South Africa road trip: From a safari to the Garden Route

Sunglasses, bags, camera, a yearning to explore – you've got everything you need, and you're heading to the airport! As your plane rolls down the runway, you get more and more hyped about what lies ahead. You lean back, snuggle up in your seat and start dreaming of all the adventures that await you in the African wilderness. One thing's for sure: this is gonna be the trip of a lifetime!

Three, two, one, landed! Finally, your feet are on South African soil – thousands of miles away from home. Crazy, right?

The doors of your hire car unlock with a gentle click, and now you're ready to go. Adventure's calling! You're obviously hungry for your next adventure, but if you're literally hungry, too, head to Nelson Mandela Square and tuck into a hearty South African dinner between rooftop restaurants and the huge Mandela statue. And if it's the weekend, Neighbourgoods Market in Braamfontein is the place to be! Live music and chill locals – here, it's all about pure 'Jozi' vibes. Afterwards, roll over to Maboneng for a top-notch urban adventure, complete with colourful street art, cool concept stores and hidden jazz clubs. Then for the finale, nab a stool in a rooftop bar and raise a glass to Joburg! 

The open road is calling – and you're answering! You wave goodbye to the city lights for now because you're off into the wild. South Africa's nature simply pulls out all the stops. So, you grab your hire car and step on the accelerator! The drive may be long, but with these views, who cares! Viewpoints keep popping up that you can't possibly ignore, and you can't help but make a quick stop for the perfect Insta pic. And just before your destination, another real showstopper awaits: the Blyde River Canyon! You have to make a small detour to get there, but it's 100% worth it; the panoramic view is simply insane!

Back in the hire car, your excitement about the next adventure grows ever greater. Then finally, you reach your accommodation right next to Kruger National Park. The plan? Relax by the pool, because tomorrow's gonna be wild – in the best sense of the word!

As you drink your coffee on the veranda, looking out across the picturesque gardens, you write the names of the Big Five on a piece of paper. Today's the day you check them off one by one! You take your hire car through the mighty Kruger National Park, which is right next to where you're staying, and embark on a self-drive safari (optional, payable on site). After just a few miles, you hit the brakes. Dark, gentle eyes appear between the leaves, a huge foot steps onto the road and suddenly, you realise what's happening. Right in front of you, an elephant emerges from the thicket! After it passes, you make a brief stop to watch a feeding giraffe hiding behind the next tree, then you reach the first watering hole. A herd of zebras has gathered, and they're having a drink at the shore while two antelopes check for lurking dangers and even more elephants come out for some refreshment. You could watch this all day long!