Renting a car in South Africa is a must! Not only does it end up being the cheaper option than local transport, but it gives you the chance to be spontaneous and have the freedom to choose where you want to go, when you want to go.
Some people might be a bit wary about renting a car in a country that has some of the highest crime rates in the world.
We received lots of advice from the locals in-country and drove through South Africa for 5 weeks without having any problems. I highly recommend it to everyone.
Here’s our list of tips for staying safe on a South African Road Trip.
Note: it’s imperative to ask for local advice about where (and where not) to go, and always do your own independent research to keep up with the current political situation in South Africa.
1. Gas Up
It’s important to be aware of your gas tank gauge and top up on petrol when you see a station.
We were dangerously low on fuel one day and thought there would be a gas station coming up, but it was much farther away than we had thought. You don’t want to be stuck out on the roads here, so keep an eye on the amount of gas you have.
2. Older Is Better
Your vehicle at home may be nice and new, but on this road trip, you want the opposite.
You don’t want to have a flashy, new looking ride while in South Africa. Nice cars = money. If given the choice between a BMW and a Chevy, go for the Chevy. It doesn’t have to be a small vehicle, just don’t go for anything flashy.
3. Don’t Pick Up Hitch-hikers & Don’t Stop For Anyone
We were told this numerous times by the local people.
There are scams in South Africa targeted at drivers. Someone will act as though they need help with their broken-down vehicle and as you pull over to help them out, their friend jumps out of the bushes and steals your car, and/or robs you.
Stop for no one.
4. Lock Your Doors
Always lock the doors to your vehicle, even while you’re driving. Again, you could be a target for a robbery or carjacking when you pull up to a stop sign or a red light.
And, of course, lock your doors when you get out of the vehicle as well.
5. Don’t Drive At Night
Figure out how long it will take you from where you are to where you want to go, and then leave early enough to make it there before dark.
Being out on the road in South Africa at night can be a dangerous place.
And in fact, due to the high number of carjackings, there are even laws that say you can run a red light or a stop sign at night!
During the day, due to carjackings, slowly pull up at the red light if you see if from a distance — this way, you’ll avoid being at a standstill for longer than you need to be.
6. Watch Out For Pot Holes!
The main roads and highways in South Africa are really good. However, when you get off of them and are heading to some smaller towns and villages, the roads can be quite poor.
The potholes become more like canyons, there’s no shoulder and many people are walking along the roads, so you have no choice sometimes but to hit the craters head-on.
Our car was the victim of 2 massive potholes.
7. Pay The Parking Attendant
When you go to a grocery store, restaurant, shop, mall or anywhere like that, there will almost always be a man standing outside wearing a neon vest. He’ll likely say “Watch your car?”
Basically he keeps an eye on it while you’re away and makes sure no one vandalizes or steals it.
He may even top up the parking meter for you! When you get back to your car, he will ask you for some money, typically about 2-5ZAR is appropriate.
8. Have A Local SIM Card
If you have a breakdown, are lost, need to call the rental company, or have an emergency, being able to call a local number is a must.
Local SIM cards are easy to obtain and as long as your smartphone is “unlocked”, you’ll be able to add the South Africa SIM card. Get some data and calling minutes as well. Click here to find out where to pick up a SIM card in SA.
As a note, while you’re waiting for a tow truck or anything, it’s not a good idea to get out of the car and wait on the shoulder, stay in your car with the doors locked.
9. Get a Cooler (Ice-Box)
It’s a good idea to always have some food and water in case of breakdowns, or if you get lost!
Being able to keep food cold while on the road is great. We had cheese, leftover dinner, cold chicken, fruits and veggies and of course, cold drinks.
10. Have a Good Map
Having a proper map is key to your road trip experience.
There are so many different routes you could take in South Africa. By having a good map, locals can show you the most scenic and fastest routes from point “a” to point “b”…and of course, you won’t get lost.
These days, most people use Google Maps or some other sort of navigation. This is good, but it won’t’ always show you the scenic routes to take. I recommend always asking local advice before setting off.
11. Keep Your Windows Up
One of the great joys of driving through South Africa is seeing the beautiful landscapes and feeling the wind blowing in your face.
Which is what you should do, until you arrive in the city.
Then, it’s time to put the windows up, and turn the air conditioning on! Having your windows wide open makes it easy for someone to reach in and steal something.
12. Watch Out For Wildlife
Livestock and wildlife often roam the roads here. Be aware! You don’t want to go head-on into an antelope, you’ll lose.
Enjoy your trip to South Africa
There you have it. Some great tips to help keep you safe while driving in South Africa.
I hope I didn’t scare you off from renting a car here! Having said all of this, we spent 5 weeks in this awesome country and drove from Cape Town all the way up the coast to St. Lucia and veered into Swaziland before ending our trip in Pretoria.
We had nothing but great experiences and if you follow these guidelines, you will too!
Have you ever done a road tip in South Africa? Did you feel safe? Leave a comment below!
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