Cape to Kalahari Road Trip
This three-day drive leaves Cape Town for the long road north, overnighting in Calvinia and beside Augrabies Falls before crossing the red Kalahari to Twee Rivieren.
Highlights include:
- Having breakfast at De Werf Farmstall
- Stopping for lunch at Die Skoorsteentjie Padstal in Vanrhynsdorp
- Stopping at Nieuwoudtville Waterfall on the Bokkeveld escarpment
- Photographing Calvinia’s giant flower post box before dinner at The Barn
- Eating lamb pies or milk tart at Ouma Miemie’s Farm Stall
- Overnighting beside Augrabies Falls
- Watching the Orange River plunge into the gorge at Augrabies Falls
- Calling at Die Pienk Padstal and the Kalahari Oranje Museum
- Tasting wine at Orange River Cellars in Upington
- Reaching Twee Rivieren Rest Camp in the Kgalagadi
South Africa road trip from Cape Town to Twee Rivieren Rest Camp (1256 km, about 15 hours driving). Plan this trip with Sideroads Africa.
Stops along the way
Day 1
- Cape Town
- De Werf Farmstall: Philadelphia farm stall and weekend market at the N7 and R304 junction
- Engen Vanrhynsdorp: N7 / R27 junction fuel stop at Vanrhynsdorp for Namaqualand and Calvinia turnoffs.
- Die Skoorsteentjie Padstal: Family-run Vanrhynsdorp padstal serving homemade baked goods, chicken burgers, skuinskoek, coffee and rooibos tea.
- Nieuwoudtville Waterfall: 100-metre cascade on the Doring River near Nieuwoudtville — a dramatic stop on the Bokkeveld escarpment.
- Calvinia Post Office: Iconic 6-metre-high flower post box converted from a water tower — Calvinia's most photographed landmark.
- The Barn Calvinia: Dinner and events venue on Jaagvlakte Street in Calvinia.
- Tarantula Guesthouse: Self-catering Calvinia guesthouse with private patios, braai facilities and Hantam Mountain views.
Day 2
- TotalEnergies Calvinia: Essential R27 Karoo fill-up in Calvinia on the Cape-to-Kalahari route.
- Brandvlei Filling Station: Remote R27 Brandvlei fuel stop — top up here; pumps are sparse across the Boesmanland.
- Ouma Miemie's Farm Stall: Legendary Kenhardt farm stall for lamb pies milk tart potbrood and homemade preserves.
- Keimoes Waterwheel Padstal: Iconic Kalahari padstal along the Orange River selling local wines and dried fruits
- Augrabies Falls Rest Camp: Arid park campsite located right near the roaring Augrabies Waterfalls
Day 3
- Augrabies Falls National Park: Where the mighty Orange River thunders down a 56-meter granite gorge in a deafening spectacle.
- Die Pienk Padstal: Iconic bright-pink Kakamas roadside stall on the N14 selling dried fruit biltong preserves and famous sheep pies.
- Sasol Upington R27: Upington R27 / town fuel stop before the R360 run to the Kalahari.
- Kalahari Oranje Museum: Historic 1875 mission church museum in Upington with pioneer domestic displays and the famous bronze donkey monument.
- Orange River Cellars: World's second-largest wine co-operative in Upington — wine tasting and tours on the Green Kalahari.
- Twee Rivieren Rest Camp: Gateway rest camp to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in the Kalahari dunes