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Zebra in Mokala National Park, South Africa

© 123rf.com / Nico Smit

Getting Around South Africa

Air: 

Several airlines operate domestic routes with regular links between Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Nelspruit and Port Elizabeth and relatively frequent flights to several smaller towns and cities too. Main operators are South Africa Airways (SAA) (www.flysaa.com); Comair, a division of British Airways (BA) (www.ba.com); Mango (JE) (www.flymango.com); Kulula (MN) (www.kulula.com); 1time (1T) (www.1time.co.za); and Airlink (4Z) (www.flyairlink.com).

Road: 

Car theft and hijacking is a problem, so so it is advisable to keep doors locked and avoid picking up hitchhikers.

Side of road: 
N/A
Road quality: 

Roads and national highways link all the major areas and the only untarred roads are in rural areas and in some game reserves.

Road signs are in English.

National highways are denoted with an 'N' and some are toll roads.

Credit cards cannot be used to pay for fuel so carry cash.

Car hire: 

Dozens of care hire firms are operating, including the major international players such as Hertz (www.hertz.co.za). All distances, speed limits (and speedometers) are marked in kilometres.

Taxi: 

Available in all towns, hotels and airports, with meters fitted. They are not particularly cheap. Taxis do not cruise and must be ordered by phone or at a taxi rank.

Regulations: 

The legal driving age is 18 years, though car hire companies often require drivers to be at least 23. The speed limit on highways is 120kph (75mph), 80-100kph (50-62mph) on national roads and 60kph (37mph) in urban areas. Licences must be carried at all times and seatbelts must be worn.

Breakdown service: 

The AA (tel: 0838 4322; www.aa.co.za). Yellow SOS telephones are available on major routes.

Documentation: 

Foreign licences are valid if they are in English with a photograph of the holder, but the AA recommends an International Driving Permit to prevent potential complications.

Getting around towns and cities: 

Public transport is generally dreadful. Although there are bus networks in all main towns reliability is dubious. Routes for the minibus taxis used by local commuters are too confusing to even try to explain to a short-term visitor.

Cape Town buses are run by Golden Arrow and in Johannesburg by Metrobus. Metrorail trains in larger cities used by commuters are generally not recommended to visitors due to the crime risk.

Rail: 

Intercity services are run by Shosholoza Meyl (tel: 011 774 4555; www.shosholozameyl.co.za), with trains between Johannesburg, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. Trains are extremely slow and most go overnight. Tourist class has a restaurant car and sleeping compartments with shared showers; economy class just provides seats and a snack bar. Children under four travel free. Children aged four to 12 pay half fare.

Luxury trains: Premier Classe (tel: 086 000 8888; www.premierclasse.co.za) runs between Johannesburg and Cape Town twice a week, and is more comfortable than the regular train. The Blue Train (tel: 021 449 2672; www.bluetrain.co.za) and Rovos Rail (tel: 021 421 4020; www.rovosrail.co.za) offer luxurious cabins and gourmet food in elaborate dining cars and run occasionally between Pretoria and Cape Town.

Gautrain Rapid Rail Link: This underground and overground railway is still under construction and when completed will link Johannesburg, Pretoria and OR Tambo International Airport (tel: 011 891 7108; www.gautrain.co.za).

By water: 

The main ports of Cape Town, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth are industrial or geared towards international cruise liners rather than domestic ferry routes.

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