A South African road trip is a bit like family group chats. They start with excitement and good intentions, and somewhere along the way somebody gets hungry, somebody needs the bathroom, and somebody is annoyed about the music choice. Usually all at the same time.
Yet somehow, I keep coming back for more. Maybe it’s the open road. Maybe it’s the promise of discovering somewhere new. Or maybe it’s because South Africa was made for road trips.
From crossing the Karoo with enough snacks to survive a minor apocalypse, to chasing sunsets along the coast and spotting wildlife just when everyone in the car has started asking, “Are we there yet?”, some of our favourite family memories have happened between Point A and Point B.
But after years of road-tripping between Pretoria, Cape Town, Hermanus, Kimberley, Dinokeng, the West Coast and plenty of places in between, I’ve learnt one very important lesson: The things you pack can make or break the trip. Because forgetting your toothbrush is inconvenient. Forgetting your charger? That’s how villains are made.
So before you hit the road, here are 11 things I always pack for a South African road trip. Some are practical, some are lifesavers, and one or two earned a permanent spot on the list after being forgotten exactly once.
1. Snacks: A South African Road Trip Essential
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from travelling with my son, Yaqeen, it’s that he will always find the most inconvenient possible moment to be hungry. Not before we leave. Not at a petrol station. Not when there are food options. No. Usually somewhere in the middle of nowhere with absolutely nothing around for kilometres. To make matters even more interesting, he’s also a ridiculously fussy eater.
That’s why snacks aka Padkos are non-negotiable on every road trip and our current road trip MVP? Samoosas. For my international readers, padkos means roadfood and samoosas are a popular South African Indian savoury snack, and in our house they’re practically a food group. I usually pack a few dozen because they’re easy to eat, don’t require cutlery, and both my husband and Yaqeen love them. No mess, no fuss, and no monitoring required.
Garage shops are also surprisingly expensive, and because we’re Muslim, finding halaal food on the road isn’t always as simple as pulling into the nearest fast-food outlet. If you’re visiting South Africa, do yourself a favour and stock up at Woolworths www.woolworths.co.za before hitting the road. From sandwiches and snacks to drinks and treats, you really can’t go wrong.
And while we’re talking about South African road trip essentials, let’s discuss biltong. A proper South African road trip is not a proper South African road trip without biltong. I don’t make the rules.
Finally, don’t underestimate drinks. South African summers have absolutely no mercy. Pack more water and cold drinks than you think you’ll need because nobody wants to feel like they’re slowly being roasted alive somewhere between destinations.
2. Data (Because We Are No Longer Built for Boredom)
If you had told my younger self that one day I’d willingly pay extra for mobile data before a road trip, I would’ve laughed. Then again, younger me spent most road trips asleep against the car window somewhere between Cape Town, Durban, and various corners of South Africa. I definitely got my love of travel from my parents, even if I slept through half the journey.
These days? Data is essential. For starters, Android Auto does a lot of heavy lifting on our road trips. It’s responsible for Google Maps, Spotify, and helping us avoid those little “I’m sure the turn was back there somewhere” moments.
Then there’s my son, Yaqeen. His tablet is a non-negotiable road trip item because I’m fairly certain we’d all lose our minds if he had too much unoccupied time in the car. To be fair, he’s not completely glued to a screen. Wildlife? He’s instantly interested. A herd of elephants, giraffes crossing the road, or a lion sighting and suddenly he’s the most attentive passenger in the vehicle. Trees, mountains, and scenic landscapes, however? Let’s just say they don’t quite compete with YouTube Shorts.
It’s funny because I finally understand how my parents must have felt all those years ago. The child who slept through half the road trip is now raising a child who only looks up when something exciting is happening.
We also need data for our playlists because every road trip eventually develops a theme song. You know the one. That song everyone becomes obsessed with and plays approximately 47 times until the entire family knows every word.
A South African road trip without good music, working maps, and enough data is a risk I’m simply not willing to take.
3. Water Bottles & Drinks (Because Dehydration Is Not Part of the Adventure)
The South African sun has absolutely no mercy, especially during summer road trips.
Before every trip, we stock up on water and drinks because buying them one bottle at a time at every garage stop can become surprisingly expensive. One of my favourite road trip tricks is freezing a few bottles of water the night before. As you drive, they slowly melt and stay ice cold for most of the journey.
We also carry extra bottles of water for another very important reason. Let’s just say Muslim road-trippers know exactly why. The key is making very sure nobody mixes up which bottle is which. Trust me on that one.
When travelling with kids, though, there’s a delicate balance. You want everyone hydrated, but not so hydrated that you’re stopping every thirty minutes for a bathroom break.Yaqeen has mastered the art of waiting until the absolute last possible second before announcing that he desperately needs a toilet. Usually when the nearest one is still 20 kilometres away.
