CountriesSouth Africa

South Africa

South Africa combines coastal cliff roads, high mountain passes, semi-arid Karoo routes and long, open roads across the interior. The Western Cape and Drakensberg are especially rich in scenic driving, while the Garden Route, Great Escarpment and Mpumalanga highlands add forested, canyon and plateau landscapes.

Driving Roads in South Africa

Explore scenic and exciting driving roads across South Africa.

Bainskloof Pass (R301)

Du Toitskloof Pass (R101)

South Africa

33 /100

52 kmZA

Franschhoek Pass (R45)

Panorama Route (R532)

Driving in South Africa

Driving roads in South Africa range from engineered coastal routes near Cape Town to steep mountain passes, gravel crossings and long-distance highways through sparsely populated country. The Western Cape has the greatest concentration of notable passes, including Chapman's Peak Drive, the historic Swartberg Pass and routes through the Cape Fold Mountains, with Route 62 connecting wine-growing valleys and the Little Karoo. Farther east, the Garden Route follows a greener coastal corridor between mountains and the Indian Ocean. KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape provide access to the Drakensberg and high-altitude approaches toward Lesotho, including Sani Pass, while Mpumalanga's Panorama Route explores the Great Escarpment around deep valleys and dramatic viewpoints. Surfaces and road standards vary considerably: major scenic routes are paved, but some mountain and rural roads remain gravel or can be affected by weather, maintenance and temporary access restrictions.

Season & conditions

Most major roads are usable year-round, but weather can temporarily close mountain passes and rural routes. Winter cold fronts can bring snow and ice to high ground in the Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Drakensberg, while heavy winter rain can cause flooding, landslides and road damage in the Western Cape. Conditions can change quickly: individual passes may remain closed for repairs after major storms, so current provincial road notices and weather warnings should be checked before mountain drives.

Tolls & access

South Africa does not use a nationwide motorway vignette. Tolls apply on selected national-road sections, including parts of the N1, N2, N3 and N4, generally through conventional toll plazas or compatible electronic payment systems. Gauteng's former freeway e-toll scheme ceased charging motorists in April 2024. Some individual scenic roads have separate charges; Chapman's Peak Drive near Cape Town, for example, operates as a tolled road. Payment methods and vehicle classifications vary, so check the relevant operator before travelling.