JNB — Johannesburg (O.R. Tambo) — Taxi Fare Guide

O.R. Tambo International (JNB) is Africa's busiest airport and lies about 35 km east of central Johannesburg and ~30 km from Sandton, the main business district. Official metered taxis wait at the marked rank just outside the Arrivals hall, 24/7, with no booking needed. The established licensed operators are Bidvest and Rose Taxis; genuine airport taxis display a yellow operating disc on the windscreen showing the operator name and licence number, plus a driver ID on the dashboard.

Fares are metered and there is no surge pricing on official taxis. Expect roughly ZAR 400–500 to Sandton and around ZAR 550–650 into the central city, with the ride taking 35–45 minutes depending on traffic (avoid weekday rush hours). Most licensed taxis accept credit cards. Ride-hailing is very popular and usually cheaper: Uber and Bolt both serve the airport, with Sandton trips often around ZAR 350–450, though prices rise with demand and traffic. Uber/Bolt pickups use a designated area — follow the airport signage.

Safety note: The single most important rule at O.R. Tambo is to never accept a ride from anyone who approaches you inside the terminal. Unofficial touts operate in the Arrivals hall; they are unregulated, uninsured and charge arbitrary fares. Walk to the official taxi rank or your booked ride-hailing pickup point. A comfortable, secure alternative is the Gautrain, which runs directly from the airport station to Sandton in about 15 minutes for roughly ZAR 200.

Practical tips: Confirm the fare or estimate before departing, as some drivers use fixed route prices rather than the meter. Keep valuables out of sight and doors locked in traffic. A tip of about 10% is customary for good service. For late-night arrivals, a pre-booked transfer or ride-hailing to your hotel is the safest choice.