What do I do once I have bought my ticket?

• Voucher Number or Ticket number
• First name and Surname
• Booking Reference Number
• Travel agent/Branch where you purchased your ticket
• Amount paid:
• Flexi-Tour option 1or 2
• Date of first trip (when you want to leave Cape Town /Jo’burg/Pretoria)
• Pick-up Point (which hostel you will be departing from)
• First Stop (the first town you wish to stop at)
• Travelling via Northern Drakensberg or Swaziland
• Optional Walking Safari included (yes or no)

For further seat bookings, you will need to quote your:

• Ticket number
• Pick up point
• Date of travel
• Your next stop

You can book more than one journey at a time, if you know your hostel of departure, date of departure & next stop. If you have a voucher, hand it to your Baz Bus driver on your first day of travel in exchange for a Baz Bus ticket.

Who should I call and when?

Our consultants work especially late, so you can phone in your booking request way after the sun has gone down. Our office number is (021) 439 2323 and our office hours are Mon - Fri: 8am - 9pm and Sat & Sun: 8am - 8pm.

We recommend you phone to make your booking at least 48hrs in advance of the day you wish to travel to avoid disappointment. In busy times, some routes are especially popular, so if you know when you want to travel, phone earlier - you can always change it later.

If you have booked a flexi-tour package, you will need to book your day tours at least 3 days in advance & 1 week in advance for the Kruger Park safari. .

How do I know my seat is confirmed?

When you call our reservation number to book your seats, the reservation consultant will issue you with a Seat confirmation number for each stretch. Only once you receive this number is your seat confirmed for the date you would like to travel.

What are the terms and conditions?

• Tickets are not refundable but, with the exception of return tickets, are transferable.
• Seats should be booked at least 48 hours in advance to avoid disappointment.
• Please note: drivers cannot take bookings or recommend hostels. All bookings must be made through our Cape Town Head Office by telephone. Any bookings by e-mail or fax are subject to confirmation. We will not be held responsible for passengers left behind as a result of unconfirmed bookings.
• buses will depart by scheduled times. buses will not wait for passengers who are not ready to depart at the scheduled time.
• In the event of a bus running behind schedule, every attempt will be made to keep passengers informed but we accept no liability for any inconvenience in this regard.
• Passengers are picked up and dropped off at the venues specified on the Arrival and Departure Points and must be ready to leave from these departure points at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure times.
• A "no show" for any booked section of the journey (without prior cancellation) will result in loss of that section of the journey and a new ticket will have to be purchased for that section.
• Price Lists and Timetables are subject to change without prior notification and must be confirmed at the time of making the booking.

What about the hostels?

South African hostels boast some of the highest standards in the world. Baz Bus will drop you at over 180 of them. Most hostels offer camping, singles, doubles or dormitories with standard features such as in-house bars, tour desk and of course some amazing locations. Accommodation costs vary from hostel to hostel. Get your ‘free’ Coast to Coast guidebook at most hostels. Don’t forget ‘the power of the Grapevine’! Accommodation bookings must be made directly with the hostel of your choice.

How much do hostels charge?

Rate:

• Camping: R30 to R40
• Dorms: R60 to R100
• Single: R80 to R180
• Double: R130 to R350

Should I book my accommodation in advance?

Most people prefer to play it by ear and book hostels as they go along. During the busy summer season some places do get full and we do recommend booking a few days in advance, especially for double rooms.

How long do I need to get from Cape Town to Johannesburg / Pretoria via Swaziland?

The longer the better of course as your ticket has no time limit and there is so much to see and do on route! Do remember that on this route, Baz Bus does not travel at night making Port Elizabeth, Durban and Swaziland compulsory stopovers. In order not to rush it, We would recommend at least 2 weeks.

Does Baz Bus pick up from the airport?

If you are flying into Johannesburg , all the backpacker hostels offer  FREE collection from the airport. Simply go to the  our BOOK A BED section and enquiry directly with the hostel. 

Can I bring my surfboard, mountain bike, stereo and chessboard with me on my fabulous Baz Bus adventure through Southern Africa?

Of course! Our semi-luxury 19-seater Mercedes Benz are all equipped with trailers capable of carrying all your bits and pieces.

What should I bring?

• A sleeping bag (bedding is available at most hostels)
• A backpack and daypack (to help you travel light)
• A credit card (accepted all around S.A but not at some hostels)
• Your passion for independent travel

Would I need to use a shuttle service on your route?

To reach out of the way places, shuttle services are operated by the hostels in the remote areas. There are extra charges for these. Contact the hostel of your choice for further details and to book your shuttle.

What is the distance between stops?

Is it safe and viable for me to travel alone in Southern Africa?

It sounds like Baz Bus experience is just what you need! It is a safe option because we offer a ‘door to door’ service. You are never really alone, just smile at your neighbour on the bus and soon you’ll be rattling on about exciting travel experiences. All the hostels and adventure centres offer fun activities and tours so you’ll never have a dull moment! They will also inform you on the necessary safety precautions and the “do’s” and “don’ts” of the place. So…. Sit back, relax and enjoy your journey.

Am I too old to take Baz Bus?

Baz Bus is for all the young at heart. We strive to be an enjoyable and friendly bus company, where you can meet great people on the buses and still have the independence to do whatever activities you wish on route. If you feel young, Baz Bus experience can help you become a better beach bum, adrenaline junkie, culture vulture, wildlife fundi, party animal or a bit of all.

What’s the weather like?

