Good evening to all.

I Will be travelling to The Western Cape shortly and am looking for the best route. at present we are on the Natal South Coast. I will be towing a caravan with my wife driving behind in her vehicle. I have heard to many conflicting stories as to the best and safest route, We have never done this trip before and must admit that im feeling a bit apprehensive due to the distance and the Transkei issue. Is there perhaps someone who has done this trip lately and who has a route plan they could share with me. We are pensioners and as said earlier we have never done this trip before so have no idea where to stop over etc,etc,etc.

Any pointers and information would be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks

Steve

0827098071

On the Transkei part, it is best to travel on a Sunday on the N2, it is dead quite and very good road conditions .It will be your longest stretch between caravan parks. Yellow sands in East London is the ideal overnight stop and after East London, there are many caravan parks further on the route . 

How many Km`s are you prepared to travel per day.

Coastal route , inland route.

Hi there Andrew.  I am looking at about 500 km per day.....head up to Langebaan so the shortest route would be beneficial.....but sticking to main roads as far as possible....if i push through from South Coast up to Kokstad is 300 and something kms but through the transkei would be about 6 hrs......so looks like first stop would be Kokstad...then following morning through the transkei to where ever....i really have no idea yet.....but been advised to stick to N2

Kokstad to Areena river resort is 395Km just not sure of the conditions between the N2 and the resort ,good resort on the river .

Areena to storms river 506Km right on the beach only issue is the road is steep but excelent tar.

Storms river to Montague Guano caves 421Km

Montague Guano Caves to Langebaan 268Km

I have stayed at all these sites and they are all good but as I say I am not sure of the N2/ Areena road conditions.

H there Andrew.

Thankyou so very much for that information,,,,reallly appreciated. I will plot this on Google maps shortly to see the route.

Many Thanks 

Steve Wise

Steve, check you Google route. If it recommends Gouda to Moorreesburg, that is gravel. The next shortest is continue passed Gouda, at Hermon turn right towards Malmesbury. You cangovia Malmesbury or slightly shorter passed my house in Riebeek West to Moorreesburg then onto Langebaan.

Hi Steve. If you want to avoid travelling through the Transkei, which I would suggest especially Mthatha, go from Kokstad to Matatiële to Elliot, to Lady Frere, to Queenstown, Cradock, Graaf Reinet and on to the N1 at Beaufort West. It’s a bit of a detour but I think worth it especially travelling with two vehicles; you don’t want to lose each other in Mthatha.

I agree with Viper trying to avoid the Transkei and going to Beaufort West is the best option ( be careful of the latest trick with caravans is to pull up the caravans hanbrake when you stop somewhere and then rob you when you stop further down the road  when you investigate )  but it is going to be a hell run from Beaufort West to Cape Town with a caravan on the N1 with all the trucks , even without a van or trailer you will sometimes sit behind a convoy of trucks for long streches without being able to overtake.

Thank you for all that info I really appreciate your input......I do think I will look at going Via Matat Elliot etc. the petrol usage is going to be very high anyway but would rather take a safer way around especially with a van behind me.

Thank you so much.

Steve Wise wrote:

Thank you for all that info I really appreciate your input......I do think I will look at going Via Matat Elliot etc. the petrol usage is going to be very high anyway but would rather take a safer way around especially with a van behind me.

Thank you so much.

Travel safe I used that route (2015) to Elliot, overnighted there, but then went down to East London. Be wary of animals on the road as well as the speed limit, cops are waiting to extract bribes on that route around Matatiele (as I found out). Some areas the limit is down to 60kph make sure you stick to it.