Major city · South Africa
MthathaUmtata
Spend 1–2 days in Mthatha as a base for the Nelson Mandela Museum and Wild Coast supplies; arrive by car or flight, stay overnight.
Mthatha, former Transkei capital, sits on the N2 highway and has an airport with Airlink flights to Johannesburg. Its main attraction is the Nelson Mandela Museum, and it supplies travelers heading to the Wild Coast. A night or two covers the museum and a quick supply run.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- ZAR
- Best months
- Apr–Oct
- avoid Jun–Aug (rainy season can affect road conditions)
- Airport
- UTT
- Nights
- 1–2
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 8Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive befor…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- Southern Africa ↗A rental car may leave its home country only with the rental company's cross-border letter, the registration papers and paid road taxes at each post; driving into Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Angola without them ends at the border.
- Southern Africa ↗Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive before sunset: livestock, wildlife, pedestrians and unlit trucks make night driving the main cause of serious visitor accidents.
- South Africa ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport with the Department of Home Affairs or a South African mission before booking; exemptions depend on nationality, and the new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is optional for most visa-exempt visitors in 2026.
- South Africa ↗Travelling with children: accompanied foreign children no longer need a birth certificate, but unaccompanied minors, South African children and some passports that omit parents' names still do; check with Home Affairs and your airline before you fly.
- South Africa ↗Driving is on the left. If your licence is not in English or has no photo, get an International Driving Permit before you travel; rental companies also check it.
- South Africa ↗National park gates open and close at fixed times; you must be inside your camp before the gate closes, and speed limits in parks are enforced.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Mthatha112 ▾
- General emergency (mobile)112
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Mthatha, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?checkCurrency is the South African rand (ZAR, R), about 17–18 per US$ in 2026 (check).South Africa-wide
- SIM or eSIMVodacom and MTN have the best coverage; Cell C and Telkom are cheaper.South Africa-wide
- Tap waterTap water is safe in most cities and towns; in some municipalities with failing infrastructure, ask your host.South Africa-wide
- TippingcheckRestaurant: 10–15%; check if a service charge is added for large groups.South Africa-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/M/N. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.South Africa-wide
- SafetyMthatha is generally safe for day visitors; stay aware of petty crime after dark and keep valuables out of sight.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsClean Western toilets at fuel stations (Engen, Shell, Ultra City), malls and park camps.South Africa-wide
- Emergency numbers112 General emergency (mobile) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops open daily in cities; small towns close Sunday afternoon.South Africa-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportUTT Mthatha Airport (Airlink scheduled flights to Johannesburg).
- Getting aroundCar is primary; N2 runs through town, R61 leads east to the Wild Coast.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee at caféR25–R35
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km))R80–R120
- Budget bedB&B room (double), a night, per roomR 390
- Mid-range bedB&B room (double), a night, per roomR 500
- High-end bedB&B room (double), a night, per roomR 650
A day, not counting the bed: Budget R 300 · Mid R 600 · High R 1,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- UTT Mthatha Airport (Airlink scheduled flights to Johannesburg)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
not flagged
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Feb
not flagged
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Mar
not flagged
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Apr
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
May
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Jun
Care
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Jul
Care
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Aug
Care
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Sep
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Oct
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Nov
not flagged
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Dec
not flagged
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Best: Apr–May, Sep–Oct. Mixed: Jun–Aug. Month by month →
Warmest Jan (28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)), coolest Jul (11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C) low), wettest Jan (12 rain days), driest May (6). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Mthatha: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
12 rd
Feb
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
12 rd
Mar
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
10 rd
Apr
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
8 rd
May
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
6 rd
Jun
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
7 rd
Jul
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
8 rd
Aug
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
9 rd
Sep
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
7 rd
Oct
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
6 rd
Nov
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
7 rd
Dec
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
9 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Car is primary; N2 runs through town, R61 leads east to the Wild Coast. No passenger train service (cancelled 2017).
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Nelson Mandela Museum
goDoor to door: 10 min total
Walk or short taxi from town centre, about 5 min
Open weekdays and Saturday until noon; entry free.
Wild Coast (Port St Johns)
cautionDoor to door: ≈3 h round trip
Drive R61 east, about 2 h 30 min
Road can be winding; plan for fuel stops.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Ebony B&B
R400 per night, near Walter Sisulu University
70 Blakeway B&B
From R390 per night
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- R300–R500 excl. bed
- Mid
- R500–R800 excl. bed
- High
- R800+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| B&B room (double)1 × 1 night × R 500 | R 500 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × R 600 | R 600 |
| Airlink flight Johannesburg–Mthatha (round‑trip)1 × R 2,100 · check | R 2,100 |
| Car hire (compact, 1 day)1 × R 350 · check | R 350 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | R 355 |
| Trip total≈ R 3,905 per person per day, bed included | R 3,905≈ US$250 |
2026 estimate; flights and car hire excluded.
Prices of common things
| Coffee at café | R25–R35 |
| Meal at Ocean Basket | R80–R150 |
| Taxi (5 km) | R80–R120 |
| Fuel (per litre) | R22–R24 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Roads on the R61 can be rough; check conditions after heavy rain.
- Museum opens weekdays and Saturday until noon; verify opening times before visiting.
Emergency numbers
- General emergency (mobile)
- 112
Pocket card
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MthathaUmtata
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Sicela le ndawoTo this address, please
Emergency
- General112
Embassy
US Consulate in Durban; nearest South African embassy in Pretoria.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Mthatha Airport → town centre (taxi): ≈ R150–R200 (check)
- N2 southbound to East London (bus): ≈ R300–R350 (check)
Say or show
- Sawubona — Hello (sah-woo-BOH-nah)
- Kangakanani le? — How much is this?
- Ngiyabonga — Thank you (ngee-yah-BOHN-gah)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Mthatha. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Oct · avoid Jun–Aug (rainy season can affect road conditions) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 2 day-trips, door to door
- 2 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Add a rental car option for R350 per day (check).
- Include a guided museum tour (R150).
Sources
Ask about Mthatha
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