Arrival & Transport
By Plane
South Africa has three major international airports. There are nonstop flights from Germany only to Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Cape Town (CPT) — Cape Town International
South Africa's most beautiful airport, 20 km east of downtown. Nonstop from Frankfurt (Lufthansa, Condor, Eurowings Discover) and from Munich (Lufthansa) — flight time approx. 11.5 hours. Seasonally also Condor from Frankfurt.
Transfer: MyCiTi bus (approx. 5€, 40 min to downtown), Uber/Bolt (12–18€), pre-booked transfer (15–25€).
Johannesburg (JNB) — O.R. Tambo International
Africa's largest airport and main hub. Nonstop from Frankfurt (Lufthansa, South African Airways) and from Munich — flight time approx. 10.5 hours. Also many connecting flights via Dubai (Emirates), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Doha (Qatar Airways).
Transfer: Gautrain (15€, 15 min to Sandton), Uber/Bolt (15–25€ to Sandton). No public bus directly to the city — Uber is the safest option.
Durban (DUR) — King Shaka International
Few international direct flights, mostly with a stopover in Johannesburg. Possible from Frankfurt via Emirates through Dubai.
Flight Prices (Guidelines, Round Trip)
| Period | Economy | Business |
|---|---|---|
| Off-Season (May–Sep) | 450–650€ | 2,000–3,500€ |
| Shoulder Season (Apr, Oct) | 550–750€ | 2,500–4,000€ |
| High Season (Nov–Mar) | 700–1,100€ | 3,500–5,500€ |
| Christmas/New Year | 900–1,500€+ | 5,000€+ |
Tipp
Flights to Cape Town are cheapest during the German summer season (May–September) — and that's exactly when it's the best safari time in Kruger, South Africa! Win-win.
Rental Cars & Left-Hand Traffic
A rental car is almost indispensable in South Africa. The public transport network is hardly available outside the cities, and the roads are well developed. The challenge: left-hand traffic!
Left-Hand Traffic — Tips for First-Time Drivers
- Book automatic! Absolutely. Shifting with the left hand in left-hand traffic is a recipe for chaos.
- Mantra: "Driver sits towards the center of the road" — always sit towards the center line.
- Roundabouts: Clockwise! Enter left, exit right. The opposite of Germany.
- Wipers instead of indicators: Switches are reversed. At first, you'll wipe every time you turn. Don't worry, everyone does it.
- First kilometers: Best to arrive at the airport, drive to the hotel, and start driving properly the next day. Jetlag + left-hand traffic = dangerous.
Rental Car Prices
| Category | Per Day (approx.) | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Small Car (VW Polo) | 20–35€ | Cape Town, short distances |
| Compact (Toyota Corolla) | 30–50€ | Garden Route |
| SUV (Toyota Fortuner) | 50–80€ | Kruger, gravel roads |
| 4×4 (Toyota Hilux) | 70–120€ | Only needed for remote areas |
Important Tips
- Full coverage without excess: Absolutely! South African roads have potholes, and wild animals cross the road.
- Don't drive at night! Poor street lighting, pedestrians on the road, animals, potholes. Rule No. 1 in South Africa.
- E-Toll in Gauteng: The highway around Johannesburg has an electronic toll system. The rental car provider charges the fees via credit card.
- Gas stations: Full service (attendant fills up, checks oil, cleans windows). Tip: 10–20 ZAR.
- 4-Way Stop: Common instead of traffic lights. First come, first served. When in doubt: smile, hand signal, go.
- Providers: Europcar, Hertz, Avis (international), First Car Rental, Tempest (local, cheaper). Compare via CHECK24 or billiger-mietwagen.de.
Achtung
NEVER drive outside cities at night! Pedestrians without reflectors, livestock on the road, and potholes are the most common causes of accidents. Plan your stages so that you arrive before sunset.
Baz Bus & Alternatives
Baz Bus — The Backpacker Network
The Baz Bus is South Africa's legendary hop-on-hop-off bus system for backpackers. It travels along the Garden Route and connects the main backpacker hostels directly (door-to-door service!).
- Main Route: Cape Town → Stellenbosch → Hermanus → Mossel Bay → Knysna → Plettenberg Bay → Storms River → Jeffrey's Bay → Port Elizabeth → onward to Durban and Johannesburg
- Prices: From approx. 50€ (one-way Cape Town → Port Elizabeth), hop-on-hop-off passes from approx. 200€ (7 days) to 450€ (21 days)
- Advantage: Safe, social, picks you up at your accommodation
- Disadvantage: Slow, doesn't go to Kruger National Park, not daily
Domestic Flights
For long distances (e.g., Cape Town → Johannesburg: 1,400 km, 15h drive!) domestic flights are the best option:
| Route | Flight Time | Price (from) | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Town → Johannesburg | 2h | 40–80€ | FlySafair, Kulula, SAA |
| Cape Town → Durban | 2h | 45–90€ | FlySafair, SAA |
| Johannesburg → Durban | 1h 10 | 35–70€ | FlySafair, Kulula |
| Johannesburg → Nelspruit (Kruger) | 1h | 50–100€ | SAA, Airlink |
| Johannesburg → Hoedspruit (Kruger) | 1h | 80–150€ | Airlink |
Intercape & Greyhound (Long-Distance Buses)
Affordable long-distance buses connect all major cities. Intercape is the largest provider. Cape Town → Johannesburg: from 25€, but 18 hours drive. Only for budget travelers with plenty of time.
Uber & Bolt
In Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban, Uber and Bolt are ubiquitous, safe, and incredibly cheap (often 50–70% cheaper than in Germany). In the cities, the best alternative to a rental car.
Tipp
FlySafair is South Africa's cheapest airline and flies the main routes from 40€. For distances over 500 km, domestic flights are clearly preferable to driving — saving an entire travel day.
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