Distances and Dimensions in South Africa: The Perfect Itinerary for Your Adventure
South Africa is undoubtedly a dream destination for travellers who want to experience breathtaking landscapes, wild wildlife and diverse cultures. If you’re planning a trip through this fascinating country, you’ll face the challenge of navigating the country’s vast distances and dimensions. In this article, you will learn how to design the optimal itinerary and which distances you should consider.
The impressive dimensions of South Africa
South Africa covers an area of 1,219,912 km², which is about 3.4 times the size of Germany. This impressive figure alone illustrates how large and diverse this country is. If you are considering a journey from Johannesburg in the east to Cape Town in the west, you must bear in mind that the direct route is about 1,400 km. The pure driving time is about 15 hours, while a flight takes a little more than 2 hours.
If you also want to explore the picturesque Garden Route along the coast, the distance increases to about 1,800 km. If you also want to spend a few relaxing days in Durban, we are already talking about 2,200 km, without any detours or additional excursions. These figures illustrate the enormous dimensions to consider when planning your trip.
The challenges of getting there
For travellers arriving in Johannesburg and wanting to start with a visit to the famous Kruger National Park, allow an additional 4-6 hours driving time, depending on which entrance you head for. We recommend an overnight stay in Johannesburg to recover from your flight before you start your journey. Also bear in mind the left-hand traffic, which can be a challenge for the inexperienced.
A stopover on the way to the National Park is the Panorama Route. Here you can marvel at the impressive Blyde River Canyon, which is not only the third largest canyon in the world, but also the largest green canyon, thanks to its lush vegetation.
The popular Garden Route
The Garden Route is one of the most popular attractions for travellers to South Africa. Officially, it starts in Mossel Bay, about 400 km from Cape Town, and stretches along the coast to Port Elizabeth. The total distance is just under 400 km and road conditions are generally very good, although there are occasional road works.
Optimal travel duration for your South Africa holiday
Of course, every traveller has different needs and priorities when exploring a new country. Our recommendation is based on our experience: if you want to concentrate on the east of the country with Johannesburg, the Panorama Route and the Kruger National Park, you should plan around 10-12 days.
Cape Town and the Garden Route offer an almost endless variety of excursions and opportunities for discovery. To fully enjoy the beauty of nature, cultural diversity and culinary delights, we recommend at least 14 days for this region. The more time you have, the deeper you can immerse yourself in this fascinating country.
Overview of distances
Here are some distances and approximate driving times, taking into account the direct route without detours, breaks or traffic jams:
- Johannesburg – Kruger National Park
Distance: approx. 420-500 kilometres, depending on the entrance
Driving time: 4.5 to 6 hours, depending on road conditions. - Johannesburg – Port Elizabeth
Distance: approx. 1,000 kilometres
Driving time: 10 to 12 hours, depending on road conditions. - Johannesburg – Durban
Distance: approx. 600 kilometres
Driving time: 5 to 6 hours, depending on road conditions. - Durban – Port Elizabeth
Distance: approx. 900 kilometres
Driving time: 11 to 13 hours, depending on road conditions. - Port Elizabeth – Cape Town
Distance: approx. 750 kilometres
Driving time: 8 to 10 hours, depending on road conditions. - Cape Town – Johannesburg
Distance: approx. 1,400 kilometres
Driving time: at least 14 hours, depending on road conditions.
If you are now dreaming of an adventure in South Africa, you are not alone. We are at your disposal to put together the perfect travel package for you. Contact us and we will help you plan and realise your next dream holiday.
