The Prices of Self Drive Tours to South Africa
Jump to: Best Tours | Tour Prices
For travelers who love the freedom of the open road, self-drive tours through South Africa offer the perfect way to explore the region on your own terms. These tours allow you to rent a car or campervan and set your own itinerary, giving you the flexibility to stop wherever and whenever you want. Whether you're cruising along scenic coastal highways, exploring hidden gems off the beaten path, or enjoying the freedom to take spontaneous detours, self-drive tours are all about flexibility and adventure. In this article, we'll explore the costs of self-drive tours in South Africa, highlight some of the best options, and share the destinations that are ideal for a road trip adventure.
To help you find the perfect self-drive experience through South Africa, we've thoroughly researched a range of tours. By comparing price ranges, tour quality, included routes, and the overall experience, we've identified the best value options for those who prefer to navigate their own journey. Whether you're seeking a short scenic drive or a longer road trip across multiple regions, these tours offer the perfect balance of independence, exploration, and adventure. So, grab your keys, start the engine, and get ready to hit the road on an unforgettable journey.
Why does South Africa appeal to self-driving visitors?
South Africa's scenic routes and varied attractions make it a perfect destination for self-drive tours. Exploring at your own pace allows stops at charming towns, wilderness areas, and smaller interesting spots that you come across along the way. The well-maintained roads and breathtaking landscapes create an unforgettable driving experience.
How much do self drive tours in South Africa cost?
The average price per day for self drive tours in South Africa is $114, based on our analysis of 4 tours. While the overall prices can vary greatly, when we look at the daily price of these tours, the costs range from $91 to $145 per day.
Budget-friendly tours average around $91 per day, while higher-end luxury tours average about $145 per day.
Budget tours will usually provide less luxurious accommodation, have larger group sizes, and visit less expensive destinations. They will also sometimes have you pay for more activities on your own instead of including everything up front.
Mid-range tours often provide a step up in accommodation and transportation, and include more guided activities.
Luxury tours usually provide the highest levels of service, luxury hotels, more gormet food choices, comfortable transportation, and offer more all-inclusive payment options.
We partner with TourRadar because they offer the world's largest selection of multi-day organized tours, offering seamless travel experiences while supporting local businesses. It's the perfect way to explore new destinations with ease and confidence.
The Best Tours in South Africa
Budget-Friendly Tours
Budget-friendly and affordable self drive tours in South Africa average $91 per day, with daily prices from $91 to $91. Budget tours usually include hotels, meals, and activities that are not quite as nice as other tours. Often, they might only include transportation, lodging, and some activities, leaving you on your own to pay for meals and other attractions during the tour. This can be a very convenient and economical way to visit France without spending too much money, as it gives you control over the amount you spend on meals and extra services. If you're looking for a really great option, check out South Africa Road Trip: Adventure Between Kruger, Cape & Coast (from Johannesburg to Robben Island) here.
Mid-Range Tours
For typical self drive tours in South Africa that fall in the middle range of prices, the average cost is $111 per day. Daily prices range from $94 to $128. Taking this step up in price from the cheaper tours to mid-range will often get you plenty of extra amenities and service for a great price. These tours usually include very comfortable hotels, meals at delicious local restaurants, comfortable transportation, knowledgable guides, and entry to many of the top attractions. One of the best tours is South Africa Road Trip: On the Garden Route to the Big Five (30 destinations).
Luxury Tours
Luxury self drive tours in South Africa average around $111 per day, with daily costs ranging from $145 to $145. At this price, you'll be very well taken care of and pampered on your journey through the scenic destinations. Knowledgable guides, the best accommodation options, the finest restaurants, comfortable transportation, and quick entry into attractions are all part of the itinerary. Every luxury and detail has been planned and thought about so that you don't have to deal with any hassle, you simple show up and enjoy your vacation. One of the best luxury tours here is South Africa Road Trip: Adventure Between Kruger, Cape & Coast (30 destinations).
Which tour companies offer self drive tours?
A number of fantastic tour companies offer self drive tours in South Africa. These are a few of the best, because they offer the highest rated service, provide the best overall quality, and have the most five-star guest reviews to prove it.
journaway
Journaway is a large multi-national travel company which offers safaris to destinations around the world. Many of their safaris visit Asia and Europe. Some of their most popular destinations include the U.S., Thailand, South Africa, and Indonesia. Traveling with journaway provides for a very personal experience, because most of their safaris have less than 2 people. This company's safari offerings are generally priced lower than others, which makes them attractive for budget travelers. Travelers usually enjoy the tour activities such as camping, island hopping, snorkelling, surfing, kayaking, whale watching, water sports, cooking classes, white water rafting, wind surfing, and jetskiing.
Self Drive Destinations in South Africa
Wondering where self drive tours visit in South Africa? With a variety of stops and destinations along the way, there's something for everyone.
A few of the most popular places visited by tours in South Africa include Cape Town, Plettenberg Bay, Oudtshoorn, Tsitsikamma National Park, and Kruger National Park.
Which is cheaper?
Is it cheaper to plan your own trip or join guided self drive tours? The answer isn't clear-cut. Tours typically package accommodations, transportation, meals, entry fees, and activities into one price, whereas independent travelers must arrange and pay for these themselves. To understand the cost difference, compare the tour's price with the cost of booking everything individually. Depending on whether you choose budget-friendly options or splurge on certain aspects, the tour might be a better deal—or not. Make sure to check what's included before drawing conclusions.
Also, before booking a tour, make sure you know exactly what is included as tour companies sometimes change their itineraries or included amenities to keep them updated with seasonal changes and customer interests.
More Tour Options
See also The Best Family-Friendly Tours to South Africa, The Best Wildlife Tours to South Africa, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in South Africa, The Best Historical Tours in South Africa, The Best 10-Day Tours in South Africa, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in South Africa, The Best 3-Day Tours in South Africa, The Best 2-Week Tours in South Africa, The Best 3-Week Tours in South Africa, The Best Bicycle Tours in South Africa, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in South Africa, The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in South Africa, The Best Overlanding Trips in South Africa, The Best Coach Bus Tours in South Africa, The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, The Best Thrill-Seeking Tours in South Africa, The Best Sightseeing Tours in South Africa, The Best Cultural Tours in South Africa, The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in South Africa, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in South Africa, The Tours for Animal Lovers in South Africa, The Best Photography Tours in South Africa, The Best Camping Tours in South Africa, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in South Africa, The Best Safaris in South Africa, The Best Budget Safaris in South Africa, The Best Tours Under $1000 in South Africa, The Best Luxury Tours to South Africa, The Best Budget Tours to South Africa, The Best Tours for Seniors to South Africa, The Best Contiki Tours to South Africa, or The Best G Adventures Tours to South Africa for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.
Also, if you're departing from a specific destination, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Johannesburg, The Best 3-Day Tours from Cape Town, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Johannesburg, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cape Town, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Pretoria, The Best 10-Day Tours from Cape Town, The Best 10-Day Tours from Johannesburg, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cape Town, The Best 2-Week Tours from Johannesburg, or The Best 2-Week Tours from Pretoria for more package tour options.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site. By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase.