Google Maps – your essential road trip companion

Posted by Lauren Dold on 31 October 2019

If the part of your brain that is supposed to act as a compass either malfunctions, is on an extended holiday or is missing altogether, navigation apps are your best friend.

On a recent trip to KZN, Google Maps put me and their app to the test. I quickly discovered I hadn’t been using the app to its full potential, uncovering features I never knew existed.

I landed at King Shaka International on a humid Friday afternoon and boarded the Google bus bound for the Midlands, along with a team of journalists, photographers and influencers.

Google Maps rolled out an update in October, allowing users to report things along the way. Photo: Reinhardt Nel

Two hours later we found ourselves at a wine estate in the middle of KZN, watching a great grey storm approach. This was an odd experience for a Stellenbosch local like myself, so used to the wine-drinking conditions of the Boland.

But as you’ll see if you look for reviews on Google Maps of Highgate Wine estate, the experience was five star. From the wine and food pairing to the service and setting, Highgate delivered excellence on every level.

Highgate Wine Estate comprises 5 hectares of vineyards, a restaurant and a tasting room. Photo: Reinhardt Nel

From there the day got gustier, as we navigated our way to Howick Falls with the ‘offline’ map function. (Necessary when out of signal range or for when you’ve run out of/ refuse to pay exorbitant amounts for data.)

The falls were worth a quick stop, (the operative word being ‘quick’.) The blustery weather and our tight schedule had us boarding the bus after ten minutes.

Howick Falls on a stormy midlands afternoon. Photo: Reinhardt Nel

Dinner at the newly opened Elephant & Co in Pietermaritzburg that evening was a truly surprising experience. Stylish and comfortable, this restaurant would not be out of place in the heart of Johannesburg or Cape Town.

We were served a special menu that delighted carnivores and vegetarians alike, followed by an impressive display of confectionary. Another five star review recorded.

The stylish Elephant & Co in Pietermaritzburg offers freshly baked bread and pastries and artisanal beverages. Photo: Reinhardt Nel

Google Maps’ ‘near me’ search function is especially helpful in unfamiliar territory, as we found out the next morning. We visited the site where Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1962, and spent some time in the accompanying museum. (Soon to be reopened in a bigger venue on the property.) Captivated by the incredible combination of art and engineering that is the Nelson Mandela sculpture, we were running late to our next destination.

This sculpture titled ‘release’ was unveiled in 2012, on the 50th anniversary of the capture and arrest of Nelson Mandela. Photo: Reinhardt Nel

We screeched into Nottingham Road, with only 25 minutes to explore before we needed to head back to King Shaka International. The ‘near me’ function helped me identify which places to spend my precious time on. My time management skills being as poor as my sense of direction,  I chose to spend 18 of those minutes in the local chocolate shop and used the remaining seven to sprint down to the end of Nottingham Road to our meeting point.

I pinned the rest of the destinations that I didn’t get to visit, to my personal map of Nottingham road, ready for my next Midlands trip.

Nottingham Road on a sunny Midlands day

Google Maps rolled out an international update this October, adding a feature that allows users to report incidents or obstructions like objects or debris on the road, disabled vehicles, lane closures or construction. As someone who commutes hundreds of kilometres every week, these features really do help commuters and fellow road trippers. Don’t forget to update your app before your next trip!






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