TU collates some of the land and air options to get to the Kruger National Park and surrounding game reserves.

Air shuttles to multiple private lodges

Federal Airlines has carved a niche for itself in the sphere of air shuttle services to game lodges, offering passengers a speedy and ‘VIP’ means of getting from major cities to their bush retreat.

According to Nik Lloyd-Roberts, Commercial Manager, the airline has partnered with some 100 lodges in the Greater Kruger area, Madikwe and Phinda. It also operates inter-lodge services in the Lowveld.

The shuttle services differ from scheduled services in that an inventory of a specified number of seats can be sold for a service, but not all seats will be on the same aircraft.  Federal Airlines has six aircraft types in its fleet, accommodating from four to 50 passengers. Seats can only be purchased through partner lodges or tour operators.

In the Greater Kruger area, which includes Sabi Sand, Timbavati and Manyeleti, the airline has a daily inventory of 41 seats on the morning departure and 34 seats in the afternoon.  A premier shuttle service flies from OR Tambo International to Kruger-Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA), and additionally to the private airstrips of certain lodges or to communal airstrips that serve a cluster of lodges.

Morning flights leave Johannesburg at 10h30 to arrive at 12h00. Return flights depart the lodges at 11h00 arriving in Johannesburg at 12h30. Afternoon departures from Johannesburg leave at 12h30 to arrive at 14h00, and the return afternoon service leaves at 12h30 to land back in Johannesburg at 15h00. Rates range from R4 450 to R4 900pp. The airline prefers to work with a departure window as opposed to strict departure times. 

The inter-lodge service flies daily from KMIA to Sabi Sand (R2 700pp); the northern lodges including Timbavati and Singita KNP (R3 100pp); Hoedspruit lodges and Garonga and Simbavati (R3 300pp), at 09h30 and 13h15, arriving an hour later. Return flights are at 09h00 and 11h00.

Between 09h00 and 15h00 flights are operated between Timbavati, the northern lodges and Singita to a number of Lowveld lodges (R2 800pp); within the Sabi Sand (R2 150pp); and between the Hoedspruit lodges, Garonga, Simbavati and Lowveld lodges (R3 200pp).

Flights into KMIA also facilitate passengers on scheduled flights out of the airport. Next year the carrier will introduce a new shuttle route connecting Johannesburg and Phinda with KMIA, initially four times weekly, opening opportunities for new safari combinations.

Federal Airlines further has capability to operate exclusive-use charters anywhere in Southern Africa.

At OR Tambo, the airline operates its own lounge with apron access, shower facilities, WiFi, complimentary food and beverages and an outdoor seating area. Complimentary guest parking is available too.

Airlink links Skukuza, KMIA and beyond

Airlink's Lodge Link System provides direct connectivity beyond Skukuza and KMIA (Nelspruit) airports to three of the most popular game lodge destinations in South Africa.

It connects the safari lodge airstrips at Arathusa, Londolozi and Ulusaba with Airlink's multiple daily scheduled services operating into Skukuza and KMIA. This allows multi-carrier, multi-sector itineraries to be constructed, such as London to Londolozi.

Additionally, the Lodge Link System can be combined with Airlink's regional and domestic flights, making connections from Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Livingstone (Zambia) and Vilanculos (Mozambique) to the Greater Kruger possible.

Ulusaba’s airstrip provides access to a number of lodges in the western sector of the Sabi Sand, namely Ulusaba’s Rock, Cliff and Safari lodges; Exeter River and Leadwood lodges; Inyati; Leopard Hills; Savanna and Dulini. Arathusa is an important node in the north-eastern portion of the Sabi Sand with access to Chitwa Chitwa; Cheetah Plains; Elephant Plains; Simbambili; Nkorho Bush Lodge and Djuma Vuyatela).  The Londolozi airstrip services Londolozi guests.

Grand Cessna Caravans 208BEX aircraft, carrying 12 passengers plus two pilots, are used on the Lodge Link System. They allow for 20kg of checked baggage and 8kg cabin baggage per passenger, both in soft bags. Free storage at both Skukuza Airport and KMIA is available for excess luggage.

