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.
