Booking Seats

What do I do once I have bought my ticket?
Call our hotline number to make your first Baz Bus or Flexi-tour booking. Please have the following info ready….

• Voucher Number or Ticket number
• First name and Surname
• Booking Reference Number
• Travel agent/Branch where you purchased your ticket
• Amount paid:
• Flexi-Tour option 1or 2
• Date of first trip (when you want to leave Cape Town /Jo’burg/Pretoria)
• Pick-up Point (which hostel you will be departing from)
• First Stop (the first town you wish to stop at)
• Travelling via Northern Drakensberg or Swaziland
• Optional Walking Safari included (yes or no)

For further seat bookings, you will need to quote your:

• Ticket number
• Pick up point
• Date of travel
• Your next stop

You can book more than one journey at a time, if you know your hostel of departure, date of departure & next stop. If you have a voucher, hand it to your Baz Bus driver on your first day of travel in exchange for a Baz Bus ticket.

Who should I call and when?
Our consultants work especially late, so you can phone in your booking request way after the sun has gone down. Our office number is (021) 439 2323 and our office hours are Mon - Fri: 8am - 9pm and Sat & Sun: 8am - 8pm.

We recommend you phone to make your booking at least 48hrs in advance of the day you wish to travel to avoid disappointment. In busy times, some routes are especially popular, so if you know when you want to travel, phone earlier - you can always change it later.

If you have booked a flexi-tour package, you will need to book your day tours at least 3 days in advance & 1 week in advance for the Kruger Park safari. .

How do I know my seat is confirmed?
When you call our reservation number to book your seats, the reservation consultant will issue you with a Seat confirmation number for each stretch. Only once you receive this number is your seat confirmed for the date you would like to travel.

What are the terms and conditions?

• Tickets are not refundable but, with the exception of return tickets, are transferable.
• Seats should be booked at least 48 hours in advance to avoid disappointment.
• Please note: drivers cannot take bookings or recommend hostels. All bookings must be made through our Cape Town Head Office by telephone. Any bookings by e-mail or fax are subject to confirmation. We will not be held responsible for passengers left behind as a result of unconfirmed bookings.
• buses will depart by scheduled times. buses will not wait for passengers who are not ready to depart at the scheduled time.
• In the event of a bus running behind schedule, every attempt will be made to keep passengers informed but we accept no liability for any inconvenience in this regard.
• Passengers are picked up and dropped off at the venues specified on the Arrival and Departure Points and must be ready to leave from these departure points at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled departure times.
• A "no show" for any booked section of the journey (without prior cancellation) will result in loss of that section of the journey and a new ticket will have to be purchased for that section.
• Price Lists and Timetables are subject to change without prior notification and must be confirmed at the time of making the booking.

Accommodation

What about the hostels?
South African hostels boast some of the highest standards in the world. The Baz Bus will drop you at over 180 of them. Most hostels offer camping, singles, doubles or dormitories with standard features such as in-house bars, tour desk and of course some amazing locations. Accommodation costs vary from hostel to hostel. Get your ‘free’ Coast to Coast guidebook at most hostels. Don’t forget ‘the power of the Grapevine’! Accommodation bookings must be made directly with the hostel of your choice.
How much do hostels charge?
Rate:

• Camping: R30 to R40
• Dorms: R60 to R80
• Single: R80 to R120
• Double: R130 to R210

Should I book my accommodation in advance?
Most people prefer to play it by ear and book hostels as they go along. During the busy summer season some places do get full and we do recommend booking a few days in advance, especially for double rooms.

Route
How long do I need to get from Cape Town to Johannesburg / Pretoria via Swaziland?
The longer the better of course as your ticket has no time limit and there is so much to see and do on route! Do remember that on this route, The Baz Bus does not travel at night making Port Elizabeth, Durban and Swaziland compulsory stopovers. In order not to rush it, We would recommend at least 2 weeks.
Does Baz Bus pick up from the airport?
If you are flying into Johannesburg, all the backpacker hostels offer free collection from the airport. Simply go to the backpacker information desk where you can phone the hostel of your choice. In Cape Town there are a number of airport shuttles. Recommended is the Backpacker Bus. You can contact us at: info@gardenrouteadventures.com
Can I bring my surfboard, mountain bike, stereo and chessboard with me on my fabulous Baz Bus adventure through Southern Africa?
Of course! Our semi-luxury 19-seater Mercedes Benz are all equipped with trailers capable of carrying all your bits and pieces.

What should I bring?

• A sleeping bag (bedding is available at most hostels)
• A backpack and daypack (to help you travel light)
• A credit card (accepted all around S.A but not at some hostels)
• Your passion for independent travel

Would I need to use a shuttle service on your route?
To reach out of the way places, shuttle services are operated by the hostels in the remote areas. There are extra charges for these. Contact the hostel of your choice for further details and to book your shuttle.
What is the distance between stops?

General Questions

Is it safe and viable for me to travel alone in Southern Africa?
It sounds like The Baz Bus experience is just what you need! It is a safe option because we offer a ‘door to door’ service. You are never really alone, just smile at your neighbour on the bus and soon you’ll be rattling on about exciting travel experiences. All the hostels and adventure centres offer fun activities and tours so you’ll never have a dull moment! They will also inform you on the necessary safety precautions and the “do’s” and “don’ts” of the place. So…. Sit back, relax and enjoy your journey.

Am I too old to take the Baz Bus?

The Baz Bus is for all the young at heart. We strive to be an enjoyable and friendly bus company, where you can meet great people on the buses and still have the independence to do whatever activities you wish on route. If you feel young, The Baz Bus experience can help you become a better beach bum, adrenaline junkie, culture vulture, wildlife fundi, party animal or a bit of all.

What’s the weather like?
Below is a chart of average temperatures in South Africa throughout the year.

Do I need a visa?
Most nationalities don’t need visas for travelling to South Africa or Swaziland. Please make sure that your travel documents are in order. For further information contact us at: info@gardenrouteadventures.com

Does the Baz Bus offer any discounts?
Sure we do! There are so any to choose from while en route. Print off the discounts page - so you know where we offer these discounts on “YOUR” route. To make use of these discounts simply show the operator your Baz Bus ticket at the time of booking to qualify. Excited yet, well go on check it out

Does the Baz Bus offer tours?
You better believe it. We have a variety for you to choose from:-

Baz Bus Flexi-Tour Adventures for an unbelievable package combining:
A flexible hop-on hop-off door to door Baz Bus ticket from Cape Town to Johannesburg/Pretoria or vice versa.

• A Wildlife Kruger Park experience
• A face to face encounter with the local Zulu’s in their valley of a 1000 hills
• Swaziland highlights
• An introduction to the township life
• An adventurous trip to the Cape Point where the 2 oceans meet.

Baz Bus Garden Route Adventures to be purchased in conjunction with a Baz Bus ticket. This is a Flexi-tour that combines adrenaline, indigenous forest and marine beauty.

• Bungy Jump
• Tree Top Canopying
• Marine Encounter