Surprisingly, one of the things I enjoy enormously when running Garden Route tours is stopping at South African petrol stations.
I also drive the Garden Route purely for pleasure, although that is much the same thing, really. I love the area and will happily travel there even when I am not working. A stop at an Engen petrol station, preferably one with a Wimpy attached, has become part of the journey for me.
My routine is normally the same. First, I use the bathroom. Then I order a Wimpy latte, buy a packet of biltong and collect some fresh water for the road. I may also add a Stoney ginger beer, which has a much stronger ginger taste than many international visitors expect.
Wimpy has been part of South African road travel for decades. Some petrol stations have complete sit-down Wimpy restaurants, while others have smaller takeaway counters. They serve breakfasts, burgers, toasted sandwiches and other familiar South African road-trip food, but I am mainly interested in the latte.
The convenience shops are also useful for discovering South African snacks. Biltong is seasoned, air-dried meat and is usually sold sliced or in larger pieces. Droëwors is a dried sausage made for the same purpose: opening the packet and eating it during the journey. You will also find rusks, dried fruit, nuts, crisps, cold drinks and plenty of sweets.
How South African Petrol Stations Work
South Africans usually call them petrol stations or filling stations rather than gas stations. The biggest difference for many visitors is that you do not fill the vehicle yourself.
A petrol attendant comes to the driver’s window, asks which fuel is required and then operates the pump. The driver can request a particular amount or simply ask for the tank to be filled.
The attendant will often clean the windscreen and may offer to check the oil, water and tyre pressure. Payment is usually made without leaving the vehicle. The attendant brings a portable card machine to the window, and most larger stations accept cash, debit cards and major credit cards.
Tipping petrol attendants is not compulsory, but a small tip is always appreciated. I normally tip more when someone has cleaned the windows or carried out the additional checks. It is a simple way to thank the person who has looked after the vehicle.
The bathrooms at the larger petrol stations are often spotlessly clean. I choose stops with good facilities because comfort matters when spending several days on the road.
When my children were small, I had a rule whenever we stopped: “One person goes, everybody tries.”
It remains a good rule.
Petrol stations are a small but memorable part of a South African road trip. The attendants are friendly, the bathrooms are often spotless, and the combination of a Wimpy latte, a packet of biltong and a Stoney ginger beer makes for a very South African Garden Route stop.
