Driving in South Africa

Imagine driving in Utah...or on Germany's autobahn.

Now quantify this experience.

Multiply that number by 837.

Add animals...the meandering, unpredictable types like goat, cow, pig, dog...




and people walking to work from one town to the next...



or looking for a lift to work...


or people already working...


Then subtract any sort of standardized traffic code.

Divide by zero traffic enforcement.

Finally, exponentiate by driving on the other side of the road + shifting gears with your left hand.

Result: Driving in South Africa.

So, yes, it can be rather "white-knuckle" to drive here. Even our little Fromer's guide decries the road we travel back and forth to work everyday (the R40) as one of the most dangerous roads in the country. In fact, the author specifically advises travelers to avoid this road after dusk...which we do (don't worry moms!).

Most of the main roads are two-lane highways with speed limits up to 120 km/hr. Of course, sometimes people in front of you go 60. They will tell you they do this because it "saves petrol", but it's really because they are carrying a bunch of stuff in the back....household goods, firewood, people...



If you're not sitting behind one of these overloaded vehicles (or even if you are) chances are someone behind you wants to go 140. Now, if it happens that someone wants to pass/"overtake" you (and you'll know when they want to overtake because they get about 7 inches from your back bumper and sit there waiting) the protocol is for you to move to the far left of your lane or the shoulder (if there is one) and let the person pass on the right of the lane which ends up being the middle of the two lane road. Thrilling, isn't it?



It's especially exciting when drivers on both sides of the road try to overtake simultaneously...


Now, if you don't want to drive, you could always take the taxi. But this means waiting at your local taxi rank...



or on the side of the road somewhere...


Either way, once you're in that taxi, it spells TB to us. (OK, we admit we're probably overly concerned about disease these days. But you'll have trouble convincing us that our paranoia is a problem in this case.)


But make no mistake: driving here is not all the animal-swerving and car-dodging thrill ride that we're making it out to be. If you can manage to get away from the animals and people, the surroundings are quite incredible. South Africa offers you a little bit of everything.

From far-reaching flatlands...



grandiose greenery...


and climatic cliffs...


to orderly orange orchards...


and beautiful banana fields (even more bewitching when they are in focus)...


Not to mention the home-scattered hills...







Plus, if your South African driving experience has left you feeling a little shaken you can always stop for some munchies along the way...the locally-grown avocados here are especially tasty (but be sure to ask for the "non-Hep C" ones).


Or pick up a few handmade rugs, pots, or plastic roosters for the homestead.


Why roosters you ask? Nobody really knows. They're just the rage right now. Can't really explain it. (Kind of like "hammer pants" in the late 80s.) But, we're thinking of getting a pair to pose in our front yard and confuse the baboons....maybe then they'll think twice about rummaging through our garbage. Or they'll rip them apart and leave their wooden remains scattered about the yard. Unfortunately, the latter sounds most probable.