Welcome to THE South Africa Road-Trip!
From Cape Town you will climb on board the Pepper bus and head out on a road-trip that has been dreamt up, tested, tinkered with and now perfected with one crucial aim - to make sure you get the most out of this incredible country. How can you be so sure? Well, for starters, we love a good road-trip. Combine this with years of dedication and persistance and what do you get? The ultimate itinerary, giving you the chance to cram in all of South Africa's essential highlights as well as sneaking in a handful of hidden gems that our guides love to uncover, all for your pleasure! Read on for details...
Get your adrenaline fix through bungy jumping, skydiving and shark diving, get your breath back relaxing on some seriously secluded beaches and track elephants, rhino and lion on the Big 5 safari experience.
Then by night you'll be in various backpacker lodges, all chosen not only for their great location and facilities, but also for their fun-loving staff and cracking general vibe. Master the braai (that's barbeque for some of us) at Albergo, man the pizza oven at the Secret Spot, dance the night away at the crazy Coffee Shack and go wild at Isinkwe Bush Camp with sundowners by the pool.
The list of possibble activities is a long one and may leave you short of breath but here goes - skydive, bungy jump, kayak, surf, scuba dive, climb, hike, zip-wire, horseride, paintball, quadbike, kiteboard, canyoning, fishing, safariying and that's not even a word. This trip is pretty much guaranteed to be an action packed adventure, a feast of memory-making and all the while taking in a truly beautiful country filled with great fun people.
All accommodation and transport is taken care of leaving you to kick back on the bus, get stuck into the action and marvel at your surroundings. Your dedicated guides are with you the entire way and as locals they love nothing more than showing you the out-of-the-way spots that really make this trip what it is.
Have a look at some stories from a recent road-trip here.
We’ll meet you off your plane at the airport or if you’re already in town, at the backpackers and then get stuck into a quick intro chat, brief but useful orientation session and then a pumping Pepper night out.
This is the start of our road-trip as we venture up the famous Garden Route to Plettenberg Bay, and it’s straight into the action with kayaking and surfing as a warm-up to the extremes – throw yourself off Bloukrans Bridge with just a rope strapped round your ankles - the world’s highest bungy jump! Follow that up with a 10,000ft, 35 second freefall at Skydive Plett - a really stunning drop zone.
A trip inland and up into the Amatola mountains provides a contrast in scenery. The fantasy village of Hogsback and the surrounding forests and waterfalls were the inspiration for the Lord of the Rings books and it’s easy to see why. Explore the area on horseback or on foot, but don’t forget the crazy tree-house and the awesome views from the top.
We have five nights at one of the most vibrant backpackers in the country. Situated right on the beach, this is an essential stop for any self-respecting backpacker in South Africa! Coffee Bay is a rural village located in the heart of the Transkei, where the chief makes the decisions and we get a chance to learn lots about their traditional customs. There’s also plenty of time to take advantage of the incredible beaches; sunbathe, play Frisbee, get a surf lesson from an ex-pro, or chill at the backpackers learning to play bongos!
Just north of Durban we settle in at a home away from home. Mike and Rozz run a surf camp with a difference and they are the most welcoming hosts you’re ever likely to come across. Enjoy the pool, the bar and of course, the legendary pizza night. Once out of the surf, this is our base to explore Durban and its beautiful beachfront by day and night. From here there’s also one of the top 10 scuba diving sites in the world and for the slightly deranged – a Tiger Shark dive with pioneer Walter Bernardis and no cage!
An absolute must on any journey through South Africa is a visit to one of the many beautiful Game Reserves. This isn’t just one of the many though, oh no, this is Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Big 5 Game Reserve, the oldest proclaimed park in Africa. Home to the largest population of white rhino in the world, its 96,000 hectares are beautiful and varied from open savannah to woodlands and meandering rivers meaning just about every animal you can think of can find a home here. Guided game drives will keep your camera finger busy before returning home to meals and drinks at the poolside bar – this is about as good as it gets!
Driving inland we venture into the spectacular Drakensberg Mountain Range. Two nights at the luxurious Inkosana Lodge is a great way to indulge in your surroundings. This mountain retreat offers a scenic spot for relaxation, hikes in the hills or adventures on horseback or even a cheeky round of golf.
One night in the bustling city of Johannesburg gives us the opportunity to dispel those myths and enjoy a few drinks with locals who will tell you they wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
The Road-trip has to end sometime. Whether your onward journey is a flight to Dubai or a bus ride into middle Africa, we’ll get you set to be on your way safe and sound, and totally fulfilled from the ultimate road-trip!