Greyhound Bus Tickets Bookings 2024/2025 (2024)

Don't get confused between the American Greyhound operating coach services accross the North of America and our local South African Greyhound coaches. The local SA version offers a range of domestic services within South Africa. After shutting down in Feb 2021 Greyhound SA was acquired by Eldo Coaches, who resumed Greyhound operations in 2022. Their competitors include the likes of Intercape, Bigsky Intercity and Translux.

Whilst they cost a bit more than some of the budget buses, they have toilets (!) and Greyhound offers an upmarket luxury coach trip (but some of the stations it picks people up from are sketchy, so exercise care there). The eternal fight over whether the air con should be on remains (just as for the budget buses, all passengers breathe the same air and wont agree on whether it should be on or off)! Even though Covid isn't top of mind, it's probably still worthwhile to wear a mask.

Book your Greyhound bus ticket online right here!

Greybound's routes in South Africa

More routes will be added in due time. Greyhound no longer offers scheduled bus trips to Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

From Tshwane (Pretoria) / Johannesburg

Johannesburg - Pretoria/ Polokwane,

Pretoria/Johannesburg - Durban (via Pietermaritzburg),
Pretoria/Johannesburg - Mosselbay (via Bloemfontein),
Pretoria/Johannesburg - Mthatha (via Pietermaritzburg or Matatiele),
Pretoria/Johannesburg - Pretoria - Komatipoort,
Pretoria/Johannesburg - Phalaborwa,
Pretoria/Johannesburg - East London
Pretoria/Johannesburg - Gqeberha (Premium via Craddock).
Pretoria/Johannesburg - Cape Town (Premium via Kimberley or Bloemfontein)

From Cape Town and Mossel Bay

Cape Town - Johannesburg (Premium via Bloemfontein)
Cape Town - Pretoria (Premium via Kimberley)

Mossel Bay - Johannesburg / Pretoria

From Durban

Durban - Johannesburg / Pretoria (via Pietermaritzburg)

From Port Elizabeth and East London

Port Elizabeth - Johannesburg / Pretoria

East London - Johannesburg / Pretoria; see this review of a Greyhound Premium bus trip from East London to Johannesburg:

Fleet

Greyhound have about 70 luxury coach buses in the Dreamliner and Single Decker categories.

Single Decker

Greyhound's sister company was called Citiliner, a budget version of Greyhound, and it has been rebranded "Greyhound Single Decker", a Greyhound Lite bus service.

The Greyhound Single Decker option has less legroom than "Premium" (see below), and is a single decker rather than a double decker bus; it was previously known as "Citiliner Plus".

Greyhound Premium (formerly known as "Dreamliner")

When new management took over in 2022, the "Greyhound Dreamliner" double decker option was renamed "Greyhound Premium".

Premium has 12 seats on the lower deck and 48 seats on the upper deck.

Boasting seats that can recline a full 150 degrees, USB ports under each chair , charging pods for electronic devices and complimentary newspapers and refreshments. This will be the longes double decker bus on SA roads, at a full 14,5 meters, and has top-of-the-line safety features like emergency brake assist and lane assist. The bus will also have onboard attendants to assist passengers.

They haven't clarified on which routes they will introduce the latest buses, but we have a feeling that it will certainly encourage more passengers to take the scenic route!

Toilet on a Greyhound Premium bus

Bookings/Reservations & discounts

Booking a Greyhound Bus ticket

Website bookings: bookings made via their website (www.greyhound.co.za) normally have a discount.

Call centre bookings: their 24 hour call centre is available on 011 611 8000 , 083 915 9000 and 087-352-0352.

Email Greyhound at enquiries@greyhound.co.za or bookings@greyhound.co.za

Discounts & Special Rates

Children: Children between the ages of 2 & 11 years travelling with Greyhound get a 15% discount off the adult fare. Children below the age of 2 years, on condition that they are not occupying a seat, travel free. If a fare paying adult is travelling with two or more children below the age of 2 years, then the second as well as all successive children will have to pay (instead of travelling free, they get the 15% children's discount).

10% SANDF\SAPS: All SANDF\SAPS staff travelling with Greyhound, on condition that they produce a valid force card, qualify for a 10% discount off the normal fare.

5% Senior Citizens Discounts: Senior citizens get a 5% discount off the normal fare upon presenting a pensioner's card or ID book.

