Intercape Bus Tickets from Johannesburg to Grahamstown
Intercape offers bus tickets from Johannesburg to Grahamstown, with 1-way prices having ranged from R400 to R1,500 during 2026:
- The current cheapest one-way Intercape bus ticket from Johannesburg to Grahamstown is R580 in Saver class on a Mainliner coach; taking Mainliner PTA-FORT-GRH-PE scheduled to depart Johannesburg at 17:30 on Tue 19 May 2026 and scheduled to arrive in Grahamstown at 08:05 on Wed 20 May 2026 (duration of 14 hours 35 minutes).
- For pensioners (60 and older), the current cheapest one-way ticket is R544 in Flexi class (with a 15% discount applied); taking Mainliner PTA-FORT-GRH-PE departing Johannesburg at 17:30 on Tue 19 May 2026 and arriving in Grahamstown at 08:05 on Wed 20 May 2026 (duration of 14 hours 35 minutes).
- Average one-way ticket prices are Saver: R611, Flexi: R675, Full Flexi: R756. Lower Flexi and Full Flexi fares may be achieved if any discounts are applicable.
- For pensioners the average 1-way prices are: Saver: R611, Flexi: R574, Full Flexi: R643.
7-Day Fare Heatmap: Johannesburg to Grahamstown
Select a date block below to view the full schedule for that day. Green indicates the lowest fare.
Intercape Ticket Classes Explained: Saver vs Flexi vs Full Flexi
Understand the exact differences in allowances, amendment fees, and cancellation policies before making your booking.
| Feature | Saver | Flexi | Full Flexi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price Level | Cheapest | Standard | Premium |
| Luggage Allowance | 15 kg (2 pieces max) | 20 kg (2 pieces max) | 25 kg (2 pieces max) |
| Seat Reservations | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Qualifies for Discounts? (e.g. Pensioner, Student) |
❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Ticket Amendment Fee (Changes up to 15 min before departure) |
25% Fee | 15% Fee | 10% Fee |
| Cancellation Policy | 75% refund (Must cancel 48h before) |
85% refund (Must cancel 24h before) |
90% refund (Must cancel 12h before) |
Intercape Prices & Schedule from Johannesburg to Grahamstown
Prices last checked and verified on: 2026-05-11 22:48:20
All prices in South African Rand (ZAR).
| Route | Coach Type | Depart (JOHANNESBURG - Intercape Office, C/O Rissik and Wolmarans Street (Johannesburg Station)) | Arrive (GRAHAMSTOWN - Intercape Office, Bathurst Street(Next to Frontier Hotel)) | Full Flexi (ZAR) | Flexi (ZAR) | Saver (ZAR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mainliner PTA-QT-PE | Mainliner | Sat 16 May 2026 12:15pm | Sun 17 May 2026 04:50am | 740 | 660 | 600 |
| Mainliner PTA-FORT-GRH-PE | Mainliner | Sat 16 May 2026 5:30pm | Sun 17 May 2026 08:05am | 760 | 660 | 600 |
| Mainliner PTA-QT-PE | Mainliner | Sun 17 May 2026 12:15pm | Mon 18 May 2026 04:50am | 740 | 660 | 600 |
| Mainliner PTA-QT-PE | Mainliner | Mon 18 May 2026 12:15pm | Tue 19 May 2026 04:50am | 740 | 660 | 600 |
| Mainliner PTA-QT-PE | Mainliner | Tue 19 May 2026 12:15pm | Wed 20 May 2026 04:50am | 740 | 660 | 600 |
| Mainliner PTA-FORT-GRH-PE | Mainliner | Tue 19 May 2026 5:30pm | Wed 20 May 2026 08:05am | 740 | 640 | 580 |
Price Statistics per Intercape pay class (Year 2026)
| Ticket Type | Lowest Price | Highest Price | Average Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saver | 400 | 1,500 | 611 |
| Flexi | 470 | 1,500 | 675 |
| Full Flexi | 540 | 1,500 | 756 |
Intercape Routes from Johannesburg to Grahamstown
- Mainliner PTA-QT-PE
- Mainliner PTA-GRH-PE
- Express PTA-QT-PE
- Intercape Bus
- Mainliner PTA-FORT-GRH-PE
Travel Time Scheduled (Year 2026)
The quickest bus takes 13h 55m, slowest 16h 35m, average 15h 55m.
Departures vary from 12:15pm to 6:30pm. Arrivals from 4:50am to 9:05am.
Travelling for a major life event?
If you are relocating to the Cape or travelling to manage family affairs, ensure your legal requirements are in order.
Passenger Reviews: Johannesburg to Grahamstown
Write a Review
Did you travel this route recently? Share your experience regarding punctuality, comfort, and safety.
Recent Comments
No community reviews yet for the journey from Johannesburg to Grahamstown. Be the first to share your experience!
Bus Route Map
Intercape Bus Route Locations & Safety Ratings
From: Johannesburg
Address: Intercape Office at Johannesburg Park Station - Park City Transit Centre - on the corner of Wolmarans and Rissik St in the Johannesburg CBD
Province: Gauteng
Safety Rating: 2/10
Extremely busy transport hub. Very high risk of pickpocketing and scams outside the terminal. Do not walk outside alone, use e-hailing from inside the designated areas.
Contact: Phone Intercape at 021-3804400 or phone Big Sky Intercity at 087-8218218
Latitude: -26.19704997
Longitude: 28.04221218
Uber Availability: Available.
Need a safe ride from the station?
Get a ZAR 50 Discount Off Your First 5 TripsLocation: View Johannesburg on Google Maps
To: Grahamstown
Address: The Frontier Country Hotel, Bathurst Street
Province: Western Cape
Safety Rating: 3/10
Public street stop. Normal vigilance required. Try to have a lift arranged if arriving late at night.
Contact: Phone Intercape at 021-3804400 or phone Big Sky Intercity at 087-8218218
Latitude: -33.3231563
Longitude: 26.512666
Uber Availability: Not Available
Location: View Grahamstown on Google Maps
General Safety considerations
Please check the specific safety ratings for your departure and arrival stations above. Many bus stops have safety issues; it is better to arrive at bus stops while the sun is still shining (nighttime is always riskier), with weekdays generally being safer than weekends. Do not display valuables, keep them safe and out of sight. Plan in advance how you will get from your final Intercape bus stop to your destination so as to minimise time at the bus stop.
Why so slow?
You may be wondering why the journeys take so long. Part of the reason is that Intercape have a self-imposed speed limit of 95km/h on national roads and 40km/h on mountain passes - this is for safety reasons. Speed kills.
Intercape Bus Tickets from Grahamstown to Johannesburg
What about the return journey? View prices and departure times for Intercape buses travelling from Grahamstown to Johannesburg.