Centurion to Knysna - driving time/routes etc

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rodga

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Hi all

Planning to go to knysna this week
unfortunately couldnt get accomodation halfway to there (cant leave a day earlier)

what sort of time am i looking at?
also what the best route to take? whats the options?

hoping to do it in 12 hours

hopefully not too much roadworks/ stop&gos
 
Theres a couple of Stop and Go's just after Bloem, so heads up there.
 
Jhb - Bloem - Colesburg - Noupoort - Middelburg - Graaff-Reinet - Aberdeen - Willowmore - Uniondale - Knysna

About 1200km

Can be done in 12 hours, rather use more time and stop aplenty.

Hope your aircon is working!!!!
 
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MickeyD said:
About 750km

Can be done in 10 hours, rather use all 12 hours and stop aplenty.!
Click to expand...

It's more like 1300km, don't know where you got 750km from. 1200km from JHB - George. George to Knysna is another 50km odd. And Centurion to JHB is another 50km odd. Total 1300km. If you skip George and take the alternative route, you can shave off maybe 50km. I would prefer to take the Swartberg pass followed by the Outeniqua Pass (after Colesburg you go through 3 Sisters, Beaufort West and Oudsthoorn). Takes a little bit longer, but what an awesome drive. Stop at the waterfall in the Swartberg pass for lunch/rest or even a swim). Then enjoy the Wilderness scenery between George and Knysna along the Garden route. It really sets the holiday mood, and helps you to forget about Gauteng stress quickly.

It should take you about 13-14 hours if you stick to the speed limit, and make at least 3 stops (which I recommend for safety).

Are you going on your own, or is there someone else to help you with the driving?
 
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Saajid said:
It's more like 1300km, don't know where you got 750km from. 1200km from JHB - George. George to Knysna is another 50km odd. And Centurion to JHB is another 50km odd. Total 1300km. If you skip George and take the alternative route, you can shave off maybe 50km. I would prefer to take the Swartberg pass followed by the Outeniqua Pass (after Colesburg you go through 3 Sisters, Beaufort West and Oudsthoorn). Takes a little bit longer, but what an awesome drive. Stop at the waterfall in the Swartberg pass for lunch/rest or even a swim). Then enjoy the Wilderness scenery between George and Knysna along the Garden route. It really sets the holiday mood, and helps you to forget about Gauteng stress quickly.

It should take you about 13-14 hours if you stick to the speed limit, and make at least 3 stops (which I recommend for safety).

Are you going on your own, or is there someone else to help you with the driving?
Click to expand...
Oops - that's from Bloem !!!! I'll fix my post... thanks.
 
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Saajid said:
It's more like 1300km, don't know where you got 750km from. 1200km from JHB - George. George to Knysna is another 50km odd. And Centurion to JHB is another 50km odd. Total 1300km. If you skip George and take the alternative route, you can shave off maybe 50km. I would prefer to take the Swartberg pass followed by the Outeniqua Pass (after Colesburg you go through 3 Sisters, Beaufort West and Oudsthoorn). Takes a little bit longer, but what an awesome drive. Stop at the waterfall in the Swartberg pass for lunch/rest or even a swim). Then enjoy the Wilderness scenery between George and Knysna along the Garden route. It really sets the holiday mood, and helps you to forget about Gauteng stress quickly.

It should take you about 13-14 hours if you stick to the speed limit, and make at least 3 stops (which I recommend for safety).

Are you going on your own, or is there someone else to help you with the driving?
Click to expand...

Why do you want to turn right at Colesberg? Remember he wants to do the trip in 1 day.
 
I've done George to JHB in 8.5 hours...but it was my mother's car and I was driving alone so.... :D

I would say you are looking at 10 to 11 hours. Personally, I would go via George and not Willowmore especially if you drive at night (those "back routes" have stupid rabbits, dears and even horses trying to cross the road at night)

That said, if you can and are up for it, drive at night (leave at 9 or 10pm) because that will get you into Knysna before most of the traffic hits it. And watch out for speed cameras especially at Bloemfontein (2 or 3), Richmond (2), Beaufort-West and Wilderness (1).

EDIT: The Richmond camera is a very sneaky one. You'll see the Richmond lights of to the the side of the N1 but the speed limit will be reduced to 80 (the road will make this bend around that section) for no apparent reason.
 
Last edited:
MickeyD said:
Why do you want to turn right at Colesberg? Remember he wants to do the trip in 1 day.
Click to expand...

I said that that's what I would prefer, though he can decide either way. For the extra 30-45 minutes, I really think it's worth it. Also, I know that those roads are maintained pretty well and can be trusted, even at night.

Either way, he'll enjoy the trip. The Garden Route is a great place to be this time of the year. Unless he get's unlucky and is hit with 1 week of constant rain. Happened to me at least twice in my last 10 trips.
 
cool thanks guys
ill have to leave tonite if i want to drive at night
so will prob leave early morning
 
Hamster said:
EDIT: The Richmond camera is a very sneaky one. You'll see the Richmond lights of to the the side of the N1 but the speed limit will be reduced to 80 (the road will make this bend around that section) for no apparent reason.
Click to expand...

(Sigh) Watch out for this one - gets me every time.
 
And don't forget to add an extra hour to get from the Knysna city limits to your destination in Knysna...traffic and all that. Have stopped going to Knysna over December a long time ago, simply too much traffic and peeps in a relatively small space.
 
BUMP. Will be going for a break next year April and will probably do the drive over two days (with two little ones). Any places worth recommending to stay over at...? Also thinking of driving through Prince Alfreds pass for a more scenic journey.
 
I've considered going past Clarens all the way down to PE and then onto Plet, Knysna and George instead if the N1...
 
We did it in one day. Left at 3 am and got there about 12 / 13 hours later. Stopped in Graaff Reinet for lunch.
 
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