Coaches: Coaches with air conditioning are used on our tours for city sightseeing, short excursions to the countryside and longer transfers where necessary. Please note it may not always be possible to return to your hotel after sightseeing to freshen up before going to the restaurant for dinner. Roads have generally been improved over recent years, but traffic and/or weather conditions may extend driving times. Road construction work usually covers an enormous section of road - not just one or two kilometers as you may be used to. For this reason, the timings listed in the dossier are approximate.
Road Network: The road network varies in quality. Major roads connecting cities like Harare and Bulawayo are generally in fair condition, but secondary and rural roads can be less well-maintained and may become challenging, especially during the rainy season.
Public Transport: South Africa does not have a well-developed public transport system. All the cities have a municipal bus service, which runs according to an established schedule, but only until a certain time of night. The service is infrequent and even more limited over the weekends and public holidays. Towns do not offer a municipal bus service. It is not recommended that tourists use public transport. Ride-hailing apps such as Uber are available in major cities and are recommended for tourists over public transport.
Taxis: There are mainly two types of taxis in South Africa. Metered taxis are more expensive and to be found mainly in the cities although some small towns may have a limited number. They cannot be hailed from the street and must either be ordered by phone or at the taxi ranks, which are scarce. Minibus taxis are the cheapest but also the most uncomfortable, and safety standards are inconsistent. Ride-hailing apps such as Uber are available in major cities and are recommended for tourists over taxis.