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Car Hire in South Africa.

Search for car hire deals in South Africa

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Don't just take our word for it …

Excellent customer service and support from Zest prior to my booking. Great communication throughout. Best price on the market with additional driver included. Great service from Europcar who’s friendly staff delivered to the hotel…

Andrew Luck - Cape Town, 3 weeks ago

Compare the best car hire deals in South Africa

By the time you have driven from one corner of the nation to the other, you’ll have seen vibrant cities, gorgeous coastlines, a wonderful desert, wonderful corals, ancient collections of rock art, and tracked unique wildlife on safari.

  • Excess insurance included
  • Free Cancellation & amendments
  • Fair Fuel Policy
  • Breakdown assistance
  • 24/7 customer support
  • Which? Recommended Car Hire Broker

Which car rental company should I book with in South Africa?

Search, compare and book you next car hire with Zest Car Rental for inclusive deals you won’t find anywhere else. At Zest, we understand the last thing you need after a long flight is to deal with problems collecting your car hire. Therefore, we only partner with trusted and monitored providers to ensure a hassle-free and smooth car rental experience.

Whether you decide to book with Europcar, Bluu or any of our other providers in South Africa, you will always be welcomed with exceptional customer service! Start your holiday the right way with Zest Car Rental!

BLUU CAR RENTAL EUROPCAR GREEN MOTION Alamo ENTERPRISE HERTZ SOUTH AFRICA CARWIZ SOUTH AFRICA DOLLAR SOUTH AFRICA THRIFTY SOUTH AFRICA U-SAVE

Book with Zest Car Rental in South Africa!

Zest Car Rental provides a fresh and honest approach to hiring a car in South Africa. At Zest, we know how important transparency is when booking car rental. Our four-step booking process is simple and hassle-free, with no hidden costs or extras. At Zest, we know when planning your trip, you shouldn’t have to sweat the details and focus on the small print. Instead, you can relax and look forward to your holiday, without getting lost in car rental complications! 
 
We also know that sometimes, plans change. Therefore, we offer free cancellation and amendments up to 48 hours before your rental start as standard. Should you require it, we also offer enhanced cancellation protection for a small fee. This offers you free cancellation right up to the time your rental starts! 
 
Zest Car Rental only works with carefully selected and trusted car rental providers in South Africa who care as much about reputation as we do, and always put the customer first. All our providers are monitored closely, and we review customer feedback frequently to ensure you receive the best rental experience possible. Our amazing customer feedback has meant we are ranked ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot. Also, Zest Car Rental are Feefo Platinum Trusted! You can read our Feefo reviews here!  
 
Stay protected with Zest! We offer breakdown assistance in South Africa as standard. Should you wish to be fully covered, we can provide you with our industry leading top-up insurance. Our top-up insurance is the top level of cover available provided by us. You’ll receive reimbursement cover against any loss or damage to the vehicle not covered by the standard car hire insurance. To find out what is covered on our top-up insurance, check out our blog! You can rest assured we’ve made things as simple as possible so you can focus on enjoying your holiday and exploring hidden gems! 
 
If you wish to share the driving on holiday, we have negotiated a free additional driver with many of our trusted car rental providers! If your chosen provider does include a free additional driver, this will be clearly labelled on the quote page. Generate a quick and easy quote today! 
 
All rental providers we work with operate a fair fuel policy. This means you either collect the car full of fuel then return it full or return it with the same amount provided upon collection. Hassle-free and straightforward! Learn more about fair fuel policies here!
 
If you ever have any queries before, during or after your car rental, our friendly customer support team is here to help you. We can even provide you with a quote or make your booking over the telephone! Our U.K. based call centre is open 7 days a week. Wherever you are, Zest are! We operate a 24/7 Customer Support Telephone line for any urgent enquiries during out of office hours. 
 
The great inclusions Zest offers with every rental has led to us being the one and only Which? Recommended Car Hire Broker, an accolade we have earnt every year since 2017! Which? Concluded that Zest Car Rental goes ‘beyond for their customers’ and awarded Zest with a five-star rating for the clarity of the final hire cost. Fresh, Honest and Transparent! 

Where can I rent a car in South Africa with Zest Car Rental?

Rest assured no matter where in South Africa you fly to, you’re never far from Zest Car Rental. This is because we serve both the major and minor airports in the country.

Once you’ve collected your luggage at O.R. Tambo Airport head into Johannesburg to discover a vibrant city full of museums, restaurants, bars, and theatres. The largest urban area South Africa has to offer, the city is a hub of activity but also the place to feast your eyes upon some amazing Victorian and Edwardian architecture.

Alternatively, head to Cape Town Airport to start your trip in the shadow of Table Mountain. Check your maps and decide if you want to explore miles and miles of coastline, rugged mountain ranges, or the vast coastal plains. Cape Town is one of three capital cities across South Africa - the city is the legislative capital, with Pretoria acting as the executive capital, and Bloemfontein the judicial capital. However, Cape Town stands out thanks to its stunning waterfront, wonderful museums, and lively nightlife.

Explore the beautiful South African coastline!

Looking to explore the east coast? Then King Shaka Airport is the best airport to fly into. With the famous long sweeping beaches of the Golden Mile lapped by tropical waters from the Indian Ocean, tourists who love the beach life should set their sights on Durban’s waterfront as soon as they land. If you want to see what life is like under the water, head to uShaka Sea World to visit one of the world’s largest aquariums. Built around one of the busiest ports in Africa, Durban is a multicultural paradise with a particularly Indian influence.

Ride a camel on your getaway to South Africa!

We also provide rental cars at numerous other locations around South Africa including Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth, Stellenbosch, and East London Airport.

Can I take my South African Rental Car into another country?

Renting a car and venturing into neighbouring countries is a fantastic way to embrace the spirit of adventure! The freedom to explore at your own pace, discover hidden gems and the local culture is an experience unlike any other. The countries are providers allow you to travel into on your rental are: 

  • Botswana
  • Lesotho
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Swaziland
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Please be aware that each provider has different regulations on which countries you can take your rental car into. This is labelled during the booking process. Simple and hassle-free! 

Need to contact us on rental?

We hope that your holiday and car hire collection goes smoothly, however we understand that things don’t always go to plan.

If your flight is cancelled or delayed, please let us know on +44 1362 852288.  

If you experience an issue upon collection, a member of our customer support team will be more than happy to help! Contact us and we will liaise with the car rental provider to resolve any problems.

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Travel tips and blogs

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Articles about South Africa

Places to hire in South Africa

Average customer rating for car hire in South Africa

(4.48 out of 5.00) based on 153 responses to our customer survey.

Our top 5 tourist attractions in South Africa

  1. The Garden Route

    Along the south east coast lies this beautiful region of lagoons, vineyards, and mountains. Boasting extensive bird life, this is a great destination for ornithologists.

  2. Kruger National Park

    The largest game reserve in Africa and home to the Big 5. There are more species in Kruger than any other park on the continent.

  3. Robben Island

    The former prison island that was home to Nelson Mandela for 18 years. Tours are led by former prisoners who bring their experiences to life.

  4. Soweto

    The site of the 1976 Soweto Uprising, this township brings home the role apartheid played in South Africa’s past with a number of excellent museums.

  5. Shark Cage Dive

    Get up close and personal with a Great White in Shark Alley near Gansbaai. See these magnificent and endangered animals in their natural habitat and learn about shark conservation.

South Africa travel guide
South Africa driving guide