Great Trek Road Trip
This is the long road north: out of Cape Town, through the high Karoo and all the way to Pretoria. It is a three-day N1 journey of mountain scenery, historic places, farm stalls and big South African skies.
Highlights include:
- Stopping at Du Toitskloof Pass for the Hex River views
- Having lunch at Veldskoen Padstal
- Visiting the historic Lord Milner Hotel in Matjiesfontein
- Calling in at Karoo National Park
- Seeing the Nelson Mandela statue on Naval Hill
- Exploring the Voortrekker Monument and Pioneer Site in Winburg
- Visiting Pretoria’s Voortrekker Monument and Union Buildings
South Africa road trip from Cape Town to Pretoria (1456 km, about 17 hours driving). Plan this trip with Sideroads Africa.
Stops along the way
Day 1
- Cape Town
- Du Toitskloof Pass: High N1 pass through Du Toitskloof (tunnel alternative) between Paarl and Worcester — dramatic rock portals and Hex River views.
- Veldskoen Padstal: Hex River valley stop offering fruit, preserves, and biltong
- Matjiesfontein Lord Milner Hotel: Historic Victorian railway hotel just off the N1 near Touws River
Day 2
- Kokerboom Restaurant & Farm Stall: Essential Laingsburg stop for coffee, biltong, and Karoo lamb pies
- Karoo National Park: Peaceful Karoo basin camping beneath dramatic Nuweveld mountains
- Travalia Farm Stall & Guest Farm: Famous Richmond Karoo farm stall with authentic lamb, biltong, and jams
- TotalEnergies Petroport Karoo (Richmond): Key Karoo rest stop on the N1 offering fuel, convenience store, and hot food for long-distance travelers.
- Kuilfontein Farm Stall: Popular Colesberg/Springfontein Karoo stall for artisan coffee and bakes
- Affi Plaas Coffee Shop & Grill Trompsburg: Coffee shop and grill just off the N1 in Trompsburg, next to the BP — waffles, burgers, and a small farm shop.
- Naval Hill & Nelson Mandela Statue: Features an 8-meter bronze statue of Nelson Mandela overlooking Bloemfontein inside a urban nature reserve.
- Hobbit Boutique Hotel: Whimsical Tolkien-inspired boutique hotel in a leafy Bloemfontein suburb
Day 3
- Voortrekker Monument & Pioneer Site (Winburg): Sandstone monument and pioneer museum site located in the oldest town in the Free State.
- The Jakkalsdrift Padstal: N1 padstal between Winburg and Ventersburg — homemade breakfast, rusks, and a farm shop off the highway.
- Engen One Stop Kromdraai (Kroonstad): Major N1 service station in the Free State with Quickshop, fast food outlets, and spacious parking.
- Engen One Stop Grasmere: Major N1 rest stop north of the Vaal toll plaza featuring Quickshop, fast food outlets, and fuel facilities.
- Voortrekker Monument: Colossal granite monument surrounded by a nature reserve, commemorating 19th-century pioneer migration.
- Union Buildings: Iconic Pretoria landmark and start of the classic N4 drive east toward Mozambique.