Is there a way to reach Cape Town from East London without flying?

The bus is the best choice to get to Cape Town without flying. The bus trip is an affordable, safe and convenient way to travel between the two cities. Alternatively, you can also use carpooling services.

How long is the bus trip from East London to Cape Town?

The average travel time from East London to Cape Town is about 15h 35m, although the fastest bus will take 13h 40m, on average. This is the time it takes to travel the 550 miles (887 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the distance between East London and Cape Town?

About 550 miles (887 km) separate East London and Cape Town.

How frequently do buses run from East London to Cape Town each day?

You can choose from 2 travel times and travel with Intercape, Intercity Xpress and APM WC. The number of buses from East London to Cape Town can differ depending on the day of the week. Simplify your trip from East London to Cape Town by checking the schedules and selecting the bus that fits your travel style and budget on Busbud.

At what times does the first and last bus depart from East London to Cape Town?

The bus service has you covered with departures starting at 2:35am and ending at 8:45pm.

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from East London to Cape Town?

If you're headed to Cape Town from East London, chances are that your bus will leave from Intercape Office, Moore Street (Windmill Park) and arrive at Bellville - 8 Mabel St. These are the primary departure and arrival locations on this route, but you can also find other options that could better fit your plans.

What is the cheapest way to go from East London to Cape Town?

The cheapest way to travel this route is by bus. The lowest price for the bus on this route is $19.

What is the ticket price for the bus trip from East London to Cape Town?

The average price of a one-way ticket from East London to Cape Town is $40. In the last 30 days, the prices ranged from $19 to $78, so it's good to do your research before booking.

What are the best sights and things to do in Cape Town?

Once in Cape Town, you can start exploring the city and discover its surroundings. The top sights and things to do are Camps Bay, BOS 400 Shipwreck, Bo-Kaap Museum, Robben Island and Simonstown.

Is it possible to travel by overnight bus from East London to Cape Town?

Yes, you can take a night bus to go from East London to Cape Town. Make sure to pack a blanket and a snack to make your trip more comfortable.

East London to Cape Town Bus Tickets

TodayJan 24

TomorrowJan 25

from $23

SunJan 26

from $23

MonJan 27

from $23

TueJan 28

from $23

WedJan 29

from $23

ThuJan 30

from $23

FriJan 31

from $23

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: January 25 at 3:35pm
Departure city: East London
Departure location: 90 Moore Street
Arrival time: January 26 at 7:55am
Destination city: Cape Town
Destination location: Train Station, 1 Old Marine Dr.
Operated by: APMWC
Vehicle: BusDuration: 16h 20m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: January 25 at 6:15pm
Departure city: East London
Departure location: Intercape Office, Moore Street (Windmill Park)
Arrival time: January 26 at 8:15am
Destination city: Cape Town
Destination location: Bellville - Intercape Office, 8 Mabel Street (turnoff from Durban Road)
Operated by: Intercape Mainliner
Vehicle: BusDuration: 14h
Departure time: January 25 at 2:35am
Departure city: East London
Departure location: Intercape Office, Moore Street (Windmill Park)
Arrival time: January 25 at 8:10pm
Destination city: Cape Town
Destination location: Bellville - Intercape Office, 8 Mabel Street (turnoff from Durban Road)
Operated by: Big Sky
Vehicle: BusDuration: 17h 35m
Departure time: January 25 at 3:40am
Departure city: East London
Departure location: Intercape Office, Moore Street (Windmill Park)
Arrival time: January 25 at 8:25pm
Destination city: Cape Town
Destination location: Bellville - Intercape Office, 8 Mabel Street (turnoff from Durban Road)
Operated by: Intercape Mainliner
Vehicle: BusDuration: 16h 45m
Departure time: January 25 at 4:00pm
Departure city: East London
Departure location: 90 Moore Street
Arrival time: January 26 at 7:35am
Destination city: Cape Town
Destination location: Train Station, 1 Old Marine Dr.
Operated by: APMWC
Vehicle: BusDuration: 15h 35m

Accepted payments

Bus East London to Cape Town: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$40

Average bus trip duration15h 35m

Number of daily buses2

Earliest bus departure2:35am

Distance550 miles (886 km)

Latest bus departure8:45pm

Compare bus companies

Intercape

3.5/537,927 reviews

Staff4.3

Timeliness3

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi1.2

Intercape receives praise for its clean and comfortable buses, with friendly and professional drivers ensuring a safe journey. Many users appreciate the punctuality of their service, although some mention occasional delays. While most charging ports work well, there are reports of non-functional ones on certain trips. Overall, Intercape maintains a positive reputation among travelers.

