South Africa — Garden Route
Cape Town to Port Elizabeth — beaches, safaris and the cheapest luxury road trip in the world
The Garden Route (N2 highway) runs from Mossel Bay to Storms River — but the classic trip extends Cape Town → Port Elizabeth, adding wine country and Addo Elephant Park. English is spoken everywhere, driving is on the left, and it's astonishingly cheap for Europeans. Add 2 days at the Cape Peninsula before you leave.
Day-by-day route
Cape of Good Hope + Boulders penguins + whale watching in Hermanus (Jun–Nov)
Cape Agulhas (southern tip of Africa) + Route 62 wine detour
Wilderness lagoon + Knysna oysters + Featherbed reserve
Tsitsikamma NP suspension bridge + Bloukrans bungee (world's highest)
Addo Elephant Park — self-drive safari, big 5
Fly out or continue to Hluhluwe / KZN
Addo self-drive slot, Featherbed Company boat trip, one-way car return (usually free within SA).
Don't drive after dark outside towns. Never stop for pedestrians flagging you down at night. Filler ups only at major stations.
Other road trips worth planning
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