Below is a chart of average temperatures in South Africa throughout the year.

Do I need a visa?

Most nationalities don’t need visas for travelling to South Africa or Swaziland. Please make sure that your travel documents are in order. For further information check out http://www.visaservices.co.za/

How to I find out more about my Passport Regulations?

International tourists being held at immigration control because of passport problems has led to the need to explain regulations concerning travel documents when visiting South Africa.

A blank page in passports, is a requirement for all visitors entering the country. For passports to be stamped they must have a blank space. If a passport is full and  there is no space to stamp, this means that the holder of that passport cannot come into the country.

If an incident did occur where a traveller did not have the necessary blank page that person's embassy can be contacted to assist with additional pages or the issuing of a temporary passport. Visit the department's website at http://www.home-affairs.gov.za/for detailed information on visa requirements, a list of countries exempt from visa control, and other details.

Does Baz Bus offer any discounts?

Sure we do! There are so any to choose from while en route. Print off the discounts page - so you know where we offer these discounts on “YOUR” route. To make use of these discounts simply show the operator your Baz Bus ticket at the time of booking to qualify. Excited yet, well go on 

Does Baz Bus offer tours?

Baz Bus Flexi-Tour Adventures for an unbelievable package combining:
A flexible hop-on hop-off door to door Baz Bus ticket from Cape Town to Johannesburg/Pretoria or vice versa.

• A Wildlife Kruger Park experience
• A face to face encounter with the local Zulu’s in their valley of a 1000 hills
• Swaziland highlights
• An introduction to the township life
• An adventurous trip to the Cape Point where the 2 oceans meet.

Baz Bus 7 Day, 14 Day & 21 Day Travel Pass allows you to travel  in any direction you want and as often as you like WITHIN the time period , in either 7 or 14 consecutive days. This ticket will expire, but still well suited for short term travelers.

Baz Bus is proud to announce the agreement formed between us and Vodashop Rentafone, and to offer our clientele a convenient and cost effective form of communication for travels in South Africa and Surrounds.

From renting a mobile phone and sim card, or just a sim card, it is fast and effective. Bookings are made easier with our advanced bookings page which is available at http://billing.rentafone.net/reservations.

Whilst completing the booking page, where the Company option is, please enter BAZ BUS as the Company so that we can track this offer and the Special Rates.

Once a booking is made, a Vodashop Rentafone consultant will pre book a mobile number for you and contact you with this. Once arriving in South Africa your phone can be collected at the airport upon arrival or should you wish to have the unit delivered we will meet you at the Backpackers lodge that you are staying at. Our delivery service is FREE however this is for in and around town areas and unfortunately we cannot deliver to Hermanus and extremely far areas. Should you be staying at any of these Backpackers it will be advised to collect at the airport you are arriving at.

We will require a credit card and ID/Passport for any rental request, unfortunately without a credit card we cannot provide a rental however the other option then would be a pre paid sim card.

The rental rates are as follows all inclusive.

R6.50 per day for Rental of a phone and sim card
R3.95 per day for Rental of a sim card only

Call Rates:

• R2.75 per minute (Peak) – Telkom (Landline) and Vodacom (082)
• R1.70 per minute (Off Peak)- Telkom (Landline) and Vodacom (082)
• R3.26 per minute – MTN (083) and Cell C (084)
• R2.00 per minute (Off Peak) - MTN (083) and Cell C (084)
• R6.25 per minute – International Neighboring Countries
• R9.90 per minute – International to UK , USA , Germany , France , Sweden , Ireland , Australia and Netherlands
• R12.10 per minute – International to Canada
• Other International rates on request.
• R1.25 per local sms
• R2.50 per International sms

The Benefits of Renting a local phone is as follows:

•  Save more than 35% on roaming charges. (Travelers using their own mobile phone in South Africa will pay roaming charges on both incoming and outgoing calls, and message retrieval at international rates).
•  Save up to 50% on expensive hotel call charges
•  Cheaper and more convenient than prepaid (no recharging)
•  FREE incoming calls while in South Africa
•  FREE unlimited voicemail calls while in South Africa
•  FREE itemized billing by email or fax
•  FREE 112 emergency calls
•  Instant international dial-out facility at lowest rates
•  Roadside and medical assistance 082 911. Call out is free.
•  All SIM cards are unlocked for international roaming and to make international calls.
•  Pre-allocated phone numbers.
•  Accesses to “Hot Billing” via Internet.
•  Directory Enquiries and Call Connect by calling 110
•  Hungry? Press 4 and the green send button to activate the call
•  Lost? Press 5 and the green send button to activate the call
•  Bored? Press 6 and the Green send Button to activate the call
•  Hotel? Press 7 and the Green send Button to activate the call

Also all relevant Backpackers and Baz Bus numbers will be preloaded on the cellphones before delivery or collection.

Back to Top

How do I make a seat booking via SMS?

 1.    SMS 076 427 3003 the following info:
       Ticket number, passenger name and surname, date of trip, hostel pick up & next stop.
       Example: EG519, John Cooper, 12/11/05, Highfield to Plettenberg Bay

2.    The booking will be made on BAZ BUS’ BOOKING SYSTEM.

3.   You will receive a confirmation SMS booking / seat confirmation within 30 minutes:
      Example: EG519 booking confirmed 12.11.05 Highfield Bp – Plett cnf 29461. Thx Janine

What are the SMS Office Hours?

Mon – Fri 8am – 9pm, Sat & Sun 8am – 8pm