For Riders

Booking a ride is simple:

  1. Open the Hamba Rides app
  2. Enter your destination
  3. Choose Economy or Standard ride type
  4. Toggle "Women-Only" if desired (for female riders)
  5. Confirm your pickup location
  6. Review the fare and tap "Request Ride"
  7. Track your driver in real-time as they arrive

Economy (R8/km): Standard sedan vehicles with air conditioning, perfect for everyday rides and budget-conscious travelers.

Standard (R12/km): Premium vehicles with extra legroom, top-rated drivers (4.8+ rating), complimentary water, and phone charging cables. Ideal for business trips or special occasions.

Both options include women-only rides at no extra cost.

Our women-only ride feature allows female riders to request female drivers for added comfort and safety. Simply toggle the "Women-Only" option when booking your ride.

This feature is available on both Economy and Standard rides at no additional cost. All female drivers undergo additional verification and safety training.

Hamba Rides provides upfront pricing. Before you confirm your ride, you'll see the exact fare based on:

  • Distance to your destination
  • Current traffic conditions
  • Ride type (Economy or Standard)
  • Any applicable surge pricing during peak hours

There are no hidden fees - what you see is what you pay.

Yes! You can schedule rides up to 7 days in advance. This is perfect for airport pickups, early morning meetings, or any time you need guaranteed transportation.

To schedule: Select your pickup time when booking, and a driver will be assigned 15 minutes before your scheduled time.

If you left an item in your ride:

  1. Go to your trip history in the app
  2. Select the ride where you left the item
  3. Tap "I lost an item"
  4. Describe the item and provide contact details
  5. We'll connect you with your driver to arrange return

You can also contact our support team at info@hambarides.co.za

Service animals are always welcome. For other pets, you must:

  • Contact the driver before they arrive to get approval
  • Keep pets in appropriate carriers
  • Be responsible for any damage or cleaning fees

Drivers have the right to refuse pets (except service animals).

Both Economy and Standard rides accommodate up to 4 passengers. All passengers must have seatbelts available.

For larger groups, you can book multiple rides simultaneously.

For Drivers

Drivers keep 79% of every fare - one of the best rates in the industry. Hamba takes 21% to cover insurance, support, technology, and platform costs.

Average earnings:

  • Part-time (20 hrs/week): R8,000 - R12,000/month
  • Full-time (40 hrs/week): R15,000 - R25,000/month
  • Peak hours/high demand: R20,000 - R35,000/month

Plus bonuses, incentives, and peak hour multipliers!

Driver Requirements:

  • At least 21 years old
  • Valid SA driver's license
  • Minimum 2 years driving experience
  • Professional Driving Permit (PrDP)
  • Clean criminal record

Vehicle Requirements:

  • 4-door sedan or SUV
  • Model year 2015 or newer
  • Valid registration and comprehensive insurance
  • Good condition with air conditioning

Payments are processed every Monday for the previous week's earnings (Monday to Sunday).

Money is deposited directly into your bank account. You can track your earnings in real-time through the driver app and see detailed breakdowns of each trip.

Absolutely! There are no minimum hour requirements. Drive as much or as little as you want:

  • Full-time (40+ hours/week)
  • Part-time (10-30 hours/week)
  • Weekends only
  • Just a few hours after work

You control your schedule completely.

While you're actively driving for Hamba (from pickup to drop-off), you and your passengers are covered by our comprehensive insurance policy.

This includes:

  • Third-party liability coverage
  • Passenger injury protection
  • Vehicle damage coverage

You must also maintain your own comprehensive vehicle insurance.

The typical timeline is:

  • Application review: 24 hours
  • Background checks: 3-5 business days
  • Training/orientation: 1-2 hours (online or in-person)
  • Activation: Same day after training

Most drivers are approved and driving within 1 week of applying.

Payments

We accept multiple payment methods:

  • Credit/Debit Cards: Visa, Mastercard, American Express
  • Mobile Money: Popular mobile payment platforms
  • Cash: Pay your driver directly

All card payments are encrypted and secure. You can save multiple payment methods in your account.

Yes! We use industry-standard encryption and never store your full card details. All transactions are processed through secure, PCI-compliant payment gateways.

Your financial information is protected with:

  • 256-bit SSL encryption
  • Tokenized card storage
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Fraud detection systems

Yes! You automatically receive a digital receipt via email after every ride. The receipt includes:

  • Date and time of ride
  • Pickup and drop-off locations
  • Distance traveled
  • Fare breakdown
  • Driver details
  • Payment method used

You can also access all receipts in your trip history within the app.

During periods of very high demand (rush hour, bad weather, special events), prices may temporarily increase to ensure ride availability. This is called surge pricing.

You'll always see the exact fare before confirming your ride. Surge pricing helps:

  • Get more drivers on the road
  • Reduce wait times
  • Ensure ride availability when you need it

To manage payment methods:

  1. Open the Hamba Rides app
  2. Go to Menu β†’ Payment Methods
  3. Tap "Add Payment Method"
  4. Enter your card details or select mobile money
  5. Set as default if desired

You can store multiple payment methods and switch between them for each ride.

If you believe you were charged incorrectly:

  1. Check your trip receipt for fare breakdown
  2. Go to trip history and select the ride
  3. Tap "Report a problem" β†’ "Fare issue"
  4. Describe the issue
  5. Our team will review within 24 hours

If an error is confirmed, you'll receive a refund to your original payment method within 3-5 business days.

Safety

Every Hamba driver undergoes comprehensive screening:

  • Criminal background check: National criminal record verification
  • Driving history: Review of traffic violations and accidents
  • Identity verification: ID/passport validation
  • License verification: Valid driver's license and PrDP
  • Vehicle inspection: Safety and condition check
  • Reference checks: Personal and professional references

Drivers are continuously monitored and must maintain high ratings.

If you feel unsafe or have an emergency:

  1. Use the SOS button: Tap the emergency button in the app
  2. Call emergency services: Dial 10111 (police) or 10177 (ambulance)
  3. Share your location: Your trip details are automatically shared with emergency contacts
  4. Contact our safety team: 24/7 emergency line: 0800 123 456

Your safety is our top priority. Don't hesitate to use emergency features.

Yes! Trip sharing is a key safety feature. You can share your real-time location and trip details with up to 5 trusted contacts.

To share a trip:

  1. Tap "Share Trip" before or during your ride
  2. Select contacts from your phone
  3. They'll receive a link to track your journey in real-time
  4. Sharing automatically ends when you arrive

Report any safety issues immediately:

  • In-app: Go to trip history β†’ Select ride β†’ "Report issue"
  • Email: safety@hambarides.co.za
  • Phone: 24/7 safety line: 0800 123 456

All reports are taken seriously and investigated within 24 hours. Drivers can be suspended or deactivated based on safety violations.

After each ride, both riders and drivers rate each other on a 5-star scale. This helps maintain quality and safety:

  • Drivers with consistently low ratings (below 4.6) are reviewed and may be deactivated
  • Riders with low ratings may have limited access to drivers
  • You can see your driver's rating before accepting the ride
  • Ratings help us identify and address issues quickly

Still Have Questions?

Our support team is here to help 24/7