Road trips in South Africa are the stuff of legend. But if you’ll be on the road for days or weeks, planning is what makes the journey fun. A good plan helps you relax, focus on the road, and handle surprises when things inevitably don’t go to plan.
Your route along with your rest, food, and fuel stops should all be planned. A few things to keep in mind:
- Know the distance between each stop. Especially your rest and fuel stops.
- Choose the right car for your needs.
- Drive in a way that saves fuel.
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Planning your route
Plan your route ahead with road trip tools like Michelin maps or Roadtrippers.
Research the towns, sights, and detours you want to see. If you’re booking a lodge, hotel, or Airbnb, call ahead to confirm safe parking for your car.
Take simple precautions: carry a spare can of petrol, keep some cash for when cards don’t work, and check that your rental company offers roadside assistance in the areas you’ll be driving.
Before you leave, refresh yourself on local road rules and speed limits. And most importantly, leave room to slow down and linger.
Give yourself a chance for spontaneous activities like a swim at a rock pool or a few extra hours over coffee with an interesting stranger. It would feel horrible to let a packed schedule rob you of those moments.
Rent a fuel efficient car
Big SUVs and trucks burn more fuel because of their weight. Unless you truly need the large cargo space or extra seats, choose a compact hatchback or a smaller SUV. You’ll save money at the pump, and have plenty of room for your luggage and a few more passengers.
💡Check the fuel economy rating of your rental before you book it.
Prepare the car
Before you hit the road, check that the vehicle is ready for the trip:
- Check your tire pressure: Slightly over-inflating your tires (about 2psi above the recommended level) improves fuel economy, braking, and handling.
- Lighten the load: Extra weight drags down efficiency; every 100 pounds can cut fuel economy by about 2%. So don’t overpack; leave the stuff you don’t need for your trip at your hotel or Airbnb.
- Use AC wisely: On the highways, your open windows create drag which increases fuel consumption. So, roll them up and use the AC.
- Do basic maintenance. Check the air filter and top up the oil before you leave.
💡At highway speed half of your car’s power is spent overcoming this drag.
Driving behaviour that saves gas
Here are ways to increase fuel efficiency on your road trip:
#1. Accelerate slowly and maintain a steady speed
Every time you accelerate, you use power (fuel) to move the weight of the vehicle faster.
Hard acceleration wastes fuel and wears your brakes faster. Ease onto the pedal, build up to 80 km/h, and hold a steady speed. At highway speeds, 80 km/h is the sweet spot for efficiency. Doubling that speed to 160 km/h creates 4 times the drag force and burns 8 times the fuel.
#2. Use cruise control where you can
When the traffic conditions allow, use cruise control to stay at a steady speed.
On open roads, cruise control helps you stay steady. Even small speed changes like drifting between 75 and 85 km/h can raise fuel use by up to 20%.
#3. Anticipate the traffic and coast to decelerate
Don’t race to the next red light. Look ahead and take your foot off the gas so the car coasts forward instead of accelerating until you get too close and have to brake harshly.
A moving car uses less fuel to keep going than one that’s stopped. Coasting early means less braking, less wear and tear, and more fuel savings.
It’s also a safer way to drive.
#4. Don’t idle
Don’t sit with your engine running. If you’re stopped for more than half a minute, switch off the engine (unless you’re at a traffic light).
Modern engines don’t need to warm up before driving, and many newer cars even have start-stop systems that shut the engine off when you brake, then restart it automatically when your foot comes off the brake.
#5. Use the right type of fuel
Always fill up with the fuel recommended by the manufacturer. Using the wrong fuel type can reduce efficiency, or worse, damage the engine.
If you’re not sure, ask your Tarlen Host if you’re renting from one of our hosts.
Or ask your rental company before you leave the car lot.
