Airlink and Federal Airlines have made access to South Africa’s lodges much quicker with flights servicing some of the most popular lodges. Kim Emmanuel gives a brief overview of the flights on offer.

Airlink recently announced an extension to its Lowveld Lodge Link safari lodge network in partnership with &Beyond.

Effective from June 2 this year, the network will provide daily connections between &Beyond’s Ngala Safari Lodge and Ngala Tented Camp in the Timbavati, Kirkman’s Kamp in the Sabi Sand and the six lodges in &Beyond’s Phinda Private Game Reserve. The lodge network also provides direct connections with Airlink’s regional services from Nelspruit Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to Mozambique, Vilanculos (gateway to &Beyond Benguerra Island) and Livingstone in Zambia, which provides access to &Beyond’s Matetsi Private Game Reserve.

Travellers will be able connect from Cape Town and Johannesburg on Airlink to Nelspruit Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport or Skukuza Airport. A short transfer will connect guests onward to Airlink’s Lodge Link service direct to their safari destination, minimising lengthy road transfers. Guests also have the opportunity to enjoy a short open-safari-vehicle transfer from the Phinda, Ngala, Ulusaba, and Arathusa airstrips to adjoining private game lodges in the reserve.

Flights to &Beyond’s camps, Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, and Skukuza Airport are open for bookings, with flight operations commencing on June 2.

Airlink’s Lodge Link flights are operated with a new twin-pilot Cessna Grand Caravan 208BEX, 12-seater turbo-prop aircraft.

To view the full list of Airlink’s Lodge Link network programme, click here. 

Federal Airlines also offers daily morning and afternoon flights to lodges from Johannesburg. The morning flight departs Johannesburg at 10h30 and arrives at the airstrip at 12h00. The return flight departs the airstrip at 11h00 and arrives in Johannesburg at 12h30. The afternoon flight departs Johannesburg at 12h30 and arrives at the airstrip at 14h00. The return flight departs at 12h30 and arrives at Johannesburg at 15h00.

Flights to and from Madikwe are also on offer from Federal Airlines. During the high-season months of January, February, March, April, July, August, October, and December, two flights are offered daily. The flights depart Johannesburg at 10h00 and again at 13h00, and arrive in Madikwe at 11h00 and 14h00 respectively. The return flights depart Madikwe at 11h15 and 14h30, and arrive in Johannesburg at 12h15 and 15h30 respectively.

During the low season months of May, June, September and November, flights depart Johannesburg at 13h00 and arrive in Madikwe at 14h00. The return flight departs at 11h15 and arrives at 12h15.

Driving time from the airstrips can range from anything between five minutes and an hour and 40 minutes, depending on the airstrip used to access the lodge. To view the full shuttle manual detailing all the lodges Federal Airlines flies to, click here.