Page 443 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

TRA VEL INFORM A TION 441

available to its members.
Contact your car hire company
immediately and it will tell you
what to do. It is highly
recommended that you carry a
mobile phone when driving.
In the event of an accident,
notify the police immediately
and do not move the vehicles
until the police arrive.
Taxis
Taxis in South Africa cannot be
hailed in the street, but there Car hire facilities at Cape Town International Airport
are taxi ranks outside all airports,
bus and railway stations, roads skirting the West Coast numerous entrance gates along
shopping malls and at the are lined with wild flowers the entire length of the park,
major sightseeing attractions. between August and the excellent tarred roads and
Additionally, any hotel or September (see pp220–21). efficient rest camps.
restaurant can call for a cab. All With its verdant forests, In the southeast, history
taxis are metered. By law they ocean-facing mountains and buffs will enjoy touring the
must display a sticker on the great swathes of beaches, the evocative battlefield sites
side of the vehicle showing the Garden Route (see pp238–9) of KwaZulu-Natal (see p278).
price per kilometre. offers one of the most scenic The pretty country resorts
drives from Cape Town. Officially in the foothills of the mighty
it runs for 200 km (124 miles), Drakensberg Mountains
Great Drives
from Heidelberg in the west to make for great tours, too.
South Africa’s natural beauty, the Tstsikamma forests in the
spectacular coastline and east, but the full drive from DIRECTORY
game parks make it an ideal Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, in
destination for leisurely self- the Eastern Cape, where there Breakdown Services
driving. Cape Town offers are more parks and reserves to
numerous day trips by road. explore, is 748 km (465 miles). AA Emergency Road Service
The most popular is around Route 62, which runs on inland Tel 0861 000 234 (24 hrs,
the Cape Peninsula (see p154), roads via dramatic mountain all areas).
a round trip of about 160 km passes and quaint farming ∑ aa.co.za
(100 miles) from the city centre, settlements, provides an Car Rental
with plenty of distractions along alternative route back to
the way, including seal and Cape Town. Around About Cars
penguin colonies and the The Panorama Route (see Tel 021 422 4022.
stunning ocean scenery at Cape p337) follows the escarpments ∑ aroundaboutcars.com
Point. The 137-km (85-mile) adjoining Kruger, and a day’s
coast road to Hermanus (see drive takes in waterfalls, historic Avis
pp226–7) is a great vantage towns and views of the Blyde Tel 0861 021 111.
point for whale-watching from River Canyon. Kruger itself is ∑ avis.co.za
July until November, while the very car-friendly due to the Budget
Tel 011 387 8432.
∑ budget.co.za
Europcar
Tel 0861 131-000.
∑ europcar.co.za
First Car Rental
Tel 0861 178 227.
∑ firstcarrental.co.za
Hertz
Tel 021 935 4800.
∑ hertz.co.za
Tempest Car Hire
Tel 0861 836 737.
∑ tempestcarhire.co.za
Driving a jeep through South Africa’s countryside