BEYOND THE PICK-UP DESK
Places to visit from Johannesburg
Use Johannesburg as your starting point to explore Johannesburg. Two substantial heritage visits provide context for Johannesburg and South Africa's recent history.
Constitution Hill
The former prison and fort now forms a heritage precinct around South Africa's Constitutional Court.
Check guided-tour arrangements and allow time for the difficult history presented here. Use the venue's recommended visitor access and parking information, rather than relying on an improvised route through surrounding streets.
Apartheid Museum
The museum examines apartheid and its place in twentieth-century South African history.
Reserve enough time to absorb the exhibits instead of treating this as a brief stop. Confirm opening days and the recommended arrival arrangements before driving across the city.
These are separate visit ideas, not a timed one-day itinerary. Map links use a general starting point: set your actual hotel or pick-up address and check visitor access, parking and current conditions before travelling.
A car for the parts of your trip that need it
Compare the total rental price and the deposit, payment and mileage terms for your dates. Walk or use local transport where that is more practical.
VRENTY CAR is an independent comparison service. The search above is provided by our partner Localrent and lists local agencies side by side; you book directly with the provider. Always confirm the price, insurance and deposit before you pay.
📍 Johannesburg: the largest city in South Africa, in the Gauteng province; Johannesburg Airport (JNB) is about 25–30 km east of Sandton.
Do You Need a Car in Johannesburg?
Distances are large and public transport is limited for visitors, so a car is a convenience, especially for Soweto tours, Pretoria and the nearby reserves. In Sandton and Rosebank many visitors combine short ride-hailing hops with a rental for longer days.
Our advice: choose a hotel with secure parking, plan each day's route in advance and ask the agency to deliver the car to your hotel.
Drive Times from Johannesburg
Times are approximate and depend on traffic; use live navigation for the real figure.
| Destination | Approx. distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg Airport (JNB) | ~30–35 km | 40–70 min |
| Sandton | ~15–20 km | 25–45 min |
| Soweto | ~20 km | 30–50 min |
| Pretoria | ~55–60 km | about 1–1.5 hours |
| Cradle of Humankind | ~45 km | about 45–60 min |
| Pilanesberg / Sun City | ~170–180 km | about 2.5–3 hours |
| Kruger (southern gates) | ~400–450 km | about 5–6 hours |
Parking, Security and Rush Hours
Choose gated or guarded parking at hotels, malls and attractions, and take bags and phones with you or lock them in the boot before you arrive. Drive with doors locked and windows up, and do not stop for unexplained requests on the road. Avoid the N1, N3 and M1 at rush hours, and be careful at night: stick to main roads, plan the route and avoid unfamiliar areas.
- Check the route in a map app before you start; do not rely on a late-night re-route
- Leave nothing visible in the parked car
- Fines from cameras and patrols are sent to the agency, which charges you after the rental
Tolls, Load-Shedding and Kruger Day Trips
Tolls apply on several N roads leaving the city, and Gauteng's electronic tolling has been changing; ask the agency how tolls and any e-toll charges are handled. When traffic lights are out during power cuts, treat the junction as a four-way stop. Kruger National Park is a long drive; most visitors stay overnight near the gates and check entry and gate times before they go.
Pick-Up and Delivery
Pick-up is usually delivered to your hotel in Johannesburg or Sandton, or collected at Johannesburg Airport (JNB). Use the "Specify location" option in the search to choose, and check the car card for any fee. Do not rely on a named office unless it is written on the car card. If you arrive late, give the provider your flight number.
Documents and Age
- Valid driving licence, usually held for at least a year; minimum age is typically 21 (23 or 25 for larger or premium cars)
- a valid driving licence in English with your photo and signature, which agencies generally accept; if your licence is not in English, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is normally needed alongside it — rules can change, so confirm with the agency before you travel
- Passport and the booking voucher
- A payment method that matches the offer: many agencies block the deposit on a credit card; use the No deposit or No credit card filter if you need an alternative
Insurance and Deposit Explained
With basic insurance the excess — your share of any damage — can be large and the agency blocks a deposit. Full coverage brings the excess close to zero and, with many local agencies, means no deposit. Typical exclusions are tyres, glass, the underbody, interior damage and lost keys, and the cover is not valid off-road. Toll-road charges, fines, parking and the fee for crossing a border are billed separately. Photograph the car with the agent at pick-up and return and make sure all damage is in the acceptance document.
Driving in Johannesburg: Roads and Habits
Gauteng traffic is fast and tailgating is common; keep a large gap and stay out of the right-hand lane unless overtaking. Minibus taxis stop without warning. Night driving is more demanding, so allow time to arrive before dark.
- Traffic drives on the left; look right when pulling out and take roundabouts clockwise
- Speed limits are signed and enforced by cameras and patrols (typically 60 km/h in towns, 100 km/h on open roads and 120 km/h on motorways); check the signs
- Strict drink-driving limit with heavy penalties — the safest rule is zero alcohol before driving
- No handheld phone; seatbelts are compulsory for all occupants and children need a suitable seat
- At a four-way stop, the first vehicle to arrive goes first; when traffic lights are out during a power cut ("load-shedding"), treat the junction as a four-way stop
- Minibus taxis stop and pull out without warning; keep a safe gap and do not race them
- Keep doors locked and windows mostly up in cities, and keep bags and phones out of sight
- Do not take the car off the paved road: insurance is not valid on unpaved or off-road surfaces unless the car card says otherwise
- Driving into a neighbouring country needs written permission from the agency and a fee; see the cross-border notes on this page