Getting There and Away
There are many different ways to arrive at Wild Spirit, we have compiled some information on this page to help you get to and from us. Use the navigational links below to be taken to the relevant section. If you need any more help please Contact us.
BazBus | Main Line Buses | Air Travel | Own Car | Mini Bus Taxis | Shuttle Service | Hitch Hiking
The BazBus is one of the most convenient ways to travel South Africa, it will pick you up and drop you off on the doorstep of many hostels nationwide. There are many different tickets available from 21 Day Travel Passes, Hop-On Hop-Off tickets and Direct One Way journeys. The route links Johannesburg to Cape Town stopping off at many places along the way. It is used by many tourists that visit South Africa.
Travel Passes
Travel as much as you like in any direction within the Time Limit of your ticket.7 Day Pass: R1250
14 Day Pass: R2250
21 Day Pass: R3050Hop-On Hop-Off Tickets
Get on and off the bus at your leisure in one direction only.
Cape Town <> Port Elizabeth (Wild Spirit's Leg): R1150
Cape Town <> Johannesburg (Whole Route): R2690
Special Direct One Way Ticket
Book a ticket directly from one stop to another
Cape Town to Wild Spirit: R460 (11Hrs)
Port Elizabeth to Wild Spirit: R335 (4.5hrs)
Durban to Wild Spirit: R460 (one day travel and overnight in P.E, then P.E to Wild Spirit)
How to Book
If you would like to book a ticket, or for more information please contact us here at Wild Spirit or contact the BazBus (http://www.bazbus.com) directly.
Main Line Buses
There is a reasonably good network of Main Line buses that ply the main roads of South Africa. They are cheaper and faster than the BazBus, but have the inconvenience of having to find your own way from the Bus Stop to your hostel.
There are a handful of operators, the best being Translux and City-to-City or Intercape.
The closest Bus Stop to Wild Spirit is Plettenberg Bay from which you would need to contact us for a shuttle, or see below for details of Local Mini-Bus Taxis.
Prices and Times (correct as of April 2009)
Cape Town to Plettenberg Bay: R180-R250 (6-7hrs)
Port Elizabeth to Plettenberg Bay: R80-R100 (2hrs 40min)
Durban to Plettenberg Bay: R280-320 (19hrs)
Johannesburg to Plettenberg Bay: R630 (18hrs)
How To Book
For all of the Bus times and prices visit www.computicket.co.za and click Bus Tickets on the Left hand side. Tickets can be booked online or at any Computicket desk nationwide. Computicket desks can generally be found in Checkers supermarkets.
Air Travel
If you are coming from Cape Town or Johannesburg it may be more cost and time effective to fly internally to one of the closer domestic airports. We are close to both George (100kms) and Port Elizabeth (R250kms)
Example Costs:
Cape Town to Port Elizabeth: R530 (50mins)
Johannesburg to Port Elizabeth: R700 (1hr 40mins)
Johannesburg to George: R800 (1Hr 50Mins)
How to Book
If you would like to book cheap airfare around South Africa then you can book online at a variety of operators, one of the more popular is www.1time.aero.
Once you land in your chosen airport you then have to choose your way of getting to Wild Spirit. Hopefully the information on this page will help!
Own Car / Hire Car
A more common form of transport in South Africa is to rent a car, prices are much cheaper than Europe and this will give you the greatest freedom to travel. The best deals can be as little as R110 per day and fuel prices are lower than Europe.
If travelling by car then use the following directions to find us.
From Cape Town on the N2. Drive 25kms past Plettenberg bay and turn off onto the R102 Nature's Valley. After 3kms you will see a sign to Wild Spirit on the left.
From Port Elizabeth on the N2: Drive 13kms past the Tsitsikamma Toll Gate then take the R102 Nature's Valley on the left. After 3kms you will see a sign to Wild Spirit on the left. Be careful not to take the first R102 turning immidiatly after the Toll Gate.
Time and Distances (approx.)
City
Distance
Time
Cape Town
600kms
6 Hrs
Port Elizabeth
250kms
2.5 Hrs
George
100kms
1.5 Hrs
Knysna
80kms
45 minutes
Storms River
45kms
30 minutes
Plettenberg Bay
25kms
20 minutes
Mini-Bus Taxis
You can not miss these little 20+ seater mini-buses speeding along almost all the roads in South Africa. As a bus network it is pretty comprehensive, but good luck trying to understand it. At first glance they seem to leave when they want and go where they want. Not the safest of transport but cheaper than the mainline operators, and the taxi ranks are usually more centrally located.
There are mini-buses that link major towns, and mini-buses that do the local routes. To travel between towns and cities there are taxi rank stands near the centre of a town which you can go to find a bus, for the local routes you can flag them down as they fly past.
Long Distance Routes
If you would like to take a long distance route then the best way is to get to the central taxi rank in your area and ask around for a bus going where you want. You may have to wait a while and when you find one you'll have to wait for it to fill. There may be only one a day going to your destination, and you may have to change a few times but the intrepid travellers amongst you will figure it out. The closest you can get to us on a Long Distance route from Cape Town would most likely be Plettenberg Bay, but if coming from the PE side ask to be dropped in The Crags, then call for a free pickup or walk as below.Example Prices: Port Elizabeth to The Crags - R90 - 3hrs
Getting from Plettenberg Bay to Wild Spirit with mini-bus taxis
If you find yourself in Plettenberg bay then the easiest way to get to us is our own shuttle service but if you would like to get the taxis then head down to the centre of Plett and find a taxi going to Kurland Village. It will cost you in the region of R13 and when you get to Kurland jump out at the petrol station by the Kurland turn off on the N2. If you have made it this far then give us a ring and we will collect you for free! Or walk along the N2 in the direction of PE and after 500m you will find the R102 Nature's Valley on the right. Follow this road for 3kms until you see the Wild Spirit sign and turn left onto the dirt road. Follow that to the end.
Wild Spirit Shuttle Service
We do offer a shuttle service to all of the local activities, for the most up to date prices please Contact us.
Prices for Shuttle Service to Wild Spirit
From Plettenberg Bay: 1 person = R75, 2 people = R50pp
From Storms River: 1 person = R150, 2 people = R80pp
Hitch Hiking
As a responsible lodge we would never recommend hitch hiking anywhere in South Africa. If you do decide to hitch hike then the Nature's Valley area is safer than most. Please be careful who you accept a lift from and if you feel uncomfortable at any point ask to be dropped off sooner. Hitch hiking along the R102 should be hassle free.