This schedule below is operated on Thursdays, with daily flights on each service.  All-inclusive, one-way fares to the three landing strips start at R2 381pp from Skukuza and R2 450pp from Nelspruit.

Airlink will also organise charters on request.

Unique Air connects major wildlife locations

Under its Safari Link programme, Unique Air connects 27 lodges in the Sabi Sand to three other wildlife locations, making multi-stop safaris more convenient. The locations are Madikwe, and Welgevonden and Marataba Safari Lodge in the Waterberg. 

For all three routes, the airline operates to this timetable:

Current one-way rates are R8 215pp rack and R7 805pp STO. From end-February next year these will increase to R9 050pp rack and R8 600pp STO. Due to runway conditions, departures from some lodges require a connecting flight via Eastgate Airport at Hoedspruit, at an additional STO rate of R1 800pp, increasing to R1 980pp in 2017. Additional passenger taxes may apply

Arrival and departure times vary from day to day, depending on lodge and routing requirements; the airline phones estimated times of arrival through to receiving lodges. The luggage limit is 20kg per person in soft bags – arrangements for rigid suitcases and excess luggage must be pre-arranged. A minimum of two passengers is required per flight.

From October 1, Unique Air will offer lodge transfers by air – from Eastgate (Hoedspruit), Skukuza and KMIA airports to the Sabi Sand lodges, as well as between lodges. One-way rack rates are from R2 150-R2 950pp and STO rates from R2 040-R2 800pp. The transfers will operate between 09h00 and 15h00 daily.

Unique Air also operates a series of charter routes to the Sabi Sand, from Livingstone, Victoria Falls, Maun and Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International. The airline has a fleet of 15 aircraft types, seating from four passengers up to 149 on a Boeing 737-300.

At OR Tambo the airline has access to lounge facilities with private showers, VIP meeting rooms, day rooms and luggage storage.

Daily shuttles to Hazyview by Spurwing Tourism Services

Spurwing Tourism Services runs a daily shuttle between Johannesburg and Hazyview – “a great option for tour operators and agents to transport their clients to the Kruger cost effectively and safely,” says MD, Dimitri Kokinos. 

Some days the shuttle goes via the scenic Panoramic Route on the outbound leg, in which case the arrival time in Hazyview is 14h30. Confirmation of these dates will be given on booking requests.

Spurwing can also accommodate from one to 21 passengers on a private-transfer basis to the Greater Kruger area, including Hazyview, Sabi, Hoedspruit, Phalaborwa and other locations.

Ashtons goes daily to seven Hoedspruit points

Ashtons Tours, Safaris and Shuttles offers scheduled Kruger Shuttle departures from OR Tambo Airport daily at 06h45 and every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 11h00. All departures go to seven locations in the Hoedspruit area. The 11h00 departure makes same-day shuttle departures convenient for passengers flying into Johannesburg.

In the reverse direction, the company operates daily departures from the same Hoedspruit points, departing between 10h45 and 12h00 for OR Tambo.  

These seven locations are Karongwe/Makalali Southern Boom Gate; Three Bridges at The Outpost on the Olifants River, Balule Reserve’s Olifants West and York Gates; Balule Reserve’s York Gate, Kamogelo Tourism Centre; Eastgate Airport and Bush Pub Inn near the Timbavati Gate.

The transfers take approximately six hours one way and all departures are guaranteed with a minimum of one passenger. The current season seat rate is R765 rack, or R610 STO. From November 1 rates will increase by 6.5%. Discounts are available for multiple bookings.

It is also possible to arrange onward transfers at additional cost from the seven Hoedspruit points to specific game lodges in the Kapama, Thornybush, Guernsey and Klaserie game reserves and surrounds.

“We are currently in the R&D phase for a new Kruger Shuttle route which will be launched during 2017,” says Andrew Iles, MD.

Ashtons also offers non-scheduled private transfers, with rates from R3 950 depending on final destination, increasing to R4 345 from November 1. Private transfers are ideal for couples and small groups whose timing or preferences are not met by the scheduled Kruger Shuttle service. Travel via Mpumalanga’s Panorama Route is possible at extra cost.