Route 62 by car

The Road Trip has become a holiday experience in itself, thanks to movies like Thelma and Louise, Rainman and California.

The first thing to do when planning a road trip vacation is to hire the best vehicle for the experience. A genuine road trip requires more than your basic sedan, although at a push you can get by on a basic budget car if you’re counting the pennies.

If you have the means, and you want to do the trip properly, consider hiring a 4x4. You can take advantage of the country’s many off-road tracks along the way for added adventure, and the modern 4x4’s are roomy, air-conditioned and offer comfort plus ruggedness – the perfect combo for your road trip holiday.

Everyone knows about Route 66, America’s most famous road trip route. But if you’re visiting South Africa, or if you’re a local taking leave and feel the urge to take to the open road, what’s the best route to take?

A road trip requires more than a long stretch of tar linking cities. It needs to be off the main thoroughfare, taking in little towns and villages far out of the big cities and offer things to do and see that you wouldn’t get on a simple A to B trip.

Route 62, which begins in the Western Cape, offers the ideal answer to the States’ Route 66.

The road meanders between Cape Town, Oudsthoorn and the Garden Route, ending in Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape.

You can expect to travel from lush Winelands, orchards and groves to dusty Karoo landscapes, over mountain passes and through river valleys. Trees and fynbos, cliffs and streams, verdant greens to arid browns and beiges – you’ll see a world of climate and geography along this one incredible road.

There are many accommodation options on Route 62 – from luxury hotels out in the countryside to transformed labourers’ cottages that now offer quaint self-catering accommodations. You can ‘rough it’ and camp out or indulge in a little luxury at a charming B&B complete with king-sized breakfast to get you back on the road.

Along the way you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to activities.

We’ve already mentioned off-road tracks for 4x4s, and there are also quad and mountain bike routes to enjoy. A fine example of a 4x4 course is the Matroosberg Trail in Ceres, high up in the mountains with fantastic views.

You can learn fascinating facts about the Bushmen who originally lived in the region by going on the Interpretation Botanical Trail in De Rust. While in the area, you can fish, swim, and sail on the Stompdrift Dam Water Resort.

You can pick cherries, apples and pears in season at the Klondyke Cherry Farm 30km out of Ceres, and enjoy a picnic under the pines afterwards.

Of course you’ll want to see the ostriches at Oudtshoorn. These amazing birds are interesting to learn about and observe. Children especially enjoy this experience.

Other activities and attractions along the way include hot-air ballooning, Bushmen cave painting viewing, hiking and kloofing, river rafting, horesriding, golf and of course wine tours.

Eating en route is something you’ll do plenty of – all that fresh air and action will give you a serious appetite. From road-side farm stalls to classy bistros to delis stuffed with local delights such as fig preserve and olive tapenade, you’ll find plenty to tempt the taste buds.

So all that’s left to do is to hire that 4x4, grab your favourite road-trip CDs, sling your togs into a bag and hit the road.

The Great South African Road Trip is about to begin!