Welcome Pickups / Durban / Airport to Pietermaritzburg

Getting from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg

Gus

September 6, 2023

Pietermaritzburg is one of the most popular destinations travellers visit from the city of Durban. It is the capital city of the KwaZulu-Natal province and is known as the ‘City of Flowers’ due to its abundance of roses and azaleas. Pietermaritzburg is defined by its Victorian architecture and sits at the doorway to the stunning natural landscapes that surround the city and include safari parks and mountain resorts.

Pietermaritzburg is 104 km from King Shaka Airport and 80 km from the city of Durban. There are only two ways of travelling from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg and there are no public transport options. The only direct method from King Shaka Airport is a taxi or airport shuttle with an average travel time of 80 minutes. The alternative is not a direct transport option and involves having to first travel from King Shaka Airport to Durban Station either by taxi or shared shuttle bus and then taking a coach or bus service to Pietermaritzburg from there. The travel time, excluding any waiting time between connections, will be about 2 hours.

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Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS

OPTION	PRICE	DURATION	AVAILABILITY
Welcome Pickups	€72	80min	24/7	Book
Book
Taxi	€65	80min	24/7
Bus	€46	120min	10:00–22:00

How to get from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg by taxi

Getting a taxi or private airport shuttle from King Shaka to Pietermaritzburg is a simple process. Taxis are available in large numbers and available 24/7 at the airport, so you have the option of walking up to the airport taxi rank and getting a cab directly. A better option would be to book your airport shuttle in advance with a reliable company such as Welcome Pickups and have a driver meet you and escort you to your vehicle. Your advance booking will help you avoid any potential waiting times or delays in acquiring a taxi and will also allow you to complete the payment for the transfer in advance.

Taxi fare from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg

A taxi or private airport shuttle from King Shaka to Pietermaritzburg will cost on average about €65 (ZAR 1,250), with the exact cost depending on the cab company you choose. Fixed-rate fares tend to be more affordable than fares calculated using a taximeter but you’ll come across drivers offering both the option of a set fare and a metered fee.

Cost

€65 (ZAR 1,250)

Trip Duration

80 minutes

The quoted is an average cost and will vary between taxi companies.

Convenience

Safety

Value for money

Taxi availability at King Shaka Airport is 24/7.

Where do I get a taxi from?

There is a designated taxi section at King Shaka Airport that is part of the ground transportation area. This is located outside the Arrivals terminal, on the ground level of the airport.

Convenience

Since a taxi or airport shuttle from Durban to Pietermaritzburg is the only direct transport method that also offers a door-to-door service, it is unquestionably the fastest and most convenient option available. Furthermore, they are available 24/7 offering travellers further flexibility and will provide the most comfortable and private travel environment.

Editor’s Note

In order to guarantee availability for your chosen date and time of travel, it is recommended to book your transfer in advance. By requesting a fixed-rate fare you will also be quoted a reasonable price for your transfer.

Useful Tips

Be aware that unlicensed taxi drivers operate at the airport looking for the opportunity to take advantage of travellers. It is important that you only hire registered or licensed taxis.

Many taxis do not take card payments, so if you are not pre-booking your taxi and paying in advance, make sure you have cash available to pay for your ride.

If you plan on hiring a taxi between 17:30 and 6:30 ask the driver or cab company if there will be an extra charge, as many taxi providers charge higher rates during these times.

Wheelchair-accessible vehicles and child seats are available as long as they’re requested in advance.

How to get from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg by bus

With no public transport option available from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg the only alternative to a taxi or private shuttle is to take a combination of two separate bus services. The trip’s first leg involves taking a shared shuttle bus service from the airport to Durban bus station with one of the many bus companies that offer this route, eg. Margate Mini Coach. The second leg of the journey involves taking another bus/coach from the station to Pietermaritzburg. A few different bus companies cover this route but, currently, the only company that has more than one departure a day (11:00 and 22:00) and provides online information regarding this route is Greyhound coach company. The travel time, not including any waiting time between connections, is about 2 hours.

Bus fare from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg

The total bus fare from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg will start from €23 (ZAR 430). It involves two separate tickets. The ticket for the shared airport shuttle from King Shaka to Pietermaritzburg with the Margate Mini Coach service will cost €6.70 (ZAR 130) and will take you to the Durban bus station downtown. The ticket for the coach from the station to Pietermaritzburg will cost €15.50 (ZAR 300) on the Greyhound coach when you take the evening service at 22:00. The morning service departing at 11:35 is more expensive and costs €40 (ZAR 760). Therefore the total cost of the journey can cost from €23-46.70 (ZAR 430-900) depending on the Greyhound service you choose.

