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One of the best options for travelling the country is to consider motorhome hire in South Africa. This self-drive option offers the ideal combination of convenience, comfort and flexibility allowing you to travel across the many beautiful cities and towns of South Africa in the comfort of your very own home on wheels. Motorhomes, or campers as they are also often called, are fast becoming one of the most popular ways to explore a country at leisure, and make for an unforgettable travel experience as you travel across a myriad of landscapes in comfort and luxury. For those who are visiting South Africa for the first time, it can be tough to know the best times to visit. To get the most from your camper hire in South Africa, choose the season that offers the best all-round conditions and highlights, to ensure that your trip is memorable and fun. Summer South Africas summer begins towards the end of November, and lasts up until March or so. The months between December and February are typically the hottest, but you could still expect heat waves as late as March. Cape Town summers are famous for very hot weather with strong winds making this the prime season for mountain fires. In Durban, summers are hot and humid, while in the Gauteng region, thunder showers and spectacular lightning displays are common during the hot summer months. Key things to do when considering motorhome rental in South Africa during these months include enjoying South Africas excellent beaches, open air concerts, water sports, outdoor festivals and an abundance of New Years parties in almost every town across the country. Autumn Autumn in South Africa offers the best of both worlds, with the weather turning cooler, with plenty of stunning hot days to enjoy. The scenery changes as trees begin to take on their autumn leaves, and locals and visitors alike begin to enjoy some of the attractions on offer such as wine tours, abseiling, road trips to favourites such as the Garden Route, hiking and walking trails, camping and many other fun things to see and do all offering ideal options when planning your camper rental in South Africa. Winter The winter months can be on the cold and miserable side, but this season has its own attractions. Durban winters are the mildest, and you can still enjoy beach activities during winter there is even a surfing competition held during the peak of winter (June/July). In Cape Town, locals and visitors flock to cosy pubs and restaurants to enjoy fine local red wines around the fire, to escape the cold and windy weather. In the Gauteng region, winters can be very cold but with plenty of indoor activities to enjoy, you can still have plenty to see and do during the cold months. A big advantage of travelling during winter is that prices are much lower during these off-season months. Spring Spring is one of the best seasons for visiting South Africa, and offers a riot of colour with wildflowers in full bloom. The Cape Floral route offers the best viewing, and also offers prime whale watching during July to November. In the Gauteng, you can enjoy a host of outdoor activities, while in Durban the beaches begin the fill up as the weather turns towards summer. Spring is an ideal season for those planning a car hire adventure in South Africa, ensuring great weather and stunning scenery. Get around on the ground – Self Drive Holidays in South Africa South Africa is a vast country with endless natural beauty and a Self Drive holiday is the ultimate and most rewarding way to explore this diverse country. Unlike many European cities, the main form of transport in South Africa is by road. There are some forms of public transport however they are limited to travel within the main cities and between them. Most tourists fly to South Africa and land at one of the three international airports. Johannesburg International, Durban International or Cape Town International Airport. Capital Car Hire offers convenient car hire solutions from all of these national airports. Additionally, Capital Car Hire will deliver your hire car to you at the Durban International Arrivals Hall, Johannesburg International Arrivals Hall or Cape Town International Arrivals Hall. Once you land your holiday has begun. Self drive car tours offers almost unlimited freedom for the tourist to South Africa. Excellent road infrastructure opens up a country away from the main cities that is filled with natural splendour: completely unspoilt beaches, wine farms, magnificent mountains and wildlife parks The self drive holiday allow you to discover the unexpected and experience the heady mix of third and first world cultures in South Africa away from the set tourist routes. South Africa is a huge country and not to be traversed in a day, take your time, break up your journey. You’ll often find that the best memories are made once you are off the beaten track! Get the most out of your South Africa self drive holiday Car Hire Tips Navigation * Plan your self-drive routes beforehand Speed limit Distances are all in Kilometres and not miles. The general speed limit on national highways urban freeways and other major routes is 120km/h (75mph). On secondary (rural) roads it is 100km/h (60mph). In