Intercape Mainliner East London Cape Town recent customer reviews

The drivers we so cooperative with us and we were told that the bus is gonna delay for an hour and it arrived at a specified time.

Kanya M.

December 12, 2024

I loved everything about it the punctuality, communication of the drivers to the passengers ,I just hope they let us know the route they we take before booking

Okuhle M.

December 9, 2024

It arrived on time at my point of debatutre but got delayed along the way hence we got to the destination quite late. Other than that, the whole experience was great. The bus was clean and comfortable with regulated temperature. The hospitality of the drivers was awesome as well. Thank youu!🥰🥰

Emihle M.

December 2, 2024

Intercity Xpress

3/58,000 reviews

Staff3.9

Timeliness2.3

Cleanliness3.7

Wifi1

Many users have praised the bus service for its friendly drivers, cleanliness, and timely arrivals. However, some reviews mention issues with time management and charging ports not working consistently. Additionally, there were concerns about a specific driver's behavior and a tire problem affecting satisfaction levels for certain passengers.

Intercity Xpress East London Cape Town recent customer reviews

I enjoyed the trip what I liked the most is that the bus was an hour early before arriving to the destiny

Live N.

December 23, 2024

I always travel with intercity express but I was very disappointed with this ride. The bus arrived 3 hours late and was supposed to arrive in Cape Town at 7:30 but we got here around 11.

Asakhe K.

September 26, 2024

It was my first time nd not my last time to use intercity xpress my traveling was perfect thank u

Andisiwe D.

July 29, 2024

APM WC

2/51,403 reviews

Staff2.4

Timeliness0.7

Cleanliness2.4

Wifi0.4

Many users have praised the service for its professional drivers and comfortable buses. However, there are recurring concerns about delays in departure times affecting arrival schedules. Additionally, some reviews mention issues with bus maintenance such as non-functional seats and water leakage during trips.

APMWC East London Cape Town recent customer reviews

My experience with APMWC was so horrible, the bus the very late we had to sit in the rain for hours, the operators did not even care

Simamkele N.

January 21, 2025

I did not enjoy anything, starting with a luggage, a cording to your terms and conditions minimum luggage charged if is over 22, my luggage was 18 kg and u was charged to R150, driver was speeding and I complained to him, did not care instead he accelerated, my trip was a night mare

Mihlali M.

January 19, 2025

I didn’t enjoy anything.The bus arrived late,i got to my destination 5 hrs later than my ticket said I would.The seats were uncomfortable,everything was terrible

Khanya P.

January 16, 2025

Big Sky

3.5/51,813 reviews

Staff4.4

Timeliness3.2

Cleanliness4.3

Wifi1.6

Users have shared positive experiences, highlighting the comfort and safety of their journeys. The drivers were praised for maintaining a smooth ride, with many appreciating the timely service that ensured safe arrivals. However, some mentioned waiting times before departure and issues with non-functional phone charging systems on board as areas to note.

Big Sky East London Cape Town recent customer reviews

The bus was on time my kids traveled very safe and arrived on time I will definitely use this bus again... 🤞🙏🤗

Ncediwe Q.

November 22, 2024

It was thee worst nightmare I don't mean to be rude, There was an overload and we had to wait 2hrs for the office to resolve the issue which led us to arrive 3hrs late in Belville. The poor drivers had to stomach the frustration from passengers it was not a good experience at all.

Zinziswa M.

September 30, 2024

The bus was very slow and doesn't keep with the depart time and we waited for the bus because they were busy washing the bus and after they didn't even sweep the floor

Neliswa M.

July 8, 2024

Mini Mobile

1/56 reviews

Staff0

Timeliness0

Cleanliness0

Wifi0

ZA bus companies: Intercape, Big Sky, Intercity Xpress, Greyhound South Africa, Eagle Liner, APM WC, Delta Coaches

East London to Cape Town Buses

Busbud shows you the best bus ticket fares and bus schedules so you can easily plan and book a trip by bus from East London to Cape Town.

