Port Elizabeth transport – bus, train, taxi & car rental
Posted on 05. Apr, 2010 by admin in Port Elizabeth
Like most South African cities, transport in Port Elizabeth is currently undergoing a massive revamp in preparation for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Extra bus services will be put on for fans and trains will be increased. It is also possible to rent cars and minibuses in Port Elizabeth, which is a favourite way to get around for most tourists. Check out JF’s guide to getting into Port Elizabeth and getting around Port Elizabeth for the full rundown.
Transport to Port Elizabeth
By plane: Getting to Port Elizabeth by plane from elsewhere in South Africa is easy as Port Elizabeth Airport is only a few kilometres from the city centre. Flights to Port Elizabeth run throughout the week from various South African Airports, including Durban, Cape Town and Johannesburg. Cheap flights to Port Elizabeth can also be found by searching discount South African Airlines. The runway has also recently been extended for the 2010 soccer World Cup in South Africa.
By train: Trains to Port Elizabeth arrive at the main train station in the centre of the city, near the harbour. Shosholoza Myel runs daily inter-city trains to Port Elizabeth from Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg, Kimberley and Cape Town. You can also travel to Port Elizabeth by train from Durban if you change at Bloemfontein, Mthatha if you change at Noupoort and Amabele, and Grahamstown if you change at Alicedale. Premier Classe runs luxury trains to Port Elizabeth from Cape Town, George and Oudtshoorn twice a week.
By car: Driving to Port Elizabeth is fairly straightforward as the Garden Route will take you the entire 790kms from Cape Town, via Bloemfontein and East London. Travelling by car to Port Elizabeth from Johannesburg is also possible. Car hire in South Africa is a good way to get about as rental rates are fairly reasonable and public transport is not always reliable. Make sure you have a detailed map, however, before you decide to set out on your South African road trip. Check out JF’s guide to South African transport for a list of car rental firms in South Africa.
By bus: Travelling to Port Elizabeth by bus is simple, as all major bus companies in South Africa run routes to the city. The main bus station can be found in Market Square, where most of the long-distances coaches to Port Elizabeth arrive and depart.
Some of the bus companies running routes to Port Elizabeth are:
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 Cape Town to Port Elizabeth.
Greyhound
Shop 4 Simpson Building, Ring Road, Greenacres, Port Elizabeth, Tel: +27 (0)41 363 4555
Greyhound runs buses to and from Port Elizabeth from all over South Africa, including Cape Town and Johannesburg
Translux
Railway Station, Strand Street or ADT House, Ring Road, Green Acres, Tel: +27 (0)861 589 282 or Tel: +27 (011) 774-3333
Translux’s network extends to major cities in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi
SA Roadlink
Tel: +27 (0)41 363 0052 or +27 (0)31 307 5424
SA Roadlink coaches travel to and from most major South African cities. Buses arrive and depart from Port Elizabeth on a daily basis.
Transport in Port Elizabeth
By car: Public, inner-city transport in Port Elizabeth and in South Africa as a whole can be pretty unreliable, so many visitors find renting a car in Port Elizabeth is the best way to get about. Car hire in Port Elizabeth is also fairly cheap compared to most European cities and petrol isn’t too extortionate. It’s a good idea to get a good map of the city before you set out and avoid the rush hours from 7:30am and 9am and 4pm and 6:30pm. Cheap car rental in Port Elizabeth starts from around R160 a day and most destinations in the province can be reached within a couple of hours.
Check out these car hire companies in Port Elizabeth:
CABS Car hire
90A Hugh Road, Walmer, Port Elizabeth, Tel: +27 (0)21 386 5500, Email: info@cabs.co.za
Economic Car Hire
104 Heugh Road, Port Elizabeth, Tel: +27 (0)41 581 5826
Tempest car hire
Port Elizabeth Airport, Alistair Miller drive, Walmer, Port Elizabeth, Tel: +27 (0)11 552 3900
Avis Telephone
Port Elizabeth Airport, Alistair Miller drive, Walmer, Port Elizabeth, Tel: +27 (0)41 501 7200
Thrifty
Port Elizabeth Airport, Alistair Miller drive, Walmer, Port Elizabeth, Tel: +27 (0)415817988, Email Address: infope@thrifty.co.za
Taxi: As with many South African cities, public transport in Durban can be unreliable. If you’re not up for hiring a car and getting round the city under your own steam, taxis in Port Elizabeth are your best bet. They are relatively cheap and also the safest way to tourists to get around the city. Most are metered but some will want to agree on a price before the journey. You generally can’t flag down cabs from the street in Port Elizabeth, so make sure you have a few numbers in your pocket before you head out.
Check out these taxi companies in Port Elizabeth:
Du Plooy’s Taxi’s
97 Marock Road, Port Elizabeth, Tel: +27 (0)41 481 9619
Visit: Francis Taxis
16A Mackay Street, Central, Port Elizabeth, Tel: +27 (0)415822957
Good Fellas
48 Albert Road, Walmer, Port Elizabeth, Tel: +27 (0)41 581 7209
Home James
Tel: +27 (0)82 414 4474
Home James is a luxury chauffeur service
Hurters Cabs
Box 12221, Central Hill, Port Elizabeth, Tel: +27 (0)41 585 5500
Hurters Cabs runs a reliable, air conditioned metered service.
Kingcab
Tel: +27 (0)41 368 5559
Kingcab radio taxis run 24 hours
Magic Cabs Taxi
Tel: +27 (0)41 582 2800
Magic Cabs Taxis serves all areas, including Grahamstown
By minibus taxi: Minibus taxis in Port Elizabeth are the main mode of transport for locals but they have traditionally been warned against for tourists. They are normally very overcrowded and not always roadworthy, although a recent clean up has been put in place for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. Minibus taxis can be flagged down from the street and will take you pretty much anywhere across the city for under R5.
Pre-hired minibuses can also be arranged for those travelling long distances in a group. These air conditioned minibuses are a much safer way to travel than the traditional inner-city minibuses and it can work out fairly cheap if you’re sharing the cost of a long journey.
Check out these companies offering private minibus hire in Port Elizabeth:
Fat Boy Tours
21 Sam Arends Street, Cleary Estate, Port Elizabeth, Tel: +27 (0)41 481 4442
Far Boy Tours offers a long-distance minibus charter service for tours and airport transfers.
Lucky’s Transport
27 Newfeldt Street, Gelvan Park, Port Elizabeth, Tel: +27 (0)41 452 5275
Lucky’s Transport offers 15 and 22-seater taxis
Norwich Long Distance Taxi Association
Strand Street, Port Elizabeth, Tel: +27 (0)41 585 7253
Norwich Long Distance Taxi Association provides minibus charters all across the country.
By bus: There are buses in Port Elizabeth but as usual they’re not always to be relied upon. Things are slowly improving thanks to preparations for the 2010 World Cup, but how successful things will be remains to be seen. Maps and timetables can be obtained from the tourist offices but are hard to find elsewhere. Always stay alert and look out for your valuables while on public transport in Port Elizabeth.
Algoa Bus Company
Tel: +27 (0)41 404-1200
By train: During the week, MetroRail provides trains from Port Elizabeth to Uitenhage and the surrounding suburbs. Services on the weekends are less frequent. The Apple Express tourist train also runs from Humewood Road station near King’s beach. Regular trains leave for Van Staden’s Bridge – highest narrow-gauge rail bridge in the world – and Thornhill Village.
