While summer gets all the road trip glory, winter’s chill brings its own kind of magic to South Africa’s roads. There’s a unique clarity to the landscape this time of year—the golden grasslands glow, mountains glint with frost, and the roads are refreshingly crowd-free.
Here’s where to go when you want your road trip served with misty valleys, mountain passes, and mugs of something warm by the fire.
1. Golden Gate Highlands & Clarens
Titanic rock Clarens via R712/Ossewa/Wikimedia Commons
Route: Johannesburg → Clarens via R712 and Golden Gate Highlands National Park
Best For: Mountain lovers, art lovers, weekenders
Just a few hours from Joburg, the Golden Gate Highlands feel like a different world. In winter, the rust-red sandstone cliffs look even more dramatic against snow-dusted peaks and wide, clear skies. Take the winding R712 through the national park, where eland, zebra, and baboons roam free.
End your drive in Clarens, a bohemian mountain village perfect for fireside dining, craft beer tastings, and browsing cosy galleries. It’s a winter weekend road trip that pairs big scenery with small-town charm.
2. Cederberg circuit
Gecko Creek Wilderness Lodge, Clanwilliam/Matthieu Joannon/Unsplash
Route: Cape Town → Ceres → Algeria → Clanwilliam
Best For: Solitude seekers, stargazers, hikers
The Cederberg in winter is a study in contrasts—ice-cold nights and sun-warmed days, rugged gravel roads and the soft stillness of snow-dusted peaks. The route from Ceres to Clanwilliam via Algeria is lovely, taking you past sandstone cliffs, San rock art, and endless fynbos.
Sleep at a mountain lodge or remote self-catering retreat, light a fire, and look up—the Cederberg is one of the best stargazing spots in SA. Bonus: Winter is rooibos tea season. Stop for a cuppa in Clanwilliam, the heart of the rooibos belt.
3. Midlands Meander
Mooi River/Roger O’Neill/Wikimedia Commons
Route: Durban → Howick → Nottingham Road → Mooi River
Best For: Foodies, romantics, weekend wanderers
KZN’s Midlands Meander is built for winter: moody landscapes, misty valleys, and fireplaces in every second B&B. Start in Howick, known for its waterfall and Nelson Mandela Capture Site, and wander westward toward Nottingham Road.
Along the way, you’ll find cheesemakers, coffee roasters, antique shops, and trout farms. Wrap your hands around a mug of glühwein, shop for handmade woollens, and let the grey skies add to the cosy mood. For a snow-chasing extension, take a detour up the Sani Pass—just make sure you have a 4×4 and a passport.
ALSO READ: Underrated inland escapes for the off-season traveller
4. Barkly East to Rhodes
Peach blossoms between Barkly East and Rhodes bring a splash of spring colour to the still-wintery highlands. | Getaway Gallery
Route: Barkly East → Naudé’s Nek Pass → Rhodes
Best For: Snow-chasers, photographers, adventurers
In the Eastern Cape Highlands, winter transforms the landscape into something close to Alpine. The gravel road from Barkly East to Rhodes, crossing Naudé’s Nek Pass, is one of the few places in South Africa where snow is almost guaranteed in the colder months.
This is a drive for the confident and cautious—4×4 is a good idea, and weather changes fast. But if you make it to Rhodes, you’ll find a village that feels lifted from another century, with tin-roofed houses, wooden verandas, and utter peace.
5. Garden Route (Wilderness to Storms River)
Nature’s Valley/Paul Venter from English Wikipedia/Wikimedia Commons
Route: Wilderness → Knysna → Plettenberg Bay → Nature’s Valley → Storms River
Best For: Whale-watchers, forest lovers, slow travellers
The Garden Route in winter is a quieter, mistier version of itself—ideal for travellers seeking stillness. The stretch from Wilderness to Storms River is especially cinematic, with forest canopies, cliff-hugging roads, and the smell of wood smoke in the air.
Take your time exploring Knysna’s forests, detour to Nature’s Valley, and brave the Storms River Suspension Bridge in Tsitsikamma. It’s also prime whale season—you might just spot a southern right breaching offshore.
6. Karoo Calm: Gariep Dam to Colesberg
Colesberg/Neal Markham/Unsplash
Route: R58 Detour via Norvalspont and Gariep Dam
Best For: Road trippers seeking space, solitude, and stargazing
This detour off the R58 may not be dramatic in elevation, but it’s rich in stillness. The route from Gariep Dam to Colesberg cuts through high Karoo plains where windmills spin lazily and light changes the mood every hour.
Stay in a farm cottage, walk beside the dam at sunrise, and enjoy the absolute quiet. It’s also an ideal halfway stop between Gauteng and the Cape—just enough off the highway to feel like a proper escape.
Road trip tips for cold-weather cruising
- Layer up: Mornings and evenings can be icy, especially at altitude.
- Check road conditions: Snow and ice may affect high passes like Naudé’s Nek and Sani Pass.
- Pack a flask: Hot drinks go a long way in cold roadside lay-bys.
- Book accommodation early: Popular winter spots like Clarens and Rhodes fill up fast.
- Keep your camera ready: The winter light is crisp and low—perfect for landscape shots.
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