Southern Africa overland

~ marks an estimate. Budgets are per day in US dollars. Check services and fares before setting out.

1. 01

   

   Cape Town

   South Africa

   Cape Town is nicknamed the Mother City within South Africa. Compared to the more business oriented Johannesburg it is known for its relaxed and leisurely atmosphere.

   Cape Town →to Johannesburg

   Bus~$65

2. 02

   

   Johannesburg

   South Africa

   Johannesburg is Africa's largest city and the continent's economic hub, offering a raw urban energy unlike Cape Town's scenic beauty or Durban's beach culture. The city has shaken off its 1990s crime capital reputation, now driven by youthful exuberance, a growing black middle class, and the omnipresent soundtrack of Amapiano and house music.

   Johannesburg →to Durban

   Transport details are not recorded.

3. 03

   

   Durban

   South Africa

   Durban is a vibrant coastal city on the east coast of South Africa, the third largest city and busiest port in Africa. Known for its warm climate, ample beaches, and large Indian population, it offers a unique blend of Zulu and Indian cultures.

   Durban →to Stellenbosch

   Transport details are not recorded.

4. 04

   

   Stellenbosch

   South Africa

   Stellenbosch (founded in 1679) is South Africa's prime wine region, located about 50 km east of Cape Town. Known as 'Eikestad' (Oak City) for its oak-lined streets, the town displays fine Cape Dutch architecture and is home to one of the country's oldest universities with over 25,000 students.

   Stellenbosch →to Hermanus

   Transport details are not recorded.

5. 05

   

   Hermanus

   South Africa

   Hermanus is a picturesque seaside town on South Africa's south coast, roughly 90 minutes drive from Cape Town along the Garden Route. The town is world-famous as the best land-based whale watching destination on the planet, with southern right whales migrating to Walker Bay each winter to calve and nurture their young.

   Hermanus →to Oudtshoorn

   Transport details are not recorded.

6. 06

   

   Oudtshoorn

   South Africa

   Oudtshoorn is known as the ostrich capital of the world, with about 200,000 ostriches — the largest population of any place globally. The town lies in South Africa's Little Karoo, famous for the Cango Caves and a Victorian-era feather boom that briefly made ostrich feathers more valuable than diamonds.

   Oudtshoorn →to Knysna

   Transport details are not recorded.

7. 07

   

   Knysna

   South Africa

   Knysna sits between George and Plettenberg Bay along the scenic Garden Route, offering a Mediterranean maritime climate with year-round rainfall that keeps the region perpetually green. The town is framed by indigenous forests extending into Tsitsikamma National Park and protected by the massive sandstone Heads that guard the lagoon from the Indian Ocean.

   Knysna →to Plettenberg Bay

   Bus~2 h~$3.51

8. 08

   

   Plettenberg Bay

   South Africa

   Plettenberg Bay (or Plett) is a small coastal resort town in South Africa's Western Cape along the famous Garden Route. It offers beautiful beaches, excellent marine wildlife viewing including whales and dolphins, and serves as a quieter alternative to nearby Knysna for travelers seeking beach-focused relaxation.

   Plettenberg Bay →to Windhoek

   Transport details are not recorded.

9. 09

   

   Windhoek

   Namibia

   Windhoek is Namibia's capital and largest city with a population of 430,000 in 2020, situated at 1,600 m elevation in the geographic centre of the country. It serves as the primary starting point for safaris across Namibia and the main entry point for air travelers.

   Windhoek →to Swakopmund

   Transport details are not recorded.

10. 10

    Swakopmund

    Namibia

    Swakopmund is Namibia's largest coastal town and premier resort destination, sitting dramatically at the edge of the Namib Desert where massive orange dunes meet the cold Atlantic. The town is famous for its remarkably preserved German colonial architecture - half-timbered houses, Lutheran churches, and Wilhelminian-style buildings line the streets, creating an atmosphere that feels like a North Sea town transplanted to southern Africa.

    Swakopmund →to Lüderitz

    Transport details are not recorded.

11. 11

    Lüderitz

    Namibia

    Lüderitz is a German colonial town frozen in time: Art Nouveau facades, Lutheran churches, and a once-wealthy diamond-rush atmosphere. The nearby ghost town Kolmanskop, with sand dunes reclaiming the casino and skittle alley, ranks among Namibia's most photogenic ruins.

    Lüderitz →to Sossusvlei

    Transport details are not recorded.

12. 12

    

    Sossusvlei

    Namibia

    Dune visitor destination served from the Sesriem gateway.

    Sossusvlei →to Maun

    Transport details are not recorded.

