How can I travel from Johannesburg to Polokwane without a car?

Taking the bus is the best way to travel to Polokwane without a car. Traveling by bus offers a budget-friendly, secure, and easy way to go between the two cities. Taking a ride with other travelers through carpool services is an additional option to consider.

How long does it take to get to Polokwane from Johannesburg by bus?

On average, the trip from Johannesburg to Polokwane takes around 5h 45m, although the minimum time it takes to get there is 2h 30m with the fastest bus. This is the time it takes to travel the 182 miles (294 km) that separate the two cities.

What is the travel distance from Johannesburg to Polokwane?

The distance separating Johannesburg and Polokwane is 182 miles (294 km).

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Johannesburg to Polokwane?

The majority of buses traveling from Johannesburg to Polokwane start their journey at O. R Tambo Airport Johannesburg and wind up at Polokwane - Mall Of The North. These are the most popular pick-up and drop-off locations on this route, but you could find others that could be a better fit for your travel plans.

What is the most cost-effective way to go from Johannesburg to Polokwane?

Go for the bus if you want the most affordable way to travel this route. $14 is the starting point for the cost-effective bus ride to Polokwane from Johannesburg.

How much are the bus tickets from Johannesburg to Polokwane?

You can expect to pay around $24 for a bus ticket. Over the last 30 days, the prices ranged between $14 and $53, so make sure to compare them to get the best option.

Is it possible to take a day trip from Johannesburg to Polokwane?

Yes, a day trip from Johannesburg to Polokwane is definitely doable. The total time it takes to make a round-trip between Johannesburg and Polokwane is about 5h. So you'll have plenty of time to discover Polokwane before making your way back to Johannesburg.

Johannesburg to Polokwane Bus Tickets

TodayMay 8

from $12

TomorrowMay 9

from $12

SatMay 10

from $12

SunMay 11

from $12

MonMay 12

from $13

TueMay 13

WedMay 14

ThuMay 15

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

This trip is recommended because it is: Cheapest
Departure time: May 9 at 8:30am
Departure city: Johannesburg
Departure location: Park Station, 96 Rissik St.
Arrival time: May 9 at 2:00pm
Destination city: Polokwane
Destination location: 16 R101
Operated by: Citiliner Plus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 5h 30m
This trip is recommended because it is: Fastest
Departure time: May 9 at 8:30am
Departure city: Johannesburg
Departure location: Park Station, 96 Rissik St.
Arrival time: May 9 at 1:50pm
Destination city: Polokwane
Destination location: 17 Thabo Mbeki St
Operated by: Citiliner Plus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 5h 20m
Departure time: May 9 at 8:15am
Departure city: Johannesburg
Departure location: Intercape Office, C/O Rissik and Wolmarans Street (Johannesburg Station)
Arrival time: May 9 at 2:15pm
Destination city: Polokwane
Destination location: Polokwane - City Square, Thabo Mbeki Street
Operated by: Intercape Mainliner
Vehicle: BusDuration: 6h
Departure time: May 9 at 8:30am
Departure city: Johannesburg
Departure location: Park Station, 96 Rissik St.
Arrival time: May 9 at 2:10pm
Destination city: Polokwane
Destination location: Mall of the North
Operated by: Citiliner Plus
Vehicle: BusDuration: 5h 40m
Departure time: May 9 at 8:15am
Departure city: Johannesburg
Departure location: Intercape Office, C/O Rissik and Wolmarans Street (Johannesburg Station)
Arrival time: May 9 at 2:15pm
Destination city: Polokwane
Destination location: Polokwane - City Square, Thabo Mbeki Street
Operated by: Intercape Mainliner
Vehicle: BusDuration: 6h

Accepted payments

Bus Johannesburg to Polokwane: Trip Overview

Average ticket price$24

Average bus trip duration5h 45m

Number of daily buses9

Earliest bus departure8:15am

Distance185 miles (297 km)

Latest bus departure6:00pm

Compare bus companies

Intercape

3.5/539,621 reviews

Staff4.3

Timeliness3.2

Cleanliness4.1

Wifi1.2

Users generally appreciate the professionalism and friendliness of the staff, noting that buses are often clean and comfortable. Many reviews highlight a smooth travel experience with competent drivers ensuring passenger satisfaction. However, some users have mentioned occasional delays in arrival times and minor issues such as non-functional charging ports or toilet problems during their journey.

Intercape Mainliner Johannesburg Polokwane recent customer reviews

The bus broke down, and we arrived in Polokwane late. I missed the appointment I was supposed to attend, and it was a terrible experience.

Keitumetsi M.

March 21, 2025

I enjoyed nothing, i didn't even get a mainliner, it was replaced by another bus brand, When we got to bosmond in PTA we got delayed for more than 30min. It was a rubbish trip, i regret not using greyhound

Gift M.

February 6, 2025

By the time I got to Johannesburg from Bloemfontein the bus was long gone. This is because the Bloemfontein Delta coach scheduled for 11:05pm arriving at 04:45am in Johannesburg Park Station never came.

