Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a dorm bed cost?
At a good South African backpackers hostel, a dorm bed in 2026 costs between €8 and €18 per night. Cape Town is at the higher end. Expect to pay €12–€18 there. Smaller towns cost less. Places like Wilderness, Chintsa, or Sodwana Bay run €8–€12. The Baz Bus corridor — the main backpacking route from Cape Town to Johannesburg along the coast — has lots of hostels. This keeps prices fair.
What does a private room cost?
A private double room at a backpackers hostel usually has a shared bathroom. Prices run from around €25 to €60 per night. In Cape Town, expect €35–€60 for a good private room. If you travel as a couple and split the cost, this is outstanding value. Some hostels also offer en-suite rooms, which sit at the top of that range.
How do I get around?
This is the most important decision you will make. Think it through before you arrive. South Africa doesn’t really have one transport system — it has several overlapping ones, depending on budget, comfort, and how local you want the experience to feel.
The Baz Bus is a hop-on, hop-off backpacker bus. It once covered the whole country, but closed down in 2020. It was relaunched a few years later under new ownership, but as of 2026 it only runs between Cape Town and Gqeberha — the Garden Route and part of the Sunshine Coast — a few times a week, and is now a minibus rather than a bus service. It picks up and drops off directly at hostel doors. You pay once for a pass. You can get on and off as many times as you like. It is not the cheapest option. In fact if there are a few if you sharing, hiring a car will work out cheaper. Neither is it the most convenient option - you'll have to plan your holiday around its schedule. And you won't be able to go exploring like you can in a car. But it is a fairly safe way to see a limited part of the country.
Mainline buses (Intercape, Greyhound, Intercity Express) are much cheaper. A Cape Town to Johannesburg ticket can cost as little as €20–€35, although prices vary wildly, mainly according to when school holidays are. They stop at bus terminals, not hostel doors, sometimes in the middle of the night, and they are rarely on time. But they are the safest mode of transport - if there's an accident involving a smaller vehicle, the bus wins. If there's an accident involving a truck, you're better off in a bus than in a small car. They are a good choice if you are making long, direct runs between cities. But make sure you know beforehand what the options are for getting from the bus station to your hostel.
Car hire unlocks South Africa properly. A small car costs roughly €20–€35 per day all-in. Split between two or three people, this can work out cheaper per person than the Baz Bus — with far more freedom. South Africa drives on the left. The roads are good on main routes. A car lets you reach places the Baz Bus cannot go: the Cederberg, Route 62, the Karoo, the Drakensberg, Sani Pass, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi, Addo. One firm rule: do not drive at night outside of cities. Unlit people walking on the road, cattle, and sudden potholes make rural night driving genuinely dangerous. Plan your days to arrive before dark. And remember to drive on the left-hand side of the road.
Local Transport (Minibus Taxis) is the most authentic way to travel in South Africa. This is how the majority of the population gets around every day, so if you really want to experience the country properly, this is the way to do it. We use them often and have even travelled as far as Malawi using minibus taxis — it’s one of the most social and memorable ways to move through southern Africa. People are generally curious and open, and it’s very normal to end up in conversation with complete strangers, laughing together as if you’ve known each other for years.
However, minibus taxis do not operate according to a fixed timetable. They only depart once they are full — typically 15 passengers — which means that on longer routes you may be waiting for hours before the taxi actually leaves. This is an important factor to understand when planning intercity or long-distance travel, as flexibility is part of the system rather than punctuality.
Taxi ranks are where minibus taxis begin and end their journeys. They vary enormously. Some are large covered facilities with destination signs hanging from the roof, while others are little more than busy parking lots filled with taxis pulling in and out. To first-time visitors they can look chaotic and confusing, but don't be intimidated. South Africans are generally helpful, and if you're unsure where to go, simply ask someone where the taxi to your destination leaves from. Whether you're heading to Durban, Johannesburg, or the next town down the road, people will usually point you in the right direction.
Taxi ranks — along with major train stations — are also places where travellers are most likely to encounter South Africa's crime problem. Large crowds, people arriving and departing, and travellers carrying luggage create opportunities for pickpockets and thieves. Foreign visitors carrying large backpacks, cameras, laptops, and other valuables naturally attract attention. Most journeys pass without incident, but it pays to stay alert, keep valuables out of sight, and avoid displaying expensive phones or cameras unnecessarily. Safety can vary dramatically from one transport hub to another, sometimes even within the same city, so hostel staff and local residents are often the best source of current advice on which ranks are considered safest.
