If you don’t want to self-drive to your safari camp, then you have two ways of getting to your Kruger safari destination, the first is for the more budget conscious traveller, and the second for a more flexible budget. Budget style is to fly into a major airport and take a scheduled road transfer to your camp/lodge. These road transfers are generally in luxury small busses that seat up to 10 people. The road option does allow you to learn about the area, historical landmarks and enjoy the small towns en route.
The ideal option, if you aren’t travelling on a budget, is to fly into one of the smaller safari airports via a connecting flight from South Africa’s major airports that include O.R. Tambo International (Johannesburg), Cape Town International and King Shaka International (Durban) airports. These smaller safari airports normally have a few flights departing and arriving daily.
From the smaller airports, rangers from your camp or lodge will come and fetch you and transport you back to camp. Don’t be surprised to see a fleet of game viewers and sea of khaki clad rangers waiting in the arrivals.
Here are your Kruger Airport Options :
Northern Kruger Park: Phalaborwa Airport (Hendrik Van Eck Airport )
Phalaborwa serves the northern region of the Kruger National Park, and is a small airport. It serves guests flying on private charters and scheduled flights to/from international airports. The airport looks like a safari lodge, with its thatched roofs and plenty of wildlife statues. There are a few curio shops inside the terminal, ATM machines and also a car rental section.
Central Kruger Park: Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport
The Hoedspruit (Eastgate) Airport is a small but bustling airport that serves popular private reserves including the Timbavati Game Reserve, Kapama Game Reserve, Klaserie Private Nature Reserve and Balule Nature Reserve. The closest gate is the Orpen Gate entrance to the National Park. The airport has a restaurant and one curio shop. It is crawling with safari vehicles, with gives it that authentic bushveld feel. You might even notice wildlife darting across the runway. Small, efficient and one of the most popular safari airports, Hoedspruit is a fantastic introduction to any safari.
Southern Kruger Park: Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMI)
The Nelspruit Airport/Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport serves the southern region of the Kruger Park, which includes the world renown Sabi Sand Game Reserve. It’s quite a large airport in terms of safari airports, and certainly caters for the both the business and leisure traveller. With its premier lounge, and curio shop chockablock with African trinkets; this airport has certainly covered all bases!
Kruger National Park : Skukuza Airport
Skukuza airport has an air of exclusivity, and is quite a swanky safari airport. It’s sophisticated, and first class; and a modern architectural masterpiece. The private airport is ideal for guests visiting the Kruger National Park and the Sabi Sand.
There are other airports, such as Lanseria, and plenty of private landing strips. In short, there are many ways and means of getting to Kruger. Just get there!
