Chauffeur service in Durban: King Shaka airport transfers, Umhlanga and Drakensberg cars

Durban chauffeur bookings in brief

Book in the engine on this page or at book. Enter a flight number, a hotel, a ship name or a street address, then the destination and the vehicle class. You get one price that includes the chauffeur and fuel, and it is not metered; King Shaka access charges, any cruise-terminal fees and gratuity are added at actual cost. Our Toronto desk dispatches 24/7. Planning prices by class are on rates.

King Shaka International Airport (DUR)

King Shaka opened in 2010 at La Mercy, on the north coast, about 35 km from central Durban and much closer to Umhlanga and Ballito. It has a single terminal building for both international and domestic flights. Pickup is at the airport's designated pre-arranged pickup area outside arrivals; the chauffeur tracks your flight and sends the meeting point and vehicle details. A name-board meet and greet in the arrivals hall is an add-on; add-ons are only available in selected locations. Included waiting is 60 minutes after an international landing, 30 minutes after a domestic one (the Johannesburg shuttle is about an hour) and 15 minutes elsewhere, then 15-minute blocks. The airport's own site is King Shaka International.

Umhlanga, the north coast and the city

Most visitors stay north of the city. Umhlanga Rocks has the lighthouse, the promenade and hotels such as The Oyster Box and the Beverly Hills; Umhlanga Ridge, above it, is a newer business district of offices and the Gateway Theatre of Shopping. Ballito, just north of the airport, is a resort town of holiday homes and estates. In the city, the Golden Mile beachfront runs from uShaka Marine World to the Suncoast area, with the large beachfront hotels, while the CBD holds the Durban ICC and the Hilton next to it. Westville, Pinetown and Hillcrest are the western suburbs and business parks along the N3. For a day of meetings across Umhlanga Ridge and the CBD, book the hourly chauffeur service.

The Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal

Durban's purpose-built cruise terminal at the harbour, the Nelson Mandela Cruise Terminal, opened in November 2023 and handles up to about 4,000 passengers a day. The local cruise season runs roughly from November to April, with round trips to Mozambique and the Indian Ocean islands. Embarkation days see heavy traffic around the Point area, so give the ship name and sailing date in the booking notes and your chauffeur uses the terminal's designated drop-off and pickup lanes. For disembarkation, pickups are timed to your release from the terminal, not the ship's arrival. Port information is published by Transnet National Ports Authority. Cruise lines booking groups can use cruise lines and ports; for Cape Town sailings, see the Cape Town Cruise Terminal.

The Drakensberg runs

The uKhahlamba-Drakensberg Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies inland along the Lesotho border and is reached via the N3. Travel times depend on which part you are going to:

Transfers from King Shaka add about 30 minutes. These are booked as intercity transfers or, with stops in the Midlands on the way, as a day trip. Winter snow on the high passes, usually between June and August, can close roads beyond the resorts; the fare covers the booked route only. For park information see Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

Game reserves and longer journeys

Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, about 280 km north on the N2, is typically three to three and a half hours away, and the iSimangaliso Wetland Park at St Lucia a similar distance. Johannesburg is roughly 570 km by the N3, six to seven hours, though most people fly the hour-long route; see our Johannesburg chauffeur service and OR Tambo airport. For the Western Cape see Cape Town.

Events calendar

• June: the Comrades Marathon between Durban and Pietermaritzburg, usually in June, closes roads along the route.
• July: the Durban July horse race at Greyville Racecourse, usually on the first Saturday of July, is the city's biggest social day; book early.
• Year round: rugby and football at Kings Park and Moses Mabhida Stadium, and conferences at the Durban ICC.

For race days and match days, a chauffeur waits at an agreed point outside the closures. See event transportation.

Visas and arrivals at King Shaka

Many nationalities, including UK, EU, US and Canadian passport holders, can visit South Africa visa-free for up to 90 days. Visa nationals can use the Electronic Travel Authorisation launched in August 2026, which King Shaka accepts. Carry at least two blank passport pages and check the rules with the Department of Home Affairs.

Driving and personal security in Durban

South Africa drives on the left. The N2 and M4 along the coast and the N3 inland carry most traffic, with peaks from about 6:30 to 8:30 am and 4 to 6 pm around the EB Cloete interchange and the Umgeni Road area. Crime is a real concern in parts of the city, as in other large South African cities, so standard precautions apply: keep bags out of sight, keep doors locked in traffic, and use pre-booked transport after dark. Clients who need more can book secure transportation, with armoured vehicles from partners on request after a risk assessment.

Vehicles for Durban

Standard Sedans and executive SUVs cover most trips; SUVs are the better choice for the Drakensberg. Families take a Standard Black SUV, and wedding parties, golf groups and cruise groups a Sprinter Van, minicoach or motorcoach. See the fleet and, for the region, South Africa.

Cancellation terms

Free more than 72 hours before pickup; 10% at 72 hours or less; 50% at 48 hours or less; 100% at 24 hours or less or for a no-show.

Book your chauffeur in Durban