Then there are the road trip drink preferences. My husband insists that driving requires a Monster Energy, specifically the Mariposa flavour. Apparently this is essential for safe driving. I remain unconvinced, but after 3 years of marriage I’ve learnt to pick my battles.
And while fizzy drinks might seem like a good idea for keeping everyone happy, I try to avoid too much sugar on the road. A sugar high plus several hours trapped in a car is not a combination I recommend. Yaqeen already has enough energy to power a small city. Add too many fizzy drinks and he starts auditioning for the Olympic gymnastics team from the back seat.
Water, a few favourite drinks, and plenty of common sense. That’s the winning formula for a successful South African road trip.
4. Comfort Items (Because Road Trips Are Not Endurance Sports)
If you’ve ever left home at 4am for a road trip, you’ll know that comfort quickly becomes a priority.
In our family, Yaqeen is definitely not a morning person. The child who can somehow stay awake until ridiculous hours suddenly transforms into Sleeping Beauty the moment the car starts moving before sunrise. Within the first hour, he’s usually curled up under a blanket, fast asleep and completely unaware that we’re already making progress towards our destination.
To be fair, I’m not much better. People often imagine travel bloggers spending road trips staring thoughtfully out the window, admiring every passing mountain and taking in the scenery.
Meanwhile, I’m usually rotating between being a passenger princess, reading my book, feeding husband Zeyn snacks to keep him focused on the road, changing the playlist, and inevitably falling asleep at some point.
Which is exactly why I never travel without a pillow. A good travel pillow can turn an awkward car nap into a surprisingly decent sleep, especially on those longer South African road trips where the destination still feels very far away.
Blankets are another non-negotiable. South African weather likes to keep everyone guessing. One minute you’re melting in the heat and the next you’re digging through bags looking for something warm.
Then there are shoes. The moment I get comfortable in the car, my shoes come off. Yaqeen has inherited this habit from me and usually kicks his off not long afterwards. Whether we’re heading to the coast, the bush, or somewhere in between, comfortable slip-on shoes make life so much easier when you’re constantly stopping for fuel, snacks, bathroom breaks, and those random roadside photo opportunities.
As for poor Zeyn? While the rest of us are napping, snacking, reading, and generally living our best road trip lives, he’s busy doing the actual driving. His road trip comfort essentials are considerably simpler: a vape, a Mariposa Monster, and the knowledge that eventually we’ll arrive at our destination.
Every road trip needs a hero.
5. Wet Wipes (The Unsung Heroes of Every South African Road Trip)
I don’t care how old your children are. Wet wipes remain one of the greatest inventions ever created.
We’ve reached the point where they have their own permanent place in the car because every single road trip eventually involves a situation where someone says:
“Do we have a wet wipe?”
The answer should always be yes. They’re useful for sticky fingers after samoosas, wiping away mysterious dashboard dust, cleaning up drink spills, emergency hand washing, and whatever unidentifiable substance children somehow manage to get on themselves within thirty minutes of leaving home.
To this day, I still don’t fully understand how kids can make such a mess while sitting in one seat.It’s actually impressive.
Wet wipes have also saved us after roadside snack stops, ice cream disasters, accidental sauce explosions, and those moments when you realise the petrol station bathroom wasn’t quite the luxury experience you were hoping for.
Road trips are messy. Samoosas leave crumbs. Biltong leaves fingerprints. Cooldrink leaves sticky hands.
And somehow, despite all evidence to the contrary, everyone still wants to touch everything afterwards. A packet of wet wipes fixes most of life’s small road trip problems. And if you’re travelling with children, I highly recommend carrying more than one packet.
Because the moment you think you won’t need them is usually the moment somebody drops a full snack on themselves five minutes before arriving at your destination.
Ask me how I know.
6. First Aid Kit & Medication (Because Somebody Always Needs Something)
No matter how carefully you plan a road trip, somebody will eventually need medication.
In our family, it’s less a first aid kit and more a survival kit. I still have childhood memories of car sickness that haunt me to this day. Growing up, a long road trip usually involved me staring straight ahead, trying to convince my stomach that everything was fine. Spoiler alert: it was not.
Because of that, nausea tablets are always packed before we leave home. I rarely need them these days, but I’m not taking chances. Some childhood traumas stay with you forever. Then there’s Yaqeen.
For reasons I cannot explain, children seem to believe that every tiny scratch requires immediate medical attention. A microscopic scrape on his knee? Emergency. A paper cut? Potential amputation. So we always carry plasters because at some point during the trip he’ll discover a scratch that definitely wasn’t bothering him until he saw it.
