South Africa is located at the southern end of Africa. It shares international borders with Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and the enclave of Lesotho. South Africa has an extensive coastline with the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Indian Ocean to the south and east. There’s further information available in our South Africa country guide.
South Africa’s location on the southern end of Africa makes it a relatively isolated destination. There are thousands of miles of ocean to the west, south, and east before you hit landfall. Fortunately, the country has good links with neighboring countries, allowing road connections towards west, central, and east Africa.
It’s possible to drive into South Africa from all the neighboring countries. The quantity and quality of the crossings varies by country.
Namibia – There are 5 official border crossings between Namibia and South Africa. There are a further 2 crossings in trans-frontier parks, which brings the total number to 7. The most popular and convenient crossing is between Noordoewer in Namibia and Vioolsdrif in South Africa. It links the B1 Road in Namibia with the N7 in South Africa. These two roads run all the way from Cape Town to Windhoek.
Botswana – With a land border extending to 1223 miles, it’s no surprise that there are 16 border crossings between Botswana and South Africa. The volume of traffic and popularity of the crossing varies dramatically. So do the opening hours, as some posts are open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., while others are open from 6 a.m. to midnight. The most convenient crossing for Gaborone is at Kopfontein, the most direct route from Pretoria or Johannesburg.
Zimbabwe – Despite a fairly extensive 140-mile border between Zimbabwe and South Africa, only one border post exists. Located at Beitbridge, it facilitates onward travel for local and international visitors with and without vehicles.
Mozambique – There are 4 official border crossings along the 305-mile border between Mozambique and South Africa. The Pafuri crossing is in the far north, with the Giriyondo in the middle of the vast Kruger National Park. To the south of the park is the Lebombo Crossing, which is the most commonly used as it directly links Maputo and Pretoria. In the far east by the Indian Ocean is the final border crossing at Kosi Bay.
Eswatini – There are many border crossings between Eswatini and South Africa. At the last count, there were 11 official border crossings, making traveling into and out of Eswatini from South Africa exceptionally easy. if you’re driving to or from South Africa from Mozambique, it might be easier to transit via Eswatini, depending on your final destination.
Lesotho – There are 14 official border posts between the enclave of Lesotho and South Africa. Given the mountainous terrain of Lesotho, many of these crossings are the most challenging and dramatic of any of South Africa’s border crossings.
You can drive in South Africa if you are over 18 years old and hold a full driving license from your home country. You’ll need to have this with you at all times when driving. If your license isn’t printed in English, you’ll also need an International Driving Licence.
If you plan on hiring a vehicle in South Africa, you’ll need to check the criteria with the provider. Many car hire companies require drivers to be at least 21 years old and sometimes 25 years old. They may also require you to have an International Driving Licence.
If you plan to bring your vehicle into South Africa, you must also have the vehicle registration documents. Having insurance isn’t compulsory in South Africa, but it is recommended. This can be purchased locally or as part of a wider international travel policy. Both accidents and vehicle theft are higher in South Africa than in most other countries, meaning you should be extra vigilant. You’ll also need to be comfortable driving on the left-hand side of the road, the designated side for South Africa and most other southern African nations.
While South Africa has a poor reputation for road safety, you only have to take a few common sense steps to mitigate most risks. While you can’t completely eradicate all risks as accidents and crime happen in any country, you can make driving in South Africa almost as safe as anywhere else.
The key rules to follow when driving in South Africa are:
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