built-up areas it is usually 60km/h (35mph) unless otherwise indicated. Check the road signs. South Africa boasts excellent roads. well signposted areas within larger cities and towns, making it easy to navigate your way around South Africa. You may encounter gravel roads and some rugged terrain in the more mountainous or rural areas, but when you navigate through these areas you will discover untouched landscapes combined with interesting and unique cultures. Filling up Petrol stations in South Africa are not self-help an attendant will fill the car, check oil and water and tire pressure and, if necessary, clean the windscreen. Attendants will appreciate a tip of three or four rand ($0.40) If you are hiring from Capital Car Hire all our cars use unleaded petrol but check before you set off. A variety of petrol (gas) stations are situated on both main and country roads. Most of them are open 24 hours a day, although some keep shorter hours. However, distances between towns (and therefore between petrol stations) are considerable in some parts of the country, so it is advisable to fill up your tank before it starts giving warning signals. Safety and Security * Speak to the locals for tips and use commons sense like avoiding ostentatious displays of jewellery and electronic equipment. South Africa can be hot and humid in certain areas. If you are traveling long distances, opt for a hire car that has air-conditioning. If you are planning a long distance trip make sure that your car hire company offers you a generous daily free kilometre allowance The City of London has a variety of attractions and is the perfect destination to hire a car and tour the city streets in the comfort of your own transport. Car hire companies are plentiful and offer touring of England’s capital at an affordable price. With many museums and historical attractions as well as wide open spaces the city of London is a widely visited tourist destination.
Road tripping is a great way to see Africa and with car hire in South Africa being as affordable as it is, your overland adventure may simply be a click away. Car rental websites often have special offers and if you go through the trouble of checking regularly you are guaranteed to get a good deal. Overland trips are a great way to spend family vacations. You can join up with a self-drive safari group, but if you’re feeling adventurous why not tackle the road on your own? It is simple enough to create an online itinerary and once you’ve landed in South Africa, all you’d need to do is buy supplies, back up your 4×4 car hire and be on your way. Packing for a normal road trip may seem simple enough, but once you hit the bushveld things are a bit different. There are no 24 hour convenience stores and, except if you have booked place in expensive hotels and lodges along the way, you will be relying on your own camping gear come night-time. We have compiled a helpful list of packing ideas that should make your car rental road trip a bit more comfortable. These include: · Being selective: Pack everything you plan to take for your car hire overland trip on your bed. Take a good look at it. Now pack half of that back into your closet. You won’t need it all and loading your car up with non-essentials like 14 changes of clothing will mean that there will be less space for things like water and tents. Furthermore, leaving some space in your luggage will make it easier to bring back souvenirs. · Rethink your luggage: Suitcases are not ideal for an overland trip. Think more along the line of a duffel bag or a large backpack with a removable frame. If you will be travelling for long stretches at a time, it is a good idea to pack a small daypack to keep with you in the front of the 4×4. This should contain things like chronic medication, sunscreen, snacks, your travelling visa, as well as relevant maps.
· Toiletries: Bring everything you normally use and add some high factor sunscreen, insect repellent, lip balm and a hat. (We’re not talking a big flouncy garden party hat here – think Indiana Jones and you’re halfway there. The African sun is not a joke.) Also remember a pair of sunglasses. If you wear contact lenses, you may want to think about bringing along a pair of reading glasses – the air is very dry and may irritate your eyes initially. · Other Africa essentials: The type of camping gear you bring is up to you. Some people like to rough it and sleep under the open sky, while others travel with tents that should technically qualify as mobile homes. Once you get to South Africa and you’ve secured your car rental, you will be able to tell what type of gear you can accommodate in your ride. Get in touch with a reputable outdoor store – some rent out camping equipment, which means you won’t have to buy your own. Aside from the tent, you’ll also need the following:
§ A sleeping bag and light blanket.
§ A roll-up or blow-up mattress. If you take the blow-up version remember to bring patches and glue to fix any unexpected punctures.
§ Mosquito netting if you are planning to sleep ‘al fresco’.
§ A washing line.
§ A solid torch with LOTS of spare batteries. Once you head out into the bushveld, chances are that you may not find any replacements, so with LOTS we do mean LOTS.
