You’ve touched down safely, and now you need to get to your accommodation – what options are available?

ONE of the first things visitors notice about Joburg is the cars. The city is a sprawling metropolis geared to the freeway-borne private motorist.

Public transport, used mainly by the city's workers, may not be appropriate for foreign tourists.

Which doesn't mean you can't get around. You have the option of catching a shuttle bus, renting a car or taking a metered taxi to your desired destination.

Minibus shuttles, metered taxis and rental cars can be booked at the baggage claim area. Tickets can be brought to various destinations in Johannesburg.

Visitors will be pleased to know some 22 transport companies have been licensed to operate from the airport using standardised routes, timetables and rates.

Icons in the airport building will show you where to catch taxis or buses.

Shuttles
Visitors arriving at OR Tambo International, a half-hour drive from most major parts of the city, will be relieved to learn that the big hotels operate their own shuttle bus services to and from the airport, which visitors are advised to make use of.

Make sure you inquire about shuttle services and book your seat when you make your room reservation.

Other shuttle bus services operate to various key parts of the city. They can be booked at kiosks close to the airport entrance.

These are probably the cheapest option for those not able to use hotel shuttle services.

• Magic bus: +27 11 548 0822
• Johannesburg Airport Shuttle: +27 11 394 6902
• Airport Link:+27 11 792 2017
• Executive & Corporate Transfers: +27 83 445 0459

Make sure you book one of the commercial services with kiosks inside the airport – there are plenty of informal minibus services for hire at the airport, but their quality of service cannot be guaranteed.

Car hire
Cars are readily available for hire at the airport, and this is the option preferred by experienced visitors to the city, for whom a car is the only flexible form of transport.

There are several reputable car hire companies to chose from and you should have no problems finding a car to suit both your pocket and your required level of comfort and performance.

• Avis Car Rental: +27 86 102 1111 (www.avis.co.za)
• Budget Rent A Car:+27 86 101 6622 (www.budget.co.za)
• Europcar:+27 86 001 1344 (www.europcar.co.za)
• Hertz Car Hire: +27 86 160 0136 (www.hertz.co.za)
• Imperial Car Hire:+27 86 113 1000 (www.imperialcarrental.co.za)
• First Car Rental: +27 11 394 3580 (www.globalrental.co.za)
• Sizwe Car Rental: +2711 390 2340
• Tempest Car Rental:+27 86 003 1666 (www.tempestcarhire.co.za)

Be warned, however, that the spaghetti-like freeway interchanges between the airport and the city are not easily negotiated by novices, who are liable to get lost quickly.

Metered taxis
Although locals tend to avoid metered taxis, foreigners may find this the quickest form of transport.

Metered taxis, recognisable by the yellow "taxi" lights on the car roofs, are available at the airport.

These are considerably more expensive than the bus services, but do at least ensure that visitors are dropped directly at the front doors of their destinations. A trip can cost between R300 and R400.

Approved metered taxis display a green, yellow and white sticker. While there are other, informal, taxis that operate from the airport, their quality of service cannot be guaranteed.

• For further information, call Izinga Transport Management’s call centre on the toll-free number +27 86 165 6463.