Johannesburg, South Africa

Getting around Johannesburg

How to travel around Johannesburg — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Last updated 2026-08-09

1. Gautrain

Fast rail from the airport to Sandton and Pretoria, and the safest transport for visitors.

Cost: ZAR 100–200

2. Uber and Bolt

Both widely used; the trip is tracked, which matters here.

Watch outUnmetered taxis quoting inflated fares from the airport.

3. Rented car

How most of the city moves, though carjacking risk shapes local driving habits.

Tip: Keep windows up and doors locked at intersections; local advice is consistent on this.

4. Rea Vaya BRT

Dedicated-lane buses linking Soweto and the centre.

5. ATM safety

Use machines inside bank branches during the day.

Watch outThe 'helper' approach with card swapping is the commonest fraud on visitors.

Booking apps in South Africa

Agreeing the fare in an app before you travel removes the argument at the end of the journey, which is where most transport scams happen. Links go to each app's official page — lookalike apps are themselves a scam.

Uber

The most widely used ride-hailing app in South Africa.

Coverage: Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Pretoria.
Why it helps: Avoids the unmetered taxis quoting inflated fares, and the trip is tracked — which matters given the robbery risk.

Bolt

Competes closely with Uber on price across South African cities.

Coverage: All major cities.
Why it helps: Fare is agreed in the app before the trip, and the route is recorded — which removes the refused meter, the tampered meter and the fixed 'foreigner price' in one move.