From Cape Town you head north on the N7. It is a freeway until just past Malmesbury, then a single-carriageway highway with wide paved shoulders as far as the Piekenierskloof Pass. It continues through Clanwilliam, about 210 kilometres from the start, and Vanrhynsdorp at just over 290. The whole road is tarred, about 560 kilometres to Springbok.
Allow six and a half to seven and a half hours of actual driving. With breaks that is a full day, so plan a night in Springbok. From there it is another 100 kilometres or so on the N7 to Vioolsdrif on the Namibian border.
If you rent the car in Windhoek and drop it in Cape Town, companies such as Britz charge a one-way fee, and you need permission from the rental company to cross the border. North of Springbok, floods at Vyf Myl Poort near the border closed the N7 in July 2023, after which it reopened to one lane. Ask about roadworks before you go, as of October 2026.
The route at a glance
- Roads
- N1, N7
- Distance
- 559 km
- Surface
- tar all the way
- Driving time
- 6.5 to 7.5 hours
Distances and times as of October 2026, driving time without stops or detours.
Routes that use this stage
Cape Town to Springbok: frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Cape Town to Springbok?
Cape Town to Springbok is about 560 kilometres on the tarred N7. Allow six and a half to seven and a half hours of actual driving; with breaks it takes a full day.
How far is Springbok from the Namibian border?
From Springbok it is another 100 kilometres or so on the N7 to the border at Vioolsdrif. Noordoewer is on the Namibian side.
Is the N7 from Cape Town to Springbok tarred?
Yes, the N7 is tarred all the way from Cape Town to Springbok. It is a freeway until just past Malmesbury, then a single-carriageway highway with wide shoulders up to the Piekenierskloof Pass.