How to make a holiday out of your road trip from Joburg to Cape Town

Aah, family road trips! The making of legendary family memories or horror shows on wheels — we've all had plenty of both, but what to do?

Apart from the expense, flying is still seen as Covid-risky by many and you've promised the in-laws in Cape Town you'll spend Christmas with them this year, so it's into the SUV and on the long haul south you go.

Depending on your circumstances, you might want to make the 16-hour journey to Cape Town in one go. Those with young kids, for example, often like to leave before dawn while the little ones are still asleep, and roll into the Cape after dusk.

Yet others may prefer to spread the trip over a more leisurely two, or even three, experiential days. But, of course, it depends what sort of road traveller you are. As I see it, there are three kinds:

1. The Get-There-in-a-Day Brigade: They leave early, and stop only for petrol, food and toilet breaks. If this is you, there's no need to read on, just drive carefully and stay awake.
2. The Late Starters: Those who don't want a pre-dawn start, want to stop overnight around halfway and wouldn't mind a touch of sightseeing along the way.
3. The Journey Trippers: These folks savour car journeys like Cubans do their cigars. They are in no hurry to get there, are spontaneous stoppers and side-route takers.

Whatever your choice of route (there's little time-and-distance difference between the N12 and N1 options), we outline some interesting sights to see along the way, plus well-placed towns with abundant internet-sourced accommodation options.

ROUTE ONE: THE N1 SOUTH

This is the shortest (1,398 km) and probably best-surfaced option, but it is also the busiest, and in terms of toll fees, the most expensive (R148).

But for the Get-There-in-a-Day-Brigade, or those turning off to East London or Port Elizabeth, this is certainly the best option.

WHAT TO DO ALONG THE WAY

Discover Parys: You'll do only an extra 15km to visit this quaint riverside town with its antiques and bric-a-brac shops, coffee shops and even a micro-brewery, the Dog and Fig.

Learn some history: The Sand River Convention monument, not far off the N1 between Ventersburg and Winburg, marks the signing of a landmark document. It essentially granted Boer farmers across the Vaal River self-government, and outlawed any practice of slavery in the region.

Smell the flowers: Visit the Free State National Botanical Gardens just outside Bloemfontein or take in the orchids in a glass greenhouse at Hamilton Park at the foot of Naval Hill, which also has a good view over the city.

Learn about early humans: Home to many rarities from the natural world and human sciences, the National Museum (since 1877) in Bloemfontein also houses a reconstruction of Florisbad Man (thought to be an ancestor of the San people), the fossilised remains of which were discovered at Soutpan in 1932.

Stop for a bite: Have a meal, a coffee or pick up some preserves and Karoo craftworks from the Kuilfontein Padstal on the N1 outside Springfontein.

Ponder the war: Check out a well-preserved blockhouse from the Anglo-Boer War outside Laingsburg.

Go back in time: Visit the well-preserved Victorian town of Matjiesfontein. There's a coffee shop, luxury hotel, classic pub, shop, red bus tour and vintage car museum.

STOPOVER SUGGESTIONS

For the Late Starters looking for a more-or-less halfway point, the well-positioned and accommodation-rich towns of Gariep Dam (584 km from Joburg); Colesberg (628km), Hanover (698km) and Richmond (762km) are best suited. Accommodation types and options to suit all pockets can be found on internet accommodation portals.

For something different, get off the N1 at Trompsburg, follow the dog-leg (no further than the N1) to historic Philippolis (559km) and stay at the Old Jail (082-550-4421).

For Journey Trippers on a two-night journey, the permutations are many. In addition to the towns above, the following are recommended:

• Night 1: Gariep Dam (584km from Joburg) - de Stijl Hotel is upmarket with spectacular views over the dam).

• Night 2: One is spoilt for choice here - the Vale Karoo Farm near Three Sisters (322km from Gariep Dam); the Karoo National Park just south of Beaufort West (357km from Gariep Dam); the Lord Milner Hotel at Matjiesfontein (579km from Gariep Dam - the red bus trip and hotel tour with Jonny are a must); or the Aquila Private Game Reserve outside Touws River (644km from Gariep Dam - Big Five safaris for day visitors and overnight stay options).

ROUTE TWO: THE N12

The N12 makes up two-thirds of this 1,433km route and then joins the N1 just outside Three Sisters near Beaufort West. There are no tolls — only R32 payable before the Huguenot Tunnel when back on N1.

WHAT TO DO ALONG THE WAY

Spot huge flocks of lesser flamingos on the Kamfers Dam just outside Kimberley.

Check out the Big Hole and McGregor museums in Kimberley.

Visit the Magersfontein Battlefield Museum: this famous Anglo-Boer War site, where the British army suffered a dramatic defeat by the Boers in their trenches, is about 32km south of Kimberley on a reasonable gravel road.

Explore the historic Victorian town of Victoria West, where the restored Victorian architecture, plus the art deco Apollo Theatre and Mannetjies Roux (rugby focused) Museum are well worth visiting.

STOPOVER SUGGESTIONS

The chief stopover towns in which to seek accommodation are Hopetown (604km from Joburg), Britstown (733km) and Victoria West (848km).

For those who don't mind about 40km of gravel travel and have an extra night to spare, the Mokala National Park, 80km southwest of Kimberley, is one of SA's most underrated parks and really worth a visit.

Another slightly off-route option further south is the old Karoo guest farm of Melton Wold (halfway to Loxton from Victoria West), only a 40km detour on a good tar road, which will take you years back in time.