Day trip from Pietermaritzburg to Mthatha
Mthatha lies 268 km (166 mi) south-west of Pietermaritzburg, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there.
At 268 km (166 mi) apart, Mthatha is a realistic day trip from Pietermaritzburg: about 4 h 21 min each way by road.
| Pietermaritzburg | Mthatha | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | South Africa | South Africa |
| Population | 839,327 | 164,848 |
| Elevation | 636 m (2,087 ft) | 694 m (2,277 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+2 (Africa/Johannesburg) | UTC+2 (Africa/Johannesburg) |
Where to book tours and tickets in Mthatha
We take no bookings for these providers and hold no reservation with them. The provider you choose handles payment, confirmation, changes and refunds. How that works.
Staying in Mthatha
Live rooms and prices for Mthatha are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Mthatha
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is Mthatha from Pietermaritzburg?
268 km (166 mi) in a straight line, south-west of Pietermaritzburg; by road roughly 327 km (203 mi).
How long does it take to get from Pietermaritzburg to Mthatha by road?
About 4 h 21 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Pietermaritzburg and Mthatha?
No, both are on Africa/Johannesburg at the moment.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.