5% Student Discounts: Varsity students can get a 5% discount off the normal fare if they produce a valid student card when purchasing their ticket.

Sales Offices & Stops

Greyhound has kiosks/sales offices for booking bus tickets in Johannesburg, Midrand, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Bloemfontein, East London, Nelspruit, Harare, Port Elizabeth, Kroonstad, Maputo and Montrose.

Greyhound Phone Numbers for each Bus Departure Point

Bookings via affiliated retailers

You can also make Greyhound bookings at the following retailers:

• Edgars Account bookings. You can pay for your Greyhound trip using an Edgars Thank U Account card. Simply phone 011 611 8000 (also Citiliner Plus bus trips).

• Shoprite/Checkers
• Computicket Travel
• Pick 'n Pay Buses (powered by Flightsite)
  • Boxer (owned by Pick 'n Pay)
• SPAR Bus Tickets
• MTN MoMo

Other contact details

controlroom@greyhound.co.za

customercare@greyhound.co.za

info@greyhound.co.za

refunds@greyhound.co.za

Head office: phone 011-249-8700

Greyhound complaints contact details

complaints@greyhound.co.za

Meal breaks

There are regular stops along the route where you can order food, and you are allowed to take them on board. You can also purchase food & drinks on board the bus. Note that you're not allowed to drink beer or other alcoholic drinks.

Policies & Conditions of Carriage

Accompanied children travelling cross-border: In an effort to prevent /curb cross-border child trafficking, the Department of Home Affairs, South Africa has set a new requirement. All passengers crossing Beitbridge Border Post enroute to Zimbabwe (i.e. either travelling to, or from Zimbabwe) with children under 18 years old, to have documentation certifying that they have legal guardianship. This documentation should be obtained before crossing the border.

Alcohol & smoking: Consumption of alcohol as well as smoking is not permitted on all Greyhound coaches.

Luggage: The luggage allowance on Greyhound buses is two suitcases whose total weight should not exceed 30kg and each suitcase should have the following dimensions: 80cmx60cmx30cm. Any luggage weighing more than the free allowance will be charged at the applicable rate.

They do not accept unaccompanied luggage. Firearms, hazardous/harmful chemicals, explosives or toxic substances are not accepted on all Greyhound coaches.

Pets: No pets are permitted on any of their buses save for guide dogs, for which prior notification has to be given before date of departure.

Ticket cancellation & refunds: Greyhound bus tickets may be cancelled subject to payment of a cancellation fee. Alternatively, passengers may opt to be rebooked on the next available service on that very same route, with no fee being levied. If, however, there is a price increase the passenger will be expected to pay the difference.

Unaccompanied children: Only children that are 12-years and older are accepted to travel unaccompanied. Proof of identification will be required both on purchase of the ticket as well as boarding.

History, News & Info.

Greyhound bus is part of the "Unitrans Passenger" operating division of Unitrans Holdings (Pty) Ltd, which in turn is a wholly-owned subsidiary of KAP International Holdings – which as of 2012 owns the industrial assets of the Steinhoff Africa group . Greyhound is a member of SABOA (Southern African Bus Operators Association).

• 20 May 2024. Greyhound's Mother's Day competition winners are announced.

• 2023. In Kap's 2023 annual report: "The Intercity and Tourism operations, which formed part of the Unitrans Passenger division, were terminated during the 2021 financial year and the related assets were classified as held for sale at 30 June 2021. The Greyhound and Citiliner assets were disposed of during the prior year for proceeds of R84 million. The remaining tourism coaches of R47 million, which were classified as held for sale at the end of 2022, were transferred back to the passenger business to be used in normal operations."

• 2022. In Kap's 2022 report: "The Intercity and Tourism operations which formed part of the Unitrans Passenger division, were terminated during the previous financial year and the related assets were classified as held for sale at 30 June 2021. Covid-19 (‘Covid’) had a significant impact on the passenger transport industry, which affected the profitably during the Covid lockdown period. With the easing of lockdown restrictions, Intercity was the first to recover, which created a market for the Greyhound and Citiliner assets which were disposed during the year. The proceeds of R84 million were R20 million lower than the impaired carrying amount. The tourism industry remains under pressure, which resulted in a delay in the sale of the tourism coaches. The remaining tourism coaches of R47 million were tested for impairment at year end with no further impairment required. Tourism coaches of R8 million that could be utilised in normal operations were transferred back to property, plant and equipment. Management remains committed to disposing the remaining assets"

• 13 Apr 2022. Greyhound resumes services, after being put for auction by Unitrans Passenger, and bought by a private trust's investment holding company, which is a level 1 Black Economic Empowered entity (the new owners wish to remain in the background). The "Greyhound Lite" brand is discontinued, and the group has renamed it and Citiliner "Citiliner Plus".

