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| Did You Know |
Taxi transport in South Africa is a little different to taxi transport in many other countries. The South African taxi system combines metered taxis and the somewhat less conventional minibus taxis that, while providing an interesting look into South African culture, can be extremely difficult to navigate.
Taxi travel in South Africa is unlike that of most other countries in the world. Catching a taxi in South Africa is a far cry from just standing on the street corner and hailing one. You won't find them patrolling the streets waiting for you to hail them; metered taxis need to be phoned for pickup. While useful, this can be problematic when you are looking to travel to more than one destination.
With that said, should you choose to take a taxi in South Africa, metered taxis are definitely the recommended option. With efficient service and experienced drivers, they can be called from anywhere and will do door-to-door pickups.
Minibus taxis, on the other hand, make up around 90% of taxi transportation in South Africa and are used largely by locals for day-to-day transport. Somewhat unconventionally, these taxis have their own entirely unique system of functioning. With no scheduled or specific stops, minibus taxis have created a sign-language system that passengers use to flag them down. These hand signals are necessary to determine where the minibus is going and along which route. This, of course, can pose a problem for travellers who don't know the system.
If you ARE looking to catch a minibus taxi, it is best done with a professional guide or a local who understands the system. It's an authentic South African experience, but be warned; many of these taxis are un-roadworthy and the drivers are often reckless. Do so with caution!
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