Public transport in South Africa is pretty limited, and unfortunately it is not exactly user-friendly or reliable. Catching a taxi is not quite as simple as just stepping out into the street and whistling loudly, and catching a bus could take you to the wrong end of town before you realise it.
If you’re coming to South Africa, don’t rely too much on public transport – why not rent a car or a scooter, or walk instead? Just watch out for traffic – most South Africans have their own cars and the roads tend to get busy. And if you don’t want to worry about your transport at all, let someone else organise it for you.
Getting Around
Renting Transport
Renting a car is probably your best option for transportation, especially in cities like Johannesburg. You have the freedom to travel where you choose, and can make the trip easily from one city to another.
In smaller cities or towns, a scooter or small motorbike offers a good method of transportation. They are not recommended in the large cities however as they can’t be used on freeways.
There are companies who offer to rent vehicles with trained, experienced and validated drivers. This is usually the best option because the drivers have to have a public driver permit. If you do want to drive yourself it is wise the keep the following in mind.
Trains
Cape Town has the most efficient train system in the country. The comfort of these trains, however, does not compare to any European or American system. If you do choose to take a train, make sure you hide your valuables. Local-travel trains in the rest of the country are generally considered unsafe and should be avoided where possible.
Catching a cross-country train from one city to another offers a pleasant trip, however large distances between cities mean extensive travel time (Cape Town to Durban is a 36.5 hour trip). If you are in a hurry, catching a train is not recommended.
Bus Services
Bus services, no matter what part of the country you are in, are disorganised and not particularly user-friendly. If you’re going to catch a bus, make sure you ask around for information about the correct bus and where you need to catch it from.
Walking
Walking from your hotel to the beach or to nearby attractions is fine, however walking elsewhere in the cities is a problem due to their sheer size. You would do better to rent a car or a scooter.
Flying
If you are travelling from one city to another with limited time, flying is your best option. With airports in every city, you should have no problem travelling across the country quickly.
Getting from the Airport to the City
Transportation from the airport to your destination should be organised before you fly. A shuttle service provided by your accommodation or a rented car are both good options.
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