Oupa R.

December 9, 2024

Greyhound South Africa

3/57,713 reviews

Staff4.1

Timeliness2.9

Cleanliness4

Wifi1.2

Many users appreciated the comfort and cleanliness of the buses, highlighting features like air conditioning, legroom, and onboard toilets. However, several reviews mentioned issues with air conditioning being too cold or malfunctioning. Delays in departure times were noted by some passengers as well as concerns about limited charging facilities on board.

Citiliner Plus Johannesburg Polokwane recent customer reviews

The whole bus was smelling pee from the toilet at the back and the seats were dirty

Halil N.

April 4, 2025

The weather was cold and bus was also cold . Aircon with cold air with the cold weather outside

Anam T.

March 28, 2025

The ride wasn't bad. We didn't wait for hours for the bus to arrive. It arrived on time and the trip was nearly correctly calculated. It said we would arrive at 13h50 at Polokwane and we arrived at 14h20 which was not bad at all. However, all the seats were not clean and the toilet was hot and not hygienic.

Bokamoso K.

March 28, 2025

WEZWECOACHES

1.5/5485 reviews

Staff1.9

Timeliness0.7

Cleanliness1.8

Wifi0.5

Regional Bus Coaches

Webber Coaches

Nitol Transport

3/58 reviews

Staff3.6

Timeliness5

Cleanliness3.6

Wifi0

Translux

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

Johannesburg to Polokwane Bus

Busbud shows you the best bus ticket fares and bus schedules so you can easily plan and book a trip by bus from Johannesburg to Polokwane.

Bus service from Johannesburg to Polokwane will be provided by the most trusted bus companies.

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

Where are the popular stops in Johannesburg and Polokwane?

Stops in Johannesburg

A - O.R Tambo Airport Johannesburg

B - Park City Transit Centre, Johannesburg Station

C - Bethrams

D - Eaglecity Kerk Street

E - Kerk Street

F - Southgate Shopping Centre

Stops in Polokwane

A - Polokwane - Mall Of The North

B - City Square

Frequently asked questions for your trip Johannesburg - Polokwane

How can I travel from Johannesburg to Polokwane without a car?
How long does it take to get to Polokwane from Johannesburg by bus?
What is the travel distance from Johannesburg to Polokwane?
What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Johannesburg to Polokwane?
What is the most cost-effective way to go from Johannesburg to Polokwane?
How much are the bus tickets from Johannesburg to Polokwane?
Is it possible to take a day trip from Johannesburg to Polokwane?

Find cheapest prices for buses

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

Best price found

05/06

$12

05/07

$17

Today

$12

05/09

$12

05/10

$12

05/11

$12

05/12

$13

05/13

$16

The cheapest trip from Johannesburg to Polokwane was searched and found on May 6, 2025 with a price of $12

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

You can expect to pay from $12 to $25 for a bus ticket from Johannesburg to Polokwane based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at $12 which is on 2025-05-09.

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 Johannesburg to Polokwane but it'll also be endearing to native speakers who will surely appreciate your effort.

Much more than a mere vehicle taking you from Johannesburg to Polokwane, 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 Johannesburg to Polokwane will emit less CO2 than a car or an airplane.

Make a music playlist for your bus ride from Johannesburg to Polokwane, and enjoy the scenery to tunes from your own personal soundtrack.

Did you know?

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

The average number of passengers on a coach bus is 32 meaning that a bus could replace a minimum of at least 30 cars!

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 Johannesburg by bus?

Bus from Johannesburg to Polokwane

Top traveled bus routes

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Busbud makes bus travel easy. We help travelers find a bus, plot routes, and book intercity bus tickets all over the world. Use Busbud to book your trip online, in your own language and currency, wherever you are. 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.

Bus Tickets from Johannesburg to Polokwane

One passenger / one way

Cheap buses leaving tomorrow

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

One passenger / one way

Bus Johannesburg to Polokwane: Trip Overview

Compare bus companies

Intercape Mainliner Johannesburg Polokwane recent customer reviews

Citiliner Plus Johannesburg Polokwane recent customer reviews

Johannesburg to Polokwane Bus

Where are the popular stops in Johannesburg and Polokwane?

Frequently asked questions for your trip Johannesburg - Polokwane

How can I travel from Johannesburg to Polokwane without a car?

How long does it take to get to Polokwane from Johannesburg by bus?

What is the travel distance from Johannesburg to Polokwane?

What are the departure and arrival stations when taking the bus from Johannesburg to Polokwane?

What is the most cost-effective way to go from Johannesburg to Polokwane?

How much are the bus tickets from Johannesburg to Polokwane?

Is it possible to take a day trip from Johannesburg to Polokwane?

Find cheapest prices for buses

About Bus Travel

Bus Travel Tips

Did you know?

Will you be returning to Johannesburg by bus?

Top traveled bus routes

Why choose Busbud?

The Best Way To Book Bus and Train Tickets

People from around the world trust Busbud

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