Cape Town Transport: Your Private and Public Transport Options

Getting Around in Cape Town by Car, Taxi and Bus

As the World cup 2010 approaches in big steps the Cape Town transport system is receiving a major overhaul.

Not only the improvements to the private and public transport structures are in the spotlight, also new roads are being built and busy sections of the highways leading into town are getting special attention. This naturally creates a lot of chaos on Cape Town’s streets at the moment.

As most of the daily commuters use their own transport to get to work or drive the children to school, some stretches of the road system are a big headache to many Capetonians. Travel times are often long when you live in the suburbs, so you have to plan wisely when and where to travel. Get some facts on travel distances and travel times for the different Cape Town transport options here.

The Cape Town Public Transport system however is not yet adequate for the increasing commuter numbers. Currently the building of an integrated bus transport system (IRT) and cycle track between Cape Town centre and Blouberg as well as other Cape Town suburbs. The first phase of the IRT system connecting the International Airport and the City is completed but until the full system is running, you will still need to rely on a car for your personal Cape Town transport.

Getting around Cape Town by Car

• You will need a valid driver’s license in English here, so if yours is not in English you will have to get an International Drivers license from your country or you can try to get a translation of your license from your consulate.

• Signage is usually good and bilingual English and Afrikaans, but take care when you look for a street in the center of Cape Town and look for street names as they are given sometimes in Afrikaans wherever you will find them in your street directory only in English or vice versa, like Wale vs. Waal Street.

The destination signs give the distance in kilometers.

• Speed limits are set on all the roads. There are quite a lot of speed traps or cameras all over Cape Town, but the places are well known and so drivers only adjust their speed often only just before the camera. But that does not mean you should speed!

• The official speed limits are 60kmh (35mph) in the city and 120kmh (75mph) on all open roads and the motorways like the N1, N2 or N5.

• Parking can be found easily in the city center in parking arcades or in marked street parking zones. When parking on the side of a street never park on yellow lines as you car most likely will be clamped or towed away. Official park attendants usually show you to an open parking spot and then will register your car in their hand-held computer system. Usually you pay upfront the standard amount of R7 per hour.

• Petrol is much cheaper here in South Africa. Pay cash or get a garage card from your bank to pay for petrol and garage services, as often credit cards will not be accepted as method of payment at the filling stations. If you only have a credit card however tell the attendant before letting him fill your tank and make the credit card payment at the cashier yourself. Allow gratuity R5-10 for good service.

For some important Cape Town transport information on what to do and what to take special care of when driving in the Mother City please refer to my advice on driving in South Africa , a page about the basics on driving your own car in Cape Town and special traffic rules you should know when driving here.

Organizing your own private Cape Town transport

Buying a car is surely the most popular option when considering your Cape Town transport. Buying your own transport is surely cheaper than renting a car for a longer time. For some advice on buying a car in Cape Town please click my guide to the local car market. There you will find new and used cars average prices and general advice on insurance and registration for your car. If you buy your first car here from a car dealer, he usually arranges that for you. But the following year this task will be upon you. To know what to do and when, you definitely should read this guide.

Renting a car is also an option when looking for transport for a short amount of time. If you are looking for cheap car rental in Cape Town or want some advice on renting a car in Cape Town please click on the link above.

Other Cape Town transport options

• There are only a few taxi ranks around Cape Town at the major tourist sights and you usually will not be able to hail a taxi cab from the street therefore it is advisable that you pre-book a taxi. Taxis can be ordered from restaurants, hotels and shopping centers. Please do check the meter or arrange a rate beforehand not to be unpleasantly surprised.

• Airport transfer is available from special shuttle companies which are operate from their own desk in the Central Hall at Cape Town International Airport as well as the City's own Rapid Transport Shuttle. Read more about this service when you click the link above.

To book one of the private Shuttle Companies you can either book the transfer ahead of time or hire a shuttle when you are at the airport. Please check beforehand the price and check if you will be driven directly to your destination or the driver plans to wait for somebody else to join you for the trip. The rate for the 25km distance from Blouberg to the Airport stands currently at R300.

• Air transport is the way to go if you want to venture further away from the Mother City and want to travel around South Africa quick and easy. Air transport will often come quite cheap in South Africa, as low-cost airlines, like Mango or Kulula or One-Time are operating. Read more about airlines operating flights to and in South Africa here.

• Intercity Bus Services like Intercape and Greyhound service not only the Wider Cape Town area but also cities and towns in the Western Cape and link the Mother City to many cities across South Africa. These luxury buses operate routes to all major South African cities.

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