Tired of paying tolls and feeling like a sardine on South Africa's highways? Take the road less travelled instead, says Duane Heath, starting with some of the best alternative routes the country has to offer.

1. R44 Gordon’s Bay to Kleinmond, Western Cape
If you think the views from Chapman’s Peak are impressive, head out of Cape Town on the N2 and follow the signs to Gordon’s Bay just before you approach Sir Lowry’s Pass.

The 34km-long stretch hugs the high peaks of the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve overlooking Koeelbay, and offers spectacular and uninterrupted views of False Bay as you wind your way through the sleepy seaside towns of Rooiels, Pringle Bay, Hangklip and Betty’s Bay. And unlike Chapman’s Peak, there’s no tollbooth to sour the soothing experience.

2. R324 Swellendam to Barrydale via Tradouws Pass, Western Cape
Just 11km past Swellendam on the N2 towards Mossel Bay is a turnoff to another world.

The R324 snakes its way through 14km of flat farmland and the small hamlet of Suurbraak, before climbing 13km through the majestic Tradouws Pass, and on towards Barrydale and the start of the R62 tourist route. Make sure you stop at the lookout point along the pass to experience the eerie quiet – it won’t take long to realise you’ve escaped the city limits and entered the vast vacuum of the interior.

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3. R62 Barrydale to Oudtshoorn via Ladysmith and Calitzdorp, W Cape
The famous Route 62 is modelled on the American Route 66 concept and it’s easy to understand why: semi-desert, pencil-straight roads eating into the horizon, and more than the odd tour bus driving way too fast. But on a weekday morning, with the sun rising over the Rooiberg mountains, there’s no better place to be. The R62 begins way back at Montagu, but don’t bother – it’s a busy and stressful stretch.

The 175km from Barrydale to Oudtshoorn is quieter but if you’re really after solitude, turn off the N12 to George and rejoin the R62 all the way to Humansdorp, via Haarlem, Joubertina and Kareedouw – little worlds bypassed by everyone except tractor drivers, it seems.

4. R72 Ncanara to East London via Port Alfred, Southern Cape
This coastal road can get really busy, but it’s worth it. Leaving Port Elizabeth, turn right onto the R72 where the road splits into the N10 to Cradock and the N2 to Grahamstown.

It’s a good fours hours to East London but don’t rush: the seaside playgrounds of Kenton-on-Sea and Port Alfred make great breakfast stops while further inland, the 50km from Bell to Chalumna ushers in rolling yellow hills dotted with hundreds of mud huts.

5. R26 Ladybrand to Fouriesburg via Clocolan and Ficksburg, Eastern Free State
Miles and miles of emptiness, except for the odd farmhouse tucked away amongst endless sunflower fields. To drive the R26 is to stumble upon a forgotten corner of the country. The 120km stretch borders the mountain kingdom of Lesotho and to the east, that mysterious country’s peaks rear high into the Free State sky.

6. R712 Clarens to Harrismith via Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Free State
The first 47km of this 75km stretch includes some of the most beautiful country imaginable – and through it, just a long, blue ribbon of road winding between towering mountain passes and grasslands.

7 R102 Winklespruit to Scottburgh, KZN South Coast
The old coast road runs parallel to the N2 for 100km from just south of Amanzimtoti to Port Shepstone, but the most rewarding stretch is the 30km from Winklespruit to the popular seaside resort of Scottburgh.

In between there are crocodile farms, sugar cane fields and yellow sand beaches. It’s a subtropical paradise that also includes the town of Umkomaas, home to the world-famous Aliwal Shoal dive spot.

8 R102 to Stormsriver via Clarkson and Woodlands
The ubiquitous R102 pops up throughout the country, but it passes through few places as insulated from the high-speed madness of the nearby N2 highway than the 48km of pristine Tsitsikamma countryside between the adrenaline junkie centre of Stormsriver and the scattered settlements of Clarkson and Woodlands.

9 R326 Riviersonderend to Stanford via Akkedisberg Pass
Thirteen kilometres past Riviersonderend on the N2 towards Cape Town you’ll find an off-ramp signposted Stanford. The 49km downhill drive includes the scenic Akkedisberg Pass as you descend into a misty valley.

At Stanford, turn right to follow the R43 for 24km to Hermanus and the town’s resident whales, or turn left and head down the same route for 21km until you reach Gansbaai – famous for its Great White Shark cage-diving.

10 R310 Somerset West to Muizenberg (Baden Powell Drive)
Nowhere else do you find a main road that is built right on the beach. On a high-tide day, the waves can wash right up to the passing cars and when the south-easter howls, sea sand can cause road closures.

The 27km stretch to Muizenberg is however a great alternative to the N2 if you’re after a more relaxed introduction to the Mother City.

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