Baz Bus bookings The Baz Bus is a hop-on hop-off bus service from Johannesburg to Cape Town via Durban, Port Elizabeth and many other towns (more than 40 in total), bookings can be made between more than 180 backpacker hostels. Not only is it convenient for anybody wanting to see the South Africa, but you also travel with like-minded crazed backpackers and the middle-aged carefree and get driven right to the door of your youth hostel (in South African that is the safe way to travel).
Baz Bus increases their prices annually on 1 July.
A travel pass ticket is valid for one week, two weeks or three weeks (starting on the day of your travel). You can travel in any direction you want as often as you want during the validity period.
You buy one ticket to your destination, you can hop on and hop off the bus at many times as you want on the way to your destination, and there is no time limit.
A day tour through the Cape Peninsula including cycling and hiking.
Flexi tours provide you with a combination of a Baz Bus ticket, and various tours/events through South Africa (e.g. Kruger National Park wildlife safari, township tours, Cape Peninsula tours and visiting the Royal Kingdom of Swaziland).
Bas Bus routesFrom Johannesburg to Cape Town via Drakensberg
From Cape Town to Johannesburg via Drakensberg
From
Johannesburg and Pretoria to Cape Town via Swaziland
From Cape Town to Johannesburg and Pretoria via Swaziland
From Port Elizabeth to Cape Town
From Cape Town to Port Elizabeth
From Durban to Cape Town
From Cape Town to Durban
The Baz Bus stops at over 180 youth hostels in over 40 towns, including: Pretoria, Johannesburg, Nelspruit (see accommodation Nelspruit), St Lucia, Eshowe, Ballito, Umkomaas, Umzumbe, Port Shepstone, Margate, Port Edward, Port St Johns, Umtata, Port Alfred (see accommodation Port Alfred), Port Elizabeth, Jeffreys Bay, Cape St Francis (see accommodation Cape St Francis), Storms River, Nature's Valley, Plettenberg Bay (see accommodation Plettenberg Bay), Knysna (see Knysna hotels for a place to stay), George, Mossel Bay (see Mossel Bay accommodation for a place to stay) and Swellendam.
You can book your Baz Bus ticket at www.bazbus.com
The Baz Bus phone number is 021 439 2323 (or +27-21-439-2323 from phones outside South Africa), the Baz Bus fax number is 021 439 2343 (+27 21 439 2343) and the Baz Bus email is info@bazbus.com.
Baz Bus's physical address is:
Parking Level
Centurion Building
Corner 275 Main Road & Frere Road
Sea Point
Cape Town
Western Cape Province
South Africa
8005
Baz Bus's busses are 20-seater Mercedes-Benz Sprinters, pulling a trailer on the back.
Unlike the more staid options like Intercity or Greyhounds busses, the Baz Bus doesn't bat an eyelid at carting along guitars, surfboards and bicycles (they pull a trailer).
"Apart from being experienced at handling long distances, it is also a requirement that our drivers are extremely friendly. They talk to passengers and give them information about places to go. We also have information files on the buses for travellers, with suggested day trips in different areas and things that can be done, such as hiring bicycles and cycling to certain landmarks," Baryy Zeidel (Baz Bus founder).
"Why Baz? Apparently, this is what Antipodeans nickname people called Barry and the name stuck after he travelled with Aussies." Barry Zeidel, the Baz Bus founder.
1 Jul 2008 |
The price of a 7 day pass is increased from R1020 to R1200. |
Feb 2006 |
Baz Bus introduces a 21 day travel pass. |
Sep 2005 |
Baz Bus starts renting cellphones in South Africa. |
Nov 2004 |
Baz Bus introduces 7 day and 21 day travel passes, allowing travellers to start anywhere and travel in any direction (including backtracking). |
Feb 1999 |
A 4 times a week Baz Bus service is introduced from Johannesburg and Pretoria to Bulawayo and Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe). |
1996 |
A Baz Bus slowed down outside the President Nelson Mandela's Transkei home to show passengers where he lives. "This time, the president was actually standing there. Nobody could believe it at first. They waved to him, he waved back, and so everyone approached. His guards refused at first to let us through, but then he came over and greeted us. He saw the passengers were all young foreigners and he said warmly, 'Welcome to South Africa', and chatted for a while and everyone took pictures. It was a memorable day for everyone." Barry Zeidel |
Dec 1995 |
Barry Zeidel, a retired backpacker and chartered accountant, founds Baz Bus. Zeidel was inspired by his trips around the UK with a similar company called "Slow Coach". |
It is more expensive than taking a Greyhound or Intercape Bus between cities, but Greyhound and Intercape buses don't operate a hop-on hop-off system.
At peak times, you have to book your seat well ahead, as the Baz buses fill upquickly, limiting your spontaneity.
The Baz buses are a little more cramped than Intercape and Greyhound busses.
You get to meet other backpackers and and teach each other obscure drinking games.
Baz Bus will take you straight to your backpacker youth hostel.
No need to do route planning and buy maps.
You can snog and doze away whilst someone else does the driving.
You can spontaneously decide to jump off at any town on route, should you see a place that inspires you to do so.
There is an onboard video player.
Purchase a good comfortable backpack. Ensure that the backpack is made of heavy-duty nylon and has alloy strips for support. Ensure that your backpack has a small day-pack which zips on to the main bag.
Pack light, but keep clothes for looking cleaner and neater when you cross borders.
Decent hiking boots and sandals are essential
Buy the best sleeping bag you can afford.
Make arrangements to keep in contact with somebody from home. Travel with an emergency number (in case something happens to you the emergency number may be contacted).
Purchase a money belt and keep it glued to your body, also keep your passport and plane ticket in there.
Get a credit card as a back-up for emergencies.
If you are travelling across several countries check what currencies you'll need (other than Europe, often the US dollar is the best form of currency) and esnure that you have dollars in hard currency and in small denominations.
Name |
Comment |
|---|---|
sheldon | hey there,I would like to find out if u travel from empangeni to middelburg side,, if u do plz let me know the price etc... |
charlene | Hi, do you travel between Caledon and Hermanus and if so, what would you charge for a one-way ticket? |
richard | i would like to send my wife on a two week baz bus trip from cape town two durban and fly her back to cape town.Tell me the cost for all off this and were do i need to book. |
EDWIN USHER | please let me know if there are busses travelling from JHB to Lephalale - Ellisras Limpopo anytime. Thank you. Edwin 083 271 4219 |
sonto | i dont see a stop in East London; how do i get on the Baz bus from East London to Cape Town??? |
dr g booyens | does the baz bus travel from durban to kosi bay or vicinity? |
Rebecca | Please send me a qoute for Jhb to Cape town in DECEMBER WEEK 14/12/09 |
renate | Hop on hop off from cape town to Port Elizabeth leaving capetown the 19th dec 2008 and returning to cape town the 30th dec 2008 |
Peter | Any idea if it is possible to get from Cape Town to the world's highest bungee site & return on the same day? If so with who & how much? |
Mr Cheap Flights | Hi Dinah. The Baz Bus isn't a conventional bus - it's a hop on hop off bus. Probably the cheapest way of doing the trip you mention is to purchase two seven day passes (R1020 each). |
Dinah | Can u please send me qoutations for this bus from Pretoria to Paarl on the 21-06-2008 and return on the 08-08-2008. Thanks |