13. 13

    Maun

    Botswana · Daily budget ~$46

    Maun is the essential jumping-off point for the Okavango Delta while retaining a rural market-town atmosphere. Its riverbank setting and safari services make it a practical base for northern Botswana.

    Maun →to Victoria Falls

    Transport details are not recorded.

14. 14

    

    Victoria Falls

    Zimbabwe

    Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya, "The Smoke That Thunders") is one of the seven natural wonders of the world — twice the height of Niagara Falls with the largest sheet of falling water on the planet. The Zimbabwean town sits directly beside the falls and serves as a major adventure tourism hub, offering bungee jumping, whitewater rafting, sunset cruises, and safaris while sharing a border with Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia.

    Victoria Falls →to Livingstone

    Transport details are not recorded.

15. 15

    Livingstone

    Zambia

    Livingstone is Zambia's tourist capital and the primary gateway to Victoria Falls from the Zambian side. Formerly the capital of Zambia before the seat of government moved to Lusaka, this Southern Province city retains colonial charm and serves as the base for adrenaline-pumping activities like bungee jumping, white-water rafting, and helicopter tours over the falls.

    Livingstone →to Lilongwe

    Transport details are not recorded.

16. 16

    Lilongwe

    Malawi

    Lilongwe is Malawi's capital city with a population of about 1.1 million (2015). It is remarkably green, with buildings in the new town divided by patches of grassy land and trees, making you wonder if there's a city centre at all.

    Lilongwe →to Cape Maclear

    Bus~$7.76

17. 17

    

    Cape Maclear

    Malawi

    Cape Maclear (aka Chembe) is a small fishing village on Lake Nyasa in Malawi. It has one dirt road, a few hostels, dive shops, vendors, and bars.

    Cape Maclear →to Nkhata Bay

    Mixed transport~$23

18. 18

    

    Nkhata Bay

    Malawi

    Nkhata Bay is a small, bustling fishing village of about 15,000 inhabitants overlooking Lake Malawi. The town has a long history as a backpacker destination and was once famous for offering "the cheapest diving course in the world" and dorm beds with breakfast for one U.S.

    Nkhata Bay →to Maputo

    Transport details are not recorded.

19. 19

    

    Maputo

    Mozambique

    Maputo is Mozambique's capital since 1898, formerly Lourenço Marques until 1975. The city sits at the mouth of the Santo River, 90 km from the South African border.

    Maputo →to Tofo Beach

    Transport details are not recorded.

20. 20

    

    Tofo Beach

    Mozambique

    Tofo Beach has been called "the next Goa" and for good reason: beautiful stretches of Indian Ocean beach, a friendly laid-back vibe, pumping nightlife, great diving and snorkeling with manta rays and whale sharks, and excellent fresh seafood at a fraction of European prices. It's the traveler focus on Mozambique's Eastern coast.

    Tofo Beach →to Vilanculos

    Transport details are not recorded.

21. 21

    

    Vilanculos

    Mozambique

    Vilanculos (also spelled Vilankulo) is Mozambique's premier beach resort town and self-proclaimed capital of water sports. The town serves as the gateway to the Bazaruto Archipelago, home to the country's only underwater national park with pristine coral reefs and rare dugongs.

    Vilanculos →to Maseru

    Transport details are not recorded.

22. 22

    

    Maseru

    Lesotho

    Maseru is Lesotho's capital and largest city, sitting just across the border from Ladybrand in South Africa. While there isn't a huge deal to see in Maseru itself, the city serves as an essential stock-up point before venturing deeper into Lesotho, where Western-style shops are very few and far between.

    Maseru →to Mbabane

    Transport details are not recorded.

23. 23

    

    Mbabane

    Eswatini

    Mbabane is Eswatini's largest city and executive capital, home to approximately 95,000 people as of 2010. The city sits on the banks of the Mbabane River and its tributary the Polinjane River in the Mdzimba Mountains, offering a mild climate due to its altitude.

    Mbabane →to Coffee Bay

    Transport details are not recorded.

24. 24

    

    Coffee Bay

    South Africa

    Coffee Bay is a remote, laid-back town on the Wild Coast where time moves slowly and the ocean is never far away. The main draw is the dramatic Hole in the Wall geological formation, plus some of the cheapest professional surf lessons in South Africa.

    Coffee Bay →to Kruger National Park

    Transport details are not recorded.

25. 25

    

    Kruger National Park

    South Africa

    Kruger National Park is one of the biggest protected areas in South Africa and is widely considered to be one of the best national parks in the world. It covers 19,500 km² and is divided into 14 different ecozones, each supporting different wildlife.