Driving (on the left) in South Africa
 

Hi .
We are interested in doing part of ouf trip as a self drive and have driven extensively all over Europe (not British Isles) and North America. We love to travel like this.
What are people"s experience with driving on the other side of the road in SA and how difficult (and how dangerous) was it to adjust? I am a little nervous
Thanks

Driving on the left was not big deal for us. Just be focus , don't speed ,try to drive during the day and be careful in the intersections.
I have done self drives in Namibia ( 2005 ) and South Africa ( 2009 ) and enjoyed very much the experience.

I am sure you will enjoy too.

Driven in SA three times, in the countryside and Kruger, but not the big cities. No problem, certainly easier than some European cities. I always insist on car with auto transmission so less to distract from driving. Also, if one person drives while the other navigates and reminds the driver about making left and right turns for the first day or so is good. But again, no problems you just have to think a bit more until you adjust to it.

regards - tom

Have done it a bunch for me

sort of wierd everything expecially turns

just the opposite of usual it is best to adjust

on a rural road or suburb not in a big city if you can

for the first day or 2 till you get used to it.

Happy and safe journey

It's really not a big deal at all. At first take it easy and give yourself just a little while to adjust. When driving I repeat the mantra "Keep left, keep left." I tend to avoid night driving when I'm likely to be tired and less focused. Over the years I think my biggest challenge has been circles/roundabouts at which I've sometimes become a bit disoriented---been known to go around a couple times. But that's pretty much been the worst of it.

Though I haven't been the one behind the wheel, as the navigator always advised driver

- For Turns - "wide right" or "short left"
- On roads - stay left, but not so far left that you feel the pebbles kicking up under your butt! :)

And, would suggest an automatic rather than standard... one less thing with which to concern yourself, unless you're really comfy with the stick!

Hi sb....

I was in SA for 3 weeks in September and drove over 800+ miles in that time. I do second sandi's recommendation that you rent an automatic which is significantly more expensive (but IMHO definitely worth it). I have driven a manual but it does take more concentration and as a leftie, isn't that hard for me.

Just drive around the parking lot for awhile before heading out to the highway; you will find it isn't that difficult. The roads especially in Capetown environs and the Garden Route are very good. Don't worry - you will be fine! All the best.

Deb

sb - I have no idea, but we're renting a manual transmission 4 wheel drive vehicle (MUCH less expensive than an automatic for three weeks!) in June. It scares the poo out of me, especially since we are renting in the AM at JNB, and driving off! We have never driven on the "wrong" side, so it should be quite the experience. Every person I've asked about it says it's not too bad. I guess I'll find out the hard way!

We had a rental car for almost 2 months (one month SA; one month Namibia) - while both were automatic we've driven standard in NZ without any trouble. In addition to the good advice above you might want to take a GPS with you - I found it helpful so keep you in the right lane or if you were uncertain you can have the audio instructions as back up.

I should have said "correct lane" so as not to add to the confusion!

When in Sydney (OZ) drove out of car rental, left turn up to highway cross over and immediately made a slow "short" right turn... :) :)... thankfully the Aussies have a good sense of humor, oncoming traffic stopped on a dime and all yelled out "Americans?!" Yup, that was us. That was the one and only time and thereafter, as above, "wide right" "short left" It's doable with a little practice.

As christabir says, there may be significant savings between vehicles with manual as opposed to auto transmissions. If you decide you'd like to save money, I wouldn't be overly concerned about a manual. You'll of course be using your left rather than right arm for shifting, which no doubt will initially feel very different, but, as with staying left, after a short while you should be able to adjust.

