Transportation

Bus services

If you're not used to driving long distances, a bus may be a better idea than a rental car. Check out Intercape or Greyhound. You can book bus tickets on Computicket. The Baz Bus offers a hop-on, hop-off door to door service between backpackers hostels. Minibuses serve the more unusual routes but do think carefully before you consider one. As a rule, they are fast and efficient and it is actually quite a lot of fun. You get to meet the local people and see a side of South Africa not often seen by the average tourist. There is one down side, however. Many minibuses are not properly maintained, and some are severely overloaded, which does present a significant accident risk.

Car rental
 

A number of international and local car hire companies offer a range of good-quality vehicles to suit all needs and budgets.
Many travellers to South Africa will want to hire a car for at least part of their trip for the freedom it offers, allowing you to explore at your own pace and to include on your itinerary attractions that are of particular interest to you.
The roads in South Africa are good - and outside the main centres they are comparatively uncrowded, so getting from A to B can be a pleasure.
In non-built-up areas the speed limit is 120 kph (75mph).
In cities the speed limit generally varies between 60 to 80 kph.
The quality of rental cars is generally high and air-conditioning frequently available.
The option of picking up a vehicle from one point and dropping it off at another is also commonplace.
A credit card is required and an international drivers licence, or a drivers licence with an integral photo, must be produced.
The minimum age for hiring a car is 23 years old.
Driving is on the left, while road signs and speed limits are in kilometres.
At petrol stations credit cards cannot be used to pay for fuel. In the main centres many filling stations are open 24 hours, otherwise they are generally open from 7am to 7pm.There are toll roads in South Africa, all of them main highways or N roads.
Drivers should therefore have a supply of small denomination notes and coins.

Trains and railway trips
 

Shongololo Safari Express: These train safaris have been described as a “cruise on land”, with at night while the guest sleep and excursions offered during the day in microbuses, which are carried on board the train. There are three tours to choose from. The Good Hope links Cape Town and Johannesburg via 23 of South Africa’s 25 top tourist attractions. The Southern Cross features six countries as it travels between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls and the Dune Express combines Namibia with the winelands on the spectacular journey between Windhoek and Cape Town.

Tel: +27 -11-486 2824

Fax: +27-11-486 2909

Union Limited: This was originally an express service which operated between Johannesburg and Cape Town to meet the ocean liners. Today it is a steam safari train used for excursions through Southern Africa. The coaches have been refurbished but still retain their authentic character to provided a vintage rail experience. A number of options are available, from frequent, six-day “Golden Thread” tours covering the southern Cape and the Garden Route to superb 15-day odysseys.

The “Golden Thread” tour departs from Cape Town and includes trips through the Garden Route and the winelands, allowing sufficient time to explore Mossel Bay, George, Knysna and Oudtshoorn, with organised excursions in the later two places. The train returns to Cape town via the winelands at Paarl.

Tel: +27 -21-449 4391

Fax: +27 -21-449 4395

Tourist Trains

Banana Express : The British constructed the Banana Express initially to transport sugar cane and bananas to the coast. Operating from Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal, this narrow gauge steam train takes passengers up a steep climb through plantations of bananas and sugar cane  to Izotsha (one-and-a-half-hours) and Paddock (six hours and thirty minutes)

Reservations essential

Tel: +27 -39-682 4821

Outeniqua Choo-Tjoe: An excellent way to see the Garden Route is on a day-trip from George to Knysna aboard this small steam train. You can view breathtaking scenery which cannot be seen from the road. Departs daily excepting for Sundays.

Tel: +27 -44-801 9295

Apple Express: This train gets its name from the apples it used to carry from Langkloofdal to Port Elizabeth.
It now departs from Humewood station, Port Elizabeth and travels to Thornhill village via the Langkloof Valley.
The train stops at Van  Stadens station where travellers may disembark to view the Van Stadens River bridge which crosses a spectacular gorge.

Tel: +27 -41-507 2333
 

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