Johannesburg - Getting Around
Johannesburg has a relatively modern infrastructure of public transport. But we’d warn against taking the Metro service, as there have been reports of gangs operating in and around its stations, especially at those stops targeting tourists. The Gautrain (a speed train not part of the metro system) is a safe way to travel the distance from the city to the airport, but even this isn’t always advisable in the evenings, especially around the Marlboro Station (next to the township of Alexandra). Be aware and don’t carry any obvious items of value.
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Bus
Large blue city buses and informal mini-buses ply the streets of Johannesburg. However, they’re generally unreliable, often don’t go to the places they say they are and can be blighted by crime. We’d advise against using these and instead, opt for the Rea Vaya, The Bus Rapid Transport system. With dedicated bus lanes, routes to all the main tourist sights, and a zero-tolerance policy on gangs and fare dodging, these are the city’s safest options for public transport.
Taxis
Tourists are advised to only use the metered sedan vehicles when flagging a taxi. Taxis are quite scarce in Johannesburg and are best flagged either at the airport, in Sandton or the financial core of the city centre. Taxis are not cheap - lack of competition sees to that. You can expect to pay around R100 for a typical cross-city trip. In general, if you plan on a fair bit of travelling while you’re in and around Johannesburg, it would be worth your while to rent a car rather than rely on public transport or taxis.