{"id":800471,"date":"2024-12-14T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-14T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=800471"},"modified":"2024-12-13T16:56:32","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T14:56:32","slug":"most-popular-road-trip-and-small-town-staycation-spots-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/lifestyle\/800471\/most-popular-road-trip-and-small-town-staycation-spots-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Most popular road trip and small-town staycation spots in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ballito in KwaZulu-Natal and the Garden Route in the Eastern and Western Cape have been labelled as the top small-town staycation and road trip locations in South Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is according to Budget Insurance’s new travel index<\/strong><\/a>, which looks at the popularity of over 100 road trip and staycation destinations across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With searches for \u201cstaycation ideas\u201d up 33% and \u201croad trip\u201d searches up 9% and peaking in mid-November, South Africans could be seen to be increasingly opting for local getaways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, the new index analyses over 100 road trip and staycation spots across South Africa, considering factors like Instagram and TikTok hashtag volumes, Google search trends, and average accommodation prices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each factor was assigned a score from 0 to 100, with higher scores for more popular destinations or lower accommodation costs. The final ranking is based on the total scores from all factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Budget Insurance said that this new index is to inspire South African drivers to explore even more destinations this holiday season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most popular small-town staycation spots<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

RANK<\/strong><\/td>Destination<\/strong><\/td>Province<\/strong><\/td>Average 3* accommodation prices (1 night, 2 people) – ZAR<\/strong><\/td>Final Score<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
1<\/td>Ballito<\/td>KwaZulu-Natal<\/td>1,626<\/td>87.9<\/td><\/tr>
2<\/td>Oudtshoorn<\/td>Western Cape<\/td>857<\/td>75.9<\/td><\/tr>
3<\/td>Paternoster<\/td>Western Cape<\/td>1,754<\/td>74.1<\/td><\/tr>
4<\/td>Bronkhorstspruit<\/td>Gauteng<\/td>980<\/td>73.6<\/td><\/tr>
5<\/td>Hartbeespoort<\/td>North West<\/td>1,349<\/td>71.4<\/td><\/tr>
6<\/td>Plettenberg Bay<\/td>Western Cape<\/td>2,382<\/td>66.6<\/td><\/tr>
7<\/td>Jeffreys Bay<\/td>Eastern Cape<\/td>1,237<\/td>63.6<\/td><\/tr>
8<\/td>De Hoop<\/td>Western Cape<\/td>1,060<\/td>61.8<\/td><\/tr>
9<\/td>Clarens<\/td>Free State<\/td>2,313<\/td>60.9<\/td><\/tr>
10<\/td>Underberg<\/td>KwaZulu-Natal<\/td>1,033<\/td>59.1<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Whether holidaymakers are chasing adventure, relaxation, or a slice of history, South Africa\u2019s small towns and scenic staycations offer something for everyone not just during the festive season, but throughout the year too,” said Budget Insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Briefly looking at the top 5, these were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ballito (Score: 87.9)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ballito, a top beach town in KwaZulu-Natal, is known for its vibrant surfing culture and stunning coastal views. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With over 300,000 Instagram hashtags, it\u2019s comparable to Byron Bay and Maui Beach, attracting families and adventure seekers alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Image: Lucian Coman\/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Oudtshoorn (Score: 75.9)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nestled in the Karoo, Oudtshoorn is famous for its ostrich farms and the Cango Caves, drawing over 40,000 Google searches monthly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It resembles Alice Springs and Sedona, offering rugged landscapes and local heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Image: Willem Cronje \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Paternoster (Score: 74.1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This peaceful fishing village on the West Coast attracts 135,000 monthly Google searches for its tranquil beauty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With seaside views and a quiet atmosphere, it\u2019s similar to Greece\u2019s Oia and Norway\u2019s Reine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Image: Anna Mueller \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bronkhorstspruit (Score: 73.6)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Home to Africa\u2019s largest Buddhist temple, Bronkhorstspruit is a spiritual hub with 60,000 monthly searches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It shares similarities with Lumbini, Nepal, and Japan\u2019s Kamakura, offering a serene environment steeped in Buddhist heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Image: Andrew Mohamed \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Hartbeespoort (Score: 71.4)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located between a dam and the Magaliesberg Mountains, Hartbeespoort is perfect for watersports and outdoor activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With more than 8,000 TikTok posts, it\u2019s comparable to Lake Como and Annecy, attracting visitors who enjoy lakefront living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Image: Shams Amir<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Most Popular Road Trips<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

RANK<\/strong><\/td>Road trip<\/strong><\/td>Final Score<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
1<\/td>Garden Route<\/td>84<\/td><\/tr>
2<\/td>Sani Pass<\/td>66<\/td><\/tr>
3<\/td>West Coast<\/td>51<\/td><\/tr>
4<\/td>Midlands Meander<\/td>46<\/td><\/tr>
5<\/td>Wild Coast<\/td>27<\/td><\/tr>
6<\/td>Cape Peninsula<\/td>24<\/td><\/tr>
7<\/td>Winelands<\/td>21<\/td><\/tr>
8<\/td>The Drakensberg<\/td>17<\/td><\/tr>
9<\/td>Panorama Route<\/td>15<\/td><\/tr>
10<\/td>Clarence Drive<\/td>10<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

“For those feeling the call of the open road, these iconic routes will have drivers exploring everything from mountainous landscapes to coastal views,” said Budget Insurance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Briefly looking at the top 5, these were:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garden Route (Score: 84)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This iconic route from Mossel Bay to Storms River offers serene beaches, lush forests, and charming towns like Knysna. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With 9,900 local searches monthly, it\u2019s a must-do for road trip lovers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Knysna Heads. Image: Arnold Peterson \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sani Pass (Score: 66)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This thrilling drive through the Drakensberg mountains has jaw-dropping views and 153,300 TikTok posts, making it a globally shared adventure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Image: Dieter Pey Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

West Coast (Score: 51)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Famous for wildflower blooms and coastal beauty, the West Coast road trip is a top destination with 201,000 monthly global searches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Image: Louis Lotter \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Midlands Meander (Score: 46)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A scenic journey through lush landscapes and quaint villages, the Midlands Meander is perfect for nature lovers and those who enjoy local crafts and farm-to-table dining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Image: Shams Amir<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wild Coast (Score: 27)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For adventurous travellers, the Wild Coast offers rugged beauty and uncrowded beaches, attracting 6,000 monthly Google searches in South Africa alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Image: GirlSeeingWorld \/ Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Read: The South African city voted the best in the world for food<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Experts at Budget Insurance have created a new travel index which looks at the popularity of over 100 road trip and staycation destinations across the country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":739603,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9876],"tags":[9948,26,21054,9657],"class_list":["post-800471","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-budget-insurance","tag-headline","tag-south-africa-tourism","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800471","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=800471"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800471\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":804266,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/800471\/revisions\/804266"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/739603"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=800471"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=800471"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=800471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}