Words: TravelGround.com
Cape Town, South Africa: According to results from the TravelGround.com Travel Trends Survey, of over 2000 participants, 38% of travellers are willing to drive between 4–7 hours for their dream holiday, while 54% stated that when choosing an accommodation, nearby attractions and nature based activities were as important for them as price – except when staying over at a halfway town.
“According to booking numbers, the most travelled to halfway towns in South Africa are Colesberg, Prince Albert, Aliwal North, Springbok, and Gariep Dam.” says Marosane Hutchinson, Operations Manager of TravelGround. “These are popular stay over points for those who travel from Joburg to Cape Town, Northern Cape to Durban, and Eastern Cape to Western Cape. Towns such as Kroonstad, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth, Mokopane, and Polokwane also saw an influx of visitors at the end of 2014, most of which have popular attractions nearby.”
Travellers from the North West and Northern Cape drive over 7 hours on average to reach their holiday destination while most Western Cape travellers only drive for 2 – 4 hours.
“I’m based in Cape Town and there are plenty of nearby coastal and inland towns to choose between, with area activities like wine tasting, kite surfing, hot springs, hikes, and canopy tours.” says Llewellyn Williams, a TravelGround booking agent and frequent road tripper.
When it comes to leisure, 36% of survey participants noted that their ideal holiday would consist of mainly nature based activities and relaxing items on the holiday agenda, while 23% of travellers stated they preferred exploring cities and cultures. This indicates that a wide variety of interests and attractions enticed travellers around South Africa.
“In spite of the rising petrol price, road trips are still an affordable way for South Africans to holiday and budget for more leisure activities and luxuries,” says TravelGround Customer Service Manager, Jurgens Liebenberg.
The variety of scenic routes and a wide range of accommodation between popular halfway stops and attractions makes South Africa an exciting destination for road trips.
>About TravelGround
TravelGround.com is a local travel website built to be the easiest way to find and book accommodation online. Started in Cape Town in 2008 by a team of 4 South Africans, the award-winning website helps thousands of South Africans book online every month. Visit: www.travelground.com