And then there’s poor Zeyn. His essential medication is headache tablets. Not because of the road. Because of us. Somewhere between my backseat commentary, Yaqeen’s endless questions, the fifth replay of the same song, and debates about where we’re stopping next, the man deserves a medal. A headache tablet is the closest thing we can offer.
Along with the basics, we also pack allergy medication, pain tablets, and a few emergency supplies. Most of the time they stay untouched, which is exactly how you want it.
Because the funny thing about first aid kits is that you never need them…Until you really need them. And trust me, the nearest pharmacy always feels much further away when you’re somewhere in the middle of the Karoo.
7. Entertainment (Because "Are We There Yet?" Is a Real Threat)
A road trip without entertainment is a dangerous game. Not dangerous in a life-threatening way. Dangerous in a “we’ve been driving for 45 minutes and somebody is already asking how much longer” kind of way. Everyone in our family has their own way of staying entertained on the road.
For me, it’s usually a combination of books, music, games on my phone, and occasionally pretending I’m starring in my own music video. If a good song comes on, there’s a very high chance you’ll find me singing, dancing in my seat, and fully committed to the performance. Whether I’m reading a good book, curating the perfect playlist, or convincing myself I could headline a concert from the passenger seat, I like having options.
Zeyn’s entertainment is much simpler. Since he’s the one doing the driving, his main focus is the road and the music. A good playlist can make a ten-hour drive feel a lot shorter. While Yaqeen and I are busy singing, dancing, reading, gaming, and generally causing chaos, he’s usually just happy with his music, his Mariposa Monster, and getting us safely to our destination.
Then there’s Yaqeen. His entertainment packing list is longer than some people’s holiday packing lists. A tablet, a phone, a Nintendo Switch, downloaded games, downloaded videos, and enough technology to keep a small IT department busy.
To be fair, he does take breaks. Especially if we spot wildlife. Show him an elephant, giraffe, zebra, or anything remotely adventurous and he’s instantly glued to the window. Trees, mountains, and scenic landscapes, however? Let’s just say they don’t quite compete with YouTube Shorts.
It’s funny because I finally understand how my parents must have felt all those years ago. The child who slept through half the road trip is now raising a child who only looks up when something exciting is happening.
The secret is balance. A little screen time. A little family time. A few road trip games. A good playlist. Maybe a book. And every now and then, putting the devices down long enough to appreciate where you are.
Because sometimes the best entertainment isn’t on a screen. Sometimes it’s singing at the top of your lungs, arguing over the rules of a travel game, or laughing so hard you nearly miss your turn-off.
And trust me, those memories last a lot longer than a YouTube Short.
8. A Change of Clothes (Because Somebody Always Needs One)
Every road trip, without fail, somebody questions why I pack so many clothes. Usually that somebody is my husband. Apparently, according to him, nobody needs that many outfit options for a few days away.
And every road trip, without fail, somebody ends up needing a change of clothes. Usually that somebody is not me but sometimes it is.Look, I’ve accepted that I might be an overpacker. I’ve made peace with it. But after years of travelling, I’ve learnt that a spare outfit can save the day.
Maybe somebody spills a drink. Maybe somebody gets caught in the rain. Maybe a roadside snack goes horribly wrong. Maybe it’s one of those South African weather days where you leave the house dressed for winter and arrive dressed completely wrong.
Whatever the reason, having a change of clothes nearby has rescued us more times than I can count.And when you’re travelling with children, the chances of needing one increase dramatically.
Kids have a special talent for finding dirt, water, food, mud, dust, and mystery substances that no adult can identify. Yaqeen is no exception.Even if we’re only stopping briefly, I like knowing there’s a clean set of clothes waiting in the car just in case.
I also always pack a hoodie or light jersey that’s easy to grab. South African road trips can take you through three seasons before lunchtime, and I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
So yes, I overpack. And yes, my family rolls their eyes every time I load another bag into the car.
But when somebody suddenly needs a clean shirt halfway through the trip, guess who’s the hero?
Exactly.
9. A Bag for Dirty Clothes, Wet Stuff & Road Trip Rubbish
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from years of road-tripping around South Africa, it’s this:
Always pack a bag for the things you don’t want touching everything else. And no, I’m not just talking about dirty clothes. Road trips create chaos.
There are wet swimming costumes after an unexpected stop at a pool. Dusty shoes after exploring a game reserve. Jerseys that were needed at 6am and abandoned by lunchtime. Towels, socks, random bits of clothing, and somehow, nobody can remember what’s clean anymore.
That’s why I always pack a separate bag for dirty clothes and wet items. It keeps the chaos contained and makes unpacking a whole lot easier when you eventually get home.