FWIW, wonder how many people today younger that 40 years can drive a manual trans?
When I learned to drive just about the only kind around was manual. The hardest part learning to drive (a car) was getting over having to use a whip to go and quit saying "haw" and "gee" when wanting to turn!!!

regards - tom

cary999:

Your too funny :)

I know two 60 year olds that learned to drive about 1965-70 with auto trans and will not, can not, drive a manual.

regards - tom

Tom, interesting question. A quick check shows something in the teens is the likely percentage for the number of cars equipped with manual transmissions in the US, so the number of drivers must be pretty low also. In Europe it's likely that most drivers can handle a manual transmission. I'm sure if you took a poll, many would tell you that most people can't drive cars with auto transmissions either. :)

When I learned, it was on an automatic, but the guys were learning on manuals. Years later when some of my gal friends purchased sports cars they were manual, but I just couldn't get the hang of it... feeling when to shift. It was like I had two left feet and the hands were also twisted. However, if I was the passenger, could feel it perfectly... go figure.

Then one night a friend arrived late and parked her cute red Ferari in a spot where it had to be moved early next morning for street sweeping, so asked if I could at least get the car out of 1st and move it around the corner? Sure I could. And so next morning was out the door before the meter maid arrived to ticket, started the car, shifted into first, moved out into the roadway and rolled to the stop light, made a right turn, then another and pulled into a safe spot... joila! Never had to shift into 2nd. Returned to apartment to a friend who was so proud of me, though to this day haven't told her I never got out of 1st! :) And, haven't tried since.

<i>It scares the poo out of me, especially since we are renting in the AM at JNB, and driving off!</i>

Actually, that makes it a little easier. In general all roads out of the airport are freeways; in fact if you're heading in the general direction of Kruger NP, the roads are "limited access" for quite a long ways (note including some toll roads) so you won't need to be skilled in turning maneuvers. Just remember to keep to the left and let people pass on the right.

Thanks Gardyloo - that's what we're hoping! We are going north to Entabeni, so hopefully I'll be more comfortable by the time we get off N1. Fingers crossed.

I only know one person with a manual. I prefer a manual, except in traffic. I drive a hybrid, so until the new Honda hybrid sports car came out this year, no manual hybrids. I learned how to drive a tractor when I was 14, so the manual was a piece of cake.

Hi all- and a Happy and Healthy holidsy period to all!!
Well actually HE will drive and I will navigate- and HE loves to drive manual (on the rght side, mind you and he learned on a manual)
Thanks for all the responses-and good luck christabir!

Thanks sb. Cheers!

sandi - very funny stories. At least you can say you've driven a Ferrari!

If you're comfortable with driving a "normal" (right-hand) stick shift, you should have no problem with a manual-transmission car in SA. Our first experience with this was in England, where we rented a manual because the prices for automatics (and gasoline) were so outrageous. My husband adjusted quickly to the left-hand shifting, even after an all-night flight and in the midst of morning rush hour outside Gatwick.

I agree, with the others, if you are comfortable with a manual shift, you won't have any problems with the manual in SA........but watch out for the windshield washers......I ALWAYS turn them on when I am trying to turn on the turn signal!!

We drove 1500 kms in October frpm Port Elizabeth to Capetown without any hitches.I was surprised by the lack of traffic on the highways and route 62.Even Capetown and the cape were easily navigated.You dont need a GPS.Only word of caution apprroaching a roundabout when there is no traffic coming the other way ALWAYS steer to the left.Coming from Canada you automatically would pull to the right and for the first two days I had to remind myself.Also south africans rarely seem to obey speed limits unless they suspect radar traps.you can do up to 100kms/hr on the highways quite legally so speeding isnt really an option.Happy trails

Traffic lights are called robots & at 4 way stops its as in the USA.

I rented a manual in SA a few months ago - had never driven on the left before, and had not driven a stick in years. I had more problems with shifting (and I admit I stalled out at a couple of intersections in the beginning!) than with driving on the left, which took amazingly little time to adjust to.

We flew into Cape Town, and it probably helped that we started out visiting the Overberg, which had relatively little traffic.

The one thing I never did get used to was the ticket dispensers at parking lots/garages. I ALWAYS looked left for them, despite sitting on the right side of the car!