Intercape receives praise for its clean buses, friendly and efficient staff, punctuality, and overall comfortable travel experience. Passengers appreciate the helpfulness of drivers towards those needing assistance. However, some reviews mention minor inconveniences such as bus changes causing confusion or discomfort due to air conditioning settings during stopovers.
I loved everything about the bus, from its smooth drive to their nice driver who offered me a jacket for the night as I didn't have a jacket and it was cold. I really appreciated that
5 out of 5 stars
Keketso M.
The bus was clean and nice the problem was the driver opened an air conditioner the whole trip we ask him to turn off he was very rude...speaking today cause I just been discharged from hospital because of the cold I got in that bus
2 out of 5 stars
Busiswa Samantha M.
It wasn’t a mainliner. It was bigsky. I wish I could be told that before booking.
Passengers have praised the bus service for its comfortable seating, cleanliness, and punctuality. The ability to charge devices during long trips was appreciated by many users. Additionally, drivers were often described as friendly and professional. However, some reviews mentioned issues with air conditioning being too cold or not working properly at times.
The comfort is top-notch. What I didn't like was that the driver confused the stops and had to return to the stop he missed. But great service overall.
3 out of 5 stars
Zekhethelo T.
I enjoyed the old man. The driver. He's got a great sense of humour for all the passengers were laughing from his proper jokes. He is such a gem. He really made our experience wonderful 👍👍. His driving was perfect. He drives along normal required parameters and smoothly. Well done our driver. Arrived safely to our destination. Was even sleeping without fear in the bus . Very safe dude indeed..
5 out of 5 stars
Fezile Precious N.
I was very disappointed. Firstly the bus was dirty full of cockroaches, toilet was stinky the smell was bad, no charging pot in the bus, aircorn was not working and the bus was late. Intercity xpress don't respect their passengers at all
Many users appreciated the punctuality, cleanliness, and friendly drivers of the bus service. The comfort features like extra legroom and well-designed seats were also highlighted positively. However, some reviews pointed out issues with air conditioning not functioning properly and a lack of charging ports on certain buses.
The experience was absolutely horrible. The bus wasnt spacious. The driver was not on time and even worse didn’t know the directions most of the trip, passengers were truly angry.
2 out of 5 stars
Siyathemba M.
I didn't enjoy the journey because the drivers are very rude, they gave me a very poor service I'm not happy at all
1 out of 5 stars
Phumzile C.
I loved everything, the bus was on time and the driver is friendly he was not speeding.
No problems at all my traveling was perfect
Based on 21 reviews, Citiliner was rated 3.7 stars for this trip. Citiliner ticket prices on this trip start at £14, with the trip lasting on average 438.
Users have shared positive experiences, highlighting the comfort of the seating and cleanliness of the buses. They also appreciated friendly drivers and excellent service from conductors. However, there were mentions of arriving earlier than expected due to fast driving, which caused some inconvenience with pick-up arrangements.
Big Sky Johannesburg Pietermaritzburg recent customer reviews
The bathroom was smelling terrible & the charging ports were not working. this obviously has nothing to do with big-sky per-say but there were people drinking alcohol & making a noise throughout the whole night which was very unpleasant.
1 out of 5 stars
Minentle M.
I have traveled 5 times this year to jhb and this was the quickest , most cleanness, comfortable bus I have been on. The service from the conductors were excellent
5 out of 5 stars
Nicholette P.
It was nice to use big sky as public transport especially for long distance,, it was convinient for me
Based on 2761 reviews, the company was rated 2.1 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the ticket access and the cleanliness but often complained with the Wi-Fi. APM WC ticket prices on this trip start at £17
I feel like I was scammed. Boarded outside Park Station and felt very unsafe. Bus was scheduled for 9pm,we left after 22h30. The "staff" or helpers were all visibly drunk. The "luxury" bus was actually not even close to that. An uncomfortable bus with upright seats for a long distance trip. Then halfway the driver's bank card declined when time came to pay for fuel, another delay!
Customers have shared positive experiences with Citiliner and Greyhound, highlighting punctuality, comfortable seating, cleanliness, and friendly drivers. However, some users noted issues such as non-functional charging ports and occasional unpleasant odors on the bus. Despite these minor concerns, many travelers appreciated the overall quality of service provided by both companies.
The driver had the heater on and it was soo hot . I was not even winter . Joh and he refused to turn on cooler hair
1 out of 5 stars
Sinenhlanhla N.
The seats were comfortable and our driver was perfect 👌 although the charging point was not working.
4 out of 5 stars
Samukelisiwe H.
The bus arrived late for pick up and arrived earlier at the destination which messed up my whole transport arrangements when I got to PMB . There was also vibration I think from the wheels which made it difficult to rest the head on the headrest, otherwise the trip was fine
Based on 115 reviews, the company was rated 2.6 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the ticket access and the power outlets but often complained with the Wi-Fi. Big Tree ticket prices on this trip start at £19
Based on 62 reviews, the company was rated 3.9 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the departure location and the ticket access but often complained with the Wi-Fi. Luvalo Brothers Transport ticket prices on this trip start at £15
Based on 3890 reviews, the company was rated 1.7 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the ticket access and the seats but often complained with the Wi-Fi. Delta Coaches ticket prices on this trip start at £15
Based on 5 reviews, the company was rated 1.6 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the staff and the departure location but often complained with the Wi-Fi. Citilink ticket prices on this trip start at £19
Frequently asked questions about travelling by bus from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg
Please note that timetables, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or vary at the time of your journey.
How much is the bus ticket from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg?
The cheapest coach tickets from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg start from £11. The average price for this route is around £26. Busbud recommends that you book your tickets in advance for a better chance to get the lowest possible price.
How long is the bus journey from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg?
The average bus journey time from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg is 6h 30m, covering a distance of 275 miles. The fastest bus can take you there in 2h 15m and is operated by Eagle Liner.
Which bus companies service the Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg route?
What is the earliest and latest departure time for the bus from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg?
The earliest bus departs from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg at 06:30. And the latest bus departs at 23:00.
What are the CO₂ emissions for the bus trip from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg?
A bus journey from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg produces an estimated 11 kg of CO₂, making it a highly eco-friendly choice and a mode of travel recommended by Busbud.
Which is the best bus company from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated bus company on this route is Luvalo Brothers Transport, with an average rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars based on 62 reviews.
Which company has the best Wi-Fi from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg?
Based on Busbud reviews, the bus company Citiliner has the best Wi-Fi rating with a score of 2.2.
Which bus company offers the most punctual service from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual bus company on this route is Luvalo Brothers Transport, with a punctuality rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars.
Which bus company has the cleanest buses from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the bus company with the cleanest buses on this route is Citiliner, with a cleanliness rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars.
Find cheapest prices for buses
Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.
Best price found
28/11
£25
29/11
£20
Today
£13
01/12
£15
02/12
£14
03/12
£14
04/12
£17
05/12
£17
The cheapest trip from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg was searched and found on 30 Nov 2025 with a price of £13
To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your bus tickets from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg as early as possible.
You can expect to pay from £13 to £69 for a bus ticket from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at £14, which is on 2025-12-02.
Usually Intercape, Intercity Xpress 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.