Bus service from East London to Cape Town will be provided by the most trusted bus companies.

Discover how much the bus trip from East London to Cape Town will cost you. Use our filters and sorting features to find the cheapest bus tickets or luxury buses.

Where are the popular stops in East London and Cape Town?

Stops in East London

A - Intercape Office, Moore Street (Windmill Park)

B - Railway Station

C - Windmill Mall

D - East London Station

Stops in Cape Town

A - Bellville - 8 Mabel St.

B - Bus Station - Old Marine Drive

C - Bus Station - Civic Centre

D - Bellville - Sasol Oaks Service Station

E - Bellville

F - Civic Centre

Frequently asked questions for your trip East London - Cape Town

Is there a way to reach Cape Town from East London without flying?
How long is the bus trip from East London to Cape Town?
What is the distance between East London and Cape Town?
How frequently do buses run from East London to Cape Town each day?
At what times does the first and last bus depart from East London to Cape Town?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from East London to Cape Town?
What is the cheapest way to go from East London to Cape Town?
What is the ticket price for the bus trip from East London to Cape Town?
What are the best sights and things to do in Cape Town?
Is it possible to travel by overnight bus from East London to Cape Town?

Find cheapest prices for buses

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

01/22

$39

01/23

$41

Today

$56

01/25

$23

01/26

$23

01/27

$23

01/28

$23

01/29

$23

The cheapest trip from East London to Cape Town was searched and found on Jan 25, 2025 with a price of $23

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from East London to Cape Town, as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from $23 to $77 for a bus ticket from East London to Cape Town based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $23 which is on 2025-01-25.

Usually MAINLINER will charge you higher prices for tickets closer to the departure date. To find the best prices, you should be flexible on your date of travel.

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

If you're abroad, study some local language. Not only could it get you out of a pickle during your bus trip from East London to Cape Town but it'll also be endearing to native speakers who will surely appreciate your effort.

Much more than a mere vehicle taking you from East London to Cape Town, riding the bus will expose you to some of the most stunning panoramas while enroute to your final bus stop.

Buses have one of the smallest carbon footprints of motorized transport modes. A bus going from East London to Cape Town will emit less CO2 than a car or an airplane.

Create your own real life musical score by curating a personalized bus travel playlist - the perfect accompaniment to your bus ride from East London to Cape Town.

Did you know?

9.2% of ground transportation in Europe is done by bus versus 7.4% by train.

Did you know some bus companies in Germany offer to their passenger low-costs snacks and regional beer based on their destination? Prosit!

Did you know that 80% of the buses in North America are equipped with WiFi and power outlets ? And 60% of bus travelers have used their electronic device on board during 2014.

Will you be returning to East London by bus?

Bus from East London to Cape Town

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Busbud makes bus travel easy. We help travelers find a bus, plot routes, and book intercity bus tickets all over the world. With Busbud, wherever you go, you have a worldwide bus station within reach and available in your own language and currency. With Busbud, you can buy tickets with confidence. We ensure that you make the most out of your bus trip by partnering up with reliable bus companies from all around the world such as Greyhound, Eurolines, ALSA, OUIBUS (BlaBlaBus), National Express and many others.

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

Bus East London to Cape Town: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

East London to Cape Town Buses

Where are the popular stops in East London and Cape Town?

Frequently asked questions for your trip East London - Cape Town

Is there a way to reach Cape Town from East London without flying?

How long is the bus trip from East London to Cape Town?

What is the distance between East London and Cape Town?

How frequently do buses run from East London to Cape Town each day?

At what times does the first and last bus depart from East London to Cape Town?

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from East London to Cape Town?

What is the cheapest way to go from East London to Cape Town?

What is the ticket price for the bus trip from East London to Cape Town?

What are the best sights and things to do in Cape Town?

Is it possible to travel by overnight bus from East London to Cape Town?

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

Will you be returning to East London by bus?

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

Popular Buses Connecting East London

Buses Leaving from East London

Buses Going to East London

Popular Buses Connecting Cape Town

Buses Leaving from Cape Town

Buses Going to Cape Town

Popular routes in this country

Popular international trips