Cape Town to Durban [Road trip guide]
In this post, we’re going to explore the king of South African road trips! Cape Town to Durban.
This route passes through the best of what South Africa has to offer, and should be on every adventurer’s bucket list.
Whether you love the beach, the berg or the bush, there is something for everyone on this epic journey.
The route is roughly 1,700km long and if you were to drive it in one go, it would take around 21 hours to complete, but who wants to do that? So, we’ll check out some of our favourite sites, activities and places to stay along the way, plus we’ve left loads of links and resources throughout this post to help you plan your own Cape Town to Durban road trip.
Road trip highlights:
- See one of the 7 New Wonders of Nature – Table Mountain.
- Check out southern right whales from the cliffs of Hermanus.
- Detour to the southernmost tip of Africa.
- Explore beautiful beach coves along the Garden Route
- Explore mountain forests in search of the last of the Knysna elephants.
- Visit South Africa’s premier surfing destination in Jeffreys Bay.
- Stop in at one of the most famous farm stalls in South Africa.
- Search for buried treasure along the Jikeleza Route.
- Step back in time on the Wild Coast
- Visit the quaint towns and villages of the South Coast.
- Search out the Big Five in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
South Africa quick facts:
- Diverse Culture: South Africa is known as the Rainbow Nation due to its diverse population comprising various ethnic groups, languages, and cultures. It has 11 official languages, including Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, and English.
- Biodiversity: South Africa is one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries, boasting a rich variety of plant and animal species.
- Table Mountain: Dominating the skyline of Cape Town, Table Mountain is one of South Africa’s most famous landmarks. It is one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature and part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is obviously also a popular tourist destination offering breathtaking views of the city and the surrounding coastline.
- The Big Five: South Africa is famous for its safari opportunities and is one of the best places in Africa to spot the Big Five – lions, elephants, rhinos, buffaloes and giraffes.
Cape Town to Durban road trip map
Stop 1: Explore Cape Town


We start our road trip in the Mother City: Cape Town, which is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and home to the famous Table Mountain. There are literally thousands of things to do around the city from Muizenberg to Milnerton, but for us, our favourite stops are at the Cape Point Nature Reserve, the beaches around Kommetjie as well as the many hiking trails throughout the Table Mountain National Park.
If you’re going to do any outdoor activities, be sure to stick to designated trails and take careful note of the forecast. The weather is known to change very quickly around Cape Town so always be prepared for adverse conditions.
There are many other attractions around Cape Town like Robben Island, the V&A Waterfront, as well as some excellent wine estate. Another Cape Town classic is to enjoy some fish and chips at Kalk Bay harbour or visit some African Penguins at Boulders Beach. There really is something for everyone, so you won’t be stuck for things to do.
As Cape Town is a city, there aren’t too many camping options, but there are a number of excellent backpackers, B&Bs and hotels for you to choose from. Find accommodation in Cape Town
Recommended length of stay: 3-4 days should give you a good amount of time to check things out before it’s time to hit the road and head for Durban.
More things to do in Cape Town
Stop 2: The Garden Route


The Garden Route is one of the most beautiful stretches in South Africa with dozens of tannin-stained rivers, mountain forests and coastal vleis to explore.
There are too many attractions to list, but here are some some of our favourite stops.
For beach lovers, you’ll definitely want to check out Vic Bay near George, Gericke’s Point in Sedgefield, and Nature’s Valley at the mouth of the Grootrivier.
For hiking, we absolutely love the Diepwalle forest near Knysna, the Robberg Peninsula in Plettenberg Bay and the Storms River Mouth in the Tsitsikamma National Park. Each of these trail heads can be accessed by car with the trail ending back where you started, so they are excellent options for day and half-day hikes.
For wildlife enthusiasts, the animal parks around the Crags are worth a visit, and the Bloukrans Bridge Bungy will certainly satisfy the adrenaline junky in you.
There are also dozens of excellent accommodation options all along the Garden Route, from camping and backpacking to 5 Star Luxury Hotels. Find accommodation on the Garden Route.
Recommended length of stay: We recommend a minimum of 3-4 full days on the Garden Route to check out the towns, the beaches and explore all it’s nooks and crannies, but this is one of those stops where you should pack on the days if time permits.
Route suggestions: There are two routes out of Cape Town. The quickest and most direct route follows the N2 up Sir Lowry’s Pass of straight through the Overberg, while the second is a much prettier, and much slower way to go. Leave the N2 at Gordon’s Bay and follow the coastal road around the mountains stopping in at Betty’s Bay and Hermanus along the way. From here you can re-join the N2, or take another detour to the southernmost tip of Africa via Gansbaai. Once you’re done exploring, find your way back to the N2 and follow it all the way to the Garden Route.


