How to catch a taxi on the Dolphin Coast

Catching taxis to get around is a way of life for many South Africans, but if you did not grow up doing it, the thought might be intimidating at first.

But do not let that get you down, it’s a lot cheaper than owning a car and once you know the basics (like how you signal your destination to the driver and where to hop on and off) you might come to enjoy the hustle. It’s as simple as one, two, three . . .

1. Pull the finger (politely of course)

Firstly it is important to know that you cannot just jump into any taxi and expect them to take you wherever you need to go (this is not Uber).

Every area has specific hand signals used by the commuters and drivers to communicate with each other about their journey. This is no different on the Dolphin Coast.

If you want to go to Ballito, hold out your one hand out flat, palm facing down and move your hand like a wave. If you want to go to Salt Rock, bend your hand with your fingers facing towards you and move your hand from left to right. For Zimbali, bend your fingers down and move your hand up and down. When you need to go to a major town like KwaDukuza or Tongaat you simply point your index finger in the air.

If you need to take a taxi from a taxi rank and you do not want to hop aboard the wrong taxi, find a queue marshal, known as Izinduna. They will gladly direct you to the correct taxi to get you to your destination..

2. Taxi fare

Next, you need to ensure you are carrying cash (Zapper has not reached the taxi industry just yet).

The normal routes for Dolphin Coast taxis will take you between KwaDukuza and Tongaat via the R102.

A single trip from Etete to Tongaat costs R17, R13 to Ballito, Umhlali and Shaka’s Head and R12 to Shakaskraal. Any other internal stops in the township will cost you R10.

If you’re travelling from Ballito to KwaDukuza, a single trip will cost you R17 and R14 if you are jumping off at Groutville, Mayville or Ntshawini.

Travelling from Ballito to Tongaat is R15 and it is R30 to go to Durban.

One word of caution though, if your mathematics is poor, avoid the front seat because you will be required to count the money for passengers hopping on and off. Usually passengers are not so polite if they receive the wrong change, nor is the driver.

3. Speak up!

Now you have boarded the taxi, the golden rule when you need to jump off is that you speak loudly (remember you may be competing with fairly loud music). Your driver is unlikely to show any sympathy if you miss your stop (drivers only reverse to pick up passengers, definitely not to drop them off).

Remember a word of thanks to the driver for getting you there safely (and God if you found Him on the journey).

Download The North Coast Courier mobile app, now available free from the Apple iStore and on Google Play, for IOS and Android phones.