One of the most visually dramatic countries on earth — mountain backdrops, ocean cliffs, wine valleys and wild savannah, all within a short drive of each other. Cape Town alone can occupy a nomad for months.
The essential apps and websites every traveller needs before hitting the road
💡 Pro tip: Avoid minibus taxis as a tourist — they lack formal schedules and can be unsafe. Stick to Uber or Bolt in cities and rent a car for the Garden Route. Renting gives you the freedom to stop at viewpoints, wineries and beaches at your own pace.
📍 Where to buy: Both sold at Cape Town and OR Tambo (Joburg) airports on arrival. Passport required for RICA registration — takes about 5 minutes.
The stretch of coastline between Mossel Bay and Storms River is one of the great road trips of the world. Rent a car and take it slow. Wilderness has a serene lagoon and great surf. Knysna offers forest hikes, oysters fresh from the water and a beautiful estuary. Plettenberg Bay is upscale and beach-perfect. The Tsitsikamma National Park ends the route with ancient forests and the world's highest commercial bungee jump at Bloukrans Bridge. Most towns now have decent Wi-Fi in cafés, making this a genuine workation route.
South Africa's third-largest city sits on the warm Indian Ocean coast of KwaZulu-Natal. The Golden Mile beachfront is where surfers, joggers and locals mix freely. Umhlanga is the upscale northern suburb — safe, walkable and loaded with good restaurants and co-working spaces. The Indian Quarter and Victoria Street Market give Durban a cuisine and culture scene unlike anywhere else in the country — the bunny chow alone is reason enough to visit. Durban is warmer, cheaper and less crowded than Cape Town, and makes an excellent base if you want coast without the hustle.
A two-hour drive east of Cape Town along the Whale Coast, Hermanus is famous for land-based whale watching between June and November when Southern Right Whales come to calve in Walker Bay. Outside whale season it's a relaxed coastal town with excellent seafood, clifftop walks and a growing café scene that suits remote workers who want Cape Town access without Cape Town prices.
South Africa's wine capital, 45 minutes from Cape Town. Oak-lined streets, Cape Dutch architecture and over 150 wine estates within a 15-minute drive. It's also a university town, which keeps things lively and affordable. Many nomads use Stellenbosch as a base in summer — slower pace, beautiful scenery, and close enough to Cape Town for day trips without the city price tag.
One of South Africa's best-kept secrets. The Eastern Cape coastline between East London and Port Edward is raw, unspoiled and dramatically beautiful — red cliffs, turquoise Indian Ocean, and traditional Xhosa villages scattered across rolling hills. The hiking trails here are world-class. Very limited Wi-Fi and connectivity, so best treated as a digital detox before or after a Cape Town stint.