National routes in South Africa are a class of trunk roads and freeways which connect major cities. They form the highest category in the South African route numbering scheme, and are designated with route numbers beginning with "N", from N1 to N18. Most segments of the national route network are officially proclaimed National Roads that are maintained by the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL), but some segments are maintained by provincial or local road authorities.[1]
Map South African Roads
The system was mostly built during the 1970s by the National Party government of South Africa, although construction of new roads and repairs of existing stretches continue today. The system was modeled on the United States Interstate Highway network, an idea first brought into effect by US President Dwight D. Eisenhower during the 1950s, based on the German Autobahn, which he experienced when touring Germany after the Second World War.
SouthAfrica is a nation that lies in Africa and it issituated on the southern tip of this continent. Thecoast of this country is about 2,798 kilometers in sizeand it is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and theAtlantic Ocean. The countries lying on the north ofSouth Africa are Zimbabwe, Namibia and Botswana; and ithas Swaziland and Mozambique on its east. The climate inSouth Africa is temperate in nature because the countryis surrounded by two oceans on three sides. There areeleven official languages in the country and English isone if it's official language. English is also thecommonly spoken language in the country. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle []).push();
The map below shows the network of national roads which connect the 9 provinces of South Africa, including the N1 which connects Cape Town and Johannesburg via Bloemfontein, the N2 which connects Cape Town and Johannesburg via the coastal towns of Port Elizabeth and Durban, the N7 which connects Cape Town and Namibia via Springbok, the N12 which connects Johannesburg and the Garden Route and many more.
South Africa arguably has a habitual speeding problem on the roads," said Lee Annamalai, Chief Technology Officer of GeoInt Africa, a location and geospatial intelligence company focused on improving road safety through software.
In South Africa, as in many other countries, it's mandatory to have a single-point" speed limiter in heavy vehicles, which is normally fitted by the OEM. But these speed limits are usually set quite high, so there's still the capacity to exceed the speed limit, especially on lower-speed roads.
We returned to Hazyview for lunch. After that, we picked up our car and drove to Kruger NP ourselves. Kruger is quite easy to explore individually, but you have to stay on the main roads and make sure to not leave your car at any time.
Hello. We did this particular trip in the first half of July, so about the same time when you're planning to travel. While it may not be ideal for Cape Town/ Garden Route, it's a great time for watching animals in Kruger National Park. And you really never know how the weather will be anyway.In Kruger, we had great weather. Cold nights and warm days. Usually needed a sweater or a long-sleeve shirt during the day. The same in all the other areas in the North, apart from Durban where we had t-shirt weather. It was freezing in the mountains (Drakensberg) at night, but the days were nice.In Knysna/ Garden Route we had nice sunny weather and temperatures of about 15-18C if I recall well. We usually wore a light sweater there. In Cape Town, we had lots of wind and some rain too, and really needed warm jackets and sweaters. I even bought a warm fleece hat. The only thing we couldn't do at that time was going to the top of Table Mountain because the gondola was closed due to high winds, but for the rest, the weather really wasn't an issue.If you want to be 100% sure that you get good weather, then this is not the best time for the south coast. We once traveled there in November and that was a great time with lots of sunshine and warmth (but lots of wind too). I, personally, would do this exact same trip at any time of the year without hesitation. You can never foresee how the weather is, so pack clothes for any weather (layers are best) and make the best of what you get!Hope this helps.
Hi! I went to South Africa (the southern part only) in 2015, I loved it! I'm thinking to return around easter of 2022 (for better temperatures than July). Have you visited Johannesburg, Pretoria or Soweto? I wonder if they are as dangerous as some people say. In my first trip in South Africa I was not scared once. We did not leave or hotel in Cape Town after dark tho. Thanks!
Hi Zahir, sorry for the late reply - crazy busy.We never rented a 4x4 in South Africa. Since we travel with kids and have quite a few bags, we usually take an SUV. You also sit higher and see more. So it's not that much for the roads, but for more space and comfort.A regular car is perfectly ok for this itinerary as well.
