Getting to Johannesburg – transport, bus, train & car hire

Posted on 19. Mar, 2010 by admin in Johannesburg

Let’s not pretend that Jo’burg is the easiest place in the country to navigate. There’s terrible traffic and security in public transport depots can be a problem. That said, there are a  few tips that can make getting around the city a much easier task and lessen the risk of anything bad happening en route. Wandering around town with a map in your hand can attract unwanted attention from petty criminals so it’s a good idea to plan any journey way in advance and ask trusted local advice before setting out.

Transport to Johannesburg

For World Cup 2010 South Africa transport in Johannesburg, see JF’s guide to Match Days.

By car: driving to Johannesburg is fairly simple from almost anywhere in South Africa. The N1 road will take your there from Zimbabwe, Harare, Cape Town and Bloemfontein, The N3 will get you there from Durban, and the N4 runs from  Botswana, Nelspruit and Kruger National Park. You can also travel to Johannesburg by car from Potchefstroom and Kimberley along the N12 and Namibia and Upington on the N14.

If you do plan to drive to Johannesburg from elsewhere in South Africa, it’s a good idea to map-out your journey carefully in advance to find the best route by road to Johannesburg. Tourist Information offices and local drivers often have some good advice when it comes to driving in South Africa. Cheap car hire in South Africa is available. See JF’s guide to transport in South Africa for car rental companies.

By plane: The main airport in Johannesburg is OR Tambo International Airport and it is the busiest airport in the continent. The airport is located 15 miles (24kms) from Johannesburg city centre. You can travel to and from Johannesburg Airport by taxi, hotel shuttle or hire car (see below). It’s a good idea to buy some Rand before you leave home instead of exchanging money at the airport as money exchange rates at Johannesburg Airport (TAMBO) are extortionate.

Flights to Johannesburg Airport (TAMBO) run from major cities all over the world and there are numerous domestic flights to Johannesburg from destinations in South Africa. Because of this, queues at Immigration can be pretty hefty so be prepared for a long wait, especially if you are arriving early in the morning.

Lanseria Airport in Johannesburg caters for commercial flights and is, unlike OR Tambo, privately owned. The location of Lanseria Airport is just to the northwest of the city, close to the Midrand, Pretoria, Westrand and Sandton regions. Regular flights run from Cape Town to Lanseria Airport but the rest are mainly corporate and regional flights. A number of discounted airlines in South Africa run cheap flights to Johannesburg. See JF’s guide to transport in South Africa

By train: If you are travelling to Johannesburg by train, you will probably be arriving at Park Station, Johannesburg, which occupies several blocks in the city centre between De Villiers, Wanderers, Wolmarans and Rissik streets. Both intercity MetroRail trains and long-distance Shosholoza Meyl trains arrive at Park Station. If you are due to arrive at night time, it is a good idea to arrange further transport in advance as the areas around Park Station can get quite rough after dark.

There are eight main routes to Park Station from various major South African cities and the smaller towns along the way. Trains from Cape Town, East London, Polokwane, Pietermaritzburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Nelspruit and Pretoria all arrive regularly at Johannesburg train station.

Passengers travelling by train to Johannesburg on long-distance services normally have the option of Tourist Class, where there is a choice between two and four-person compartments/bedrooms. Economy class is much cheaper but only has reclining chairs instead of beds. Book trains to and from Johannesburg at your nearest station.

By bus: All major South African bus companies run services to and from Johannesburg. Long-distance buses arrive at Park Station in Johannesburg city centre (see above on trains for the location of Park Station).

Bus companies that run to and from Johannesburg Park Station include:

Greyhound
The corner of Kirk and Polly Street, Johannesburg, Tel: +27 (0)83 915 9000, opening times: 4:30am – 23pm, reservation times: 5:30am – 10pm Monday to Saturday.
Greyhound runs buses to and from Johannesburg from all over the country

Translux
Lower Level, Transit Centre, Park City Station, Tel: +27 (0)11 774-3333
Translux’s network extends to major cities in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi

SA Roadlink
Tel: +27 (0)11 333 2223 or +27 (0)11 333 9273
SA Roadlink coaches travel to and from most major South African cities

Baz Bus
Tel: +27 (0)21 439 2323, Email: info@bazbus.com
Baz Bus’s hop-on, hop-off service is the best bet for backpackers. Routes run from Durban to Johannesburg via either Swaziland or Drakenberg. From Durban, riders can continue to Cape Town

Transport in Johannesburg

Public transport in Johannesburg is sketchy if not closer to non-existent and buses and taxis and generally only used by commuters. Johannesburg is also perfectly set-up for cars, so most people exploring the city choose to do so under their own steam. Car hire in Johannesburg is relatively cheap when compared with most European cities but it can be a little hair-raising at times driving in Johannesburg.

