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Panorama Route

South Africa's most breathtakingly scenic road trip route

The Panorama Route connects the Lowveld and the Mpumalanga Drakensberg and is arguably one of the most beautiful parts of South Africa. This scenic route consists of natural attractions and panoramic viewpoints, all centred around the lushly vegetated Blyde River Canyon. An ideal self-drive adventure crossing indigenous forest, rolling hills, and Lowveld plains, this road trip features loads of activities and natural wonders. The area can be discovered through hiking, mountain biking, ziplining, and much more. In between, visitors can stop at small charming towns to buy souvenirs at arts and crafts shops and grab a bite at the many restaurants, or visit Pilgrim’s Rest, a living museum dating back to the late 1800s.

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Kruger National Park is not a malaria-free area, however, having a safe safari is completely achievable. It’s important to consult your doctor about malaria prevention and the use of antimalarial medication before your trip. Taking precautions on your Kruger National Park visit includes wearing protective clothing and staying in lodges with screened windows, mosquito nets, and air-conditioning. Don't forget mosquito repellent! Early detection and full courses can make all the difference since malaria reacts well to early treatment.

Visa requirements depend on your nationality. Citizens from certain countries may be exempt from obtaining a visa for short stays. To determine if you need a visa, it's best to check with the South African embassy or consulate in your home country. Find out more here. Additionally, South Africa offers a visa waiver program for certain countries, allowing visitors to enter for tourism purposes without a visa for a specified period. Make sure you have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the date of your entry into South Africa and at least 1 blank page in your passport for endorsements.

South Africa is safe to visit, but like most developing countries, it's important to be street-smart:

  • Keep a watchful eye on your belongings, whether you're solo or with a group.
  • Avoid displaying valuables like phones and cameras, especially when out and about.
  • Do not walk alone in deserted areas at night.
  • Don’t keep large sums of money on you.
  • When self-driving, be aware of the distance between the towns or petrol stations and know how to handle breakdowns or a flat tire.
  • Admire wildlife from a safe distance –never exit your vehicle in national parks or reserves except at designated areas.

For the best safari experience, we suggest private game reserves over public parks. Public areas are often crowded, while private reserves, bordering Kruger, offer exclusivity, luxury lodges, professional guides, open-air vehicles, off-road access, and limited vehicles for uninterrupted views. There are no fixed times, and night safaris are possible. Visitors can enjoy bushwalks, multi-day safaris, and photo tours for a top Big 5 Kruger adventure. Read more in Differences Explained: National Parks vs Private Game Reserves in South Africa.

When driving in South Africa, travellers can use their valid foreign driver's licence if it meets specific criteria: it should be in English (or any other official South African language) or have an official English translation, and include a photo and signature. Road conditions vary by region. In the Western Cape, roads are generally well-maintained. In areas like the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal, occasional potholes may be encountered. To navigate, we recommend using Google Maps for the best routes, which will likely correspond to well-kept roads.

South Africa uses the currency Rand (ZAR) exclusively. You can exchange your currency for Rand at selected airports, banks, currency exchange offices, or ATMs. Card facilities are widely available, reducing the need for excessive cash on hand. Before your trip, check if your credit or debit card will work in South Africa for convenient card payments. However, it's advisable to carry some cash for small tips and when visiting remote destinations.

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Because of the easy way we communicated with our Viatu expert, it felt like planning our holidays with a friend. It made it really flexible and perfectly suitable for our needs. The accommodations that he suggested were just wonderful and a perfect mix of everything we needed.

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Nicole

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Our Viatu experience was just amazing, starting with the first discussions and the planning of our trip to Namibia. The Viatu team did a great job planning the trip according to our wishes and preferences.

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What can I say? We've had an absolute blast traveling through Namibia. Soooo many good new memories! We booked our trip a bit last minute but had amazing support from Viatu to get all the information in time.

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Anna

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We had an incredible journey with Viatu and many unforgettable memories in South Africa. The journey was tailor-made to our wishes and the communication with Alex really easy, friendly and helpful. All the information was accessible online at any time, nicely presented and structured in an overview.

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Michèle

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We had the most wonderful experience with Viatu and the trip of a lifetime. My sister and I travelled for 3,5 weeks through Namibia and South Africa, and everything was perfectly planned and just amazing.

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With super short notice, they organised a trip that was just perfect. Loved everything about it! Will definitely recommend Viatu to all my friends!

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The recommended accommodations were perfect for us and everything was as expected. Even though we booked on very short notice, everything went smoothly and was well managed by Viatu.

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Jan

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I'm very thankful for my first Viatu experience. The 3-week trip across Namibia combined incredible landscapes and nature, mindblowing eco-friendly lodges and utter peace of mind. The organisation and support of the Viatu team were spot-on - this is the way to impress. Thanks a lot!

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Christoph

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We loved using the Viatu Trip Builder to design our holidays in South Africa. It was super easy and transparent. Our holidays were great and the few times we needed support, our consultant Benoit was very quick and helpful.

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Anita

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I had a once in a lifetime trip with Viatu. It was extremely exciting, adventurous and diverse! As my first trip, I found it to be very enjoyable. Everything was totally planned out from A to Z.

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Irina

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Because of the easy way we communicated with our Viatu expert, it felt like planning our holidays with a friend. It made it really flexible and perfectly suitable for our needs. The accommodations that he suggested were just wonderful and a perfect mix of everything we needed.

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Nicole

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Our Viatu experience was just amazing, starting with the first discussions and the planning of our trip to Namibia. The Viatu team did a great job planning the trip according to our wishes and preferences.

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Stefano

verified iconVerified Traveller

What can I say? We've had an absolute blast traveling through Namibia. Soooo many good new memories! We booked our trip a bit last minute but had amazing support from Viatu to get all the information in time.

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Anna

verified iconVerified Traveller

We had an incredible journey with Viatu and many unforgettable memories in South Africa. The journey was tailor-made to our wishes and the communication with Alex really easy, friendly and helpful. All the information was accessible online at any time, nicely presented and structured in an overview.

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Michèle

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We had the most wonderful experience with Viatu and the trip of a lifetime. My sister and I travelled for 3,5 weeks through Namibia and South Africa, and everything was perfectly planned and just amazing.

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Valerie

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With super short notice, they organised a trip that was just perfect. Loved everything about it! Will definitely recommend Viatu to all my friends!

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Margherita

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The recommended accommodations were perfect for us and everything was as expected. Even though we booked on very short notice, everything went smoothly and was well managed by Viatu.

avatar icon

Jan

verified iconVerified Traveller

I'm very thankful for my first Viatu experience. The 3-week trip across Namibia combined incredible landscapes and nature, mindblowing eco-friendly lodges and utter peace of mind. The organisation and support of the Viatu team were spot-on - this is the way to impress. Thanks a lot!

avatar icon

Christoph

verified iconVerified Traveller

We loved using the Viatu Trip Builder to design our holidays in South Africa. It was super easy and transparent. Our holidays were great and the few times we needed support, our consultant Benoit was very quick and helpful.

avatar icon

Anita

verified iconVerified Traveller

I had a once in a lifetime trip with Viatu. It was extremely exciting, adventurous and diverse! As my first trip, I found it to be very enjoyable. Everything was totally planned out from A to Z.

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Irina

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