Bus travel is one of the most cost-effective ways to travel between two destinations. This is also true when travelling between Johannesburg and Durban in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Province. Furthermore, travelling by bus between these two cities allows you to see beautiful South African landscapes while sitting back and relaxing. If you want to travel from Johannesburg to Durban, or vice versa, in an affordable way, here are your options for taking the bus from Johannesburg to Durban.
Take a direct flight instead for the fastest way to get from Johannesburg to Durban. Click here to see the best deals on plane tickets! You may prefer to hire a car to drive from Johannesburg to Durban; we only use RentalCars.com! You can also take a nice road trip by driving from Johannesburg to Durban.
General Information on Travelling by Bus from Johannesburg to Durban
There are several bus operators offering routes from Johannesburg to Durban. These companies include InterCape, Greyhound South Africa, Eagle Liner, Eldo Coaches, Intercity Xpress, Vilamora, African Passenger Motors, Luciano Luxury Coaches and Nozulu. This post considers the options to travel by bus from Johannesburg to Durban.
There are about 53 buses daily from Johannesburg to Durban, with the earliest bus leaving at 7:30 and the latest at 23:00 (11 PM). The average bus ticket costs R392, with the cheapest bus tickets costing R253.
The most popular bus stations in Johannesburg are the Park City Transfer City, South Gate Shopping Centre, OR Tambo International Airport and Bethrams. The different operators pick passengers up and drop them off at specific stations, so check the pick-up and drop-off points before you book your bus ticket. In Durban, the most popular stations are Beach Station, Jacobs Station and Durban Bus Station.
If you like bus travel, why not take the bus from Johannesburg to Cape Town? You can also explore the train options from Johannesburg to Cape Town or take the ultimate road trip by driving from Johannesburg to Cape Town, or the other way around.
The Johannesburg to Durban Bus Route
Johannesburg and Durban are two of the largest cities in South Africa. The direct road distance between them is 570 kilometres. The bus operators have different routes for getting you from Johannesburg to Durban. The direct route is the quickest way from Johannesburg to Durban and travels via Harrismith. Some bus operators offer other bus routes from Johannesburg to Durban via Kimberley, Virginia, Newcastle, Vryheid, Richards Bay or Ladysmith.
Learn about Durban’s weather and what to wear when you visit this city.
How Many Hours Does It Take to Travel by Bus from Johannesburg to Durban?
The duration of a trip from Johannesburg to Durban depends on the route chosen. The traffic in larger cities may affect departure and arrival times. The shortest travel time by bus from Johannesburg to Durban is 6 hours and 45 minutes, while the average duration of this trip is 10 hours and 15 minutes. Several bus operators offer the shortest route from Johannesburg to Durban, taking 6 hours and 45 minutes. The longest bus route from Johannesburg to Durban is 10 hours and 15 minutes, offered by African Passenger Motors.
If you are in Johannesburg, find out why you should visit the Johannesburg Zoo, the Elephant Sanctuary, the Montecasino Bird Gardens and Croc City. The Harties Cable Car experience is fun, and Sun City is another wonderful destination for families!
Bus from Johannesburg to Durban: Bus Tickets and Prices
The bus companies offer different prices for the bus routes from Johannesburg to Durban. The table below estimates the bus price – always remember that peak times will have higher ticket prices. For information on peak times, read about the South African holidays.
The best time to book your Durban bus tickets is 30 days before your departure date. The prices below are for a random date selected (9 May 2023) for a one-way ticket. Similar to flights, return trips are usually cheaper than two one-way tickets. To find the best price for a bus ticket from Johannesburg to Durban for your preferred travel date, check the Busbud website.
Here is a comparison of the bus ticket prices on Busbud for a random date (9 May 2023):
| Bus company | Rand Price (ZAR) | USD Price |
| Eldo Coaches | R275 – R345 | $14.90 – $18.70 |
| Intercape | R320 – R580 | $17.34 – $31.43 |
| Eagle Liner | R350 – R450 | $19 – $24.39 |
| Vilamora | R350 – R500 | $19 – $27 |
| Intercity Xpress | R400 – R500 | $21.68 – $27 |
| Greyhound Citiliner | R220 | $12 |
Where to Buy the Bus Tickets for Travel Between Johannesburg and Durban?
All these bus operators have websites allowing online bookings. You can also buy tickets from them using an aggregator site like Busbud. Using an aggregator site helps you compare the trip durations and prices of the bus operators.
You can also purchase bus tickets online from Computicket for some bus operators. Generally, you must fetch the physical ticket from a Computicket office. Furthermore, you can buy some regular bus tickets at specific supermarkets such as Checkers/Shoprite and Spar. Be careful when buying tickets by choosing the bus operator with the route and pick-up and drop-off points you prefer.
