Let’s face it, travelling by car is not ideal. However, I can easily give you a few reasons why it’s better than travelling by plane. A rational person would argue that flying is much safer and that your chances of dying are much slimmer. The odds of being killed in a single airline flight is a mere 1 in 29,4 million¹. Now compare this to the fact that transport-related accidents is the third leading cause of unnatural death in South Africa².

So, maybe the facts and the odds are not in my favour, but I do have one fundamental issue with planes. Flying has shifted the focus of travel to the destination, but I believe the journey is just as important. Aeroplanes make everything so much simpler and faster, but the point is, you can’t get lost in an aeroplane.

Honestly, road trips are so unpredictable, especially when you attempt it in an old Volkswagen Beetle (yes, I do speak from experience). On one occasion it was pouring with rain and I got towed out of the mud by someone who also ended up getting stuck. Yes, we didn’t make it to our destination very clean or well-rested, but we hung out with the locals and I forged friendships with people that will last me a lifetime.

If you don’t like getting lost, meeting awesome people, and having life-changing experiences, then road tripping is not for you. So by all means, if you just want to skim over your journey and take a few selfies, get on a plane. But if you really want to get to know a place, get under its skin and explore everything it has to offer, grab your favourite mixtape and get in the car!

Another massive bonus is that driving in a fuel-efficient car generates lower greenhouse gas emissions than flying. While even driving alone would be better for the environment than flying, going on a road trip with other people in the car really makes sense from an environmental point of view. Take a word of advice from Into the Wild, “Happiness is only real when shared.”

South Africa has been rated by various travel bloggers as one of the Top 10 Road Trip-destinations in the world. We are so privileged to call this diverse landscape our home, and going on a road trip with your friends is the ideal way to celebrate it! In South Africa you can go from bushveld, to desert, to forest, to ocean in a single day’s drive. And if you have a long way to go, LekkeSlaap.co.za is always ready to help with overnight accommodation.

Road tripping allows you to engage with people and places in a very intimate way. If you are a conscious traveller, a road trip is definitely the way to go. It allows you to support the tourism industry of many small towns that would have been overlooked if you didn’t happen to drive through them.

Adventure awaits. Get ready for new experiences, friendships and the unpredictable joys of road tripping. All you have to do is pack your bags, fill the tank and open your eyes to the scenery flashing past your windows.

Feel like going on a road trip? A good place to start is Route 62 from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth. We recommend these stays:

– Le Bonheur, McGregor
– The Blue Cow Barn ─ Boutique Farm Accommodation, Barrydale
– Matjiesvlei Cottages, Calitzdorp
– Karoo Retreat, Oudtshoorn

And lastly, what would a road trip be without a killer playlist?

https://youtube.com/watch?v=11GYvfYjyV0

Photos provided by Nadia Gava.

An earlier version of this article appeared in Die Matie.