South Africa’s long and winding roads – Road trips and destinations
Road trips are the best way to experience our country’s different places, people, cultures and breath-taking beauty. One doesn’t always have the time to make an epic one across the entire country, but taking a weekend road trip can be enough to satisfy the Wanderlust until you can. Not every small, quaint South African town has a thriving hospitality industry, but with accommodation apps like Airbnb, these days you can stay pretty much in any dorp, and get to experience the real local culture. Here are some suggestions for mini-road trips and destinations across the country.
Betty’s Bay:
Imagine kicking back for the weekend at this gorgeous sea-side cottage. Airbnb with your closest friends, some wine and endless views. With a name like Cherrywood Cottage, it’s bound to be charming. To get here from Cape Town, it’s a no brainer that you should travel via the R44 Clarence Drive. This perfect piece of tarmac overlooks False Bay and has various stop-off points to stretch your legs and capture the perfectly instagrammable views. It’s 21km of sheer beauty. And, it’s the height of whale season right now, so you’ll get to see these magnificent creatures migrate right in front of you.
Ceres:
A quiet retreat in a farm cottage sounds like a wonderful way to wind down from what has been an eventful 2017. This tranquil cottage is located on a working farm that grows and exports apples and pears. Have a look at the reviews on Airbnb to see just how relaxing a stay there is. The Bainskloof Pass is the road to take to get there. This magnificent road is 30km long and lies between Wellington and Ceres. There are plenty of lookout points along the way to take in the natural beauty and surroundings. And if you’re the adventurous sort, you definitely have to try the Ceres zipline. It’s not for the faint-hearted!
Clarens:
Clarens in the Free State is a quaint little town and the perfect escape from city life. Sweetpie Cottage, with views of Mount Horeb and the Maluti Mountains, is ready to welcome guests from far and wide for an escape to country life. If you’re travelling from the Harrismith side, you’ll be able to enjoy the long and winding R712 road that takes you through the beautiful Golden Gate Highlands National Park. If you’re coming from the other way, it’s worth taking a trip just to experience this incredible journey. Those who enjoy the journey for the drive will love it here.
Franschhoek:
One of the best escapes in the Western Cape is the town of Franschhoek. Whether you’re looking for a venue for a holiday with friends or your significant other, this village townhouse is the ideal escape. For the best vantage point of the entire village, meander up the Franschhoek Pass. Revel in the twisty bits of road and the gorgeous views. Once there, swap your car for a horse. Outrides are available in the mountains above the town, for both beginners and the more experienced equestrians.
Pilgrim’s Rest:
Any town with the word ‘rest’ in its name is enough to entice you to stay a little longer, and if you’re going to, why not have a look at Molly’s Garden Cottage as an option for that perfect escape? It’s also ideally located for those who love to mountain bike as some of the best MTB routes in the country are just a short ride away. One of the big drawcards of the town is what is known as Robber’s Pass – a name whose origins lie in some crafty gold heists that happened way back. The pass is surrounded by lush green vegetation and is steeped in history that visitors can read about on plaques dotted along various stops on the road.
Images courtesy of Airbnb