🇿🇦Roads in South Africa
3 roads found in South Africa, Africa
Chapman's Peak Drive
🇿🇦 South Africa
Chapman's Peak Drive is a 9-kilometer toll road carved into the cliff face of Chapman's Peak on the Atlantic coast of the Cape Peninsula, South Africa. Connecting Hout Bay with Noordhoek, the road features 114 curves along its route and offers stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, the white sands of Noordhoek Beach, and the Sentinel peak. Completed in 1922, the road was an engineering marvel of its time, requiring seven years of construction through hard Chapman's Peak granite. The road was closed for several years due to rockfall danger and reopened in 2003 after an extensive safety upgrade that included catch fences, concrete canopies, and a sophisticated rockfall detection system. The upgrade cost over R155 million and introduced a toll system to fund ongoing maintenance. The road now features half-tunnels in the most exposed sections, protecting vehicles from falling rocks while preserving the spectacular ocean views through open sides. Chapman's Peak Drive is a favorite among film crews and advertisers, having appeared in numerous car commercials and films due to its photogenic curves and dramatic setting. The road is also a key section of the Cape Town Cycle Tour, the world's largest timed cycling event, and the Two Oceans Marathon. The drive offers several marked viewpoints and picnic areas, and the views at sunset are particularly spectacular. The road can close during severe storms or when the rockfall detection system is triggered, so checking conditions before driving is recommended.
Garden Route
🇿🇦 South Africa
The Garden Route is a 300-kilometer stretch of the southern coast of South Africa between Mossel Bay and Storms River along the N2 highway. Named for the diverse vegetation and numerous lagoons, lakes, and rivers found along the coast, it is one of the most popular road trip routes in Africa and arguably the most scenic coastal drive on the continent. The route hugs the Indian Ocean coastline with indigenous forests, dramatic sea cliffs, and golden beaches. Key highlights include the town of Knysna with its famous lagoon and Knysna Heads sandstone cliffs, the Tsitsikamma National Park with its ancient Afromontane forests and dramatic Storms River Mouth suspension bridge, Plettenberg Bay's pristine beaches and whale watching, and the Wilderness section with its chain of coastal lakes. The region's temperate maritime climate supports a unique fynbos ecosystem alongside lush forests of yellowwood and stinkwood trees, and the coast is a calving ground for southern right whales from June to November.
Sani Pass
🇿🇦 South Africa
Sani Pass is a mountain road connecting Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with Mokhotlong in Lesotho, climbing to 2,876 meters at the summit on the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment. The gravel road on the South African side is one of the most challenging and spectacular 4x4 routes in southern Africa, with steep gradients of up to 33%, loose rock surfaces, and hairpin bends on exposed cliff edges. A 4x4 vehicle is mandatory for the ascent from the South African side. The pass was originally a bridle path used by the San people and later by traders and missionaries. It was converted to a vehicle track in 1948 and has been gradually improved since, though the South African government has periodically considered paving it. The ascent covers approximately 9 kilometers of increasingly rough terrain, with the final section climbing a series of dramatic switchbacks carved into the cliff face. The views from the upper reaches are extraordinary, with the KwaZulu-Natal midlands stretching out far below and the Drakensberg peaks rising on either side. At the summit, the Sani Mountain Lodge claims to be the highest pub in Africa, offering hot meals and cold drinks to weary travelers. The lodge sits on the Lesotho side of the border, in a landscape of rolling grasslands and shepherds tending their flocks. The pass is also a gateway to the Lesotho Highlands, where remote communities maintain traditional ways of life. Passport controls exist on both sides of the border. The road can be impassable after heavy rain or snow, and conditions change rapidly at this altitude.