Johannesburg City Guide - Getting Around

With a fleet of new double-decker buses, Metrobus (tel: 011 833 5538; website: www.mbus.co.za) offers a scheduled bus service covering over 100 routes within the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan area; the service runs 0600-1900. Most routes start and finish in Ghandi Square (formerly Vanderbijl Square) bus terminus, corner of Main and Rissik Streets, and cover six zones with zone one closest and zone six furthest. Ticket prices depend on how many zones are crossed. Books of pre-paid tickets can be bought from Computicket (tel: 011 340 8000 or 083 915 8000; website: www.computicket.com) kiosks in shopping malls, which work out cheaper than regular fares paid onboard the buses. 

Metrorail (tel: 011 773 7092 or 0800 127 070; website: www.sarcc.co.za) is the suburban train service providing daily links to many parts of greater Johannesburg (including Soweto). This service is generally not recommended to visitors because of the danger of theft.

The quickest (but not necessarily safest) way to get around Johannesburg is in one of the minibus taxis (sometimes called Zola Budds after the famous South African runner), which depart when full, pick up anywhere and serve the main routes 0500-2100. The main minibus rank in the city centre is at the Metro Mall on Ntemi Piliso Street in Newtown. 

However, minibus taxis cannot really be recommended to visitors. Although they are getting more organised and newer vehicles are being introduced, they still have a bad reputation and safety record. Tourists who do choose to use this service should exercise caution and employ common sense at all times. Do not board an empty bus or travel alone, and avoid those that are in dreadful shape - with flat or smooth tyres, alarming dents or just a general state of disrepair. 

Metered taxis are infinitely more expensive but far safer and more convenient than minibuses. They cannot be hailed in the street but can be ordered at any time of day or night and can also be hired for day trips. Although the meters are generally accurate, visitors should ask the driver for an estimated price before setting out. Unlike locals, foreigners often tip, and, although it is not expected, a small tip is appreciated.

Rose Taxis (tel: 011 403 0000; website: www.rosetaxis.com) are well established and have a reputation for reliability. Maxi Taxi Cabs (tel: 011 648 1212) are also recommended.

Johannesburg's rise fairly closely parallels that of the automobile and this has allowed successive city planners to cater very well for the needs of private motorists. The network of roads and highways is excellent and well maintained and parking is more than adequate. Attractions and shopping malls have car parks and across the city are purpose-built multi-storey car parks. If parking on the street, it is customary to pay R2-5 to car guards for watching your car. These usually wear a badge or work vest and this system is well worth supporting as it provides thousands of jobs.

Traffic congestion is generally limited to the rush-hour periods of 0700-0900 and 1600-1800. At other times, most locations within the city can be reached in well under an hour. The main road hazards are poor driving (especially by minibus taxi drivers), a lack of visible traffic policing and the threat of attack by smash-and-grab thieves and armed hijackers. Visitors should never stop for hitchhikers or at accident scenes and always keep their doors locked and windows up. After dark, many motorists also (illegally) ignore red traffic lights (when in isolated or deserted areas, such as highway exits or intersections adjacent to parks), for safety reasons.

A hired car is the easiest way to get around Johannesburg, especially for excursions to outlying areas. Hotels can arrange car hire for their guests, while all major car hire companies have booths at the airport. These include Avis (tel: 0861 113 748; website: www.avis.co.za), Budget (tel: 0861 016 622; website: www.budget.co.za), Europcar (tel: 0860 011 344; website: www.europcar.co.za), Hertz (tel: 0861 600 136; website: www.hertz.co.za) and Tempest Sixt (tel: 0861 836 7378; website: www.tempestcarhire.co.za).

Third party insurance is included in the rates but comprehensive or full cover insurance is usually offered as an optional extra (some companies make this compulsory) and is highly recommended, particularly against theft. Drivers must be at least 23 years old and have a credit card and an International Driving Licence (unless the driver's national licence is printed in English and bears a photograph of the holder).

Johannesburg’s town planners have made absolutely no provision for bicycles in their grand schemes and consequently many motorists do not view cyclists as being legitimate users of the road. It therefore comes as no surprise that no one hires out bicycles in the city.