Road trip

[grok]

I just kinda impulse-traded-in my manual Audi A4 on a S-tronic A6, so you'll understand the sudden need for a decent road trip..

Doesn't need to be a whole Grand Tour, but still something worthwhile that Clarkson would be proud of, just without the other two idiots obviously.
I've grown into a bit of a loner lately, so just me & the road, need to escape the rat race & roaming naked on some deserted plain would be awkward with the spawn present.
Doesn't have to be rugged tho, not totally opposed to the Riviera and a bit of high life, 'slongs there are plenty scenic & pleasurable driving sections between rest stops.

The Garden route seems a good fit, just maybe a bit overdone, or am I wrong? I've done it a few times, albeit some years ago.
I've never been to Namibia, are the roads that way even worth it nowadays?

Anyone want to recommend a good driving trip based on experience?
The focus should be long-distance adventure driving, so not too many boring highways.
Can easily handle a few shorter trips too as long as the driving's worth it.

 

[Agent_Smith]

What area you live in? You mention the garden route, so I'm guessing south or western cape? If so, stay off the N2 and hit the R62. It's the road that connects Oudtshoorn to Robertson (via Montagu and Ashton). You pass through Barrydale, Ladismith and Calitzdorp and it contains some great driving roads.

 

[grok]

Nah I'm from Pretoria.. but I used to live in CT & I've been to the Barrydale Bar a few times before.

 

[Trompie67]

Jhb - Dullstroom - Lydenburg -Sabie - Nellspruit - W.River - Hazyview - Graskop - Pilgrims - Lydenburg - Jhb

An easy days drive with fuel stops and 2 hours for lunch in Hazyview.

Make lunch an hour & you can do Hazyview - Sabie & back again

 

[Drifter]

That ^^^^

 

[f2wohf]

Jhb - Dullstroom - Lydenburg -Sabie - Nellspruit - W.River - Hazyview - Graskop - Pilgrims - Lydenburg - Jhb

An easy days drive with fuel stops and 2 hours for lunch in Hazyview.

Make lunch an hour & you can do Hazyview - Sabie & back again

Didn't think of it because that means work for me, but it is a nice road.

Though the R540 between Belfast and Lydenburg is really really bad because of the rain right now (drove it on Monday). The road is usually good in winter.

 

[Pitbull]

Nah I'm from Pretoria.. but I used to live in CT & I've been to the Barrydale Bar a few times before.

Jhb - Dullstroom - Lydenburg -Sabie - Nellspruit - W.River - Hazyview - Graskop - Pilgrims - Lydenburg - Jhb

An easy days drive with fuel stops and 2 hours for lunch in Hazyview.

Make lunch an hour & you can do Hazyview - Sabie & back again

Came to recommend an epic trip, but was beaten by Trompie. By far the most scenic route I have ever driven. Don't know what the road conditions are like now though.

 

[grok]

Jhb - Dullstroom - Lydenburg -Sabie - Nellspruit - W.River - Hazyview - Graskop - Pilgrims - Lydenburg - Jhb

An easy days drive with fuel stops and 2 hours for lunch in Hazyview.

Make lunch an hour & you can do Hazyview - Sabie & back again

I did the Dullstroom to Pilgrims a couple of months ago, weekend to Crystal Springs, so agree it's scenic but some of those roads have horrible potholes, aggro tyre-snappers.

Also, I wouldn't mind taking more than a day and sleeping over somewhere, part of this is to cop a bit of a rest after all..

How's the driving in Namaqualand nowadays?

 

[Pitbull]

I did the Dullstroom to Pilgrims a couple of months ago, weekend to Crystal Springs, so agree it's scenic but some of those roads have horrible potholes, aggro tyre-snappers.

Also, I wouldn't mind taking more than a day and sleeping over somewhere, part of this is to cop a bit of a rest after all..

How's the driving in Namaqualand nowadays?

You need to go late August early September for it to be "Blomme tyd"

Now it's just going to be desert

Take a Trip up to Namibia via Botswana. Swakopmund will be epic!

 

[f2wohf]

I did the Dullstroom to Pilgrims a couple of months ago, weekend to Crystal Springs, so agree it's scenic but some of those roads have horrible potholes, aggro tyre-snappers.

Also, I wouldn't mind taking more than a day and sleeping over somewhere, part of this is to cop a bit of a rest after all..

How's the driving in Namaqualand nowadays?

It’s actually worst than a few months ago now. Rain season = much more potholes.

 

[pinball wizard]

Doesn't need to be a whole Grand Tour, but still something worthwhile that Clarkson would be proud of, just without the other two idiots obviously.

So convert it to off road and take it to the Okavango.

 

[Pitbull]

I farking hate it when Fiesta spams the farking section and all the good threads vanish from the front page...

 

[TheChamp]

I farking hate it when Fiesta spams the farking section and all the good threads vanish from the front page...

It's our duty to stand together and bring the good threads back onto the front page.

 

[grok]

You need to go late August early September for it to be "Blomme tyd"

Now it's just going to be desert

Take a Trip up to Namibia via Botswana. Swakopmund will be epic!

Ah, but desert = cavorting naked in the dunes, which you will recall was integral part of my original post, not?

Namibia sounds like a winner, I really want to go long-distance driving, but Botswana'll take a bit more planning than any local drive.

Maybe plan that for after March next year when firstbornspawn is off to Europe for work..

So convert it to off road and take it to the Okavango.

I just took delivery of her yesterday.. too soon for modifications

 

[EasyUp Web Hosting]

Remember to get a playlist ready for the trip. Think there is a thread here somewhere with good suggestions.

 

[Pitbull]

Ah, but desert = cavorting naked in the dunes, which you will recall was integral part of my original post, not?

Namibia sounds like a winner, I really want to go long-distance driving, but Botswana'll take a bit more planning than any local drive
.
Maybe plan that for after March next year when firstbornspawn is off to Europe for work..



I just took delivery of her yesterday.. too soon for modifications

It's a single highway all the way through Botswana from SA to Namibia. It's extremely beautiful . Once you hit Namibia it becomes pretty destitute but an experience on it's own. Amazing people Botswana and Namibia. And Swakopmund is AMAZING!

 

[grok]

It's a single highway all the way through Botswana from SA to Namibia. It's extremely beautiful . Once you hit Namibia it becomes pretty destitute but an experience on it's own. Amazing people Botswana and Namibia. And Swakopmund is AMAZING!

Do they still have that new years dune rave somewhere up Nam north?

Might be worth it to go for that & relive some of my party days..

 

[Pitbull]

Do they still have that new years dune rave somewhere up Nam north?

Might be worth it to go for that & relive some of my party days..

As of late they have a house festival but it's at the sports grounds. I don't know if they still do the Dune raves like they did in the late 90's, worth a search I think. I remember those dune parties!!!

 

[pinball wizard]

Do they still have that new years dune rave somewhere up Nam north?

Might be worth it to go for that & relive some of my party days..

Burning man Africa style? Do we take our own tyres and matches?

 

[Ho3n3r]

I love driving as close by the Drakensberg as possible, e.g. we go off the N3 to Underberg when we go to the South Coast. Maybe have a look at that. I just love the mystic feeling of being as close as possible to the Drakensberg - photos don't really do it justice. If you're willing, you can even do Sani Pass itself - haven't done it myself, but it's definitely a dream of mine to do it one day.