South Africa is a vast country — nearly 5 times the size of the UK. Getting between Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, and Kruger Park requires planning. Unlike Europe, there's no high-speed rail network. But there are excellent domestic flights, reliable long-distance buses, a legendary hop-on hop-off backpacker service, and some of the most scenic road trips on the planet. This guide covers every option, with honest costs, safety advice, and our recommendations for every type of traveller.
📋 Table of Contents
🗺️ Overview: SA Distances & Route Planning
Understanding South Africa's scale is essential for planning. These are the key road distances:
| Route | Distance | Drive Time | Best Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Town → Johannesburg | 1,400 km | 14–16 hours | Fly (1h45m) or overnight bus |
| Cape Town → Kruger Park | 1,800 km | 18–20 hours | Fly to Hoedspruit or Phalaborwa |
| Johannesburg → Durban | 590 km | 5–6 hours | Drive or bus — very scenic |
| Cape Town → Garden Route (George) | 430 km | 4–5 hours | Drive — the most scenic in SA |
| Johannesburg → Kruger (Skukuza) | 480 km | 5 hours | Drive or fly to Eastgate |
| Durban → iSimangaliso Wetland | 280 km | 3 hours | Drive — rental car essential |
| Cape Town → Stellenbosch | 50 km | 45 minutes | Uber or rental car |
🚗 Car Hire — The Best Way to Explore
Renting a car is the single best decision most tourists can make. It gives you total freedom — to stop at viewpoints, explore the Winelands at your own pace, and self-drive Kruger at dawn and dusk when game is most active.
Cost & Requirements
- Basic economy car: R450–650/day
- 4x4/SUV (for gravel roads): R900–1,500/day
- Minimum age: 23 (some companies 25)
- Valid driver's licence from home country (English — or get IDP)
- Credit card required for deposit (R5,000–15,000)
- Fuel: ~R25/litre. Fill up before rural areas
- Toll roads: pay in cash or e-tag (R20–80 per toll)
Insurance — Read This Carefully
- Always take Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) — reduces excess to R3,000–5,000
- Full excess waiver available (~R200–400/day extra)
- Third-party liability is mandatory — usually included
- Gravel road damage: check policy — some exclude it
- Theft is covered by CDW but keys must be secured
- Buy independent excess insurance from InsureandGo or similar — cheaper than the rental company's
Best Rental Companies
Avis
Largest network, reliable, airport desks. Best for one-way rentals between cities.
Europcar
Competitive prices, good fleet. Widely available at major airports.
Tempest Car Hire
Best value South African company. Excellent for longer rentals.
✈️ Domestic Flights
For long routes (Cape Town–JHB, Cape Town–Kruger), flying saves enormous time. The domestic flight market is competitive and fares are reasonable.
| Airline | Routes | Typical Fare | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FlySafair | JHB↔CPT, JHB↔DBN, CPT↔DBN | R500–1,200 | Best value, highly punctual, SA's top-rated airline |
| Airlink | JHB↔Hoedspruit/Phalaborwa (Kruger), smaller routes | R900–2,500 | Essential for Kruger access, regional airports |
| Cemair | JHB↔Margate, George, Kimberley | R700–1,500 | Regional routes FlySafair doesn't serve |
| Kulula | JHB↔CPT, JHB↔DBN | R600–1,400 | Part of Comair group, reliable |
🚌 Long-Distance Buses
Intercape
R350–900 per sectorRoutes: Cape Town ↔ JHB, JHB ↔ Durban, JHB ↔ Windhoek (Namibia), Cape Town ↔ Windhoek
South Africa's largest and most reliable coach service. Overnight buses are excellent value — save accommodation costs. Reclining seats, AC, toilet onboard. Book at intercape.co.za.
Greyhound / FlixBus SA
R400–1,100Routes: Major routes: JHB ↔ Cape Town, JHB ↔ Durban, Port Elizabeth ↔ Cape Town
Premium coaches with WiFi, USB charging, meal stops. More comfortable than Intercape but slightly pricier.
Translux
R300–700Routes: Mainly JHB ↔ Eastern Cape, JHB ↔ Durban
Budget government-affiliated service. Perfectly fine but less luxurious. Good for Eastern Cape routes.
🎒 Baz Bus — The Backpacker's Best Friend
If you're a backpacker or budget traveller, the Baz Bus is one of the best travel decisions you can make in South Africa. It's a hop-on hop-off service specifically designed for tourists, connecting hostels door-to-door along the most popular backpacker routes.
Main Routes
- Cape Town → Knysna → Port Elizabeth → Durban
- Durban → Johannesburg → Pretoria
- JHB → Kruger (seasonal)
- Cape Town → Namibia extension
Pass Options
- Specific sector: R700–1,500
- 7-day unlimited pass: ~R4,000
- 14-day pass: ~R5,500
- Full loop (Cape Town → Cape Town via east coast): ~R6,500
🚂 Trains: Rovos Rail, Blue Train & Shosholoza Meyl
Rovos Rail
LuxuryDescribed as 'the most luxurious train in the world'. Restored vintage carriages, fine dining, private suites. Cape Town ↔ Pretoria, or Pretoria ↔ Victoria Falls. A bucket-list experience, not budget transport.
