5 road trip ideas for the long weekend
What’s your favourite South African holiday destination?
Also read: 9 Things to remember when driving home from your holiday!
We’re lucky to have a wide selection of new and different places to visit in our country and most of them make for some great road tripping holiday experiences too!
Something different for your holiday
Can’t think of somewhere to go? Imperial Auto suggest five holiday destinations to road trip to for the long weekend…
- Experience breath-taking sights – You don’t have to travel far to find beauty in South Africa – the red sandstone and picturesque beaches of the Cederberg are proof of this. Just a two-hour drive from Cape Town, Cederberg offers a refreshing dose of fauna and flora against the backdrop of a dramatically-coloured skyline. Travellers interested in experiencing nature in its most undisturbed form can also pay a visit to the Elephant Coast to witness the spectacular wetlands and world-renowned game reserves for your holiday.
- A touch of history – Grahamstown, located in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province is the perfect getaway for the inquisitive traveller. Known as the ‘City of Saints’, the two hundred-year-old town is home to over 50 churches. It hosts the annual National Arts Festival in July that attracts creatives from all over the world. Calvinia in the Northern Cape is another South African gem that is often overlooked, steeped in rich South African history and known for its friendly and welcoming residents.
- Fall in love with the outdoors – If you would rather spend your time dozing in a hammock or riding horseback along pristine and quiet beaches, Chintsa, based north-east from East London, is the ideal place to get away from it all. If you head north of the east coast, the Ndumo Game Reserve, situated on the border of Mozambique, is also ideal for nature-lovers. Bird-watching is a unique treat at Ndumo, which is home to a number of unique species of birds and other wildlife.
- Indulge in a little luxury – For some, holidays are a time to treat yourself to the finer things. Pay a visit to The Baths in Citrusdal, 160km north of Cape Town, where guests can unwind in naturally-heated mineral springs and rock pools ranging in temperature. Another option is the Madikwe Game Reserve, the fifth largest conservation park in South Africa located north-west to Pretoria, where visitors can go game drives or relax in one of the many secluded luxury lodges.
- Get the adrenaline pumping – Go on an epic zip-line adventure at the Karkloof Canopy Tours in KwaZulu Natal’s Midlands. Led by knowledgeable and enthusiastic guides, the course consists of nine platforms with magnificent views and the opportunity to observe exquisite indigenous birdlife. For those who are brave enough, crocodile cage-diving is another exhilarating activity for daredevils, available in the small town of Brits along the Hartbeespoort Dam.