Inappropriate vehicles and impractical regulations are impeding self-drive travel in South Africa, placing a choke-hold on this in-demand tourism sector.

While there is a demand for self-drive from German travellers, the fact that South Africa doesn’t offer station wagons for rental is an issue. “If you come to South Africa as a family, you won’t find a station wagon to carry families as well as their luggage,” said a German operator at the SA Tourism roundtable discussion at ITB Berlin. “Also, if you try to find a 4x4 to rent, you won’t find one in SA – why is there no one to offer this service [to travellers]?”

Another operator added that Germans – along with other European travellers – favour station wagons for their practicality, and vehicles like the seven-seater Toyota Avensis, and Nissan X-Trail are not appropriate or big enough.

He said for other markets, such as the Indian market, who often travel with a multi-generational family of up to 15 or more people, SA regulations required a guide to be present in the vehicle as it would be considered a group tour. This adds cost and takes away from the self-drive experience where the family wishes to plot their own itinerary.