More things to do on the Garden Route
Stop 3: The Sunshine Coast


Now that you’ve stretched your legs along the Garden Route, it’s time to get in some more beach time at South Africa’s premier surf destination Jeffreys Bay!
Not a surfer? Not a problem. This laid back coastal town has something for everyone, plus the nearby Cape St Francis is a beautiful place to enjoy an evening.
Jeffrey’s Bay is home to a number of surf factory shops, so it’s a great place to get in some retail therapy and it’s also, strangely enough, a great place for shell collectors. The rocky stretch along Supertubes collects all the shells that get deposited by the ocean, so an evening or early morning walk on the beach is always eventful.
Aside from this, there are some beautiful hiking trails around Cape St Francis, especially around the lighthouse, as well as activities like beach horse riding for something a little different.
Finding a place to stay in either Jeffrey’s Bay or Cape St Francis is pretty easy as there’s lots to choose from, and most places are pretty close to the beach. Find accommodation in Jeffrey’s Bay
Recommended length of stay: Spend at least 2 days in this area to check things out before it’s on to our next stop: The Jikeleza Route.
Route suggestions: From the Garden Route, it’s a short drive to Jeffrey’s Bay along the N2. Just keep your eyes open for the off ramp and there’s not much else to it. Just take care, as this stretch is notorious for speed traps, so pay attention to the changes in the speed limit.
More things to do in Jeffrey’ Bay
Stop 4: The Jikeleza Route


Just beyond East London is the Jikeleza Route: A stretch of pristine coastline dotted with tiny villages along the way.
While there’s not too much to see around the city, there’s a lot to do in the area just to the east so make sure you check out some coastal gems like Cintsa, Haga Haga, Morgan Bay and Kei Mouth.
The scenery around here is simply stunning with dune-frindged beaches, quiet coves and lazy rivers around every bend.
For outdoor enthusiasts there is lots of kayaking, mountainbiking, hiking and fishing, and early in the morning is a great time to watch the sunrise over the ocean. Be sure to spend at least one evening watching the sun go down from the cliffs at Morgan Bay!
There’s all kinds of accommodation in this area from camping to backpackers, B&Bs and even some holiday homes for rent. Find accommodation on the Jikeleza Route.
Recommended length of stay: 2-3 days around this area should give you a good feel for the place before we take on the next leg of the route.
Route suggestions: From Jeffrey’s Bay, find the N2 and follow it to Nanaga. Here you absolutely want to stop in at one of the most famous rest stops in South Africa: Nanaga Farm Stall. Grab a bunch of snacks and “padkos” and get stuck into one of their delicious pies while you decide whether you’ll stick with the N2 through Grahamstown (Makhanda), or follow the alternative coastal route past towns like Kenton-on-Sea and Port Alfred. Both roads ultimately converge at East London, beyond which you will find a number of roads that lead onto the coast. Pick one, and go check it out.
Stop 4: The Wild Coast


This next section of the route can seem quite underwhelming compared to the breath-taking coastal stretches we’ve gotten used to, so if you want to break things up a bit, then check out one of our favourite Wild Coast towns, Coffee Bay.
A day or two chilling on the beaches and cliffs overlooking the sea will do your travel-weary legs some good, plus you can also check out a South African icon – Hole in the Wall.
There’s a great hiking trail from the Coffee Shack (one of our favourite places to stay in Coffee Bay) to the Hole in the Wall that follows the coastal edge of the hills. It takes a few hours to get there, so we’d recommend arranging for a driver to take you back to the start once you’re done.
Recommended length of stay: The detour to Coffee Bay is quite a long one, so you should give yourself at least 2-3 days here. If you’re a little stuck for time, we’d recommend skipping past this section and using your days on one of the other stops closer to the N2.
Route suggestions: From the Jikeleza Route, you can rejoin the now familiar N2 and cross the Kei River at the main bridge or, if you’re up for something completely different, you might be brave enough to take the ferry at Kei Mouth. Once on the other side, meander your way through the Xhosa villages up to Butterworth. Just be careful though, the ferry runs at irregular times so be sure to check on those ahead of time.
Detour to Coffee Bay: Turn off the N2 at Jojweni and follow the road all the way to Coffee Bay. Just be very careful along this stretch. There are a lot of animals, people and bad drivers on around so keep your eyes open and do not try to drive at night.
Stop 5: The South Coast


