Road trips from Cape Town

Friends… check

Music… check

Snacks… check

Good vibe… check

A great route… we’ve got some suggestions:

What’s not to love about a road trip? You get to explore an area, spend time with good people and, best of all, it’s a fairly inexpensive way to feed your wanderlust.

Here are two of our favourite road trips not too far from Cape Town, which makes it ideal for a quick weekend away.

West Coast

Not too long ago the West Coast was known as little more than a sleepy fishing village. While there’s been some development here in recent years the area hasn’t lost any of its authenticity or appeal. Any one of the little towns along this intriguing coastline makes for a great road trip stop.

The best way to start a West Coast trip is to stop off in Atlantis for tandem skydiving! It’s en route anyway so why launch into your trip by free falling out of an aeroplane at 10 000 foot above the ground? Or meet us on the Atlantis Dunes for quad biking or sandboarding.

About an hour’s drive from Atlantis is Langebaan, often called the “jewel of the West Coast”. This picturesque town is a watersport lover’s paradise with wind and water conditions that make it ideal for year-round kitesurfing, windsurfing and kayaking. Langebaan Lagoon is a great spot to learn to kitesurf with our one- or two-day kitesurfing courses. You’ll be flying high above the water in no time – guaranteed!

As you head further along the coast be sure to stop off at Paternoster for a fresh seafood lunch at one of the many restaurants and cafes along the beach and to marvel at the beautiful white fisherman’s cottages. Take time out for bird watching as the area is home to some fascinating species, or head to the West Coast Fossil Park nearby to see the fossils of the bears, sabre-tooth cats and short-neck giraffes that inhabited the area more than five million years ago.

Or opt to veer inland to the charming town of Darling for a tasting at the craft beer brewery Darling Brew. Similarly, the Darling Wine Route is a must for wine enthusiasts with Cloof, Groote Post, Darling Cellars and Ormonde on the way.

Route 62

This scenic route that meanders along the back roads from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, over dramatic mountain passes and along stunning landscapes,  is the alternative to the coastal way that passes through the world-famous Garden Route in the Southern Cape.

Tranquil, safe and scenic, Route 62 is also the world’s longest wine route with some top-class wineries and estates, including Graham Beck Wines, Springfield Estate and Theuniskraal, along the way.

One of the most (in)famous spots on the route near Barrydale is Ronnies Sex Shop. This unpretentious bar has been dubbed the “oddest pub in Africa” and invites visitors and passers-by to enjoy something cold from the well-stocked bar or a delicious bite to eat. The setting also makes for great photo opportunities, of course!

Sights and attractions along the route will feed any fancy, whether it’s art or animals you’re after. While every little dorp along the route has its own something special something worth checking out here are some of our favourite attractions:

Klipdrift Brandy Distillery in Robertson: Learn more about the craft of distilling brandy and how this golden liquor is best enjoyed.

Robertson Art Gallery: Featuring original work by more than 60 top South African artists, this gallery should be a mandatory pit stop for art lovers.

Heritage Garden in Barrydale: Take time to relax and appreciate the splendour of the succulent floral wealth of the Little Karoo in this beautiful garden. The garden is constantly evolving and treating visitors to something different, be it a flowering aloe or a Glottiphyllum barrydalensis, one of the rarest plants in the area.

Sanbona Wildlife Reserve: This 54 000 hectare reserve between Montagu and Barrydale is home to a large variety of endemic bird and animal life, including self-sustaining white lions and the endangered Riverine Rabbit.

For a comprehensive overview of things to see and do along Route 62 visit the official Route 62 site.

Garden Route

Or join us for the ultimate five-day garden route tour. This fun, multi-day trip takes you to some of the most popular destinations en route to the Garden Route, including Wilderness, Knysna, Jeffrey’s Bay and Oudtshoorn.

For the complete itinerary, or to book your tour with us, take a look at our Garden Route tour page.