Johannesburg to Durban Road trip
- May 16, 2021
- 6 min read
Updated: Jul 23, 2021
Who does not enjoy a good road trip? Our travels have always included self-drives exploring some remote part of the world. Now that we are living in South Africa - country known for its exotic beauty, it is hard not to get in your car and just hit the road. It has everything from the majestic Drakensberg to tropical Durban to the dry and dusty Karoo to the long and rustic coastlines to fancy and boutique wine lands to of course spectacular African wildlife.
With most of the 2020 in lockdown, when the restrictions where lifted in South Africa in early October 2020 allowing internal travel again - we had to plan for a road adventure. This was going to be our first long road trip since moving to Johannesburg in 2019 and this time with Ari (our son) who was just three and half years old. So we wanted to have more stops and less long drives between two places. Also, there is so much to see between Johannesburg and Durban, so it was time to get off the highway and explore this scenic route...
The Journey begins...
“Johannesburg - Clarens - Champagne Valley (Drakensberg) - Salt Rock - Durban/Umhlanga - Thanda Tau - Johannesburg.”
CLARENS : We decided to start our journey by stopping in Clarens. Situated just three hours drive from Johannesburg, in the foothills of the Maluti Mountain range this charming small arty town is known as "the Jewel of the Free State"
With its dramatic sandstone mountains and diverse plants and wildlife; it is one of the most picturesque spots in South Africa. Filled with some interesting antique shops and art galleries, Clarens is an artists' haven - brimming with wonderful finds for you to take home. It reminded me of a quaint little Swiss village, with beautiful surroundings and pretty views.
But its not just the tranquil set up and art galleries that you can unwind to, if you are an adrenaline junkie there is some great outdoor adventure that beckons you: from hot air ballooning, hiking, mountain biking, quad biking, archery, the list is endless but the adventure of a lifetime without a doubt is white water rafting on the Ash River, near Clarens. This beautiful river provides year-round white water rafting experience, offering nine rapids, stunning scenery and great birdlife. With Clarens Xtreme, you can make a splash on Ash River, and experience something extraordinary.
Clarens is idyllic, arty, adventure filled weekend getaway for Joburgers or a great en-route stop for a longer road trip down south. It offers something for everyone so give yourself at least couple of days to soak up in the ethos of this arty and adventurous town.
* * Clarens can also be used as base to explore the Golden Gate National Park, Maluti Mountains and the Kingdom of Lesotho.
CHAMPAGNE VALLEY (CENTRAL DRAKENSBERG) :
Johannesburg - Drakensberg mountain range is one of our favourite places to visit and explore. So any road trip we plan, it inevitably is a destination and every time we try to explore a new part of it. This time it was Champagne Valley.
Ranging more than 200 kilometers long, Drakensberg - "dragon mountains" or "the mountains of dragons" is a spectacular combination of rugged peaks, lush valleys and breathtaking backdrops. It creates a natural border between the Kingdom of Lesotho and the province of KwaZulu-Natal. The average height of the mountain range is 2900 meters.
We took the N3 (national road) through the towns of Bergville and Winterton, and reached the Cayley Mountain Resort set in Bergview, with stunning views over the Cathkin Peak and Champagne Castle ranges.
Cayley Mountain Resort is phenomenal - with variety of activities set in the midst of a picturesque landscape. Highlight of our stay was every morning heading to the inflatable floating water park and have non-stop fun slipping, sliding and bouncing on the water.
SALT ROCK - DOLPHIN COAST
On leaving the Drakensberg we headed further south to Salt Rock - a small seaside town on the Dolphin Coast in KwaZulu-Natal. Just about 40-45 minutes from Durban and north of Ballito (holiday hotspot for youngsters) - Salt Rock Beach is idyllic with palm trees, white sand, and warm turquoise waters.
The waters are fantastic for swimming and are protected by shark nets and lifeguards on the beach, making it is one of the favourite coastal destinations of many local South Africans. If you are into water sports you can enjoy surfing, body-boarding, hydro-foiling and stand-up paddling. Also, one can experience some great snorkelling as the reefs just off Salt Rock Beach are alive with marine animals and fascinating plants.
Highlight of our stay was the large tidal pool, called Granny’s Pool. It is perfect for little ones, as it is calm and shallow - we spend a lot of time splashing and playing here.
Whether you are a seasoned fisherman / woman or just starting out, there are also plenty of fishing spots along the coast from Salt Rock, through Shaka's Rock to Ballito and Salmon Bay.
We stayed at The Canelands Beach Club & Spa - this is a beautiful small beach hotel with 180 degree views over the ocean and the sound of waves crashing meters away. The pool overlooking the beach and ocean is a great spot to cool off on hot summer days and to savour the smell of the sea breeze while enjoying cocktails on the deck.
DURBAN / UMHLANGA :
Since moving to South Africa, Durban is a place we always were intrigued about: for its Golden Mile, a 3.7 mile stretch of sandy beach, uShaka Marine World, a 40-acre theme park, to experience the blend of Afro-Indian culture and of course try the famous "Durban bunny chow " (a hollowed, half-loaf of bread with meat or vegetable curry).
Did you know?
More Indians reside in Durban than any other city outside India itself. These were the early immigrants who worked on sugar cane farms in current-day KwaZulu-Natal. Many women still wear sarees, the traditional Indian attire and Indian cuisine is very popular.
About 15 minutes' north of Durban is the buzzing vibrant coastal town Umhlanga - pronounced Umsh-langa and meaning “place of reeds” in Zulu.
Umhlanga is lined with luxury hotels and apartments. It is the trendy, up-market suburban town outside of Durban with an ever-lasting holiday vibe. Umhlanga has a plethora of restaurants, cafes, pubs and clubs and you will experience a unique blend of cultures from east to west, with the pulse of Africa at its heart.
We stayed at the Capital Pearls Apartments at the Umhlanga Pier which had stunning views of the Indian Ocean. Three of our main highlights in Durban where -
having a lazy afternoon lunch at The Oyster Box, a 5-star luxury boutique hotel and spa in nearby Umhlanga
truly relishing a lip-smacking Durban Bunny Chow at Jeera restaurant at Suncoast Towers
visiting the uShaka Marine World
Durban boasts 600km of subtropical beaches and what makes this even better is that the area is an all-year round destination – even in winter.
THANDA TAU :
Heading back to Johannesburg, though it was a doable 6-7 hour drive we decided to break our journey again at the roadside stop of Thanda Tau. It might appear to be just a gas station along the freeway where you can get some snacks and good coffee, but trust me there is a lot more. Yes - of course there is a gas station with a coffee shop, a restaurant, little supermarket, but also a brewery, hotel, craft shop and.......a rescued wild animals enclosure!
There are simple but beautiful 11 luxury chalets and two group chalets (dorms). We were pleasantly surprised by our stay here. We also did the rescued animals walk. First we met a pack of lions lazily hanging around. Then we came across emus, porcupines, an African wild cat, hyenas and panthers. The highlight was seeing Bundu - the rhino.
Located next to the N3 between Johannesburg and Durban, Thanda Tau is the perfect stopover for a break from the long road trip.
SOUTH AFRICA truly is a destination made for road trips...
Where in the world can you experience idyllic scenery like a little Swiss village, adrenaline fuelled activities, a dramatic jaw dropping mountain range, beautiful sub-tropical coastline and a city that showcases unique blend of cultures from east to west, with the pulse of Africa at its heart - all in one road trip...
Next one coming soon........
Comments