But there’s another bag that travels with us too. The rubbish bag. Because one thing we’re teaching Yaqeen is that we don’t throw rubbish out of car windows.
Not ever. South Africa is far too beautiful for that. Between snack wrappers, juice boxes, receipts, tissues, and whatever else accumulates over hundreds of kilometres, road trips generate a surprising amount of rubbish. Having a dedicated bag means everything stays neat until we find a bin.
It’s a small habit, but one that matters. The wildlife, beaches, mountains, game reserves, and open roads we love exploring deserve to be looked after too.
So while a rubbish bag might not be the most exciting thing on this list, it might just be one of the most important. Future You, and future generations, will thank you.
10. Music & Playlists (Because Every Road Trip Needs a Soundtrack)
A road trip without music is simply not an option. In our family, the playlist is almost as important as the destination itself.
We’ve got Spotify loaded with playlists for every mood imaginable, road trip singalongs, Bollywood favourites, TikTok songs we’re currently obsessed with, throwback classics, and the songs that somehow end up on repeat for weeks at a time.
Right now, our road trip anthem is Dai Dai, the new FIFA World Cup song. If it’s playing, there’s a very good chance you’ll find me dancing in the passenger seat, pretending I’m in a music video while poor Zeyn focuses on keeping us safely on the road.
One thing you’ll always find on our playlist, though, is Michael Jackson. And I mean always.I introduced Yaqeen to Michael Jackson as soon as he was old enough to appreciate music, and now he’s just as obsessed as we are. Somewhere between Billie Jean, Beat It, and Smooth Criminal, a whole new generation of fans was created.
One of my favourite things about road trips is that everyone gets a turn choosing the music. Sometimes it’s Bollywood. Sometimes it’s Michael Jackson. Sometimes it’s whatever TikTok has convinced us we need to listen to twenty-seven times in a row. The playlist changes, but the singalongs never do.
There’s something special about driving down an open South African road with your favourite people, the windows down, a great song playing, and absolutely no shame in belting out the lyrics at the top of your lungs.
Some of our best family memories have happened somewhere between destinations, with a good playlist providing the soundtrack. Because years from now, I probably won’t remember every kilometre we drove.
But I’ll definitely remember the songs.
11. Cash, Cards & Backup Money (Because Technology Has Trust Issues)
Zeyn and I both have a terrible habit. Neither of us likes carrying cash. Like most South Africans these days, we tap, swipe, scan, and carry on with our lives. Between bank cards, smartphones, and digital wallets, it’s easy to assume you’ll never need physical cash again.
Until you do. Road trips have a funny way of reminding you that technology isn’t always as reliable as we’d like it to be. While most places across South Africa happily accept cards, there are still plenty of situations where having a little cash can save the day. Remote fuel stations, roadside stalls, small local businesses, card machines that suddenly stop working, poor signal, minimum swipe amounts, or those random moments when technology decides it’s taking the day off.
We’ve learnt the hard way that it’s always worth carrying a little emergency cash. Not huge amounts. Just enough to cover a fuel stop, a snack, a cooldrink, or any unexpected situation that pops up along the way.
Because while card payments have made life easier, they don’t help much when the card machine is displaying an error message and you’re standing there awkwardly wondering if they accept good intentions as payment. A small emergency cash stash gives you options, peace of mind, and one less thing to worry about when you’re hundreds of kilometres from home.
And if you don’t use it? Great. It can stay tucked away until the next adventure.
Final Thoughts: It's Never Really About the Packing
After years of travelling across South Africa as a family, I’ve learnt that the things we pack aren’t really what make a road trip memorable.
Sure, the snacks help. The wet wipes save the day and the first aid kit has rescued us from more than a few minor disasters. But when I look back on our adventures, those aren’t the things I remember most.
I remember Yaqeen fast asleep under a blanket before sunrise. I remember singing Michael Jackson at the top of our lungs somewhere in the middle of nowhere. I remember roadside snack stops, endless family conversations, wildlife sightings, and the excitement of discovering somewhere new together.
The reality is that every family road trip looks a little different. What works for us might not work for everyone else, and that’s okay. The beauty of a South African road trip is that there isn’t one right way to do it. Sometimes the best memories come from the unplanned moments. The unexpected detours. The places you never intended to stop. The random roadside coffee shop that turns out to be the highlight of the day.
So while these 11 South African road trip essentials never leave our car, the most important thing we pack is a sense of adventure. Because long after the snacks are gone, the playlists have changed, and the bags have been unpacked, it’s the memories that stay with you.
And those are always worth the journey.
And if you’re looking for inspiration for your next adventure, you can browse all of our South African travels, road trips, family getaways, and hidden gems right here.
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See you at my next destination.
xoxo,
Ash 💜