Rush hours in South Africa run from 7:30am - 9am and 4pm - 6:30pm so try and avoid these if possible as the traffic can get very heavy. Traffic in Johannesburg is generally quieter on the weekends but be aware that at least until the World Cup 2010 in South Africa finally starts, there is likely to be roadworks on all major routes. Buying a map of Johannesburg or printing off JF’s map of Johannesburg is also a good idea as the city is large and not very well sign-posted.

Check out these car hire companies in Johannesburg:

Avis
Johannesburg Railway Station, Main Concorse, Braamfontein Tel: 27 (0)11 336 0703, Opening times: 7:30am – 5pm Monday to Friday, 8am – 3pm Saturday and Sunday
Avis offers a professional and speedy service

CABS Car Hire
18 Herman Street, Harmelia Germiston 1401, Tel: +27 (0)11 392-1388, Email: cabsjhb@cabs.co.za
CABS Car Hire is reliable and affordable

First Car Rental
OR Tambo International Airport, Car Rental Concourse, Tel +27 (0)861 011 323, Email: reservations@cmh.co.za, Opening times: 24 hours daily
First Car Rental is a well-known and trusted name

Hertz
OR Tambo International Airport, 1 Club Gold Location, Tel: +27 (0)11 390 9700, Email: jhbapt@hertz.co.za, Opening times: 24 hours daily
Hertz is a world-wide car hire giant

Pace Car Rental
90 George Avenue, Johannesburg 2192, Tel: +27 (0)878 082 542
Pace car Rental offer reasonable rates for small cars

Tempest Car Hire
OR Tambo International Airport Tel: +27 (0)11 578 0160, Opening times: 24 hours daily, or, Cnr Rissik and Wolmerans Street, top level of Parkstation Public Parkade, Park Station bus terminal, Tel: +27 (0)11 333 7928, opening times: 8am -5pm Monday to Friday, 8am – 3pm Saturday, closed Sunday, Email: reservations@tempestcarhire.co.za
Tempest Car Hire is conveniently located at Johannesburg Airport and Johannesburg bus station

Car Hire Kempton Park
South Africa car rentals provides the best in online hiring of cars and makes your journey more enjoyable.

By bus: Buses in Johannesburg mainly come in the form of large blue city buses and informal minibuses. The blue buses serve the main roads while the minibuses can be flagged down from anywhere. Johannesburg buses aren’t widely recommended for tourists, however, as they are infrequent and sometimes dangerous at night.

 Check out these buses in Johannesburg:

Rea Vaya
These blue, red and white Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) vehicles are safe and affordable. The buses have dedicated lanes and stop every 500m

Metrobus
Tel: +27 (0)11 833-5538
Metrobus buses are few and far between and a bit shabby but cheap and fairly safe during the day

By minibus taxi: Minibus taxis in Johannesburg are much like those in the rest of the country, best to be avoided. The crowded vans are often not roadworthy and the drivers are laregly erratic. As well as all this, the road system in Johannesburg can be a maze to navigate so drivers will often drop you in the wrong place without your knowledge. Some more reputable minibus companies have now started catering to tourists in Cape Town, however, so Johannesburg will no doubt follow suit soon.

By Taxi: Taxis in Johannesburg are not metered and as a result not cheap. Haggling is, however, expected even when booking over the phone, so never accept the first price. Taxi are also not always easily found in Johannesburg so it pays to carry a few numbers with you for emergencies.

 Check out these Johannesburg taxis:

 Airport Link
Tel: +27 (0)11) 792 2017
Airport Link provides airport transfers for a fixed price

Elias
Tel: +27 (0)76 834 0670.
Elias runs in and around the Central  Business District and has friendly drivers

Magicbus
Tel: +27 (0)11 548-0822
Magicbus run door-to-door transfers and shuttles to and from Sandton and OR Tambo Airport

Maxi Taxi
Tel: +27 (0)11 648 1212
Maxi Taxi is a reputable firm based in Yeoville

Roses Taxi
Tel: +27 (0)11 403 9625
Roses Taxis run throughout the city

By train: MetroRail runs trains in Johannesburg to and from the outlying towns and suburbs. The greater Johannesburg Metropolitan area is covered by the Witwatersrand region. Park Station is the main train station in Johannesburg in the city centre between De Villiers, Wanderers, Wolmarans and Rissik streets. Trains run from Park Station, Johannesburg, to Krugersdorp, Soweto, Pretoria and Springs.

Tags: buses, car rental, coach, getting about town, hire, Johannesburg transport, soweto, stadiums, taxis, train and rail routes