Couple with 2 Kids Embark on 21-Day Road Trip to Explore South Africa

My spouse and I, along with our 6-year-old and 9-year-old companions, have just completed a 3,200 km road trip exploring the landscapes of South Africa over 21 days.

Couple with 2 Kids Embark on 21-Day Road Trip to Explore South Africa

This marks our fifth continent visited in the past 5 years.

- Witnessing hundreds of whales congregating for breeding at Dehoop.

- Seeing thousands of adorable South African penguins waddling along the shores of Boulders Beach.

– Take a boat ride on St. Lucia Lake to admire diving hippos resembling submarines underwater.

– Embark on a Big 5 Safari (lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo) in Hluhluwe National Park. Witness a herd of over 30 African elephants crossing right in front of your car, along with sightings of leopards, rhinos, and many other animals seen for the first time.

– Visit Cape Agulhas to leap from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian Ocean at the southernmost point of the African continent.

– Experience daily life with a local family in a Zulu village atop a mountain.

– Indulge in delicious cuisine ranging from burgers, pizzas to lobsters, and surprisingly cheaper than in Vietnam.

– Explore numerous museums, from historical ones like the Apartheid Museum and the 'Cradle of Humankind' in Johannesburg to natural history museums like Iziko & Aquarium in Cape Town.

– Shop for high-end items just like in American malls at V&A Waterfront, Capetown.

However, there were also some thrilling experiences:

– Driving at 120km/h on a road with only 2 lanes, no divider, then getting lost on a 40km dirt road with no street lights in the dark.

– Experience daily power cuts in South Africa; upon arriving at a hotel in Durban, the power went out, requiring a 12-floor climb with luggage.

– Encountering homeless people begging for money is common. Once, at a red light, a young man performed somersaults in front of the car, then knocked on the window asking for money.

In conclusion, South Africa is a fantastic and worthwhile destination to visit at least once in a lifetime, as long as you prepare well and pay attention to safety. Here are some tips for everyone to consider!

Having a reliable power bank is crucial for long trips like this. Cameras, GoPros, phones - they all need flexible charging. I carry a 20,000 mAh battery pack and still find myself running below 10% some days.

A Cubez power socket and a versatile travel adapter are indispensable. South Africa uses a unique 3-pin standard, so it's tough to plug in your electronics if you're not prepared in advance.

Public transportation is generally inconvenient and unsafe, so the most flexible and convenient option is definitely renting a car for self-driving.

South Africa is where I've found the cheapest car rentals ever. If you're traveling with just two people, you can get a Volkswagen Polo Vivo manual for only $15/day.

Similar to most other countries, you only need your Vietnamese driver's license (no need for an international one) and a credit card to rent a car. Getting the car at the airport is quick, usually done within 5-10 minutes. If any family plans on exploring the wilderness, a 4WD may be necessary, but most national park safari areas have paved roads reaching all major sections. That's why I opted for a sedan Corolla and it worked just fine.

Note:

South Africa, formerly a British colony, drives on the left side of the road, so it might feel a bit awkward at first, but you'll get used to it in just 5-10 minutes. However, it's advisable not to rent a manual transmission car because shifting gears with your left hand can be quite tricky.

I tried out a local car rental company - Pace, and was pleasantly surprised. It's no different from Avis/Hertz/Budget that I've rented before, but the prices are better.

Choosing the Route

There are two options for self-driving in South Africa:

1 - Similar to my experience, pick up the car in Johannesburg and drive down to Capetown, then return the car.

2 - Rent a car in Capetown, take the Garden Route to Port Elizabeth, then loop back to Capetown to return the car.

Each option has its own pros and cons. Option 1 involves a longer and farther journey, with the N2 road from Johannesburg being rougher but allowing access to Hluhluwe or heading north to Kruger - South Africa's largest wildlife reserve.

Option 2: Takes you closer to the most beautiful coastal route, although you'll miss out on the grand safaris.

Building the Itinerary

Map out the journey based on your experiences. Once you have your starting and ending points, plot the necessary cities along the route. For our trip to South Africa, we chose to go from Johannesburg to Capetown with the aim of experiencing a Big 5 Safari (lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo, rhinoceros) in its natural habitat. Kruger is South Africa's largest wildlife reserve. However, considering the extra 800km round trip, we opted for Hluhluwe - a smaller but more convenient park, and Addo Park along the way to Capetown via the Garden Route.

– Which route to take?

– Where to stay overnight?

– What to eat?

– Where to go for fun?

Arriving in Johannesburg, you can search:

Do a Google search for “Top family-friendly attractions in Johannesburg” or “Top things to do in Johannesburg”. Also, on YouTube, search for “Travel tips for Johannesburg”.

After reading 20 articles and watching 15 videos, totaling about 6 hours on YouTube, you can narrow down some suitable places like:

- Apartheid Museum

+ Cradle of Humankind

+ Lion Park

+ Mandela Square

Then, continue searching on YouTube/Google about these places. Finally, come up with a 21-day itinerary from Johannesburg to Capetown.

Costs

I think the biggest expense would be the airfare, but other expenses are cheaper compared to traveling in Vietnam. Our family chose Qatar Airways, which has a very suitable route of about 18-19 hours from Hanoi to Johannesburg (with a layover in Qatar).

By Tran Hai Yen

***

Reference: Mytour Travel Guide