As an American driver, the thought of driving on the ‘wrong side’ of the road was quite harrowing. Many of my clients who are considering self-driving in South Africa often want to know what it is like, is it safe, are the roads easy to drive on?

I am happy to tell them from experience that driving in South Africa reminds me of the great road trips I took with my family across the U.S., except better! There are no highways congested with traffic or rest stops - most of the time you will rarely even see another car. It is just you, the open road and some of the most beautiful, ever-changing scenery your eyes will behold.

We made the trek up the mountain our second day in Cape Town, as we kept hearing form the locals “If the weather is clear, go up Table Mountain.” It was funny to hear this bit of wisdom repeated so often. We knew we had better test the theory, and it turned out to be very true!

When Table Mountain is clear, you can see for miles and miles. I felt like I was on top of the world when I was standing on Table Mountain with 360-degree views of the Cape. Soon after we headed down, the clouds rolled in, draping the mountain in a table cloth of white. When there is such low visibility, the access to the mountain is closed, which occurred when we reached the bottom.

if you arrive your first day in Cape Town and you see the weather is clear, then FOLLOW EVERYONE’S ADVICE AND go up Table Mountain! locals always know best.

The best thing about renting a car on your vacation in South Africa is that you have greater flexibility while traveling. There are so many interesting places to stop off and stretch your legs, and you can pull over whenever you feel inclined.

One my favorite stops is Cape Agulhas, the geographic most southern point of Africa, which also boasts the Agulhas National Park and incredible ocean views. We spent a night here, as well as in Swellendam, which has lovely colonial Dutch character. The hiking in both places is phenomenal.

Oudtshoorn is another wonderful pit stop. Known for its Ostrich farms, this town used to be a major source of ostrich feathers back in the Victorian era. When exploring, you’ll see the beautiful “Feather Palaces” which are home to merchants who grew rich from the feather trade. Today, ostrich farms are mostly used for meat.

We visited a working Ostrich farm to learn a little about these odd birds, and I was even allowed to stand on top of an Ostrich egg to prove its durability. We also had the very unique and incredible experience of visiting a meerkat colony. The meerkats are not afraid to get up close and personal - they’ll use you to get a better vantage point so they scan the horizon for predators, which means they’ll likely stand on your shoulders or head!

Cango Caves IS ANOTHER MUST-VISIT just outside of Oudsthoorn. IT is one of the premier natural attractions in South Africa - An enormous underground CAVERN of stalagmites and stalactites SPOTTED WITH HISTORIC CAVE PAINTINGS.

No trip to the Garden Route would be complete without a stop in Knysna or Plettenberg Bay. Only an hour from each other, these two coastal towns are considered the Crown Jewels of the Garden Route. Boasting exquisite Blue Flag beaches, several animal conservation centers and gorgeous hiking, it is easy to see why many South Africans have a second home here.

If you love seafood, head to Knysna - It’s famous for oysters.

This is a small portion of how and why I have fallen so in love with travel to Africa. I look forward to frequenting the region to expand my knowledge on new guides, excursions, restaurants and recommended lodging - all in an effort to offer you the very best advice for your trip to South Africa!

- Kristin

I first fell in love with travel while studying abroad in Western Europe during a semester at Florida State University. After graduation I moved to Washington, D.C where I met my other love, my husband. We soon decided to move overseas to Ethiopia due to his job with the U.S. Department of State. This wonderful opportunity led me to a position at the U.S. Embassy, and of course we spent all of our free time traveling throughout Eastern Africa. It was there that I fell in love for a third time - with Africa.

When our time living abroad came to an end, I was lucky to find a position in Audley’s new Boston office that would combine my passion for Africa and career experience. Before I knew it, I was back in Africa, this time exploring the southern regions of this wild continent. I traveled through South Africa, Botswana and to Victoria Falls, awakening a sense of nostalgia and appreciation for the region’s beautiful landscapes, surreal wildlife encounters and friendly locals all over again.