South Africa Transportation Tips by PierreZA

Air Travel: South African Airways

SAA is our National Carrier. It seems to get mixed reviews, but I do believe that the Premier Class on SAA is one of the best in-flight experiences I ever had. Unfortunately the same cannot always be said about the economy section, alyhough they have improved rcently.
In general I mostly had pleasant experiences with SAA. They serve most African countries, and also the only flights from South Africa to South America (Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires), other than Air Malaysia, which fly to Buenos Aires via Cape Town. There are daily flights to London Heathrow, Munich, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Perth etc
They also have frequent flight to Mauritius, Zanzibar, Madagascar, Victoria Falls, Windhoek and many African destinations.
They have many daily domestic flights between JNB, CPT, PE, Durban, Bloemfontein, George etc

Mode: TO,AROUND

Type: Airplane

Website: http://www.flysaa.com

Car Rental

Car rental companies include Europa, Avis, Budget, Tempo, Imperial etc. It is best to book ahead of arrival.
You will be able to find most of these companies at the airports in South Africa.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Car/Motor Home

Public Transport

Public transport is a problem in SA. We do not have the infrastructure which you will find in Europe. We are looking forward to the completion of a project called the Gautrain, which is an urban rail system serving Johannesburg (including the airport) and Pretoria. The first phase should be in use during 2010.
Bus services are different for different cities. Plans are made to improve public bus services.
Be careful to use minibus taxis, as they could be unsafe.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Other

Driving in South Africa

We drive on the left side of the road (as in UK, India, and Australia).
Manuel transmission gears are much more common than automatic.
Urban speed limit = 60km/h and in some areas 80km/h
On National highways, speed limit is 120km/h
Distances are indicated in kilometres and not miles
When driving in cities, do look out for minibus taxis, as they often disobey the rules of the road.
Petrol (gas) stations (Caltex, ENGEN, BP, Shell) are easy to find and in abundance. You do not fill up yourself, but an attendant will do that for you, and is usually tipped (R2 – R5), as they usually clean your windscreens as well.
You can now pay for petrol with your credit card in SA.
You always have to have your drivers licence with you when driving, if not, be sure to be fined. Driving and talking on your cell phone in hand is illegal, so do use a hands free set (although you see people talking on cell phones while driving all the time).

Mode: AROUND

Type: Car/Motor Home

Domestic Air Travel

Domestic Carriers:
SAA & Airlink, British Airways, Mango (low cost), Kulula (low cost) 1Time (low cost)
There are many, many daily flights between major cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth.
Less frequent (but at least daily) flights would include flights to and from East London, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, George etc.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Airplane

Air travel: International

Johannesburg is the transport hub of SA. The newly renovated Oliver Thambo International Airport (Johannesburg) is the busiest airport in the country. Carriers to Johannesburg include: Air France (Paris); BA (London); Virgin Atlantic (London); Lufthansa (Frankfurt); KLM (Amsterdam); Iberia (Madrid/Barcelona); Emirates (Dubai); Cathay Pacific (HK); Singapore Airlines (Singapore); Gulf Air (Bahrain); Qatar Airways (Doha); Swiss Air (Zurich); Egypt Air (Cairo); Etihad (Abu Dhabi); TAP (Lisbon); Turkish (Istanbul); etc. There are also a few African carriers, like Air Angola, Kenya Airways, Ethiopian; Seychelles, Mauritius etc
Cape Town and Durban is the only other International Airports in South Africa. Carriers flying directly to Cape Town: BA (London); KLM (Amsterdam); Emirates (Dubai); Qatar (Doha); Lufthansa (Frankfurt)

Check the ACSA website for more info

Mode: TO

Type: Airplane

Website: http://www.acsa.co.za