§ A camera with relevant batteries, chargers and film/memory card. If you do go the digital route, invest in a large memory card – these are not readily available in most developing countries.
§ A small first aid kit. This should include items such as pain killers, rehydration sachets, anti-diarrhoea medication, antihistamine tablets or cream, antiseptic cream, tweezers, after sun treatment, as well as sterile gauze and plasters. And there you have it – a handy little list that will have you packing like a pro in no time at all. A well planned overland trip can be the experience of a lifetime. Why not call ahead and book your 4×4 car rental today?
The biggest problem with car hire today is choice, there are just too many companies and too many choices. So what will cause a potential client to hire a car from you and smile while doing so.
After doing some research I found the 10 top reasons why somebody would hire a car for you.
1) Potential clients hate having to speak to a computer. It can’t answer their questions sufficiently and makes your business seem impersonal and cold. So if you can’t get to the phone, hire someone that can help.
2) Make sure your website is easy to use and that it is quick and simple to book through your website.
3) If there are any problems that arise then solve them quickly and efficiently. There’s nothing worse than hiring a car from a company who can’t solve simple problems.
4) Make sure that your staff knows how to listen to someone. This might sound simple and easy but in reality it’s not. A lot of places never match to the client’s specific needs, usually giving them a car that the company thinks is best but that’s not what the client had specified.
5) Make sure the staff are friendly, polite and treat the customer well. One of the things that really gets my goat is when I go up to a car hire counter at the airport and I get this sulky person that looks like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders and wants the world to see how sorry they are for themselfs. I do not care, I will move onto the next car hire counter and book from the person who will greet me with a smile and treat me with respect.
6) Make sure you have a choice of cars, that are in the same category, on offer. A person tends to always have a specific make of car they like to drive, so try provide for those that refuse to drive anything else.
7) Make sure the return of the car is processed quickly and with no hassles. By doing this that person will probably hire from you the next time round as they will see you as professional and hassle free.
8) Make sure your prices are competitive. Although good service counts for most of a sale, prices can also turn the sale away from you. So make sure to always be in a competitive market in order to clinch that deal.
9) Make sure the employees in your company are professional at all times. A unprofessional person depicts an unprofessional company.
10) Be as accommodating as you can be. Every personality is different so what is good for the goose isn’t always good for the gander. Niche markets are nice but if you can’t run with the big boys this market could cause your company to collapse.
Follow these steps for customer satisfaction and make a success of that business that you are trying so hard to build. Many of us choose to swap the plane for a much more familiar form of transport for a holiday abroad; the motorcar. However, if you want to experience the joy of the open road, with the summer breeze rushing through your hair, then you need to be sure your insurance is in order. By learning a few little known facts you could save yourself a lot of hassle and a lot of money. Here are some top insurance tips for driving abroad. Hire Cars – When hiring a car to drive abroad the car will almost always come with insurance, but that will most probably be third party insurance only. This means that if you have an accident, and it’s deemed to be your fault, you could face a hefty repair bill for all vehicles involved. Make sure you check out the level of insurance provided by the hire company before you take control of the car, preferably before you’ve even left home to go on holiday. If it is third party then have a look on the internet for companies which offer special cover for hire vehicles, effectively this cover will upgrade any insurance which is included in the car hire to fully comprehensive. Your Car – It’s important when driving your car abroad to make sure that your insurance broker has covered you to drive abroad. If you’re not covered you’ll need to notify them of your travel dates and possibly pay a fee. If you are covered you may still need to notify your insurance company of your travel dates as you might be limited to the number of days you’re covered abroad and they’ll need to know when you’re away. If you’re using a comparison site when buying your insurance then you can often select the need to be covered for trips abroad. Kwik Fit Insurance offer 60 days cover abroad when you take out a car insurance policy from their site, which should be enough to cover all of your holidays. Be careful also that you’re