It’s also worth understanding how informal the stopping system is. Outside of taxi ranks (which exist in every town and city), minibus taxis do not stop at designated bus stops. Instead, they can stop almost anywhere along the route whenever someone signals them down. This makes the system highly responsive, but also unpredictable, and it creates a driving environment that can feel chaotic to visitors who are not used to it.
That unpredictability is something travellers — especially those hiring cars — should be aware of. Minibus taxis frequently pull over suddenly to pick up or drop off passengers, often with little warning. If you are driving behind or near one, you need to be prepared for abrupt stops and lane changes. It is part of the normal driving culture on South African roads, but it can be surprising if you are not expecting it.
Despite these challenges, the social experience is what makes minibus taxis so memorable. Conversations start easily, people are curious about where you are from, and long journeys often turn into shared experiences rather than just transport. It is not the most predictable or comfortable way to travel, but it is the most “South African” way to move through the country.
Uber is widely used in South Africa’s major cities, particularly Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban. It has become one of the most convenient and reliable ways for travellers to get around short distances without needing to negotiate fares or worry about routes. Unlike traditional metered taxis, the price is fixed in advance through the app, and drivers are generally rated, which improves accountability.
In Cape Town especially, Uber is often the preferred option for getting between neighbourhoods like the City Bowl, Camps Bay, Sea Point, and Observatory, particularly at night or when public transport options are limited. It is also widely used for airport transfers and short city trips. For safety, it is still recommended to check the car registration and driver details in the app before entering the vehicle, and to avoid sharing rides with strangers if that option is offered.
Internal flights are a fast and increasingly competitive way to cover long distances in South Africa. Major domestic airlines include FlySafair, Airlink, and Lift, with routes linking all major cities and several regional hubs.
Key airports include Cape Town International, OR Tambo (Johannesburg), King Shaka (Durban), and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). Regional airports such as Lanseria (Johannesburg’s secondary airport), George, East London, Mbombela (Kruger Mpumalanga International), Mthatha, and Pietermaritzburg (Oribi) also connect smaller cities and tourist regions. These smaller airports are especially useful for accessing the Garden Route, the Wild Coast, and safari regions without long overland transfers.
As of 2026, domestic flight prices typically range from around R800–R2,500 one way (approximately €40–€120), depending on route, demand, and how far in advance you book. Budget carriers can offer very competitive fares on busy routes like Cape Town–Johannesburg, while regional flights to smaller airports tend to be more expensive per kilometre. Luggage fees and seat selection are often extra, so it’s worth checking the full cost before booking. For long distances, however, flying is usually the quickest and sometimes surprisingly affordable option compared to multi-day bus or car journeys.
Rail travel in South Africa exists in two very different worlds. On one hand, there is the PRASA network, including Metrorail commuter services and the long-distance Shosholoza Meyl trains. In practice, long-distance rail is currently limited, slow, and often unreliable, with inconsistent schedules and reduced routes, so it is not a major option for most travellers moving between regions. Where it does run, it is extremely cheap and offers a very slow, old-school way of seeing the country, but it is not something most visitors rely on for structured travel itineraries.
For most travellers, it is generally not recommended to take mainline commuter trains on their own, particularly on unfamiliar routes, as service quality and on-the-ground security can vary significantly. A better option is to experience these routes with a local guide or organised tour, where the journey becomes both safer and more insightful.
One of the best examples is the Southern Line in Cape Town, a scenic coastal route running from the city through suburbs like Muizenberg and Kalk Bay down to Simon’s Town. It is a genuinely beautiful journey, with stops that are worth exploring on foot, especially Kalk Bay with its harbour, cafés, and tidal pools. In Durban, there is also a commuter line that runs south along the coast. It is extremely inexpensive and once extended much further, but has been shortened in recent years due to flood damage to sections of infrastructure. At present it runs as far as Warner Beach - just past Amanzimtoti, offering an experience of the areas immediately to the south of Durban.
As with taxi ranks, major train stations can attract opportunistic criminals, particularly in large cities. Travellers arriving with backpacks and luggage should remain aware of their surroundings and avoid wandering around unfamiliar station precincts, especially after dark.
We don't recommend using these commuter trains during peak morning hours — when they are used by local workers — for anyone but the most intrepid of travellers. Conditions can be very crowded. But if you do, they offer a powerful glimpse into everyday life — sometimes including unexpected moments such as entire train carriages participating in church services, complete with mass gospel singing. It is not as a comfort experience, but it can be one of the most memorable cultural journeys in the country when approached with awareness and respect.
FOR IN-DEPTH INFO ON TRANSPORT, SEE:
What does food and drink cost?
