The Baz Bus: How to Get Around South Africa

For those planning a trip to South Africa to enjoy the excitement and mayhem that make a World Cup, it’s worth considering the Baz Bus for transport. Started in 1995 by Barry Zeidel as South Africa’s answer to a bus system primarily for backpackers, the Baz Bus connects travelers from around the world, takes them along a stunning route and deposits them at the doorstep of their choice of over backpacker hostels. Their 19 passenger semi-luxury buses provide you with all the comfort you need on your journey and a chance to make friends with a group heading your way.

Of the nine World Cup host cities , the Baz Bus services six of them, namely Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Nelspruit, Johannesburg and Pretoria. All six of these deserve a mention and all except Nelspruit and Pretoria are required stops on the Baz Bus route.

To hit all six cities the ideal option, depending on your time frame, would be a combination of the Hop-On Hop-Off tickets, Cape Town to Durban and the Durban to Johannesburg loop. If you decide to make the Cape Town – Durban section return you hit the full circuit and have the option of hitting Durban, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town twice. The cost for this option is a combined total of around R4950 (approximately US $660 – depending on exchange rate). There is no time limit on these tickets and the only catch is to keep moving in the same direction. I did a similar route in 2005 and spent almost 5 months exploring my homeland and never having to worry about transport.

Cape Town to Port Elizabeth

A Quick Baz Bus re-cap:

• The Baz Bus is a hostel-to-hostel shuttle service that runs from Cape Town to Johannesburg via Durban and Swaziland and vice versa. It has been successfully transporting backpackers of all ages for over 15years now, and hits practically every hostel on it route.

• The bus runs year-round, but be sure to double-check your schedule, as certain legs only run on certain days.

• You can book your ticket online (www.bazbus.com) or call the Baz Bus hotline in South Africa: +27 (0) 21 439 2323

• Each 19/21 seater bus has a VCR/DVD system in it – so sit back and enjoy some classics on the Baz Bus Entertainment Theater!

• There is a R60 fuel levy added to all tours over R500 (US $66)

For short stays, check out the travel passes:

• 7 day pass – R1300 ( US $172 approx.)

• 14 day pass – R2300 (US $304 approx.)

• 21 day pass – R3100 (US $410 approx.)

These passes are valid for the set number of consecutive days from the day you start. You can take the bus in any direction with these passes, unlike the Hop-on Hop-off that require you to keep traveling in one direction.

For those with a little more time, try one of the Hop-On Hop-Off tours, giving you unlimited time for adventure. As long as you keep going in the same direction and don’t back track you can use one or a combination of these for the perfect route. Finally there are the options that provide you with a few extras and save time on planning:

• The Cape Peninsula Tour (day-long) – R540

• Flexi-Tours option 1 or 2 / basic or inclusive – vary from R6700 to R8800 (US $886 – $1170 approx.)