Compare cheap 7 seater car hire at Cape Town Airport. Safe routes from the airport, Chapman’s Peak width limit, Cape Point baboons and UK licence rules.
Leaving the airport for the city? GOV.UK names the route to take and the one to avoid. Read the safety section below before you set off.
Cape Town International handled a record 11.1 million passengers in 2025, including 3.3 million international passengers (Tourism Update). The UK became South Africa’s biggest overseas market the same year (Tourism Update).
The Cape is made for a family road trip, from the Peninsula to the Garden Route. A 7 seater suits it well. A few local rules and risks are worth knowing first.
The route from the airport
GOV.UK advises drivers leaving Cape Town airport to stay on the M3 and N2, rather than the R300, and to avoid routes through higher-crime areas such as Nyanga (GOV.UK).
It also advises locking the car and checking the doors, with valuables kept in the boot. Stay alert at traffic lights, where carjackings can happen. Avoid driving after dark where you can.
Set the sat nav before you leave the car park. A wrong turn off the N2 with a car full of luggage is the situation to avoid.
Chapman’s Peak in a big car
Chapman’s Peak Drive is one of the world’s great coastal roads. It closes from time to time for bad weather or rock clearing, so check its status before you set off (Chapman’s Peak Drive).
Vehicles heading north, from Noordhoek to Hout Bay, cannot be wider than 2.1 metres. Most 7 seaters are inside that, but a large van-based people carrier may not be. If in doubt, drive it southbound from Hout Bay.
Cape Town 7 Seaters for the Garden Route
See the 7 seaters at Cape Town International side by side, with fuel terms and the excess.
Baboons at Cape Point
SANParks warns that the baboons in Table Mountain National Park are dangerous and attracted by food, and asks visitors to lock all food and bags away in the car (SANParks).
Cape Point’s own advice is never to feed them, because baboons that get used to people become dangerous (Cape Point).
With children, that means eating picnics away from the car park and keeping windows up when baboons are near. SANParks also advises arriving early to avoid the midday queues at Cape Point.
South African rules
South Africa drives on the left, like the UK. GOV.UK says a UK photocard licence is valid for up to 12 months.
Children under three must use a child restraint, and older children must use one where available or wear a seatbelt (Arrive Alive). UK rules are stricter, so keep using boosters for younger children.
Power cuts can knock out traffic lights, which GOV.UK flags as a hazard. Approach dead junctions slowly and carefully.
Seven people, seven cases
A large suitcase holds 80 to 110 litres. With all seven seats in use, the roomiest common 7 seaters manage about 340 to 350 litres of boot.
For a full family with a big case each, look for the ACRISS FV class, meaning seven or more seats plus more space, or book an 8 or 9 seater. Keep everything in the boot and out of sight.
Keeping a Cape Town 7 Seater affordable
- Compare the total, not the daily rate. Insurance excess, deposit, one-way fees and extra driver charges all sit outside the headline price.
- Check one-way fees for the Garden Route. Dropping the car at George can cost more than driving back.
- Price child seats per day. Hire firms usually charge per seat, and long trips add up. Bringing your own can be cheaper.
- Book early with free cancellation. December and January, the South African summer, bring the highest demand. Lock in a cancellable rate, then search again nearer the date and rebook if prices fall.
Price a Cape Town 7 Seater for your dates
Enter pickup and return times to compare low-cost rates in GBP.
Questions people ask
What is the safest route from Cape Town airport?
GOV.UK advises staying on the M3 and N2 rather than the R300, and avoiding areas such as Nyanga.
Is Chapman’s Peak Drive open?
It closes at times for bad weather or rock clearing. Check its status before you set off.
Is there a width limit on Chapman’s Peak?
Yes, for northbound traffic, at 2.1 metres. Most 7 seaters are inside it.
What should I do about baboons at Cape Point?
Lock food and bags away in the car, and never feed them.
Where can I compare cheap 7 Seater deals at Cape Town Airport?
Compare several hire firms at once. Our search shows 7 seaters from the firms at Cape Town International in one list, with the total price for each. Prices move with demand, so the earlier you search, the more choice you get.