• 2022. Greyhound Comeback on the Cards. Just over a year after ceasing all operations, Greyhound has finally been acquired by another private company. Operations seem likely to resume soon.

• 15-16 Sep 2021. The Van's Auctioneers auction of Greyhound and Citiliner: brand name, fleet and routes.

• 14 Feb 2021. Greyhound Closes Operations. After 37 years in the industry, Greyhound sadly announced on the 3rd of February 2021 that they will cease services on the 14th of February 2021. Their budget-friendly alternative, Citiliner, will also cease services on the 14th of February 2021. The group did not comment on the exact reason for bringing an end to their service. It seems likely that financial stress caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdowns played a roll. Busses were only allowed to resume operations in June 2020 when Lockdown Level 3 allowed inter-provincial business travel, with leisure travel only allowed in August 2020. Greyhound confirmed that any Greyhound or Citiliner ticket holders for travel after 14 February 2021 will be refunded in full.

• 2021. In Kap's 2021 integrated report (no mention of Greyhound or Citiliner).

• 2020. Unitrans plan to sell Greyhound and Citiliner, as quoted from Kap's 2020 annual report: "Intercity. Unitrans provides an affordable, reliable and safe transport service to more than 1 million passengers per year, who travel between towns and cities in South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe under the Greyhound and Citiliner brands.This is a consumer-facing business with retail sector customer interface, which is not our core competency. Unitrans therefore plans to dispose of this business in the forthcoming year."

• 17 April 2018. Nationwide Bus Strike: The South African Road Passenger Bargaining Council (SARPBC) will embark on a nationwide strike on Wednesday, 18 April 2018. Greyhound, along with MyCiti and Golden Arrow, have confirmed that they have suspended all operations for the 18th of April 2018. It is likely that other bus companies will have to follow suit to protect their staff, passengers and property. This strike will affect both local and long distance routes and could leave thousands stranded. All affected passengers are encouraged to check the status of their bus with the relevant bus company.

• 19 June 2017: Greyhound's plan to revolutionise bus travel commences with their latest innovation, the Dreamliner. Having finally passed all the tests, you'll soon find this super comfortable bus on SA's roads.

• 2016. In Kap's 2016 integrated report: "Personnel, commuter, tourist and intercity passengers are transported through a range of brands, including Megabus, Mega Coach, Greyhound and Citiliner... Megabus operates in the commuter and personnel markets under mid to long-term contracts with government, as well as with large corporate entities. The Megabus service remains the mainstay of the passenger transport division with its annuity income business model. The intercity business operates in southern Africa under the Greyhound and Citiliner brands. The intercity and tourism operations are leaders in this segment and offer a high standard of safety and service, which is critical in order to remain competitive and to differentiate the division. Mega Express operates and manages the Gautrain feeder and distribution service, which was the first of its kind in commuter transport in South Africa. Mega Coach and Magic Transfers service the inbound tourism markets and the South African corporate market."

• 2012. Kap Industrial Holdings purchases Unitrans Passenger and Unitrans Supply Chain Solutions.

Unitrans annual reports:

• March 2011. @GreyhoundRSA joins Twitter (now called "X").

• 2006. The Star newspaper's readers vote for the Greyhound bus as being their favourite bus company.

• 2005. Greyhound Coach Lines celebrated 21 years of intercity long distance transport.

• 1993. United Transport Company, now renamed as Unitrans Limited and listed on the JSE, reacquires Greyhound Coach Lines from the Tollgate Group.

• 1987. United Transport Company disposes of its passenger operations to Tollgate Holdings.

• 1962. UK based United Transport Company is incorporated in South Africa and Greyhound Bus Lines, which operated a fleet of buses is one of their first acquisitions.

Ask questions here. Our Intercity Bus Experts would love to assist!