Finally, the N2 meets back up with the coast at Port Shepstone and signals the start of our next and final stretch to Durban – the South Coast.
The South Coast stretches all the way from Port Edward to Amanzimtoti, however, as the N2 only joins the coast at Port Shepstone, many of the more southern towns are a bit too much of a detour to visit.
Still, the parts that are easily accessible are beautiful places largely focused on surfing, fishing and other ocean sports. The beaches along the South Coast are also famous for swimming as many of them are protected by lifeguards and shark nets.
Beware though that during the winter months, there may be times when the beaches are closed due to the annual sardine run.
Our favourite towns on the South Coast are Scottburgh and Umzumbe for their great accommodation options and ease of access to excellent swimming beaches. Find accommodation on the South Coast
Recommended length of stay: If the drive from the Wild Coast is feeling a bit long, then a night on the South Coast will help take the edge off. Being so close to Durban, you may want to push through, but if you’re not in a hurry, then this area is a very welcome rest stop.
Route suggestions: The N2 is the only main road that traverses the whole of the Wild Coast, however, once on the coast, try the R102 if you feel like meandering through the small coastal towns along the way. Both roads ultimately lead to Durban
Stop 6: Durban (uMhlanga Rocks and Ballito)


Before long, the urban sprawl of the big city will come into view as you pull into our final stop: Durban. But don’t stop just yet! We’d recommend heading a few kilometres north of the city and basing yourself in uMmhlanga Rocks or Ballito.
Both of these towns are out of the busyness of the main city and give you access to some of the best beaches in the area.
There are excellent accommodation options and lots of things to do from shopping at the big malls like Gateway to walking the beach promenades and much more. There is also a very vibrant nightlife here with excellent restaurants, entertainment spots and other activities to keep you up well into the night. Find accommodation on the north coast.
Recommended length of stay: If this is the final stop of your trip, then spend at least 2 days on the North Coast to enjoy this area and make final preparations for your flight out of the nearby King Shaka International Airport, or whichever spot is next on your list.
Route suggestions: From the South Coast, get onto the N2 and follow it all the way through Durban to either uMhlanga Rocks or Ballito. Both towns are quite big so there is lots of signage and access to both.
More things to do around Durban
Route extension: St Lucia and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park


If time is on your side, we’d highly recommend popping into the town of St Lucia where you can spend the last few days of your trip exploring some incredible wildlife in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
You can choose to self drive through the reserve, or get on one of the many amazing tours through the iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Lake St Lucia.
Recommended length of stay: Get in as many as you can get. This is an incredible stop and should be high on the list of places to stay along the route.
Route suggestions: From Durban, follow the N2 all the way up to the town of KwaMsane. Here you will have 2 options to join the road to Mtubatuba and then the R618 to St Lucia. It’s one road in and one road out.
More things to do in St Lucia
A few things to remember on your Cape Town to Durban road trip
- South Africans drive on the left hand side of the road – you’ll want to come to grips with that as soon as possible.
- This route involves toll roads which are a nominal fee. You can pay with a credit card, but to be safe take cash to avoid any nasty surprises.
- Avoid driving after dark in the more rural areas of South Africa.
- Take special care when driving through the Wild Coast. This section of the route is renowned for animals, bad drivers and unroadworthy vehicles on the roads.
- Pay careful attention to the speed limits. Traffic officers love to set up speed traps along the roads, especially along the Garden Route.
- Emergency services can be slow and unreliable, particularly in rural areas, so be sure to have the contact details of your accommodation providers on hand, as they are often the most equipped to help you when you’re in a sticky situation.
- Make sure you know where the spare tyre is and how to change it. The roads in South Africa have claimed many wheels over the years.
Mix and match the destinations we’ve suggested to plan your perfect Cape Town to Durban road trip and let us know what you chose in the comments below. And be sure to drive safely!
What to do next
Bonus: We’ve created dozens of adventure guides just like this. Join our family of avid adventure seekers and get access to ALL of our adventure guides.Find accommodation in South Africa
Find things to do in South Africa
Disclaimer
Road conditions, safety advisories and even emergency numbers change from time to time, so be sure to do your own research to get most up to date information. Safety should be your top concern, so use this post as a part of your research. Understand that you will need to do some further due diligence, especially considering any recent changes or events that may affect travel plans, to make sure you are properly prepared for this trip.