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Transportation in South Africa
South Africa offers a variety of transportation options to suit different budgets and travel styles. For those seeking comfort and speed, domestic flights connect major cities. Car rental provides flexibility to explore at your own pace, while buses offer a budget-friendly alternative for longer distances. Train travel offers a scenic and relaxing experience, with options ranging from budget-friendly to luxurious. Taxis and ride-hailing services are readily available in urban areas. However, it's essential to exercise caution when using public transportation, especially in unfamiliar surroundings.
Ultimately, the best mode of transportation depends on your itinerary, budget, and desired travel experience.
Airlines
FlySafair (pronounced: "fly-saf-air") began operations in October 2014, but the company behind the airline, Safair, has been in operation for over 50 years.
FlySafair website
Lift Airlines
LIFT is a relatively new South African airline that has quickly gained popularity for its flexible booking options and comfortable flights. It offers domestic routes within South Africa, connecting major cities and popular tourist destinations.
Airlink
Airlink, (previously known as South African Airlink) is a regional airline based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Its main business is to provide services between smaller, under-served towns and larger hub airports. It has since expanded to offer flights on larger, mainline routes. The airline has a network of more than 60 routes to over 45 destinations in Southern Africa. In January 2021, it became the second-largest carrier within Africa by number of flights, and third-largest by number of seats.
South Africa Airways (SAA)
Once the pride of South African airspace, SAA unfortunately was decimated by corruption and mismanagement and now only have a few aircraft flying.
Trains
South Africa has, for the last 30 years, been deteriorating due to corrupt, inexperienced and unskilled politicians. As of July 2024, we have a new (GNU) government and are on the right track (excuse the pun) to once again make train travel a popular form of transport. As a tourist, I would be hesitant to travel by regular train in South Africa, BUT, there are 2 wonderful luxury trains available to tourists - Rovos Rail and The Blue Train.
Bus
South Africa has a selection of long distance bus companies. The buses are generally not as comfortable as in other parts of the world, but they are affordable.
Baz Bus
Bazbus has become THE way to travel around South Africa in a safe, flexible, and fun way!
A South African institution since 1995, Bazbus covers the major tourist destinations, but our drivers also know the hidden gems, the stops between the stops that tourists would never find. Best option for backpackers.
Taxis
South Africa has numerous e-hailing services with BOLT and UBER being among the most popular.
For a more in-depth look at taxi options click here.
Minivans (black taxis)
In the 1960s, the apartheid government forced black South Africans to move out of the cities into far-flung townships many kilometres away from business districts. To facilitate the movement of people from the cities to work, food, and services; the minibus taxi industry was born out of a need for public transport, which was not serviced by buses or rail.
Although black taxis are everywhere and are very cheap, I would not recommend taking one as a tourist - not for crime reasons, but for comfort reasons. They tend to exceed the legal passenger limit and are infamous for recklessness.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (born Rolihlahla Mandela; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid activist, politician, and statesman who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the first elected in a fully representative democratic election. His government focused on dismantling the legacy of apartheid by fostering racial reconciliation. Ideologically an African nationalist and socialist, he served as the president of the African National Congress (ANC) party from 1991 to 1997.
A Xhosa, Mandela was born into the Thembu royal family in Mvezo, South Africa. He studied law at the University of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand before working as a lawyer in Johannesburg. There he became involved in anti-colonial and African nationalist politics, joining the ANC in 1943 and co-founding its Youth League in 1944. After the National Party's white-only government established apartheid, a system of racial segregation that privileged whites, Mandela and the ANC committed themselves to its overthrow. He was appointed president of the ANC's Transvaal branch, rising to prominence for his involvement in the 1952 Defiance Campaign and the 1955 Congress of the People. He was repeatedly arrested for seditious activities and was unsuccessfully prosecuted in the 1956 Treason Trial. Influenced by Marxism, he secretly joined the banned South African Communist Party (SACP). Although initially committed to non-violent protest, in association with the SACP he co-founded the militant uMkhonto we Sizwe in 1961 and led a sabotage campaign against the apartheid government. He was arrested and imprisoned in 1962, and, following the Rivonia Trial, was sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiring to overthrow the state.