This is where South Africa really delivers. A big meal at a good restaurant — a proper main with a drink — costs €8–€15. Street food is even cheaper. A gatsby from a Cape Flats takeaway, a bunny chow in Durban, or a boerewors roll from a roadside stall costs €2–€5. Most hostels have shared kitchens. Self-catering is easy and cheap. A braai from the supermarket — boerewors, rolls, and a six-pack of local beer — feeds two people for around €10. A local beer in a bar costs €1.50–€2.50. A glass of South African wine costs €2.50–€4. South Africa makes outstanding wine and craft beer. It costs almost nothing to enjoy it.
What do activities cost?
Activities are where you will spend the most money. Budget for them. They are the heart of the South African trip. A rough guide for 2026:
Bungee jumping at Bloukrans (world's highest commercial bridge bungee) — ~€90.
Shark cage diving at Gansbaai (great white sharks, day trip from Cape Town) — ~€120–€140.
Tandem paragliding from Signal Hill, Cape Town — ~€85.
Cape Peninsula cycle and shuttle tour — ~€45–€60.
Abseiling Table Mountain — ~€65.
Surfing lesson with board hire, Muizenberg — ~€25.
White-water rafting, Storms River (Garden Route) — ~€40–€55.
Zip-lining, Tsitsikamma (Garden Route) — ~€45–€60.
Skydiving at Langebaan (West Coast) — ~€160–€180.
Soweto tour, Johannesburg (full day) — ~€30–€45.
Self-drive day in Kruger National Park (gate fees) — ~€25 per person.
Guided Kruger sunset game drive — ~€35–€50.
Hluhluwe-iMfolozi full-day guided safari — ~€60–€80.
Sani Pass 4x4 tour into Lesotho — ~€55–€70.
Whale watching at Hermanus (Aug–Nov) — ~€35–€50.
Table Mountain cable car (return) — ~€13–€16
What is a realistic daily budget?
Here are three honest benchmarks:
Budget traveller: €35–€50 per day. This covers a dorm bed (€10–€15), cheap meals (€8–€12 for food), a couple of local beers, and some local transport. You will eat well, sleep fine, and have a brilliant time.
Mid-range backpacker: €55–€80 per day. Dorm or private room. A mix of eating out and cooking. One paid activity every few days. Drinks. This is the sweet spot for most travellers.
Comfortable flashpacker: €80–€120+ per day. Private rooms, restaurant meals, regular activities, and car hire. You will not feel like you are roughing it at all.
One tip: even on a tight budget, do a few of the big activities. The bungee, the cage dive, the Kruger game drive, the township tour — these are things you cannot do at home. The memories will outlast any money you saved by skipping them.
FOR IN-DEPTH INFO, SEE:
Safety in South Africa
Let's be direct about this. It is what everyone asks before they leave home. And once people get here, most find they had it slightly wrong.
South Africa has a real crime problem. Violent crime — robbery, carjacking, assault — does happen. The murder rate is among the highest in the world. This is fact and it deserves respect. But hundreds of thousands of backpackers travel South Africa every year without any trouble. Most go home wanting to come back. The difference between them and the few who have a bad time comes down to awareness and behaviour.
The rules are simple. Once they become habit, they cause no stress at all.
Use Uber after dark in cities. In Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, and all large cities, Uber is cheap, safe, and easy to use. A trip across Cape Town costs €2–€5. Street taxis can involve negotiation and no route tracking. Use Uber. Every time.
Don't walk in unknown areas after dark. This applies to the Cape Town city centre outside of known safe zones. It applies to the Johannesburg city centre at any time. It applies to any area your hostel has not said is safe to walk. Ask your hostel manager. They know. Listen to them.
Keep your phone out of sight on city streets. Phones get snatched from hands very quickly. Keep yours in your pocket unless you are inside a building. This takes about two days to become second nature.
Don't drive on rural roads at night. People walking on unlit roads, cattle, and sudden potholes make rural night driving very dangerous. Plan each day to arrive before dark.
Use your hostel safe. All good hostels have safes in rooms or at the front desk. Use them. Carry a copy of your passport for daily use. Keep the real one locked away.
Trust your gut. If a street feels wrong, turn back. If a person makes you uneasy, move away. That instinct is almost always right. Acting on it is not rude — it is just good sense.
Get the right travel insurance. Make sure it covers medical transfer, theft, and adventure activities. Many standard policies do not cover bungee jumps or shark cage dives. Check before you go.
The bottom line: South Africa rewards the aware traveller. Read the safety notes your hostel gives you on arrival. They are locally specific and kept up to date. They are written by people who want you to have a great time and get home safely.
FOR IN-DEPTH SAFETY ADVICE, SEE:
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