Getting Around South Africa

In South African cities the easiest way to get around is ride-hailing (Uber and Bolt). Between Johannesburg, Pretoria and OR Tambo airport you can take the Gautrain, and Cape Town has the MyCiTi bus rapid transit. For travel between cities, domestic flights are best, with long-distance coaches as the budget option. Most long-term residents end up buying a car.

Options at a glance

Mode	Best for	Payment	Safety tip
Uber / Bolt	Door-to-door trips in town, night travel	Card in app or cash	Check plate, driver photo and name before getting in
Gautrain	Johannesburg, Pretoria and the airport	Gautrain card or contactless bank card	Stations and trains are orderly; take care with onward transport
MyCiTi	Central Cape Town and the airport route	myconnect card (R40)	Mainly a daytime option
Domestic flights	Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and other cities	Online booking	Watch for follow-home robbery after landing
Long-distance coach	Intercity travel on a budget	Online or at the depot	Use established operators; avoid waiting alone at night
Minibus taxi	Cheapest, most used by locals	Cash	Routes are informal; not recommended alone for newcomers

Ride-hailing: Uber and Bolt

Uber and Bolt are available in all major cities. Fares are a little higher than in China but below traditional taxis, and they are what most Chinese newcomers use. Under the National Land Transport Amendment Act, in force since September 2025, platforms must register with the National Public Transport Regulator (NPTR). Bolt received its certificate on 27 February 2026; Uber’s application was still going through the process in June 2026, and the service continues to operate.

Safety basics:

Check the number plate, car model, driver photo and name before getting in. If anything does not match, cancel and report it (“driver was not the same”). Since 2026 Bolt has been cracking down on drivers sharing accounts.
Share your trip with family or friends and sit in the back.
Get in and out at places with security, such as malls and hotels, rather than waiting at the roadside with your phone out.
When leaving the airport at night, watch for anyone following you; see our safety guide.

Gautrain

The Gautrain links Johannesburg, Sandton, Pretoria and OR Tambo airport, with feeder buses. You can load a Gautrain card or tap a contactless bank card at the gates. Gautrain announced that fares stay unchanged for 2026; the airport station costs more than other stations, so check the official fare calculator. It is not certain that foreign-issued cards, including China UnionPay cards, work at the gates, so buy a Gautrain card for your first trip. See our Johannesburg city guide.

MyCiTi in Cape Town

MyCiTi charges by distance and requires a myconnect card (R40; replacement R30). Fares from 1 July 2026 (as of October 2026):

0–5 km: R19.50 peak, R15.00 saver; 10–20 km: R32.50 peak, R25.50 saver; over 60 km: R52.50 peak, R46.00 saver.
Peak is weekdays 06:45–08:00 and 16:15–17:30; all other times, weekends and public holidays are saver fares.
Passes: one day R130, three days R290, seven days R420, one month R1,500.

A MyCiTi route connects the airport with the city centre. See our Cape Town city guide.

Domestic flights

Johannesburg to Cape Town takes about two hours and is the country’s busiest route. The main domestic airlines are FlySafair (about two-thirds of domestic seat capacity), Airlink, Lift, CemAir and South African Airways (SAA); Mango and Kulula no longer fly. A BusinessTech check of last-minute Johannesburg–Cape Town fares in August 2024 found one-way prices of about R951 to R2,154. Booking early and avoiding holidays brings prices down. Lanseria is an alternative airport for Johannesburg.

Long-distance coaches

Coaches are cheaper than flying but much slower. Greyhound stopped operating in 2021; Intercape is among the main operators today. Some routes have been affected in recent years by violence linked to disputes in the passenger transport industry, so check operator notices before you travel, prefer daytime services and avoid waiting alone at depots at night.

Driving yourself

Public transport coverage is limited, so most long-term Chinese residents buy a car. For using a Chinese licence and converting it, see can you drive in South Africa with a Chinese licence.

FAQ

What is the easiest way from OR Tambo to Sandton?

Take the Gautrain straight to Sandton station, or book Uber or Bolt. If you have lots of luggage or land at night, arrange a pick-up with someone you know or meet your ride in a supervised pick-up area.

Should I use minibus taxis?

Many South Africans commute by minibus taxi and fares are low, but routes and stops are hard to read and it is cash only. Newcomers should not ride alone until they know the system.

Can I use ride-hailing without a South African bank card?

Uber and Bolt generally accept international credit cards, and cash is also an option. To open a local account see our bank account guide.

Getting Around South Africa: Ride-Hailing, Gautrain and Intercity Travel