Air
Daily flights link Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, East London, Johannesburg, Kimberley, Port Elizabeth and Pretoria and with other connecting flights to provincial towns. South African Airways operates on the principal routes.
Flight discounts
An Africa Explorer fare is available to foreign visitors entering South Africa with an IATA airline. It offers a significant saving for anyone planning to use South African Airways internal network. The fare is valid for a minimum of 3 days and a maximum of 2 months: travel may originate and terminate at any point within South Africa which is served by the airline. However, travel is not permitted more than once in the same direction over any given sector.
There is also a reduction of approximately 30 per cent on some standby fares.
South African Airways has various discount domestic fares including Apex, Slumber, Supersaver and Saver fares.
Sea
Starlight Cruises offers links between major ports. Contact details for this?
Rail
Principal intercity services are as follows:
Blue Train is a luxury express offering routes between Pretoria, Victoria Falls, Hoedspruit, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town
Trans-Oranje between Cape Town and Durban via Kimberley and Bloemfontein (weekly) Trans-Natal Express between Durban and Johannesburg (daily).
Rovos Rail offers luxury (partly steam) safaris to the easternTransvaal.
Transnet Museum also offers various steam safaris around South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Trans-Karoo Express travels between Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria four times a week.
All long-distance trains are equipped with sleeping compartments, included in fares, and most have restaurant cars. Reservations are recommended for principal trains and overnight journeys.
There are frequent local trains in the Cape Town and Pretoria/Johannesburg urban areas.
Trains have first- and second-class accommodation.
Children under 2 years of age travel free. Children aged 2 to 11 years pay half fare.
Coach
Greyhound, Intercape and Translux, operate intercity express links using modern air conditioned coaches. On many intercity routes, passengers may break their journey at any scheduled stop en route by prior arrangement at time of booking and continue on a subsequent coach at no extra cost except for additional accommodation.
Taxi
Taxis are available for hire at all towns, hotels and airports, with rates for distance and time. For long-distance travel, a quotation should be sought.
City Centre Transport
There are bus and suburban rail networks in all the main towns. Fares in Cape Town and Johannesburg are zonal, with payment in cash or with a 10-ride pre-purchase clipcard from kiosks.
Pretoria utilises pre-purchase ticket systems, including a cheap pass for off-peak travel only.
In Durban, conventional buses face stiff competition from minibuses and combi-taxis (both legal and illegal), which are also found in other South African towns. These, although cheap and very fast, should be used with care.
For ordinary taxis, fares within the city areas are more expensive than long distances. Taxis do not cruise and must be called from a rank. Taxi drivers expect a 10 per cent tip.
Official Tourism site for South Africa: South Africa Tourism site