Your Options to Travel by Bus from Johannesburg to Durban: Bus Tickets
The bus companies differ in terms of the number of trips each offers daily, as can be seen from the table below based on 9 May 2023 on Busbud:
| Bus Operator | Number of trips daily (ticket options) |
| Greyhound | 2 |
| Eldo Coaches | 24 |
| Intercape | 19 |
| Intercity Xpress | 6 |
| Eagle Liner | 6 |
Durban to Johannesburg Bus Tickets and Prices
The same bus operators offer bus trips from Durban to Johannesburg at different prices. The table below gives estimates of the bus prices. Remember that ticket prices may be higher during peak times of the year. Here is a comparison of the bus ticket prices on Busbud for a random date (9 May 2023):
| Bus company | Rand Price (ZAR) | USD Price |
| Eldo Coaches | R300 – R345 | $16.26 – $18.70 |
| Intercape | R320 – R490 | $17.34 – $26.55 |
| Eagle Liner | R350 – R400 | $19 – $21.68 |
| Vilamora | R450 | $24.39 |
| Intercity Xpress | R450 – R550 | $24.39 – $29.81 |
| Greyhound Citiliner | R325 | $17.61 |
Options for Bus Tickets from Durban to Johannesburg
The different bus operators offer trips at different times of the day. The table below summarises the number of trips each bus operator provides from Durban to Johannesburg for 9 May 2023 on Busbud:
| Bus Operator | Number of trips daily (ticket options) |
| Greyhound | 2 |
| Eldo Coaches | 26 |
| Intercape | 19 |
| Intercity Xpress | 6 |
| Eagle Liner | 6 |
What You Should Consider When Booking Your Bus Ticket from Johannesburg to Durban
These are some considerations for bus travel from Johannesburg to Durban:
The Bus Schedules of The Bus Operators
Consider the operator’s bus schedules to determine the best time for your trip. Compare their departure times, trip duration and prices to choose the operator to travel with. Looking at the impact on price if you book a return trip is always a good idea.
Consider Each Bus Operator’s Ticket Options
Each bus company offers differentiated ticket options. Not all bus operators have websites with information on their ticket options and routes. Those that do are:
InterCity and Eagle Liners
These two bus operators have the same ticket options. All tickets include air conditioning, charging ports and on-board entertainment. The main differences between the ticket options are:
- Charter: The seats in this class cannot recline, but you have on-board toilet facilities.
- Economy: This economy class offers semi-reclining seats but no on-board toilet facilities.
- Luxury: The luxury tickets have reclining seats and on-board toilets.
There are fewer charter and luxury seats available than economy tickets. If you book in advance, you will have more flexibility about the ticket options available.
Eldo Coaches
This bus operator does not offer different classes of tickets. Eldo Coaches travel from Johannesburg to Durban via Harrismith and Pietermaritzburg.
InterCape
Intercape does not offer different classes of tickets, but they have tickets offering different levels of flexibility. You can choose from booking one of the following tickets:
- Saver: You can cancel your ticket up to 48 hours before departure with a refund minus the 25% cancellation fee. There are no discounts or seat reservations possible with the saver ticket. The same terms apply to rebookings.
- Flexi: You can cancel your ticket up to 24 hours before departure and receive a refund minus a 15% cancellation fee. The same terms apply to rebookings. You can obtain discounts and reserve seats on select routes with a flexi ticket.
- Full-flexi: You can cancel up to 12 hours before departure and receive a refund minus a 10% cancellation fee. You can obtain discounts and reserve seats on select routes with a full-flexi ticket. The same terms apply to rebookings.
They have the most extensive range of routes when busing from Johannesburg to Durban. They travel from Johannesburg to Durban via Ladysmith, Kimberley and Virginia.
Greyhound South Africa
Greyhound South Africa does not offer different ticket classes. They have various routes from Johannesburg to Durban via Newcastle, Vryheid or Richards Bay.
Vilamora Tours
Vilamore does not have different ticket classes.
How Safe Is Bus Travel in South Africa?
Watching your luggage when luggage is loaded or offloaded would be best. Leaving your luggage unattended is an invitation to thieves. Some buses from Johannesburg to Durban travel overnight. Be more careful at night and ensure your valuables are protected. The best seat for safety is near the front of the bus.
If you prefer flying, take a look at how to choose the best airport for your South Africa travels. We also have guides on the King Shaka International Airport, Lanseria Airport and Johannesburg International Airport.
The Bus Routes Are Fixed
The bus operators follow fixed routes. Although the bus operators have different routes between Johannesburg and Durban, the stops are pre-determined, and you cannot ask the bus driver to detour from the set route.
Your Transport Options to And from The Bus Departure and Arrival Points
While planning your trip, make sure where the bus route departs from and stops and what your transport options to your final destination are from here. Most of the bus operators stop at different stations in Johannesburg and Durban. You can use Uber, taxis or other hailing services in Johannesburg and Durban.
Don’t miss visiting the uShaka Marine World in Durban!
Take Your Favourite Snacks and Drinks With
Although the buses stop for breaks, these are short and may give you little time to purchase drinks or snacks if you need a bathroom break.
Once you’re in Durban, explore all the attractions of this beautiful province.