FRATPACKER WORLD.

5 ROAD TRIP DESTINATIONS FOR THE SUMMER

Throughout the year I have been able to witness the beauty of seeing friends and family go and travel across the globe. Experiencing new countries, customs, cultures, cites and people. Gaining new knowledge, insights, and changed perceptions of what is happening in the world and how it works. I love to see it, I really do but when people ask me if I want to travel abroad and when I’m being honest with myself only a little part of me those because I do feel a strong sense of wanting to know South Africa better.

When I say, “know home better”, I mean as in knowing all the problems and issues better and finding solutions to help fix and rebuild it, but this is not what this article is about. In this case I am talking about just exploring South Africa and getting to know it better. There are so many natural wonders and beauty that we hold. So many diverse people, cultures, cities, and places that I have not seen. Yes, sure we all know the hot spots like Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Garden Route, Drakensberg and more but what about the unspoken, unpopular, and unknown spots and locations that deserve the same love and attention.

There is no reason we should not be discovering new travel and holiday destinations in South Africa. I watch movies and you always see these road trips and adventures people take when in The United States or Europe and I want the same for us as South Africa and Africa as a whole and so for the summer, I want to spotlight 5 road trip destinations you can enjoy in this beautiful country of ours called South Africa so hop in loser, we’re going on a road trip.

5. TSITSIKAMA

We all know or heard of the Garden Route and people talking about the vineyards and the drive, but I do not feel like Tsitsikama gets mentioned enough which is one of the stops on the garden route. Tsitsikama is a beautiful holiday destination, in the Eastern Cape, filled with activities, aesthetics, and adventure. It is one of Africa’s oldest marine reserves, the Bloukrans bridge is the highest commercial bungee bridge in the world at 216m, a suspension walkway bridge and a hike trail that takes 5 days. If you love nature and an adrenaline junkie, then this is the spot for you.

4. NAMAQUALAND

If you love whimsy and ever picture yourself dancing in a field of flowers, then Namaqualand is the destination for you. An arid region found between Cape Town and Namibia birder it holds a vast space of varied colour flowers that start to take bloom in August and come to dull bloom in September. It is a national park so you will be able to go there and get yourself a tour guid who can help you navigate through the fields and give you all the extra information you need on know more of South Africa’s indigenous flowers and plants.

3. DRAKENSBERG (SANI PASS)

I do not believe that you can talk about magical destinations and holiday road trips in South Africa and not mention the Drakensberg but instead of the normal lodge and safari I’m looking at the more extreme side of the Drakensberg, which is the Sani Pass. The Sani Pass is a route that needs to be travelled with by 4×4 because you tackle and take on the challenge of climbing to an altitude of 2876m where the weather is terrifying, the conditions treacherous but comes with some beautiful and dramatic scenery. It is extreme and risky but rewarding as well when you get to see Tugela Falls [highest waterfall in Africa] and marvel in its majestic nature. You are also able to ski (yes, ski. Crazy. I know right) due to how high the mountain is and the high altitude bringing in the snow. You can even camp on the summit if you really about that life. The Drakensberg is more than just boys’ choir and lodges.

2. ELEPHANT COAST

To all the animal and sea lovers out there, this one is for you. The Elephant Coast is in KwaZulu-Natal, which goes from St. Lucia Bay all the way to Kosi Bay which is close to the Mozambique border. The thing that makes this such a beautiful destination is that you get both scenery of land and sea. This includes the animals as well because on the coast you can see elephants, rhinos, giraffes, whales, turtles, and the hybrid of both land and water the hippopotamus. The route also contains a world heritage site in Sodwana Bay which is a wetland that stretches out to about 150km, that contains a variety of sea life. Sodwana Bay comes with activities such as scuba diving, turtle tours, boat tours and more. The coast still gives you a game reserve option where you can explore the safari lands of KwaZulu-Natal.

1. BLYDE RIVER CANYON

The third largest canyon in the world behind the Grand Canyon [United States of America] and Fish River Canyon [Namibia], the Blyde River Canyon stretches for 26km and found in Mpumalanga. The difference with the Blyde River Canyon is that it has a heavily subtropical foliage and makes it the world’s largest “green” canyon. This alone should show you how special of a destination the canyon is and there is more. The canyon runs 800m deep so you can imagine the views you will be able to see would be stunning, feeling like you getting a view right from God’s Window yourself and this is no exaggeration. There is a point on the canyon called God’s Window that outlooks over the whole canyon and what feels like the world. I remember going there as a kid with my family and it is a memory that keeps me awake at night and one I have been wanting to see again. It was so magnificent that back in 2005 it had made the shortlist for making up the new Seven Wonders of the World. The canyon also has a deep dam that you can take boat rides and a swim in but if the water is not your strength, then go ziplining, bungee jumping or on a game reserve safari drive. This destination makes you believe in something greater and bigger than just us as humans but something that can paint and create pictures, views and scenery that only our souls can appreciate.

South Africa is full of diversity from its people, culture, food, art, music, fashion, languages and same with all the different natural landmarks and beauties we have so don’t do yourself the disservice of thinking you’ve been everywhere and done everything there is to do in this wonderful country of our because I know there are still amazing spots to discover in small towns where you might find the best biltong or magwinya. Small wildlands, where one can discover hidden waterfalls as well as lands and secrets that were known only by our ancestors. I hope this inspires you to go and search and discover more about this country we call home aka South Africa.