Safari Holidays to South Africa and Namibia for independent travellers.

Because of the sheer vastness of the country, you can expect to cover long distances between towns.  The main roads tend to be very straight, which on longer journeys can mean that you need to fight hard to keep your concentration on the road ahead without boredom taking over. 

Unfortunately, the long straight roads also seem to bring out the worst in other drivers. 

Speeding and overtaking are both popular past-times, and more often than not you have to be aware of how other drivers are behaving rather than how you are driving yourself. 

Speeding

Speed cameras operate in cities and towns.  If you are caught on camera, the fine will go straight to the hire car company, who will simply debit your credit card with the amount. 

A more common speeding trap is on the outskirts of towns, where traffic police wait for the unsuspecting driver to come racing out of the built up area.  

If you are caught speeding by traffic police, there is no such thing as an on-the-spot fine.  If you are asked by the officer to pay a cash fine, simply refuse - this is one of the more popular tourist scams happening in some areas at the moment. 

Speeding Fines

The correct procedure is for your details to be taken down, including your passport number, and to issue you with a speeding fine ticket.

Paying Speeding Fines

You have up to 60 days to pay your fine.  All you need to do is go to the nearest Post Office, buy a Purchase Order for the fine amount, and send it REGISTERED POST to the required address.

It is advisable to retain your receipt for both the PO and the registered post, as this is your record that you have paid your fine, just in case there is a problem when your passport is checked at the airport when you are leaving the country. 

Road Signs - or rather Road Non-Signs ...

Something else to be aware of during your self-drive holiday through South Africa is the erracticness of road signs, and the inconsistencies between them and the published road maps.

You may think that the route you are about to embark on is easy to follow, but certainly in the more remote areas, roads suddenly appear that are not marked on maps, or the road numbers are completely different from what you are expecting.

If you plan your itinerary with Travel Butlers, we will give you comprehensive directions to follow from place to place.

Overtaking

The custom for overtaking in South Africa is simple.  The onus is on the car in front. 

If you see that someone wants to overtake you, the unwritten rule is that you pull over to the left to allow the other vehicle to pass - but watch out for any potholes unless you want a puncture!

Similarly, if you are overtaking someone, it is courtesy to acknowledge this politeness by turning on your hazard lights once past, or raising your hand in a 'thank you' salute.