Blue Train
LuxurySouth Africa's iconic luxury train. Cape Town–Pretoria in 27 hours. 5-star dining, butler service, private en-suite suites. Book 6+ months ahead — extremely popular.
Shosholoza Meyl
BudgetPRASA's long-distance passenger train. Very slow but extremely atmospheric. Sleeper compartments available (4-berth). Service reliability is inconsistent — delays of several hours are common. Not recommended as primary transport but an adventure in itself.
📱 Uber, Bolt & City Transport
Uber
- Available in JHB, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth
- Reliable, safe, metered — always use over street taxis
- JHB Airport → Sandton: ~R250–350
- Cape Town Airport → City Bowl: ~R200–280
- Surge pricing during rush hour — use off-peak when possible
- UberX is cheapest, UberComfort for more space
Bolt (cheaper alternative)
- Same coverage as Uber in major cities
- Generally 10–20% cheaper than Uber
- Download before you arrive
- Good reviews from locals and tourists
- Accept card payments in-app — no cash needed
City-Specific Transport
🏙️ Cape Town
- MyCiTi BRT bus: R10–20/trip
- Myconnect card (R35 at airport)
- Covers CBD, Waterfront, Sea Point, Airport
- Uber/Bolt for night travel
🏙️ Johannesburg
- Gautrain rail: R50–180 (Sandton↔Airport)
- Rea Vaya BRT: R9–15 (Soweto routes)
- Uber is safest for most trips
- Never walk at night in CBD
🏙️ Durban
- People Mover bus: R8–12
- Uber/Bolt widely available
- Never use metered taxis from rank
- Beachfront is walkable in daylight
🚐 Minibus Taxis
Minibus taxis (kombis) are how most South Africans get around — they're ubiquitous, cheap, and an authentic local experience. About 15 million trips are made daily. They're not recommended for first-time travellers as a primary mode, but knowing how they work is useful.
How They Work
- No fixed timetable — leave when full
- Hand signals from roadside to flag them
- Pay in cash (exact change preferred) — R15–50 per trip
- Driver's assistant ("gaatjie") collects fares
- Ask locals which rank and signal to use for your destination
Safety Considerations
- Overloading and speeding are common
- Not recommended at night
- Keep bags on your lap, stay aware of surroundings
- Fine for short, well-known routes with local guidance
- Excellent way to connect with locals authentically
🛬 Airport Transfers
| Airport | To City Centre | Best Option | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| O.R. Tambo (JHB) | Sandton/CBD — 30 min | Gautrain (fast, safe, direct) | R190 to Sandton |
| Cape Town International | City Bowl — 20 min | Uber/Bolt or MyCiTi bus | R200–280 Uber / R90 MyCiTi |
| King Shaka (Durban) | Durban CBD — 35 min | Uber/Bolt (safest) | R250–350 |
| Hoedspruit (Kruger) | Kruger gate — 45 min | Rental car or lodge transfer | R400–800 (lodge arranged) |
| George (Garden Route) | George/Knysna — 30 min | Rental car (essential here) | R400+/day car hire |
🏆 Top Tourist Routes & How to Do Them
🌊 Garden Route (Cape Town → Port Elizabeth)
5–7 daysBest transport: Rental car or Baz Bus
Highlights: Tsitsikamma Forest, Knysna Heads, Wilderness, Storms River, Plettenberg Bay, Oudtshoorn (ostrich farms)
💡 Tip: Drive west to east (CT→PE) to keep ocean on your left. Best in Oct–April.
🦁 Kruger National Park Self-Drive
3–5 daysBest transport: Rental car (2WD fine on tar roads)
Highlights: Big Five game drives at dawn/dusk, walking trails, bush braais at rest camps, Panorama Route detour (Blyde River Canyon)
💡 Tip: Book SANParks camps 11 months in advance. Lower Sabie is best for lion and leopard. Berg-en-Dal for rhino.
🍷 Cape Winelands Day Loop
1–2 daysBest transport: Rental car or tour
Highlights: Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl, wine tasting from R100 per cellar, mountain scenery
💡 Tip: Designate a driver or book a wine tour with transport. Many estates offer free cellar tours with a bottle purchase.
🏔️ Drakensberg
3–4 daysBest transport: Rental car from Durban (3hrs) or JHB (5hrs)
Highlights: Royal Natal NP, Amphitheatre, hiking, Lesotho day trips, rock art sites
💡 Tip: Self-catering cottages inside the park from R800/night. Book through KZN Wildlife.
Stay Connected on Every Route
Whether you're self-driving the Garden Route or hopping on the Baz Bus through Kruger, you need reliable data for maps, bookings, and emergency contacts. Safari eSIM activates instantly on Vodacom & MTN networks.
Get South Africa eSIM →