Ours is a big country - South Africans, therefore, are used to driving vast distances simply to get from A to B. Our aim here, therefore, is to make travelling those distances as interesting as possible.

In South Africa for South Africans 23 driving routes of varying distances crisscross the entire country, many of them taking in national or provincial roads. There is plenty to explore across our nine provinces, and the big skies, boundless vistas and hours of sunshine have turned us into an outdoor-focused, activity-loving nation. With each province radically different in terms of biomes, landscape and climate, there is great incentive to slow down your journey and have fun with the family along the way. After all, a long journey is never solely about the destination.

The intention of this book is not to focus only on the major tourist attractions that are so familiar to South Africans, but rather to turn away from heavily trodden visitor paths, delving into lesser known, more unusual activities. From hiking, mountain biking and wildlife and bird watching to birding, fishing and beach-combing, this book has some new surprises. Travellers are also invited to explore beyond the usually uninspiring main road that cuts through the little country towns. From quirky farm stalls, small-town museums, monuments and city walks to battlefields, cultural sites and interesting municipal parks, we’ve got them covered. You might even learn a few things you never knew about your own country... .