THE GREAT SOUTHERN AFRICA OVERLAND ROUTE

- 2025-03-20

Southern Africa has long been the top of most overlanders bucket-list destinations. Due to its location (and political unrest in other parts of Africa), it’s often best to ship your vehicle there instead of driving through Sudan or West Africa. The Cape Town and Durban ports are the two most popular options. Before starting your once-in-a-lifetime Southern Africa expedition, we recommend a short shake-down trip to ensure everything works. If you ship to Durban, why not first head to the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho? Every inch of this country lies over 1,000 meters above sea level, and some of the remote tracks there will provide you and your vehicle with a stern test. The friendly Basotho people, stunning mountain landscapes, and remote wild camping opportunities make this a unique 4x4 location. Throw summer rains or winter snow into the mix, and you’ll have an African adventure. If you’ve shipped to Cape Town, head to the rocky tracks found in the Cederberg Mountains or take on the endless gravel tracks of the Tankwa Karoo. These three unique locations will tell you if you have the right tires, gear, suspension, and vehicle set-up for your Southern African adventure. If there are any issues, you can sort them out in Cape Town (or Durban), as they have the workshops, parts, and expertise.

Starting in Cape Town, you’ll first want to spend at least a week or two visiting the wine farms, climbing Table Mountain, or relaxing on one of the world-class beaches. While most mainstream tourists head along the famous Garden Route, we suggest you take the road less traveled up the West Coast instead. Drive through the West Coast National Park and visit the popular towns of Langebaan and Paternoster, where you must sample some of the local seafood. As you head north, you have two great options: the remote coastal 4x4 track that goes through the Namaqua National Park towards Namibia, where you can camp next to the cold Atlantic Ocean. The second option is a detour to the Cederberg Mountains, but not before stopping at one of the farm stalls and stocking up on the locally grown fruit and Rooibos Tea. These popular mountains are great for hikes, climbing, wild swimming, and connecting with nature.

© Justin D Kauffman

If you depart from Durban, we suggest that after visiting Lesotho, you head to the untouched Wild Coast, where it’ll feel like you’ve driven back in time. The rolling green hills are covered in cows and traditional huts; this is the finest example of rural Africa. From here, make your way towards Port Elizabeth, but stop at the Addo Elephant National Park so you can tick the wildlife box. The magical Garden Route to Cape Town awaits, but don’t be afraid to venture inland occasionally, as there are many great passes to enjoy, such as the Swartberg, Prince Albert, Baviaanskloof, and many more. Another significant detour is Route 62, with its many wineries, art galleries, and ostrich farms. Once you get to Cape Town, follow the route in the above paragraph. If you’re shipping out again from South Africa and plan on doing a circular route through the country, then you might want to head to the Kruger National Park in the northeast of the country; this park is roughly the same size as Wales, so you are guaranteed to see something new every day!

If entering one of Africa’s least populated countries at the Vioolsdrift border post, turn left and take the scenic track that hugs the Orange River, the longest river in South Africa, which also serves as the border with Namibia. If not staying on the banks of the river at Aussenkehr, then head for Ai-Ais, where a stop at the Fish River Canyon lookout is compulsory. One can also do a week-long hike through this spectacular canyon if you have the time, but only in the winter. Allow yourself a quick stop at Aus to see if the wild horses are about as you go to the ghost mining town found at Kolmanskop, a fine example of how nature can reclaim an abandoned settlement.

The dunes of Sossusvlei will be a trip highlight, so spend at least one sunrise or sunset there to maximize your photographic potential. The spectacular walk around the surreal Deadvlei at Sossusvlei is not to be missed. From here, head for the coast at Swakopmund or Walvis Bay, where there are many adventure activities, such as quad biking on the dunes or a boat trip to admire the abundant sea life. Don’t leave before trying some of the seafood, including the locally produced oysters. When driving up the Skeleton Coast, stop at Cape Cross, home to the biggest seal colony in the world. Get yourself another wildlife fix at the Etosha National Park, where in the dry months, you can park at one of the many waterholes and wait for the animals to come to you as they have a drink. Exit Namibia via the elongated Caprivi Strip, but don’t just stay on the main tar road, as there are many wilderness areas and community campsites to enjoy. Some, such as Mamili, are so remote that there is a good chance that you will be the only guest there. It certainly doesn’t get any wilder than that. Once you reach Katima Mulilo, it’s decision time; if you want to go to Zambia, then you need to turn left and head to the Sesheke border post; if Botswana is next up for you, then turn right and head for the Ngoma border post.

Upon entering Botswana, head straight for the frontier town of Kasane, where you can refuel and stock up. It’s also a great base from which to take sunset or sunrise boat trips along the Chobe River, where the abundant wildlife will undoubtedly entertain you. If Victoria Falls in Zambia or Zimbabwe is not on your itinerary, then definitely take a day trip there from one of the local tour operators, as this saves massively on fees to drive your vehicle across those borders. Botswana is all about the wildlife but be sure to book the national parks and campsites within them well in advance. The Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve are the most popular parks. The remote sandy and often water-logged tracks to drive through these parks will test your vehicle and driving skills. Now head to the Makgadikgadi Pans, a place so flat they say you can see the earth's curvature there! Camp under a baobab tree found at Kubu or Kokanje islands. About an hour before sunset, walk off onto the pan with your Expander Chair and sit. Life doesn’t get any better than watching the end of the day from the pans. While returning to one of the South African border posts, stop at Elephant Sands and the Khama Rhino Sanctuary, two special campsites. Depending on where you need to ship or leave your vehicle, here are a few suggested places in South Africa to visit before doing just that: Kruger National Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Pilansberg National Park, or the Addo Elephant Park.

If you started the trip in Cape Town and want to finish in Durban, here’s another route option. After finishing up in Kasane, Botswana, head for the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. After seeing the Falls, head to the Hwange or Mana Pools National Parks for another wildlife fix. Mana Pools is the only park in Southern Africa where you can take unguided walks! Mana is a very special park; it has all the animals without the commercialization and infrastructure found at other parks. Exit Zimbabwe via one of the eastern borders, but not before exploring the vast Eastern Highlands, where hiking and fishing are a must. Once in Mozambique, head for the coast before heading south. Mozambique is great for local seafood, scuba diving, or snorkeling. Also, the water is much warmer than on the west coast of Africa, so you can comfortably swim in it all year round.

While this route has many variations, we ‘ve described the most popular Cape Town to Victoria Falls route. You don’t have to follow it to the letter; it’s intended as a general guide and can be tweaked to suit your timings and needs. The most important thing is that you have the right gear, vehicle, and attitude because then you can go anywhere.