Road trip advise needed

[JonnieOC]

No post today, just in search of some advise.

A friend of mine recently came to me with an idea to do a road trip, seeing as the rand/dollar is shot and chances of doing the historic route 66 is next to none.

His idea then is doing the garden route, so that would mean drive from JNB to CPT, and then head back to JNB along SA's coast line, all the way to st Lucia, and then back to JNB

All well and dandy, and I would imagine very beautiful, the problem is this though. Doing it in a beach buggy. Most likely a normal salamander. Here is the question.

Has anyone done this type of trip before, and could you advise any pitfalls? and secondly, would the aircooled beetle engine be able to hold up? Because it sounds fun, but also leans to the insane side of things to me.

 

[Pitbull]

No post today, just in search of some advise.

A friend of mine recently came to me with an idea to do a road trip, seeing as the rand/dollar is shot and chances of doing the historic route 66 is next to none.

His idea then is doing the garden route, so that would mean drive from JNB to CPT, and then head back to JNB along SA's coast line, all the way to st Lucia, and then back to JNB

All well and dandy, and I would imagine very beautiful, the problem is this though. Doing it in a beach buggy. Most likely a normal salamander. Here is the question.

Has anyone done this type of trip before, and could you advise any pitfalls? and secondly, would the aircooled beetle engine be able to hold up? Because it sounds fun, but also leans to the insane side of things to me.

Not allowed to drive on the coast line any more.

 

[MickeyD]

JNB via Upington to CPT.

CPT to George to PE to EL to Port St Johns to Port Edward to Durban to St Lucia.

St Lucia to Durban to JNB.

In a beach buggy? Hmmmm.... you'll need plenty of luck and quite a bit of time 'cos that beach buggy ain't going anywhere in a hurry.

On the positive side... you'll need plenty of pit stops and being on the coastal road will be scenic with many places to explore.

 

[JonnieOC]

Not allowed to drive on the coast line any more.

MickeyD said it clearer, coastal road. but thanks for letting me know, just now we get locked up for it

 

[JonnieOC]

JNB via Upington to CPT.

CPT to George to PE to EL to Port St Johns to Port Edward to Durban to St Lucia.

St Lucia to Durban to JNB.

In a beach buggy? Hmmmm.... you'll need plenty of luck and quite a bit of time 'cos that beach buggy ain't going anywhere in a hurry.

On the positive side... you'll need plenty of pit stops and being on the coastal road will be scenic with many places to explore.

Thanks, that looks like a very scenic route. It seems I will have to take a trailer with spare parts then when it comes to the buggy.

 

[MickeyD]

MickeyD said it clearer, coastal road. but thanks for letting me know, just now we get locked up for it

There are a few beaches where you can use the buggy but you will need permits for it.

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

You plan to do this in a buggy? I would have reservations about doing this in a coupe, but hey good luck to you...

 

[AstroTurf]

Thanks, that looks like a very scenic route. It seems I will have to take a trailer with spare parts then when it comes to the buggy.

I am not really sure I would willingly get stuck on the side of the road in SA if I have an alternative...

 

[ice_cubes]

Not allowed to drive on the coast line any more.

why?

 

[MickeyD]

why?

Due to the damage it caused to the environment...

 

[ice_cubes]

oh! ok

 

[LazyLion]

Some friends of mine recently did this to raise money for a charity....
5 days, 5600 Km road trip, over 5 days, through 8 countries (South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, and Botswana.)
An attempt at driving to 8 capital cities in 5 days.

Might not be as scenic, but definitely an achievement.

 

[MickeyD]

oh! ok

It was a pretty huge problem, which the State in their wisdom decided to solve by banning ALL vehicles on all beaches everywhere. And then they realised the impact of it... so certain folks were allowed back on the beaches using a permit system.

http://www.wheels24.co.za/News/General_News/SA-vehicle-beach-ban-to-stay-20120717

 

[Pitbull]

why?

Due to the damage it caused to the environment...

This ^^

The biggest concern was the people driving above the high tide mark and destroying turtle eggs. Now you need a permit to drive on the beach to launch your boat. And there are only certain areas it can be done. I think however that Sodwana might be the exclusion due to the fishing on the coastline there and the distance from everything. But you still need a permit to drive on the coast there and the driving lines are very well patrolled. Just dare go above the high tide mark .

 

[TEXTILE GUY]

Missus and I did something like this from Durban.

Started early, Transkei to East London.
EL to PE
PE to Knysna
Knysna to Oudtshoorn
via Price Albert onto N1 to CT.

and then back again, via Springbok, Upington, Kimberley, Bloem to Durbs.

We did this over two weeks. Booked early at BnBs - got good rates.

Only real worry was the road from Kokstad to Butterworth

The idea was not to do too much driving on some of the days so we could stop and take in the sights -
van Staaden bridge, the pass from Outshoorn to Prince Alfred, Knysna heads, Kimberley gat amongst others .....

Tell you this - when you do a road trip like this, you truely appreciate how awesome SA is.


Edit - I am always in awe of PE. Such a pretty place - a true gem.

 

[JonnieOC]

Can I bother you for more info on this, and where where can get the permits?

 

[MickeyD]

Missus and I did something like this from Durban.

Started early, Transkei to East London.
EL to PE
PE to Knysna
Knysna to Oudtshoorn
via Price Albert onto N1 to CT.

and then back again, via Springbok, Upington, Kimberley, Bloem to Durbs.

We did this over two weeks. Booked early at BnBs - got good rates.

Only real worry was the road from Kokstad to Butterworth

The idea was not to do too much driving on some of the days so we could stop and take in the sights -
van Staaden bridge, the pass from Outshoorn to Prince Alfred, Knysna heads, Kimberley gat amongst others .....

Tell you this - when you do a road trip like this, you truely appreciate how awesome SA is.

My wife and I are planning it the other way around... PE - DBN - Sun City - Upington - West Coact - CPT - Mossel Bay - Oudtshoorn - Langkloof back to PE.

 

[TEXTILE GUY]

My wife and I are planning it the other way around... PE - DBN - Sun City - Upington - West Coact - CPT - Mossel Bay - Oudtshoorn - Langkloof back to PE.

Awesome - to quote the Afriguy

Are coming in via Transkei or going round?

 

[MickeyD]

Can I bother you for more info on this, and where where can get the permits?

Scroll down to "Ocean and coasts": https://www.environment.gov.za/documents/forms

 

[JonnieOC]

Some friends of mine recently did this to raise money for a charity....
5 days, 5600 Km road trip, over 5 days, through 8 countries (South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia, and Botswana.)
An attempt at driving to 8 capital cities in 5 days.

Might not be as scenic, but definitely an achievement.

I would love to meet them!