Shared Transfers vs Fly-Inns between OR Tambo and Kruger Safari Lodges
So, you want to go to the Kruger National Park, right? That’s awesome! It’s one of the best places to see wildlife in South Africa.
But first, you need to figure out how to get there from OR Tambo International Airport. You have two main options:
- Taking a shared shuttle bus (13 – 22-seater vehicles)
- Flying to a nearby airport.
Let me tell you the pros and cons of each option, then you can decide what works best for you.
If you take a shared shuttle bus, you’ll save some money, because it’s cheaper than flying. You’ll also help the environment, because it’s eco-friendlier. Plus, you’ll get to enjoy the scenic views along the way, and maybe make some new friends with other travellers.
But, there are some drawbacks to taking a bus. It will take you a long time to get to your destination, between 7 to 10 hours (depending on your chosen lodges location). That’s a lot of time on the road. You might not be very comfortable or convenient, especially if the bus is crowded or noisy. The bus will also make courtesy stops at certain points and you never know what could happen on the way, like delays or breakdowns.
If you fly to Skukuza or Hoedspruit Airport located in and around the Kruger National Park, you’ll get there much faster, in an hour. That’s a big difference. You’ll also be more comfortable and convenient, because you don’t have to worry about the road conditions or the traffic. You’ll just hop on the plane and land in the park or near your lodge, and then be collected from the Airport and transferred by road to your chosen lodge. And you’ll get to see the landscape from above, which is pretty cool.
But, there are some drawbacks to flying too. It will cost you more money, because it’s more expensive than taking a bus. You’ll also have a bigger impact on the environment, because it’s more carbon-intensive. And you might not have many options or availability for flights, because they’re limited. You might also face some issues with flights, like cancellations or delays. And you might have to pay extra for baggage or transfers. The luggage limitation is set at 21kg check in luggage and 7kg hand luggage allowed on the flights to the Kruger National Park.
So, that’s the comparison between the two options. What do you think?
Do you prefer taking a bus or flying?
Finally, if you want to take a shuttle bus operated by The Kruger Safari Co., you need to know a few things:
- First, they all leave from Johannesburg OR Tambo no later than 07:00 from the OR Tambo Airport Bus Terminal.
- Second, they might go different ways depending on where you’re staying in the park. Some go through Nelspruit and Hazyview to the south of the park, and some go through Hoedspruit to the centre of the park. So, your trip time and route will vary based on your lodge choice.
- Third, if you’re not at OR Tambo, you can be collected from another nearby address in Johannesburg, but that will be very early and at an extra cost AND you will first be driven to OR Tambo in any case to leave from there.
You can find more information about both the fly-in safaris and the shuttle bus services from the Kruger Safari Co.
