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Voykit pocket guide · South Africa
Centurion
Spend a half‑day visiting the Art Gallery and SuperSport Park, stay one night if you need easy access to OR Tambo Airport.
Centurion is a suburban city between Pretoria and Johannesburg with a Gautrain stop, a mall, an art gallery and two air‑force bases. One day covers the main sights; add a night for airport transfers or a relaxed pace.
- Country
- South Africa
- Best months
- Oct–Apr (warm, low rain)
- Avoid
- Jun–Aug (cold, occasional frost)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- ZAR
- Money
- Currency is the South African rand (ZAR, R), about 17–18 per US$ in 2026 (check). Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere in cities and at lodges; carry small cash for tips.
- Daily spend
- Budget R350–R600 excl. bed · Mid R600–R1200 excl. bed · High R1200+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Vodacom and MTN have the best coverage; Cell C and Telkom are cheaper. Buy at the airport shop with your passport (RICA registration is required).
- Emergency
- Mobile emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types M, C, N · 230 V · 50 Hz · The big round-pin type M is rarely used elsewhere; buy a local adapter at the airport or any supermarket.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: 10–15%; check if a service charge is added for large groups.; Fuel attendant: R5–20, more if they wash windows and check tyres.; Car guard: R5–20 when you leave.; Safari ranger and tracker: About R150–300 per guest per day for the ranger, R100–200 for the tracker — check lodge guidance.; Hotel porter: R10–20 per bag.
- Water
- Tap water is safe in most cities and towns; in some municipalities with failing infrastructure, ask your host.
- Toilets
- Clean Western toilets at fuel stations (Engen, Shell, Ultra City), malls and park camps.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (café) | R15–R30 |
| Beer (pub) | R25–R45 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | R120–R180 |
| Gautrain ride | R150–R200 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- JNB · OR Tambo International
- R21 motorway, ~30 min by car from Centurion
Typical fares
- Gautrain Centurion ↔ Pretoria
- ≈R150, 20 min (check)
- Gautrain Centurion ↔ Johannesburg
- ≈R180, 25 min (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Use Gautrain (Johannesburg–Pretoria line) for fast north‑south trips; R21 and R101 roads connect to the airports; taxis and rideshares are common.
See and do
Known for
- SuperSport Park cricket stadium
- Centurion Art Gallery
- Waterkloof Air Force Base
- Swartkop Air Force Base
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Irene | Drive 10 km (6.2 mi) north via M10, about 15 minDrive 6.2 mi (10 km) north via M10, about 15 min | ≈30 min round‑trip |
| Pretoria | Gautrain northbound, 20 min | ≈30 min total |
Sleep
- Protea Hotel Waterfront
- Centurion Lake, good for one night; close to mall and Gautrain
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Verskoon myverskoon my |
| Thank you | Dankiedankie |
| How much is it? | Hoeveel kos dit?hoeveel kos dit? |
| Where is the toilet? | Waar is die toilet?waar is die toilet? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say hello and ask how someone is before any request; avoid: Launching straight into a question
- Handshakes: Three-part African handshake with friends; a normal handshake with strangers; avoid: Refusing an offered hand
- Elders: Use Mr/Mrs or 'Mama', 'Baba' respectfully in townships and rural areas; avoid: First names with older people you have just met
- Braai invitations: Bring meat or drinks, and arrive on 'African time'; avoid: Taking over the fire
- Photos: Ask first, especially in townships and villages; avoid: Photographing children without a parent's permission
- Politics and race: Ask questions and listen; avoid: Lecturing on history or crime
Scams and watch-outs
- Summer thunderstorms can cause sudden hail; carry a light raincoat.
- Heavy rain may flood the Hennops River; check local alerts during summer storms.
Centurion is generally safe; stay alert during late‑night walks and avoid isolated riverbanks after heavy rain.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Centurion yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- SuperSport Park cricket stadium
- Centurion Art Gallery
- Waterkloof Air Force Base
- Swartkop Air Force Base
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Centurion: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12345
- Gautrain official site: www.gautrain.co.za/
- Wikivoyage: Centurion, revision 4746987 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4746987
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Centurion
Na hierdie adres, asseblief
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Mobile emergency112
US Consulate in Johannesburg; other embassies in Pretoria or Cape Town.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/centurion). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.