BlaakLane.com provides chauffeur service in Pretoria for O.R. Tambo (JNB) and Lanseria (HLA) airport transfers, embassy and ministry appointments in Arcadia, Brooklyn and Waterkloof, and business days in Menlyn and Centurion. Enter the pickup, destination, time and vehicle, and the booking engine shows one fixed fare before you confirm. Each trip is driven by a vetted Gauteng affiliate named on your confirmation.
Booking a chauffeur in Pretoria, step by step
Use the reservation engine on this page or at /book/. For an arrival, type the flight number so the trip is linked to live flight data; for a hotel or embassy pickup, type the building name or street address. Pick a vehicle, and the fixed price you see covers the chauffeur, fuel and the included waiting time. There is no meter.
The trip is dispatched by our 24/7 reservations desk in Toronto to a vetted local affiliate contracted to the BlaakLane.com written standard. Your confirmation shows the operator, the chauffeur's name and the vehicle. Delegations with several cars, armoured vehicles or a week of ministry meetings are planned by a coordinator and confirmed in writing.
O.R. Tambo (JNB) to Pretoria: pickup and timing
O.R. Tambo International sits in Kempton Park on the East Rand, roughly 50 to 60 km from central Pretoria. International arrivals come out of Terminal A and domestic arrivals out of Terminal B, which are joined under one roof. Standard pickup is at the airport's designated area for pre-booked vehicles near the arrivals forecourt; the chauffeur sends the vehicle details and the exact spot once you land. A meet and greet inside arrivals with a name board is an add-on, and add-ons are only available in selected locations.
Because the flight is tracked, the chauffeur works to the real landing time. You get 60 minutes of included waiting on international arrivals and 30 minutes on domestic flights, then 15-minute blocks. The usual route is the R21 north past Kempton Park and Irene, which reaches Pretoria's eastern suburbs in about 45 to 70 minutes. More detail is on our O.R. Tambo airport page.
Lanseria (HLA): the quieter airport for Pretoria and Centurion
Lanseria International lies northwest of Johannesburg and is often the easier choice for Centurion, Pretoria West and the Hartbeespoort side. The drive to central Pretoria is about 45 to 60 minutes, and Centurion is usually 35 to 50 minutes. Lanseria has a single passenger terminal, so pickup is simple, and it is also the main private jet airport for the region, with ExecuJet among the FBOs. See Lanseria airport transfers and the Lanseria private aviation page for planeside arrangements where the FBO allows them.
Arcadia, Brooklyn and Waterkloof: the embassy district
Pretoria is South Africa's administrative capital, which is why well over a hundred embassies and high commissions are based here. Most sit in Arcadia, around the Union Buildings and the Presidency, and in the leafy suburbs of Brooklyn, Waterkloof, Muckleneuk and Menlo Park to the southeast. Chauffeurs working this area know that many missions have controlled vehicle gates, that visitors may be asked to walk the last metres, and that consular queues rarely run to schedule.
For consular appointments and diplomatic visits, the hourly chauffeur service keeps the same car and chauffeur with you between stops. Government delegations, protocol officers and ministries work with our government and diplomatic team; secure movements with armoured SUVs or sedans are arranged through secure transportation after a risk assessment.
Drive times around Pretoria
| Route | Distance | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| O.R. Tambo to Arcadia or Hatfield | 50-60 km | 45-70 min |
| Lanseria to Pretoria CBD | 45-55 km | 45-60 min |
| Pretoria to Sandton (N1) | 55-60 km | 45-90 min |
| Hatfield to Menlyn | 6 km | 15-20 min |
| Pretoria to Centurion | 15-20 km | 20-35 min |
| Pretoria to Sun City | 150-170 km | 1 h 50 min-2 h 20 min |
| Pretoria to Kruger (Malelane Gate) | 400-430 km | 4 h 30 min-5 h 30 min |
The N1 between Pretoria and Johannesburg is one of the busiest roads in Africa, so the Sandton run can double at the morning and evening peaks. The fixed fare does not move if traffic is slow.
Business districts and hotels
Menlyn and the newer Menlyn Maine precinct hold offices, the Menlyn Park shopping centre and the Sun Arena at Time Square. Centurion, halfway to Johannesburg, has corporate parks along the N1 and N14 and SuperSport Park cricket ground. Hatfield is the University of Pretoria's district, with its own Gautrain station, and Brooklyn has the Brooklyn Mall offices. Business visitors often stay at the Sheraton Pretoria opposite the Union Buildings, at hotels in Menlyn Maine, or in Centurion. Companies that send staff to Pretoria regularly use corporate accounts for monthly invoicing and traveller profiles.
Venues and events by month
- September to May: the rugby season at Loftus Versfeld, home of the Bulls; Mamelodi Sundowns also play football there.
- October to March: the summer cricket season at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
- September to November: Pretoria's jacaranda season, usually peaking in October, when the streets of the eastern suburbs turn purple.
- Year-round: conferences at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Brummeria, concerts at the Sun Arena, and graduations at the University of Pretoria and UNISA.
For large meetings or concert nights, the event transportation team stages cars away from the busiest entrances.
Trains: Gautrain, Rovos Rail and the Blue Train
The Gautrain links Pretoria, Hatfield and Centurion stations with Midrand, Sandton and Johannesburg Park; to reach O.R. Tambo by rail you change at Marlboro or Sandton for the airport line. It is fast, but a door-to-door car avoids the change when you carry luggage. Rovos Rail's luxury trains depart from their own station at Capital Park, and the Blue Train uses Pretoria station. Our chauffeurs meet passengers at the platform exit and handle the luggage. Timetables are on the Gautrain site.
Driving in Pretoria: side of the road and local habits
South Africa drives on the left. The old Gauteng e-toll gantries were switched off in 2024, but conventional toll plazas remain on the N1 north of Pretoria and on the N4 toward Rustenburg and Mpumalanga. Traffic lights are called robots locally, and when power cuts knock them out, intersections work as four-way stops. Minibus taxis stop without warning, so experienced chauffeurs keep a generous gap.
Which vehicle suits Pretoria?
A Standard Sedan works for one or two passengers. An executive SUV is the common choice for diplomats and anyone travelling with golf bags or safari luggage. A Standard Black SUV or Sprinter Van carries a delegation from O.R. Tambo to a ministry, and minicoaches and motorcoaches handle conference groups. Stretch limousines and Rolls-Royce, Maybach or Bentley cars for weddings at venues around the Magaliesberg come from partners. See the fleet and what a fare includes on rates.
Day trips and intercity routes
Popular one-way or return trips from Pretoria include Cullinan and its diamond mine, about 40 minutes east; the Hartbeespoort Dam area, about 45 minutes west; Sun City and Pilanesberg; and the long drive to the Kruger lodges. Johannesburg is the closest sibling city. Our intercity transfers page explains how long trips are priced and timed.
Entry rules for South Africa in 2026
Many visitors, including citizens of the UK, the US, Canada and most EU countries, can enter visa-free for up to 90 days. South Africa launched its Electronic Travel Authorisation officially in August 2026 at O.R. Tambo, Cape Town, King Shaka and Lanseria. It replaces the paper visa for eligible visa-required nationals and is optional for visa-exempt travellers, with a processing fee. Your passport must have at least two blank pages. Check your case on the Department of Home Affairs ETA portal and general travel information from South African Tourism. Airport information is published by Airports Company South Africa.
