Spend two weeks discovering the stark, dramatic beauty of the Northern Cape and the West Coast. Fly into Cape Town International Airport (CPT), pick up your rental car, and head north. This travel route is truly adventurous and remote—expect vast stretches of gravel, the infamous tire-shredding R355, and long distances between fuel stops. Sometimes the itinerary includes different options which are marked as 'optional'.
Total Driving Distance: ~2,400 km (1,490 miles)
Route: Cape Town → Langebaan & Paternoster → Lamberts Bay & Vredendal → Riemvasmaak → Augrabies Falls → Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park → Calvinia → R355 (or Clanwilliam) → Franschhoek → Cape Town Airport
Best Time to Go: The spring shoulder season (August to September) is legendary as the dry West Coast explodes into a carpet of wildflowers. Alternatively, April to May offers milder temperatures for the Kalahari, avoiding the extreme summer heat which can soar above 40°C.