The map covers South Africa, Lesotho, eSwatini, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia in full. It also includes the majority of Mozambique up to Nampula. A small section of southern Angola up to Lubango is included and the southern part of Zambia is covered up to Kabwe. The southern tip of Malawi up to where the lake starts is also included.
Printed in full colour, all major and secondary roads are shown with national parks, towns, country borders, international airports and major tourist attractions are clearly visible. Includes a good number of tracks in remote areas.
The Tracks4Africa Southern Africa Wall Map is printed to a scale of 1:2,5million and provides a surprising amount of detail to the self-drive traveller. The map is perfect for macro planning of road trips across Southern Africa up to Southern Angola. The map indicates major and secondary roads, parks, towns and a good number of tracks in remote areas. International airports and land borders are indicated together with major tourist attractions.
A small section of southern Angola up to Lubango is included, South Africa, Lesotho, eSwatini, Botswana and Namibia in full, Southern part of Zambia is covered up to Kabwe, Southern tip of Malawi up to where the lake starts is also included, The majority of Mozambique up to Nampula
After a relaxing breakfast, hit the road for the four-hour drive east on the famous Route 62 towards Oudtshoorn. Modeled after America's Route 66, Route 62 brings its own unique South African flair and distinct local character. More than just dive bars, farms stalls, or small country towns, Route 62 is full of surprises. One of the highway's legendary attractions is Ronnie's Sex Shop, a roadside bar, and restaurant. Legend has it that in the 1970s, local farmer Ronald Price set about opening a roadside produce sign, complete with a proudly handpainted sign. Mischevious friends took it upon themselves to amend the sign, ultimately convincing Ronnie to scrap the farm stand idea and open a bar for highway travelers. Forty years later the bar's quirkiness doesn't end with the sign. Inside, the entire room is decorated with traveler's graffiti, donated neckties and bras, and a random assortment of other oddities. As well as a restaurant, Ronnie's offers overnight accommodation, a pool with landscape views, and good old-fashioned respite from the dusty road. Other notable attractions along the way include the Ladismith Cheese Factory and the Barrydale Heritage Garden. Arrive in the late afternoon, then enjoy a relaxing evening.
Incidents of vehicle hijacking and robbery are common, particularly after dark. Keep to main roads and park in well-lit areas. Vulnerable areas include, but are not limited to: traffic lights, junctions, petrol stations and when approaching or pulling out from driveways. Always take care and be aware of your surroundings.
The standard of driving in South Africa varies. Road accidents resulting in death are common, particularly around major public holidays. On highways, overtaking or undertaking can occur in any lane including the hard shoulder. On single-lane roads the hard shoulder is also sometimes used by trucks and slower vehicles to allow faster vehicles to overtake. At most intersections, including 4-way stops and where traffic lights are out of service, the first vehicle to arrive generally has priority. On larger roundabouts, you should give way to the right, although this rule is often ignored. Small roundabouts (called circles) are treated the same as a 4-way stop.
Road standards are mostly very good, but some roads in remote areas are less well maintained and may have potholes. If you are travelling to a lodge in a remote area, you should check the condition of the roads with the lodge management as a car with good ground clearance may be required. Drive cautiously, obey speed limits and avoid unfamiliar rural areas at night. You can learn more about road safety awareness by visiting the Arrive Alive website.
Designed and built to the highest international standards, the road infrastructure in South Africacomprises freeways, highways, national and provincial main roads which measure up with the best inthe world. With the corresponding high safety factor, you can be sure of a smooth and enjoyableride.
Apart from the odd exception, there are no official roads in South Africa which would necessitate a4 wheel drive vehicle. Even the dirt and gravel roads in the off the beaten track rural areas andself-drive national parks, are in a sufficiently good condition for the average 2 wheel drivevehicle to cope adequately. 2ff7e9595c