Intercape Bus Tickets from Paarl to Mthatha
Intercape offers bus tickets from Paarl to Mthatha, with 1-way prices having ranged from R640 to R940 during 2026:
- The current cheapest one-way Intercape bus ticket from Paarl to Mthatha is R640 in Saver class on a Mainliner coach; taking Cape Town to Durban via Port Elizabeth scheduled to depart Paarl at 07:10 on Mon 26 Oct 2026 and scheduled to arrive in Mthatha at 03:40 on Tue 27 Oct 2026 (duration of 20 hours 30 minutes).
- For pensioners (60 and older), the current cheapest one-way ticket is R595 in Flexi class (with a 15% discount applied); taking Cape Town via Oudtshoorn to Mthatha departing Paarl at 15:00 on Mon 26 Oct 2026 and arriving in Mthatha at 10:20 on Tue 27 Oct 2026 (duration of 19 hours 20 minutes).
- Average one-way ticket prices are Saver: R709, Flexi: R776, Full Flexi: R841. Lower Flexi and Full Flexi fares may be achieved if any discounts are applicable.
- For pensioners the average 1-way prices are: Saver: R709, Flexi: R660, Full Flexi: R715.
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 Paarl to Mthatha
Prices last checked and verified on: 2026-10-21 19:29:55
All prices in South African Rand (ZAR).
| Route | Coach Type | Depart (Paarl) | Arrive (Mthatha) | Full Flexi (ZAR) | Flexi (ZAR) | Saver (ZAR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Town to Durban via Port Elizabeth | Mainliner | 07:10am | 03:40am | 780 | 720 | 640 |
| Cape Town to Durban via Port Elizabeth | Mainliner | 07:15am | 03:40am | 840 | 780 | 700 |
| Cape Town via Oudtshoorn to Mthatha | Budgetliner | 3:00pm | 10:20am | 760 | 700 | 640 |
| Cape Town to Mthatha via Port Elizabeth | Mainliner | 5:45pm | 2:40pm | 880 | 810 | 740 |
| Cape Town to Matatiele via Kokstad | Mainliner | 6:30pm | 09:25am | 890 | 820 | 740 |
| Cape Town to Durban via Port Elizabeth | Mainliner | 6:55pm | 1:40pm | 780 | 720 | 640 |
| Cape Town to Mthatha via Queenstown | Budgetliner | 7:00pm | 11:15am | 820 | 740 | 680 |
| Cape Town to Mthatha via Fort Beaufort | Mainliner | 7:20pm | 12:30pm | 840 | 740 | 680 |
| Express Cape Town to Mthatha via Queenstown | Mainliner | 8:20pm | 11:10am | 860 | 800 | 720 |
Price Statistics per Intercape pay class (Year 2026)
| Ticket Type | Lowest Price | Highest Price | Average Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saver | 640 | 820 | 709 |
| Flexi | 700 | 880 | 776 |
| Full Flexi | 760 | 940 | 841 |
Intercape Routes from Paarl to Mthatha
- Cape Town to Durban via Port Elizabeth
- Cape Town to Mthatha via Port Elizabeth
- Cape Town to Matatiele via Kokstad
- Cape Town to Mthatha via Queenstown
- Cape Town to Mthatha via Fort Beaufort
- Express Cape Town to Mthatha via Queenstown
- Cape Town via Oudtshoorn to Mthatha
Travel Time Scheduled (Year 2026)
The quickest bus takes 14h 50m, slowest 20h 55m, average 18h 3m.
Departures vary from 7:10am to 8:20pm. Arrivals from 3:40am to 2:40pm.
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: Paarl to Mthatha
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Bus Route Map
Intercape Bus Route Locations & Safety Ratings
Departure: Paarl
Address: Shell Garage, C/O Suid and Hoof Street
Province: Western Cape
Safety Rating: 4/10
Generally safe with 24/7 staff, good lighting, and often CCTV. Standard travel precautions apply.
Contact: Phone Intercape at 021-3804400 or phone Big Sky Intercity at 087-8218218
Latitude: -33.76678
Longitude: 18.959597
Uber Availability: Available.
Need a safe ride from the station?
Get a ZAR 50 Discount Off Your First 5 TripsLocation: View Paarl on Google Maps
Arrival: Mthatha
Address: Intercape Office, KFC Shell Ultra City (N2 national road) near Travel Inn Mthatha. Intercape have offices in the Ultra City Garage, please make sure you check your ticket in the office when you are going to board.
Province: Eastern Cape
Safety Rating: 4/10
Generally safe with 24/7 staff, good lighting, and often CCTV. Standard travel precautions apply.
Contact: Phone Intercape at 021-3804400 or phone Big Sky Intercity at 087-8218218
Latitude: -31.613636
Longitude: 28.733675
Uber Availability: Available.
Need a safe ride from the station?
Get a ZAR 50 Discount Off Your First 5 TripsLocation: View Mthatha 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 Mthatha to Paarl
What about the return journey? View prices and departure times for Intercape buses travelling from Mthatha to Paarl.