Route Planner | Journey Guide | Experience South Africa

Plan your South Africa Journey

It is useful to plan your journey in advance before setting out in your camper van. The below information should be valuable in helping you to arrange a fun and safe travel itinerary. Having a basic idea of travelling distances is important when deciding where in South Africa to explore and how long you may wish to stay in each place.

Below is a table which provides a rough guide of the distances between the major cities in South Africa:

Beaufort West
535	Bloemfontein
463	998	Cape Town
316	219	779	Colesburg
1225	667	1660	881	Durban
597	575	1042	518	667	East London
237	764	436	545	1240	630	George
951	417	1405	623	598	992	1168	Johannesburg
497	175	960	284	842	750	734	467	Kimberely
1386	854	1886	1058	774	1308	1608	465	939	Komatipoort

For more specific journey information, Shell provides a detailed route planner. Zebra eating grass in South Africa Photo The AA (Automobile Association of South Africa) also has current travel news which may be of interest.

When visiting South Africa it is important to be aware of the risk of malaria. Many of the popular tourist areas are malaria-free; however certain areas still pose a risk. The Kruger National Park, the Lowveld of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, and the northern part of KwaZulu-Natal are risky locations to visit in the summer months without taking precautions against malaria. It is advisable to consult your doctor in advance to discuss the option of malaria tablets (malaria prophylaxis). In addition to this it is essential to always use mosquito repellent, cover-up bare skin and to sleep under a mosquito net at night. If you are pregnant it is recommended that you avoid malaria locations altogether.

South Africa is a popular destination for adrenaline sports, with skydiving proving a very popular choice. There are skydiving facilities all across South Africa that take advantage of the breathtaking scenery of locations such as Table Mountain and Cape Town. The Parachute Association of South Africa (PASA) is a good place to find out when and where the best places to skydive are along with up-to-date prices and information. As well as skydiving, South Africa is also a great place to discover bungee jumping, abseiling, kayaking, and paragliding. South Africa offers stunning coastlines and mountain ranges, making it ideal for a huge array of adventure sports.

Table Mountain is a popular tourist hotspot in South Africa. Travelling to the top of Table Mountain takes just 10 minutes in the cable car, and once there you will experience breathtaking views across Cape Town, Table Bay, Robben Island, the Cape Flats and the Cape Peninsula. Table Mountain is also a great place to witness an astounding array of flora and fauna, making it the richest single floristic area in the world. Table Mountain is home to over 1500 different plant species along with Black Eagles, Rock Kestrels and Sunbirds.

South Africa will become the venue for the FIFA World Cup in 2010. The FIFA website provides information on match fixtures, news and stadium information. A camper van is one of the most convenient ways of travelling between the stadiums which span the whole of South Africa, ranging from Cape Town to Polokwane.

National Parks make up an important part of South Africa's landscape, with stunning displays of wildlife and natural landscapes. There are 20 National Parks in South Africa and the majority of these offer campsites suitable for camper vans. It is recommended to book in advance in order to secure a place at the campsites, especially during the summer season. Below is a list of National Parks with links to their websites where you can find more information on what to see and do and the facilities available at each park: