Driving in South Africa 2024 - or a driver??

[RooFlyer]

What do people think about driving in South Africa these days? I'm looking to drive this, daytime of course. My planned air charter may not operate.



I have driven in RSA quite a bit, but not for 20 years!! I recall the warnings about leaving a car distance between the car in front & you at traffic lights - 'robots' - in case of attack etc etc. I had someone smash the side window and take the car radio (!!) in Cape Town. But I did drive OK through Soweto

The route is multi-lane highway/freeway out of Jo'burg and Pretoria & for half the distance and its sealed all the way.

What do people think about driving there?

OR do people know of a good driver there? The commercial 'shuttles' are still very expensive. Uber quotes me a price, which wouldn't be bad to have someone else drive.

 

[justinbrett]

I did some driving just over a year ago. Outside of cities it’s fine. Driving in cities during powershedding can be a bit intimidating so I personally wouldn’t stay in a city with a car, just pick it up the day you leave (which is what I did). I drove to a lodge in the NE so a similar trip just the other direction, it was fine. Except on the way back I parked in Pretoria and the cops wanted to search me and my car.

I definitely wouldn’t get an Uber for that distance.

 

[papeto]

What do people think about driving in South Africa these days? I'm looking to drive this, daytime of course. My planned air charter may not operate.

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I have driven in RSA quite a bit, but not for 20 years!! I recall the warnings about leaving a car distance between the car in front & you at traffic lights - 'robots' - in case of attack etc etc. I had someone smash the side window and take the car radio (!!) in Cape Town. But I did drive OK through Soweto

The route is multi-lane highway/freeway out of Jo'burg and Pretoria & for half the distance and its sealed all the way.

What do people think about driving there?

OR do people know of a good driver there? The commercial 'shuttles' are still very expensive. Uber quotes me a price, which wouldn't be bad to have someone else drive.

I did the drive in 2019. If you stay on the highways its pretty good. You can also check with the lodge if they have a shuttle pick up service ( i recall some lodges do that from JNB airport)

 

[LDN via BNE]

On our last trip in May 2023 we had a hire car for 3 weeks and didn't have any issues. The road quality is generally reasonable, as is the standard of driving (especially in comparison to neighbouring countries).

By taking all the usual precautions, the overwhelming majority of visitors don't have any issues. 'Alert but not alarmed' is our mantra for driving in SA; we're returning for a week in October, and cannot wait.

If you need any recommendations, we've found Aroundaboutcars to have the best pricing for rental cars, and Nhlalala Travel are an excellent and affordable option for any needs in and around Joburg (transfers, tours etc.).

(Would concur with the advice not to get an Uber that far - in our experience in SA, the quality of cars and drivers varies far more than in Australia).

 

[SYD]

I’ve driven JNB - Kruger twice without issue. Once we stopped in Pretoria on the way back thinking it was a convenient short hop to JNB the next day to drop off the car and fly home - seemed like a good idea at the time but I wouldn’t do that bit again.

CPT also has some reputational issues. First time to Franschhoek we flew in around sunset with ~1hr to drive. The upside was waking up to see the magical setting for the first time. The second time Avis upgraded me to a nice Snow White coloured Merc which fitted in quite well, but not so much when I took a wrong turn into a township at False Bay. Some very strange looks before a course correction to Simonstown.

 

[RooFlyer]

we've found Aroundaboutcars to have the best pricing for rental cars,

Thanks for that. yes, pricing looks good (?too good); I've just sent a query about insurances, which is a bit vague on their web site.

I drove to a lodge in the NE so a similar trip just the other direction, it was fine.

Thanks. Who did you hire from? OK on dirt roads/game parks (access)?

 

[justinbrett]

Thanks for that. yes, pricing looks good (?too good); I've just sent a query about insurances, which is a bit vague on their web site.



Thanks. Who did you hire from? OK on dirt roads/game parks (access)?

Avis at Sandton. Yeah it was fine on the dirt roads, I was actually attending a wedding and most people had sedans, I think it’s a pretty normal thing in RSA. Check with your lodge to confirm suitability.

Just don’t hit the buffalo on your way in.

 

[SYD]

Avis at Sandton. Yeah it was fine on the dirt roads, I was actually attending a wedding and most people had sedans, I think it’s a pretty normal thing in RSA. Check with your lodge to confirm suitability.

Just don’t hit the buffalo on your way in.

Most of the public access roads - even in the parks - are sealed or reasonable quality from the sealed road into the lodges.

But my last greater Kruger lodge the access road was borderline 4x4 territory! I must have known that because I’d specifically booked a SUV type car but it was a buzzbox toy SUV with dinner plate tyres but still
got us in and out…

 

[justinbrett]

Most of the public access roads - even in the parks - are sealed or reasonable quality from the sealed road into the lodges.

But my last greater Kruger lodge the access road was borderline 4x4 territory! I must have known that because I’d specifically booked a SUV type car but it was a buzzbox toy SUV with dinner plate tyres but still
got us in and out…

The lodge I stayed at wasn’t sealed, nor was the access road about 10Km from the gate (that served multiple lodges).

However it was very compressed dirt, and although extremely bumpy, was fine in a sedan if you went slow. I had a Camry or something.

 

[LDN via BNE]

Thanks for that. yes, pricing looks good (?too good); I've just sent a query about insurances, which is a bit vague on their web site.

We've used them 3 times without issue - twice they gave us vouchers for Europcar and once for Tempest (both were fine).

