Cape Town to Port Elizabeth via Route 62

History of R62

Enjoy the unexpected pleasures of Route 62 as you travel from Cape Town through Paarl, Wellington, the Breede River, Klein Karoo, the Langkloof, the beaches of Jeffreys Bay, Port Elizabeth and Addo National Park.

Route 62 meanders through a thousand kilometers of mountains, fertile valleys, semi deserts and offers a shorter alternative to the N2 Highway.

Get your kicks

Route 62 prompts associations with the legendary Route 66, connecting the urban and rural communities between Los Angeles and Chicago.

Route 66 was established in 1926 as one of America's main east west arterial links providing small towns access to a major thoroughfare. Similarly Route 62 links the wine growing areas of Paarl, Wellington, Tulbagh, Ceres, the Breede River with the Klein Karoo, the ostrich farming of Oudtshoorn, the fruit farms of Joubertinia, Louterwater and Kareedouw and the legendary beaches of Jeffreys Bay. Coupled with the historic villages of Amalienstein and Zoar, the friendly city of Port Elizabeth and Addo National Park, where the interaction between humans and elephant are unsurpassable and you have the perfect tourist route.

Ironically the public lobby for rapid mobility and improved highways that gained Route 66 enormous popularity in earlier decades, also signalled its demise in the mid 1950's. Route 66 was replaced by other highways which caused a severe decrease in traffic. This greatly affected the economies of the smaller towns. With the completion of the N2 highway in 1958, Route 62 suffered the same fate. Although the villages along the route have been in hibernation for 40 years, they have been beautifully preserved and set in wealthy farming communities.

Add incredible mountain passes built in the 18th Century, San Rock art, a steam train experience, spectacular drive through canyons and Route 62 ensures a fairy tale experience that legends and special memories are made of.

So come get your crew on Route 62!