How easy is the coastal drive from Cape Town To Durban?

Question

We as a family would like to drive the coast for Cape Town to Durban, are there any towns we unsafe? what are the coastal roads like? we have 2 weeks to do the drive want to be in Durban 5 days and Cape 5 days any ideas also are there shell gas stations along the way? how long is the drive? Thankyou

Answer 1

I can just echo the fact that it must be the most beautiful route in the world (Or very close to it)

I live in Port Elizabeth, about halfway between Cape Town and Durban on the coastal route. We are 8 hours from Cape town and about 9 away from Durban.

And please. Rest assured. It's not a wilderness and there are proper towns with filling stations all the way. And the roads are also very good 90% of the way through, and the rest is in the process of being upgraded.

Come and enjoy what should be the trip of a lifetime

Answer 2

the garden route is one of the most spectacular drives to take in the whole world, imho!  you may want to try checking out google earth and follow the route from Cape Town to Durban.  

Answer 3

Yes, I have recently done the drive. The roads are all in good condition and are safe.

I would suggest two days for the drive if you want to do it fast. Day one drive up to East London roughly 12 hours from Cape Town depending upon traffic.

Day 2 drive through the Transkie up to Durban.

You could of course make more stops along the way if you want to do it more casually and see more of the country.

There are gas stations along the High ways, but they are not all  shell stations but I can't see whay that would matter.

Answer 4

Here are a few links with useful info.  The roads are good, it is a highway N2 all the way to Durban.  It would be advisable to contact the AA for info and maps, or your local automobil association

http://www.drivesouthafrica.co.za/distan...

http://www.sa-venues.com/garden_route.ht...

http://www.gardenroute.co.za/

http://www.safarinow.com/cms/garden-rout...

Answer 5

If I were you, I'd take the safer, shorter route.  Drive from Durban, up the N3, get off at Harrismith, onto the N5, to Winburg, onto the N1 and straight down to Cape Town.

If you want to spend a whole 4 days, visit Clarence (just south of Bethlehem on the R712, you can also go from Harrismith via Clarence to Bethlehem).

Colesberg has some quaint BnBs on horse farms that are really nice, you can visit the Gariep dam while you're in the area.

Graaf Reinet is good to visit, some good old history, beautiful church, originally home to Cuthberts shoes.  Interesting with some amazing museums

Then you have the choice of staying in the Karoo and seeing some amazing passes and desert, or you could go from Graaf Reinet down to Knysna/George and join the garden route.  From Knysna/George you hit the N2, west to Cape Town.

If you go straight down the N2 from Durban, it's longer and FAR more dangerous.  Watch out on the passes for animals/bandits/children and falling rocks.

Oh, and there are plenty of petrol stations either way, often Shell but also BPs, Engens, Xcels etc.

Enjoy the drive.  

Answer 6

It is a beautiful drive... The scenery is extraordinary! You can google "Garden Route, South Africa" thats what its called, it is very lush and modern in many of the towns such as Mossel Bay, Plettenburg Bay. You will enjoy the drive, it would take about 8hrs if you really wanted to take it all in plus there's many activities you can do along the way!