The big spring route enables a visit to many of the prime tourist areas. The later in August the journey can start, the more favourable the climate will be for this specific tour. It starts with a visit to the Kruger National Park and the Blyde River Canyon. Then it goes, via Pretoria and Sun City, directly to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and to Namaqualand around Springbok. Here, the blooming season of the wild flowers starts in September. This spectacular natural event attracts many visitors annually, and accommodation must be booked in advance. From Namaqualand, one can go - in a 4WD - on an excursion into the Richtersveld National Park and from there travel to the Cedarberg Mountains. The next attractions are the Winelands in the Paarl area. Through the Karoo, it goes to the Garden Route, the Overberg Coast (whale watching in Hermanus) and finally to Cape Town.

Itinerary:
Johannesburg - Middelburg = 130 km
Middelburg - Kruger Park / Malelane Gate = 280 km
Kruger Park - Phalaborwa Gate = 280 km
Phalaborwa Gate - Blyde-River Canyon = 170 km
Blyde River Canyon - Nelspruit - Pretoria = 390 km
Pretoria - Sun City = 140 km
Sun City - Vryburg - Kuruman = 530 km
Kuruman - Twee Rivieren = 400 km
Twee Rivieren - Upington = 280 km
Upington - Augrabies N.P. = 130 km
Augrabies N.P. - Springbok = 310 km
Springbok - Port Nolloth = 140 km
Port Nolloth - Richtersveld N.P. = 120 km
Richtersveld N.P. - Port Nolloth = 120 km
Port Nolloth - Springbok = 140 km
Springbok - Clanwilliam = 280 km
Clanwilliam - Paarl = 200 km
Paarl - Karoo N.P. = 400 km
Karoo N.P. - Graaff-Reinet = 200 km
Graff-Reinet - Addo N.P. - Port Elizabeth = 270 km
Port Elizabeth - Mossel Bay = 300 km
Mossel Bay - Swellendam - Hermanus = 370 km
Hermanus - Cape Town = 110
Cape Town - Peninsula (Cape Point) = 60 km
Cape Peninsula: - Cape Town = 60 km

Travel routes in Southern Africa for different seasons

Depending on the season, different travel routes are favourable for travelling within South Africa. We have put some very interesting itineraries together for you. The time required for each of them amounts to three or four weeks. If you don't have that much time, it is recommended to choose a part of an itinerary, instead of "doing" the country in a rush.

Find detailed information on the different sections of the routes and accommodation along the routes in the Travel Routes Menu