Johannesburg

Travel to Johannesburg

Johannesburg O R Tambo International Airport is South Africa's busiest airport. The airport underwent substantial renovations prior to the 2010 World Cup, held in South Africa. There are many direct flights to Johannesburg from the UK and most connecting flights will transit through Johannesburg. Typical flight time is 12 hours. The other airport in the city is Lanseria Airport. This is a much smaller, privately owned airport used for regional, corporate and diplomatic passengers.

On arrival in Johannesburg

Johannesburg International Airport is located about 25 kilometres east of the centre of the city. Shuttle buses operate between the airport and Park station between 5am and 10pm and take about 45 minutes. The Airport Link or The Magic Bus are two providers of a shuttle between the airport and the city centre. Taxis to/from the airport are expensive; always check they have a meter or agree on a price before travelling. Renting a car is highly recommended as safe public transport options are limited and the roads are in good condition. If you do decided to hire a car, do buy a good up-to-date road map and be careful in certain areas after dark.

Getting around Johannesburg

Public transport in Johannesburg is not great; this is a city built for the car. The high speed Gautrain runs between Johannesburg O R Tambo Airport and Sandton and is a good clean option. It is anticipated that the line will be completed into central Johannesburg by 2011. Buses (other than the ones attached to the Gautrain system) such as the large blue public buses or minibuses are not recommended to tourists/those unfamiliar with the city and may be a danger.

Travelling further afield

The best way of travelling around South Africa is by hiring a car in Johannesburg. The N1 is main highway connecting Johannesburg with Cape Town and Bloemfontein to the north and comes south to the city from Pretoria and Zimbabwe. The N3 links Durban and the KwaZulu-Natal coast. The N4 offers access to the west including Sun City, Botswana and Namibia and the east to Mozambique. For those wanting to get to the Kruger Park take the R536, R40 and N4. South Africa does have some reliable coach companies including Intercape, Greyhound and Translux. The Baz Busoffers a hop on hop off service suitable for backpackers to Capetown, Pretoria and Durban.