Cost

from €23 (ZAR 430)

Trip Duration

120 minutes

A single adult ticket for the first leg of the journey costs €6.70 (ZAR 130), while prices for the second leg of the journey start from €15.50 (ZAR 300) per person. The trip duration stated does not include waiting times between connections.

Convenience

Safety

Value for money

The Margate Mini Coach from the airport to Durban bus station runs four times a day (10:00, 13:30, 15:30 and 18:30). The Greyhound from Durban bus station to Pietermaritzburg runs twice a day (11:35 and 22:00).

Where do I get the bus from?

The Margate Mini Coach service departs from the ground transportation area, located on the ground level of the airport, outside the Arrivals terminal. The Greyhound coach service departs from the Durban bus station. Look for the Greyhound service to Pietermaritzburg departure gate, or ask at the information desk for the departure point.

Convenience

The option of taking a bus from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg is not convenient as it is not direct and involves catching a connection. The limited departures of the second leg of the trip also cause further inconvenience, as there is only a morning (11:35) and late evening (22:00) service. As a result, there may be very long waiting times between departures resulting in exceptionally long journey times.

Timetables

Margate Mini Coach Timetable

Greyhound Coaches Booking Platform

Editor’s Note

It is recommended to book your tickets for both legs of the journey in advance in order to guarantee seats for your desired date and time of travel.

Useful Tips

Tickets may be purchased on the day of travel only if there is seat availability but it’s not recommended to wait until then, as it could be a risky option.

You also have the option of making the first leg of the journey from the airport to Durban bus station by taxi, if you prefer to limit the use of the bus or want to get to the bus station quickly and with privacy.

The Greyhound company offers charging outlets and on board restrooms on all their coaches.

Welcome Pickups transfer

Book a trained, English-speaking taxi driver to pick you up at the same price as a regular cab from the line

If you feel more relaxed knowing that somebody is waiting for you, you may as well book a Welcome Pickups transfer. As soon as you arrive at the airport you will be greeted by your driver. He will be waiting for you at the terminal of your arrival with a sign that has your name on it. Your driver will help you out with your luggage and together you will make your way to the vehicle. While he is driving you to your accommodation, the driver can give you some tips and recommendations on what to do during your holidays in Durban. Our drivers are hand-picked and speak fluent English. No need to worry about miscommunication issues that you may face with the local taxi drivers regarding your destination. Relax and enjoy your ride.

Best drivers

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DAYTIME

€70.0

NIGHTTIME

€84.0

Same price as a regular taxi from the line

PRICES FOR

Sedan Car

4 pax, 4 pieces of luggage

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What is the distance from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg?

The distance from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg is 104 km. A taxi or private transfer can make this journey in about 80 minutes, while if you were to first get downtown and catch a bus to Pietermaritzburg from there, the journey length, excluding wait times, would be closer to 120 minutes.

What are the options for transport from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg?

There are two main transport options from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg as there is no public transportation connecting these two locations. The only direct option is a taxi or private transfer with a credible company such as Welcome Pickups. The alternative is to first travel to Durban station by taxi or by shared shuttle bus service – such as the one offered by Margate Mini Coach, and then take a bus or coach for the second leg of the trip, to reach Pietermaritzburg. Greyhound is currently one of the companies providing this coach connection.

What’s the cost of a taxi from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg?

The average cost of a taxi or private airport shuttle from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg is about €65 (ZAR 1,250). There may be some cost variations between the different taxi companies. Both fixed-rate and taximeter-calculated fares are available, with fixed-rate fares being marginally more affordable. For a guaranteed all-inclusive set fare and no hidden costs, you can always pre-book your transfer with Welcome Pickups.

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How to get from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg by taxi

Taxi fare from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg

Cost

€65 (ZAR 1,250)

Trip Duration

80 minutes

Convenience

Safety

Value for money

Taxi availability at King Shaka Airport is 24/7.

Where do I get a taxi from?

Convenience

Editor’s Note

Useful Tips

How to get from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg by bus

Bus fare from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg

Cost

from €23 (ZAR 430)

Trip Duration

120 minutes

Convenience

Safety

Value for money

The Margate Mini Coach from the airport to Durban bus station runs four times a day (10:00, 13:30, 15:30 and 18:30). The Greyhound from Durban bus station to Pietermaritzburg runs twice a day (11:35 and 22:00).

Where do I get the bus from?

Convenience

Timetables

Margate Mini Coach Timetable

Greyhound Coaches Booking Platform

Editor’s Note

Useful Tips

Welcome Pickups transfer

Best drivers

Flight monitoring

Quality support

Cancel up to 24 hours before the pickup and get an 80% refund

Prices

DAYTIME

NIGHTTIME

Sedan Car

Frequently asked questions

What is the distance from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg?

What are the options for transport from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg?

What’s the cost of a taxi from King Shaka Airport to Pietermaritzburg?

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