Getting to Rustenburg – transport, bus, car rental
Posted on 14. May, 2010 by admin in Rustenburg
Rustenburg is in a great position just an hour or so away from Johannesburg and Pretoria. This makes travelling to Rustenburg a doddle and many of the favourite get-aways of city dwellers in Johannesburg are en-route to the city. Rustenburg has its own domestic airport, but many choose to fly into Johannesburg airport and arrive in the city by road. There are also many long-distance buses that use Rustenburg as a stopover. Once there, public transport in Rustenburg is similar to any other South African city – almost non-existent. There are, however, a couple of car hire companies in Rustenburg as well as plenty of Rustenburg taxis. Check out JF’s guide to Rustenburg Transport.
Transport to Rustenburg:
By plane
Travelling to Rustenburg by plane is a good option as Pilanesburg International Airport is nearby at the Sun City Rustenburg Aerodrome. There are limited domestic connections to Rustenburg Airport, although extra flights to Rustenburg will be laid on for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. As Johannesburg is so close, however, many people choose to fly into Johannesburg Airport and then drive to Rustenburg.
By car
Many visitors find travelling to Rustenburg by car the best option. Rustenburg is only about an hour away from Pretoria along the N4 and Johannesburg comes up along the N1 shortly after. Note that the N4 is a toll road, which cost around R32 in 2010, but it is in great condition having recently been built. There is, however, a toll-free alternative, the R104, which runs parallel to the N4. You can also get from Johannesburg to Rustenburg on the R24 road. The Magaliesberg Nature Reserve offers splendid driving views.
Hiring a car in South Africa is easy and convenient and most airports are home to national car rental chains. It is fairly standard to be able to hire a car at one airport and drop it off at another. Petrol prices in South Africa are also reasonably cheap compared to European cities and the road network here is well maintained. See JF’s guide to transport in South Africa for national car rental firms, or below for car rental in Rustenburg.
By bus
Travelling to Rustenburg by bus is easy as the city is en-route to Botswana. Most inner-city routes between Pretoria and Gabarone have a stopover at Rustenburg. Not all operators stopover at Rustenburg, however, so always check before you travel. Extra bus services from Rustenburg during the World Cup will also run from Royal Bafokeng Stadium to Pretoria and Johannesburg. Call one of the bus companies listed below for more information.
These buses run services to Rustenburg:
TransLux
Tel: +27 (0)861 589 282, or +27 (0)11 774-3333, Email translux@apx.co.za
Translux’s network extends to major cities in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi
Greyhound
Tel: +27 (0)83 915 9000, Email: enquiries@greyhound.co.za
Greyhound runs buses to and from Rustenburg and to cities all over South Africa. Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and Johannesburg are on Greyhound routes along with many other South African cities.
City To City
Tel: +27 (0)861 589 282 or +27 (0)11 774 3333
City to City offers buses from Johannesburg to Rustenburg on a semi-luxury coach.
Intercape Mailiner
Tel: +27 (0)861 287 287 or +27 (0)21 380 4400
Intercape Mailiner runs buses between Johannesburg and Rustenburg. Their network also extends to other South African cities.
Citiliner
Tel: +27 (0)83 915 9000
Run by the same company as Greyhound, Citiliner offer semi-luxury busses through a network of South African cities and neighbouring countries.
By minibus taxi
Long distance minibus taxis frequently between Rustenburg, Pretoria and Johannesburg. They operate on a strictly cash basis and generally run between 5am and 7pm from designated taxi ranks. Extra services will be laid on to ease transport during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. These, however, are not always the safest form of transport as minibus taxis are often not roadworthy and/or very crowded.
By train
Although there is a provincial train line that stops in Rustenburg, there is currently no commuter service and the line is used for freight transportation only. Plans are in place, however, to run a high speed train from Johannesburg and Pretoria to Rustenburg during the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Transport in Rustenburg:
By car
Public transport in Rustenburg is practically not existent as in all other South African cities. Many visitors find the best way to travelling around Rustenburg is by car. The roads here are well maintained and the city is fairly easy to navigate. You should, however, attempt to avoid rush hours between 7am-9am and 3pm-6pm when the roads can get quite congested.
Check out these car rental firms in Rustenburg:
Vizivo
Sun City Airport, Rustenburg, Tel: +27 (0)12 743 5593, Opening times: 9am-8:30pm Monday to Friday, 9am-12 noon on weekends.
Avis
194 Beyers Naude Drive, Rustenburg, Tel: + 27 (0)14 592 9902, Opening times: 8am-5pm Monday to Friday, 8am-12 noon on weekends
*Car hire in Rustenburg can also be booked from various online companies who will deliver the vehicle directly to you.
By taxi
Taxis in Rustenburg are a good way for tourists to get around, as they are safe, fast and fairly cheap. Rustenburg taxis operate on a call-out basis so you will need to take a couple of numbers out with you or head to a rank if you plan to get around Rustenburg by taxi. Some taxis in Rustenburg are metered but others you will need to agree on a price before the journey.
Check out these Rustenburg taxis:
Rustenburg Taxi Association
125 Kloppers Street, Rustenburg, Tel: +27 (0)14 5929163
Hamara Taxi Association
117c Smit Street, Rustenburg, Tel +27 (0)14 592 2126
John’s Taxis
Tel: +27 (0)82 771 2146
New Era Taxis
Tel: +27 (0)14 592 2929
Dinki Bus and Taxi Service
Tel: +27 (0)14 597 3645
Natasha’s Taxi’s
Tel: +27 (0)82 873 0445
By bus:
There are some buses in Rustenburg but they are notoriously unreliable and mainly only used by local commuters rather than tourists. One service which might come in handy, however, is the route that runs between Rustenburg’s Central Business District, the airport and the suburbs. Another route run by Tlhabane Northwest Starline serves the outlying settlements lying northwards along the R565 and northeast along the R510.
By minibus taxi
Minibus taxis in Rustenburg are the most popular form of transport for locals as they are fast and cheap. You can get pretty much anywhere across the city for R5 – R10 and Rustenburg minibus taxis can be flagged down on the side of the road. They run certain routes but generally only go when they’re full, so things can get very cramped inside. For this reason, as well as the fact that they are often not roadworthy and driven extremely fast, Rustenburg minibus taxis and not generally recommended for tourists. If you feel like living on the wild side, however, be our guest!
