Durban City Guide - Getting Around

The eThekwini Municipal Bus Company was privatised a few years ago, and is now operated by Remant Alton (tel: (031) 451 4600), which operates a number of services in and around the city. However, there have been doubts cast over the reliability and safety of these buses, and it is recommended that visitors travel around by taxi, which is safe, and relatively cheap. As in other South African cities, travelling by bus does have its risks, such as pick-pocketing. Visitors are advised not to use public transport after dark. Currently, no special visitor tickets or passes are available.

 A network of local trains links the city centre with the outlying suburbs and a number of other towns in the region. These are operated by Metrorail (tel: (031) 361 7609; website: www.metrorail.co.za). Again, it is wise to avoid travel after dark.

Within the city, an alternative form of transport is offered by Bangkok-style tuk-tuks, while along the Golden Mile a popular distraction for visitors are the colourful Zulu rickshaws.

There are two types of taxi in Durban: metered cabs, which must be booked by telephone from a specific location, and the ubiquitous minibus taxis, which can be hailed on the street. These are often badly maintained, over-full, and sometimes dangerous, so tourists should opt for the former, of which there are a number of reputable operators, including Zippy Cabs (tel: (031) 202 7067; website: www.zippycabs.co.za) and Mozzie Cabs (tel: (031) 303 5787 or 0860 669943/ MOZZIE; website: www.mozzie.co.za).

Car hire operators in Durban include Avis (tel: (031) 304 1741; website: www.avis.co.za), Budget (tel: (031) 304 9023; website: www.budget.co.za), Hertz (tel: (031) 335 2570; website: www.hertz.co.za), National (tel: (031) 461 5223; website: www.nationalcar.co.za) and Thrifty (tel: (031) 462 5268; website: www.thrifty.co.za).

Bicycle hire in Durban is generally arranged through the accommodation provider. A number of backpacker hostels in the city offer this service. Scooters, quad bikes and similar vehicles can be hired from Scooter Inn in the Berea district (tel: (031) 306 1616; website: www.scooterinn.co.za). 

As in all South African cities, care should be taken when walking around, and taxis or other arranged transport should always be used in the evenings.