SOUTH AFRICA
H ere are five worthy detours to add to your next cross-country road trip:
Beaufort West: Gateway to the Karoo National Park
Distance off route: 5 minutes
Often dismissed as a refuelling stop, Beaufort West hides something extraordinary. Just outside town lies the Karoo National Park, one of South Africa’ s most underrated reserves, where a short detour opens into a dramatic landscape of mountains, plains and wildlife.
What to see and do:
• Game drives with possible sightings of lion, gemsbok and black rhino
• Fossil trails revealing ancient Karoo geology
• Klipspringer Pass viewpoints
Where to eat: The Karoo National Park Rest Camp restaurant or one of the town’ s long-standing cafés.
Worth an overnight? Yes. Ko Ka Tsara Bush Camp makes an excellent halfway stop between Cape Town and Johannesburg. kokatsara. co. za
De Doorns: Vineyards and Valley Calm
Distance off route: 2 minutes
Just before the Hex River Pass, De Doorns sits quietly in one of the Western Cape’ s most dramatic valleys. In winter, bare vines stretch in neat rows beneath cloud-draped mountains, and the cold, clear air gives the landscape a striking spare quality. Compared to the relentless traffic rushing past, the town feels surprisingly calm – a soft pause before the climb into the mountains.
What to see and do:
• Hex River Valley viewpoints
• Local farm stalls and dried fruit tastings
Where to eat: Stop at one of the padstals on the valley’ s edge for pies, good coffee and something sweet for the road.
Worth an overnight? Not essential, but ideal for a slow lunch stop and a stretch of the legs before the pass.
WINTER 2026 • rovesa. co. za | 79