not breaking the law without realising it; things like speed camera detectors might be legal in the UK, but travel across the channel to France and the same detector will cost you thousands of Euros in fines if you’re caught with it in the car, even if you’re not using it. So make sure you know the law when taking your own car abroad, and with all that done, enjoy the sun! · Drive on the left hand side of the road in South Africa and overtake on the right only. · South Africa travel distances and speed limits are displayed in kilometers on road signs. · The message is clear “Don’t Drink and Drive”. There are strict drink driving laws in South Africa. The maximum alcohol blood content level that is allowed is 0.05%. This is around one glass of wine per person. Don’t ruin your holiday by geting prosecuted for drink driving. · A common feature at quiet intersections on South Africa roads are Four Way Stops. Here, the very first vehicle to arrive has priority. Remember to give way to traffic on the right at roundabouts – however it is wise and then proceed with caution. · You must always wear a seat belt. All of the passengers in the vehicle are required by law to wear seatbelts. · The use of hand held cell phones whilst you are driving is not permitted on South African roads. Use a hands free kit should you want to avail of the use of a mobile phone. · You are required by law to carry your Drivers Licence when driving, and it is also advised to acquire an International Driver Permit also. Police Road Traffic Officers will want to see your driving documents if they stop you on your journey. If your Drivers Licence doesn’t have a photograph, then use your passport for photographic identification! · Speed Limit on the national highways, freeways and all other main roads in South Africa is 120km/h (75mph). · On the rural road network the speed limit is 100km/h (60mph). · In the urban locations the limit is usually 60km/h (35mph), unless signs dictate otherwise. · Make sure to reduce speed on congested roads, or if conditions are poor due to rain or mist. · Note that in South Africa it is illegal to park your vehicle on the opposite side of the road when it is facing oncoming traffic. · Yield to traffic on the right at roundabouts – oncoming traffic on the right has the right of way. Proceed with caution if clear on the right. · At traffic lights, if the light is green, then you can proceed. If you are turning to the right and the light is green, the oncoming traffic has the right of way. Wait until it is clear to proceed. · At traffic lights if you are turning left and the light is green, you can proceed. · When the traffic lights turn to amber, slow down and stop. · The legal age for driving in South Africa is 18 years of age. The best way to explore South Africa is to hire a car. Book a Car Rental in South Africa or visit our Car Hire in Cape Town page. One of the best options for travelling the country is to consider motorhome hire in South Africa. This self-drive option offers the ideal combination of convenience, comfort and flexibility – allowing you to travel across the many beautiful cities and towns of South Africa in the comfort of your very own home on wheels. Motorhomes, or campers as they are also often called, are fast becoming one of the most popular ways to explore a country at leisure, and make for an unforgettable travel experience as you travel across a myriad of landscapes in comfort and luxury. For those who are visiting South Africa for the first time, it can be tough to know the best times to visit. To get the most from your camper hire in South Africa, choose the season that offers the best all-round conditions and highlights, to ensure that your trip is memorable and fun. Summer South Africa’s summer begins towards the end of November, and lasts up until March or so. The months between December and February are typically the hottest, but you could still expect heat waves as late as March. Cape Town summers are famous for very hot weather with strong winds – making this the prime season for mountain fires. In Durban, summers are hot and humid, while in the Gauteng region, thunder showers and spectacular lightning displays are common during the hot summer months. Key things to do when considering motorhome rental in South Africa during these months include enjoying South Africa’s excellent beaches, open air concerts, water sports, outdoor festivals and an abundance of New Years parties in almost every town across the country. Autumn Autumn in South Africa offers the best of both worlds, with the weather turning cooler, with plenty of stunning hot days to enjoy. The scenery changes as trees begin to take on their autumn leaves, and locals and visitors alike begin to enjoy some of the attractions on offer such as wine tours, abseiling, road trips to favourites such as the Garden Route, hiking and walking trails, camping and many other fun things to see and do – all offering ideal options when planning your camper rental in South Africa. Winter The winter months can be on the cold and miserable side, but this season has its own attractions. Durban winters