Surf-van trip South Africa

Our 2-week van surf trip in South Africa will be a trip we will never forget. It had been a dream to road trip the coast of South Africa and to find all the hidden gems – from the vast mountain cliffs that hugged the coastline to beaches with wild cows; it was a journey that filled my heart with love for my country and was my chance to show my other half my wild country.

South Africa is a vast country, and it can take a lifetime to explore everything it has to offer. I believe the best way to see as much as possible is hiring a car or van and setting out for at least a 2-week road trip.

Let’s get to the fun stuff! Our trip and how you can plan one.

But first, watch our video to get inspired 😉

Planning

There is a bit of planning to be done before setting out. It starts by asking 5 main questions:

1. How long will you be going?

We had 2 weeks to get from Johannesburg down to Cape Town via Durban to pick up our new custom surfboards. Approximately 2400km to cover that included highways and off the beaten path roads. In Cape Town, we had an additional 2 weeks to visit family for Christmas and explore.

2. What do you want out of your trip? Sightseeing, wildlife, surf trip etc.

We wanted to find the best surf spots while exploring nature and avoiding the crowds during peak sessions.

3. What places do you want to see and how long do you want to be there?

The places we wanted to see was some of Durban’s surf spots outside the city, Coffee Bays surf and its hole in the wall, Jeffries Bay surf and its shopping, Victoria Bay and then finally Cape town.

4. What is your budget? South Africa can get pricey – Your most significant expense will be your car, fuel and accommodation.

We used a van rental company called wicked campers. They market themselves as the affordable van option, and they are compared to some other options. We also didn’t book any campsites that I wouldn’t recommend and decided to “wing it”. The second-largest expense was fuel, the van was surprisingly light, but South Africa is mountainous, and you can quickly use up a couple of tanks during your trip.

Coffee Bay, South Africa

22 days budget

AC Van with insurance: $2,218.61
Petrol/gas: $600
Campsites for about 5 nights: $70 (+-$10 per night)
groceries and beer: $70 per week that includes
Restaurants: $15 for 2 people including beer per meal

Prices can vary dramatically; we kept it simple most of the time avoiding the tourist spots and stealth camping, however, if I did it again during peak times I would 100% book campsites cause they are very hard to find if you leave it too late. Most campsites are beautiful and well located.

5 . Lastly, What type of trip do you want? Fast or mellow or fast and mellow.

We had a specific date we had to be in Cape Town; however, we wanted to take it slow and enjoy our trip. We drove some nights to cover ground, and this was if it was on highways like Johannesburg to Durban. There are many rest-stops on the way, so if we got tired, we would stop at one and have a nap. It allowed us to relax at spots for a couple of days and unwind.

We had the best surf adventure down the coast of South Africa; we explored new parts of my home country; we had some crazy moments like not being able to start the car, but the surf was excellent, and the country was magnificent!