your dream trip! And we will draw up a trip proposal for you.

We will also prepare a quote for your international flight to South Africa and any domestic flights.

As soon as your individual itinerary for the rental car trip is settled, we take care of booking the accommodation and the rental car.

We also give you valuable tips, travel information and directions.

Contact us, and together we will start planning your dream trip!

On a self-drive tour through South Africa you drive a rental car along a carefully planned route.

During the trip you stay in accommodation booked in advance such as lodges, tented camps or guesthouses, which are often located in especially beautiful natural surroundings.

You can stop again and again along the way, enjoy the spectacular landscapes, explore smaller and larger towns or head specifically for special sights. We give you tips in advance on which activities are particularly worthwhile where.

If you would also like to go on safari during your trip, you have the option of either doing game drives yourself in your rental car or adding a guided safari with a professional guide in a specially equipped vehicle at your accommodation.

A self-drive tour gives you the advantage of the greatest possible flexibility. Although the routes and accommodation are fixed in advance, you can shape the daily schedule as you please, especially if you spend two nights at a destination.

You can find more information on different travel styles in Africa and on self-drive tours here.

To drive yourself in South Africa, you need a valid national driving licence. This means, for example, a German, Austrian or Swiss driving licence. If your driving licence is not in English, you also need an international driving permit.

Please note that the international driving permit is only valid together with a valid national driving licence.

You can usually apply for an international driving permit at the road traffic office in your place of residence. Depending on where you live, this can take several weeks and up to three months.

South Africa is one of the most popular countries for self-drive round trips in Africa, and the country is well geared to self-drivers. South Africa is generally considered a safe country for round trips in your own rental car.

Nevertheless, it is important to bear a few points in mind:

Many roads in South Africa, and above all the main roads, are tarred and in good condition. Depending on your route, however, you will probably be driving on gravel roads for some stretches. Here it is especially important not to drive too fast and to concentrate.

In South Africa traffic drives on the left. Take it easy, especially for the first few days, until you have got used to driving on the other side of the road.

Avoid driving after dark. Wild animals and livestock as well as other insufficiently lit vehicles pose a safety risk.

Do not leave any valuables in your rental car when you park the car in a car park.

South Africa is a popular destination for South Africa round trips all year round. When choosing your route, bear in mind that the rainy and dry seasons differ from region to region.

Between May and December it is dry in the north of the country and on the east coast. That means ideal conditions and the best time to travel for wildlife viewing, for example in Kruger National Park.

In the south of the country, including Cape Town, however, it is winter from May to October, which brings low temperatures down to around 10 degrees and a high likelihood of rain.

Between October and April the south stays dry with a few exceptions and reaches its highest temperatures at the start of the year.

It is hot but rainy in the months of December to March in the north and east as well. Wildlife viewing in the green national parks is then not always easy.

In this blog you can read more helpful details about the best time to travel for a South Africa trip.

To enjoy a self-drive round trip through South Africa in a relaxed way and travel through large parts of the country, you should allow at least three weeks of travel time.

If you have less time, you can choose the north & east or the south of the country – and simply come back again.

In this blog we give you tips on the trip length for South Africa.

In South Africa you can experience everything on a single trip: safari, beach, mountains, culture, landscapes and cities. It is one of the most diverse destinations in Africa.

In breathtaking Kruger National Park you can watch the Big Five in their natural habitat.

You can also experience the vibrant life of Cape Town, especially at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. On the way to the south coast, you will travel through picturesque landscapes and towns such as Simon's Town, known for its penguin colonies.

Further east lies the charming town of Plettenberg Bay, a jewel on the Garden Route, known for its beautiful beaches and the chance to watch whales.

Let us not forget the breathtaking view over the expanses of the Indian Ocean, which you can enjoy from many points along the route.

A visit to the country would not be complete without appreciating the impressive history and legacy of Nelson Mandela and other freedom fighters, whose traces can be found in many cities and sights across the country.

These are just some of the highlights that await you on your round trip through South Africa.

Every place and city you visit has its own unique attractions and sights that guarantee you an unforgettable experience.

Feel free to send us your enquiry about South Africa round trips for self-drivers!

The choice of rental car depends on the one hand on the route and the regions visited and on the other on your need for comfort.

Depending on the route, a 4×4 or an SUV makes sense.

If you do not leave Cape Town and the Garden Route, a normal car is also enough:

Our Elefant-Tours travel experts will be happy to advise you on this.

The quality of rental cars in South Africa is generally very good. Rental car round trips are a very popular style of travel in South Africa.

That is why there are also many good rental car providers. We have worked with our local partners for many years.

Depending on the main travel season in the different regions, you should book early to get a particular model you want.

The petrol station network in South Africa is well developed. Even in remote areas there are usually petrol stations.

Nevertheless, it is advisable to plan ahead: ask at your accommodation for the nearest petrol station and fill up when your tank is half empty. That way you are always on the safe side on your South Africa round trip.

Yes, you can use a satnav on South Africa round trips for self-drivers. You can book this in advance through us with your rental car company. In addition, our travel experts recommend various apps that you can use for navigation.

Road signage in South Africa is better than in many other African countries. Nevertheless, a satnav is recommended for easier orientation.

Many roads in South Africa are tarred and in good condition.

Nevertheless, depending on the route, there are still many gravel tracks. If these have been graded recently, they are usually easy to drive. Shortly after the main travel season or depending on local conditions, however, they may also be in poorer condition.

The speed limit is 120 km/h on highways and 60 km/h in built-up areas.