For insurance we used our own car hire excess policy (we hire cars frequently).

 

[RooFlyer]

We've used them 3 times without issue - twice they gave us vouchers for Europcar and once for Tempest (both were fine).

What do you mean here? I might arrive and they say 'here's a voucher, you need to go over to Thrifty, over there' ?

I now read

We have our own fleet of cars and furthermore have access to over 10 000 cars through our trusted affiliated companies, which have been tested by us for more than a decade and continue to be on par with the highest quality. We do not accept mediocre service. It is all or nothing.

So it does sound like I might get someone else's car. I'm not sure I'd like that, your experience notwithstanding.

 

[LDN via BNE]

What do you mean here? I might arrive and they say 'here's a voucher, you need to go over to Thrifty, over there' ?

I now read



So it does sound like I might get someone else's car. I'm not sure I'd like that, your experience notwithstanding.

They are an agent.

When you book, they will confirm your booking with a voucher which will clearly state which rental car company is the provider (and this doesn't change).

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks all who made suggestions/comments. To summarise my experience

* RoundaboutCars : Excellent responsiveness via e-mail and well priced but didn't want to have insurance via Roundabout for a third party rental company. Can see all sorts of hassles and possible costs if there was an accident, although I'm sure they are genuine in what they say.

* AVIS cars: Travel Agent got me a good rate. Terrible experience trying to get info on insurances, in particular what my excess would be if I took out the Loss Damage Waiver (so I could make sure my Travel Insurance would cover it) and how the windscreen/tyre insurance worked. Three calls to Avis call centre - couldn't tell me. E-mails to Avis reservations Sth Africa - took 4 tries, just asking the simple question, for car class X, with my profile (I'm Avis Preferred), what would the excess be? So even after I got the answer, there is no way I'm going to trust them.

* Looked at car provided by my lodge - too expensive.

* I also looked at the lodge lay-out via Google and the parking area is open, away from the buildings. Not very secure to leave car for 3 nights after I arrive.

Conclusion:

* TA is booking a driver & return trip via DayTrip About Daytrip . TA has used them before and seem to be good. Not the cheapest option, but being driven, with pick-up and drop off from accommodation and not having the other hassles with hire cars, suits me.

 

[justinbrett]

Thanks all who made suggestions/comments. To summarise my experience

* RoundaboutCars : Excellent responsiveness via e-mail and well priced but didn't want to have insurance via Roundabout for a third party rental company. Can see all sorts of hassles and possible costs if there was an accident, although I'm sure they are genuine in what they say.

* AVIS cars: Travel Agent got me a good rate. Terrible experience trying to get info on insurances, in particular what my excess would be if I took out the Loss Damage Waiver (so I could make sure my Travel Insurance would cover it) and how the windscreen/tyre insurance worked. Three calls to Avis call centre - couldn't tell me. E-mails to Avis reservations Sth Africa - took 4 tries, just asking the simple question, for car class X, with my profile (I'm Avis Preferred), what would the excess be? So even after I got the answer, there is no way I'm going to trust them.

* Looked at car provided by my lodge - too expensive.

* I also looked at the lodge lay-out via Google and the parking area is open, away from the buildings. Not very secure to leave car for 3 nights after I arrive.

Conclusion:

* TA is booking a driver & return trip via DayTrip About Daytrip . TA has used them before and seem to be good. Not the cheapest option, but being driven, with pick-up and drop off from accommodation and not having the other hassles with hire cars, suits me.

You should have asked.

For Avis;
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) is Mandatory (included in the rates). \nCustomer is liable to an amount ranging from ZAR 16,700.00 to ZAR 66,000.00 depending on car group rented.\nNote: No coverage is available for loss or damage from civil unrest, or due to any breach of terms and conditions stated on rental agreement. A fee of ZAR 415.00 will be charged, over and above the damage repair cost or applicable excess, as an accident handling administration fee. In the event of a traffic fine, a fee of ZAR 325.00 will be charged, over and above the traffic fine.

Theft Protection (TP) is Mandatory (included in the rates). \nCustomer is liable to an amount ranging from ZAR 16,700.00 to ZAR 66,000.00 depending on car group rented.

Windscreen Tire Damage Waiver (WTDW) is optionalThis product is available at the point of rentalcheck-out. This cover includes all the glass and tyres including hubcaps, metal rims and alloy mags on the vehicle. Car groups A,B,C,D,E,P ZAR 77.25 per day (incl tax), Car groups F - O ZAR 87.25 per day (incl tax). Loss of tyres, rims or hubcaps are not covered under WTTDW but will fall under Theft Loss Waiver. No liability charges apply when WTTDW is taken. In addition, in the event of Third Party Damage, the customer's liability will be zero. However, if this is declined the maximum liability amount for tyres and glass will be ZAR 15000.00 and for Third Party Damage is ZAR 15000.00.

Taken from my confirmation email once I booked it.

 

[UP4014]

Hiring a car works depending on how well you know the place and what your prepared to do with a car, last time I was there (just pre covid) was in an attempted car jacking driving from the airport.

 

[RooFlyer]

Hiring a car works depending on how well you know the place and what your prepared to do with a car, last time I was there (just pre covid) was in an attempted car jacking driving from the airport.

Yes, one of the issues I considered, real or imagined, was driving out on a isolated road out to the game park and being flagged down by “police“. What do you do? I’m counting on my local driver knowing difference between the real and the fake ones.