Johannesburg Car Rental

Enterprise Car Rental Locations in Johannesburg

OR Tambo Airport is an international hub leading directly to Johannesburg via the R24. Lanseria is a smaller international airport north of Randburg, so it's preferred by travelers heading to the Eastern and Southern suburbs. Public transportation is expensive over long distances, but you can save money and pick up your Enterprise Rent-A-Car from the airport. 

What to do and see in Johannesburg

Johannesburg is South Africa's glittering economic hub, and it packs hundreds of subcultures into every suburb. This is the Rainbow Nation, after all! Gauteng's Northern suburbs are best known for their luxuries, whether you find them on a Sandton shopping trip or a Fourways theater show. Sandton Square and Sandton City are heaving with couture, but they're equally famous for their massive bronze sculpture of Nelson Mandela. You can't salute Madiba without saluting his eccentric shirts, and you can buy one of your own at Grey's in Sandton City – the very store that Mandela once shopped at.

Pick up your rental car in Johannesburg, then head straight on to Montecasino, an atmospheric destination with award-winning entertainment. Get to know the African Grays at the bird gardens or take a stroll through Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens. If you have children in tow, Fourways Adventure Golf has the most picturesque putt-putt golf in the country. As the sun sets, you might want to try your luck at the local casino or enjoy a show at the Pieter Toerien Theater. The latter exudes local flavor, so it's not to be missed.

The Apartheid Museum is located in the Gold Reef City complex, which covers South African history from the gold rush all the way through to the apartheid era. There is a significant amount of ground to cover, so you might want to dedicate two full days to your history tour. The Apartheid Museum will captivate you for six to eight hours, but it's well worth the trip. If you still have extra daylight to use up, the Hector Pieterson Museum will complete your coverage of South Africa's darkest era.

No Johannesburg tour is complete without a trip to Soweto, Johannesburg's most colorful township. While it has its fair share of museums, you'll have a lot more fun on a quad bike and go-carting tour arranged by Soweto Outdoor Adventures. Get to know local cuisine and culture at Chaf-Pozi or dial up the luxury at Soweto's first four-star luxury hotel, Jazz Maniacs.

It's not South Africa until you've seen the lions. The Lion and Safari Park will bring you into close quarters with these regal beasts. There are guided and self-driven tours. Renting a car or van in Johannesburg will allow you to truly immerse yourself in the experience. This is not the kind of trip you'll want to rush.

Johannesburg is passionate about its animals. There are plenty of creature-focused destinations available, from the Croc City Reptile Park to the decidedly friendlier Bunny Hop Haven.

Driving in Johannesburg

Johannesburg is South Africa's economic hub and, like every big city, this means traffic can be quite heavy at peak times of the day. Rush hour is quite short, beginning at 4:00 pm and pretty much over by 6:00 pm. Bear in mind Johannesburg's high crime rate and plan your route in advance to avoid certain parts of the city such as Hillbrow and the inner city, even in daylight. If in doubt, stick to the highways rather than inner city streets. Traffic police are vigilant and you will get a ticket if you speed or park illegally, so follow the rules.

Gillooly's Interchange can be a bit chaotic, but the city will soon alleviate congestion via a new 35-kilometer highway. Until that happens, try to avoid the N3 South at peak hours. Driving in Johannesburg can be a stop-start affair, especially If you are behind a Minibus taxi. Stay alert and leave a good distance between you and them as they can stop quite abruptly to pick up passengers along the street.

Drivers don't always stop at pedestrian crossings so, if you are on foot, stop and check before you cross, even at a green light. Locals rarely walk and tourists are advised to avoid it unless they know the area very well. Public transportation is also better avoided if you are unfamiliar with the city and taxis can be hard to find, so a rental car really is your best option. Cars drive on the left side of the road and pass on the right.

There's plenty of paid and free parking throughout Johannesburg. Some lots are run by the local traffic department, and some are run by commercial enterprises. Free lots are rarely free due to the informal "parking guards" who will watch over your car, so don't forget to leave a tip. They don't have set rates, but 5–10 ZAR is usually adequate.

Car and van rental in South Africa with Enterprise

Enterprise South Africa offers a range of car and van rental services including one-way, long-term and short-term vehicle rental. Commercial clients can speak to our award-winning business rental team who will tailor a mobility solution for your needs and budget.

We are part of the Enterprise group, the largest transportation solutions provider in the world. Our global network covers more than 90 countries and over 9,500 locations, allowing us to serve your mobility needs, wherever you’re going.

We are committed to providing the best service possible and exceeding our customers’ expectations for quality and value.

Car rental in Johannesburg

If you are traveling with your family or in a big group, you may find a 7-seater or a people carrier will give you more space to travel comfortably with your luggage. For a city trip, a handy hatchback that’s easy to park may suit you better. For business trips or long drives an executive car will combine comfort and performance.

Whether you prefer automatic to manual transmission, no problem. If you want a petrol, diesel or hybrid engine, we’ve got you covered. You may also need GPS, a child seat or want to add another driver to the contract, let us know and we’ll arrange it for you.

Van rental in Johannesburg

Should you need to rent a van while you’re in Johannesburg, all our vans can be driven on a standard license and are modern, clean and easy to drive. Just ask and one of our branch team will happily show you around your rental van to make sure you are comfortable with it before you head off.