South Africa Car Hire

Car hire in South Africa

Cosmopolitan cities situated on dramatic coastlines, wild lions silhouetted against the Kalahari dunes, sun-kissed beaches embraced by two oceans, lush mountains rising imperiously from verdant plains and twinkling stars lighting an outdoor adventure in the desert –South Africa is a world of wonderful experiences in a unique destination. But, to take it all in, you are going to need to cover a few miles across its well-linked road network. And the best way to do this is to hire a car in South Africa.

Hire a car in South Africa with Expedia

Depending on your plans, there are a few international airports that may make the ideal starting point for your South African adventure. Cape Town International Airport, Oliver Tambo International in Johannesburg and King Shaka International in Durban all offer strategic places to start your explorations.

You can arrange your car hire in advance with Expedia from any of these airports, and also from most major towns and resorts in the country. We partner with a number of car hire specialists to offer you plenty of choice of vehicles and the perfect place to pick up and drop off your car. What’s more we can always bring you the latest deals to ensure you have access to cheap car hire in South Africa.

Simply enter the dates you need a car for, choose where you’d like to start your car hire and select the type of vehicle you need for your trip. There’s everything from economical mini-class cars to spacious SUVs available, and, because we use a network of providers, there’s always plenty of choice.

Booking your car in advance with Expedia is the easy part –it’s choosing where to go that’s trickier. But, to help you on your way, here are some of the highlights of this exciting destination that open out to you when you rent a car in South Africa.

Where will your car hire in South Africa take you?

Safaris have to top the bucket list for many visitors –and they don’t come much more accessible than in South Africa. Ticking off the Big Five in expansive parks and reserves is all part of the wildlife experience, and you can drive right into the rugged wilderness of Kruger, Kgalagadi and other parks.

There’s a lot to keep you busy in the multicultural and cosmopolitan spaces of Cape Town. Yet, there’s still plenty just beyond the city you will want to drive out to. Why not abseil down the iconic Table Mountain or bungee jump from a bridge on the spectacular Garden Route? Take the car for a scenic coastal drive to spot some whales at Hermanus before heading for the Western Cape, where world-class vineyards, stunning beaches and mountains await.

Gauteng in the north of South Africa is where history comes alive. Johannesburg is its epicentre and offers the chance to explore the country’s troubled past in the Apartheid Museum or to experience its optimistic present in the buzzing streets of Melville. Stately Pretoria’s jacaranda-lined streets are a short drive north, but to really step back in time, you should drive out to the Unesco World Heritage-listed Cradle of Humankind, where a vast valley is full of caves and fossils that represent one of Africa’s most important archaeological sites.

Drive east from Gauteng and you’ll be at another of South Africa’s coolest cities, Durban. The city’s revamped waterfront is a joy to stroll down and its nearby beaches are hard to beat. What truly sets it apart, however, is that it is home to the largest concentration of people of Indian descent outside of India. There’s a real Asian feel to this South African city, with marketplaces, street food and exquisite Asian fine dining all very much on offer.

A short drive north will bring you to the exuberant diversity of KwaZulu-Natal. This is where action-packed adventure meets chilled-out beaches, and where mountains merge into flat, dry savannahs. Here urbane cities segue into tribal settlements, and traditional Zulu culture can be experienced before you head off to spot lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants and rhinos.

Rent a car in South Africa and book yourself a trip to remember

Whether you are after a sight of the majestic lion or an encounter with seals, whales or a great white shark, having your own transport in South Africa makes everything so much more accessible.

Wherever you drive there are opportunities for outdoor adventures, ranging from rock-climbing in the Cederberg, surfing off the coast of the Eastern Cape, trekking through the desert of the Karoo or mountain biking on Table Mountain.

And sometimes the thrill can be in the drive itself. Epic and diverse landscapes provide a fascinating backdrop to many South African journeys. There’s the surreal desert landscapes of the Kalahari and the achingly beautiful misty heights of the Drakensberg mountains. Just outside Cape Town two of the world's most dramatic coastal roads will take you on an unforgettable drive to Cape Point and Hermanus.

Hiring a car in South Africa with Expedia is easy and the drives are a sheer joy. It’s just a case of narrowing down where to go!!