Motoring Information and Costs

Potential view from your motorhome

Driving Licence and International Driving Permit (IDP)

Non-residents are permitted to drive with a driving licence issued and valid in their own country, provided it bears the photograph and signature of the holder and is in English. If your driving licence does not meet these requirements, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is required.

Drivers must be over 18 years old, but motorhome rental companies may have additional requirements (BoBo Campers stipulates 21 as the minimum age).

Vehicle Insurance

On individual, tailor-made holidays, vehicles from BoBo Campers are insured with a 10,000 ZAR excess. To have the vehicle fully insured, take out a CDW policy according to the BoBo Campers rates sheet (CDW3 costs 220 ZAR per day and reduces all risk to all vehicle models to nil. CDW 2 and CDW1 are lower forms of cover). An imprint of a major credit card may required while the vehicle is rented.

Driving in South Africa

Public roads are well developed and well sign-posted, with driving on the left as in the UK. Rules of the road will be provided with your motorhome. Some roads are designated toll roads (recognisable by a black T on a yellow background), so ensure that you have sufficient cash in hand. These roads are particularly prevalent between Johannesburg and the Kruger National Park and from Johannesburg to Durban.

Mobile phones

Using hand-held phones while driving is against the law. You should use a vehicle phone attachment or a hands-free kit, but phoning while driving is not advised.

Drinking and driving

The legal blood alcohol limit in South Africa is 50mg per 100ml, which is 30mg lower than in the UK. The legal breath alcohol limit is 24mg per 1000ml. It is illegal to refuse to give a breath or blood sample.

Signs

All distances, speed limits and speedometers are in kilometres. Signs follow standard international symbols.

Roads

While most national roads are tarred and in good condition, the more rural the road, the more likely it is to be pot-holed and poorly surfaced. Our escorted tour does cover some well maintained gravel roads and on these it is advisable to keep your speed down and to be especially careful if travelling in wet weather.

Speed Limits

The general speed limits, unless otherwise indicated, are: on national highways, urban freeways and other major routes 120kph (75mph); on secondary (rural) roads 100kph (60mph); in built-up areas usually 60kph (35mph). Speed limits are giiven in kilometres per hour.

Filling up

Diesel costs much less than in the UK. At the time of writing, petrol costs about ZAR8.90 and diesel about ZAR9.45 (these prices are for inland areas and are usually a little lower on the coast), with prices reviewed by the government on the first Wednesday of each month. You will usually be expected to return your vehicle with a full tank of petrol unless otherwise stated by your rental company.

There are a variety of filling stations on both main and country roads. However, distances between towns (and therefore between filling stations) are considerable in some parts of the country, so it is advisable to fill up your tank before it starts giving warning signals. Most stations are open 24 hours a day, although some keep shorter hours, and most generally offer full service, rather than self-service.

In the case of full service, an attendant will fill the tank, check the oil and coolant levels and the tyre pressure and, if necessary, clean the windscreen, for which he or she will expect a tip of two or three rand.

You cannot pay for fuel with a credit card (South Africans use a special fuel card). You will need to pay in cash, so it is important to make sure that you always have enough money with you for your fuel requirements.

Propane gas

Your motorhome heating and cooking facilities run off propane stored in a tank on the motorhome. You can fill up your propane tank at petrol stations (the attendants will fill it for you). A propane tank should never be more than three quarters full.

Seat belts

Seat belts must be worn at all times by drivers and passengers.

Toll roads

Many of the national roads between the major centres are toll roads. Check the toll fees before your journey, and make sure that you have adequate means of payment with you. Debit cards, plus credit cards not issued in South Africa, are not accepted for toll payment, so make sure you have anough cash with you for tolls.

Watch out for animals in rural areas

Roads in many rural areas are not fenced, so you could find dogs, chickens, sheep and even horses or cows on the road, so it may be dangerous to drive at night. Large antelope crossing the road can also be a hazard in certain areas – watch out for the road signs depicting a leaping antelope, and take it slowly, especially towards evening.