Skukuza Airport set to “Take Off” in March 2014

SA Airlink is expected to launch direct flights to Skukuza Airport in the Kruger National Park from March 2014.

Rodger Foster, SA Airlink’s CEO, said: “In terms of the arrangement, Airlink will provide daily scheduled airline services linking Skukuza with Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, Cape Town International Airport and Durban’s King Shaka International Airport, and via these hubs and our partnership with South African Airways, together with it’s Star Alliance carrier’s global networks, to the rest of the world. Lion Sands will provide hospitality and retail services at the Skukuza airport and Federal Air will supply feeder and charter services carrying passengers between Skukuza and the game lodges in the region. Federal will also provide links from Skukuza to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport to feed our onward flights to Livingstone in Zambia and Vilanculos in Mozambique.”

SA Airlink plans initially to offer daily flights from Cape Town and a twice-daily service from Johannesburg with flights from King Shaka International to follow. The flying time from  Cape Town directly to Skukuza will be 2.5 hours and from Johannesburg directly to Skukuza 50 minutes. The Embraer 135 regional jet and Avro RJ85 regional jet aircraft will be used for these routes. Exact configurations will be advised nearer the time.

This will certainly have a positive impact on your client’s safari experience as they will have direct access to the lodges without paying the current private charter rates. NB: SA Airlink is part of South African Airways.

Two new hotels for the Kruger Park area

Skukuza Conference Lodge managed by Sanparks

The 120-bedroom lodge will be located in the existing Skukuza Rest Camp next to the conference centre which already exists, and will cater to the three-to-four star market. The conferencing facility at the lodge will accommodate 500 delegates in the main conference hall, plus 128 in two breakaway rooms.

 

5* Rezidor’s Radisson Blu Safari Resort Kruger Park

The Radisson Blu Safari Resort Kruger Park will be located within the southern border of the Kruger National Park – along the famous Crocodile River 10 kilometres from the Malelane Gate. Besides 104 rooms and 16 suites with private terraces, the resort will offer an all-day dining restaurant, a typical “Boma” (an outdoor dining and entertainment area), a cigar bar and a pool bar and terrace. For guests combining business and leisure, the Radisson Blu will have 5 conference rooms – leisure facilities will include 2 swimming pools, a spa- and wellness centre on 350 square meters, a gym, and game viewing Crocodile River decks, a kids club and an environmental awareness centre.

No opening dates have been announced for either hotel.

More Group Extends Treehouse Concept

 Chalkley Treehouse in the Lion Sands area has been such a success that they often are fully booked and we have to decline guests the opportunity of spending a night out under the stars! It is for this reason and the growing trend of travellers seeking out the extraordinary and completely unique that More Group has launched the unique MORE Family of Tree houses.

They now have 4 Tree houses (1 in development):

Private Reserve	Lion Sands Sabi Sand	Lion Sands  Sabi Sand	Lion Sands Kruger National Park	Madikwe Safari Lodge
Name Of Tree House	Chalkley Treehouse	Kingstone Treehouse	Tinyeleti Treehouse	Sebatla Treehouse
OPENING DATE	Open	Open	Open	March 2014
Number of Guests	2	4	4	4
Electricity	No	No	No	No
All weather	No	Yes	No	No