are the mildest, and you can still enjoy beach activities during winter – there is even a surfing competition held during the peak of winter (June/July). In Cape Town, locals and visitors flock to cosy pubs and restaurants to enjoy fine local red wines around the fire, to escape the cold and windy weather. In the Gauteng region, winters can be very cold – but with plenty of indoor activities to enjoy, you can still have plenty to see and do during the cold months. A big advantage of travelling during winter is that prices are much lower during these off-season months. Spring Spring is one of the best seasons for visiting South Africa, and offers a riot of colour with wildflowers in full bloom. The Cape Floral route offers the best viewing, and also offers prime whale watching during July to November. In the Gauteng, you can enjoy a host of outdoor activities, while in Durban the beaches begin the fill up as the weather turns towards summer. Spring is an ideal season for those planning a car hire adventure in South Africa, ensuring great weather and stunning scenery. My family decided to visit Europe when we found out my sister was chosen to go on a trip to France for the World Cup in 2008 with DriveAway Holidays, sponsored by Peugeot. We thought we would join her in Italy – I can’t let my sister have all the fun now can I? I have to admit the flight felt like it was never going to end and was very tiring, but when we finally arrived in Rome we were all excited again. We collected our car from Rome Fiumicino Airport and the Europcar depot was easily found with numerous signs pointing us in the right direction. After the papers were signed and completed, we found our vehicle and to our surprise we were upgraded to a sporty Alfa Romeo Station Wagon so we were ready to drive in luxury like Italians in our Italian car. Our confidence was knocked a little though when we struggled trying to find our way out of the parking lot! Who would have thought it would be so complicated? Luckily we hired the Seymour GPS which definitely saved a lot of time and fights! The GPS made our driving and traveling a lot smoother and more straight forward, which is exactly what you need on a holiday. Rome was truly spectacular with lots of historical attractions and museums to visit. My sister got engaged in the St Pietro Cathedral while we were there which made the trip even more special. It was very romantic and sure did bring tears to my eyes! My favourite attraction in Rome was the Trevi fountain. The tradition is to toss a coin in the fountain to make a wish, and then toss a second coin to one day return to Italy. Hope it works! From Rome we drove to Naples and with the help of our GPS, driving wasn’t as hard as we first thought. Soon we were used to the crazy speeds on the motorways and driving on the wrong side of the road, it all didn’t seem so strange anymore. In Naples we booked the Amalfi Coast tour and the views were truly beautiful. In Positano, we sampled the strong taste of the famous Italian liquor Limoncelo and some mouth watering local chocolates. From Naples we drove on to Milan for an overnight stay and then continued to Florence. Florence was remarkable and we were all amazed at the famous artworks. I studied these works in high school so it was pretty amazing to stand right in front of them. I absolutely loved Michelangelo’s David statue, if I had the chance I would have stared at it all day! Our car rental experience ended in Venice at the Pizzale Roma near the ferry terminal. After all our shopping, our luggage seemed a lot heavier than we expected but we managed to drag them along. Venice was my favourite place in Italy. Ancient buildings built on top of water, it was so unique and wonderful. We had the chance to take a ride on the gondolas through the canals and under the bridges and we chose the perfect timing as it was sunset. Our hotel was right beside Louis Vuitton and Prada so we did lots of window shopping! After Venice we booked a flight to Paris. The Eiffel Tower was our favourite attraction and when we reached the top, there were amazing views of the city. Although it was very crowded with tourists due to the World Cup, it was definitely worthwhile, we were so overwhelmed with the views that the crowds didn’t really bother us. At night the Eiffel Tower lit up with lazer light shows and in the colours of the World Cup winner, South Africa, which was pretty amazing. The car rental in Italy gave us the freedom to explore many towns and hidden gems between our destinations. It was sheer pleasure driving a luxury car in Italy with the help of our handy little friend the Seymour GPS. I highly recommend a car hire and GPS system to anyone traveling overseas. This was a family holiday that was exhausting with the numerous attractions we saw in a limited time, but it was a beautiful experience, one I hope I am able to experience again. |
johannesburg
September 8, 2010, 5:22 am
 Mostly clear 8°Creal feel: 5°C
current pressure: 1004 mb
humidity: 66%
wind speed: 5 m/s SSW
wind gusts: 7 m/s
sunrise: 6:28
sunset: 19:09
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