gigib

Planning our trip for September '09. We will be arriving very tired, either from the U.S. or somewhere in Europe, and plan to spend just one night in J'burg before driving out to Kruger early the next morning.

We will likely pick up our rental car at the airport as soon as we arrive. Knowing that we will be tired, need hotel suggestions with easy access from JNB and with a smooth exit out of town on the road to Kruger.

I don't yet know the number of the highway out to Kruger!

Thanks

divine54

the following link may help.

http://www.safarinow.com/destination...auteng-map.gif

as you are going to take the N12 out of joburg towards nelspruit it would be wise either take the rented car right when you arrive or get yourself a rest at one of the guesthouses close to the airport which povide shuttle service back and forth and get your car next morning when you are refreshed from the long-haul flight.

if i were in your shoes i would go to

http://www.portfoliocollection.com/search/bb.aspx

a nice guesthouse with shuttle service.

they pick u up on arrival and bring you back next morning in order for you to get your car.

what you think???

div

Gardyloo

I would book into one of the airport hotels (the Southern Sun O.R. Tambo is our fave by a mile) and pick up the car in the morning. There's no need to get it when you arrive - the Sun (and several other nearby hotels) have free shuttles from the airport, and the shuttle pick-up point is literally feet away from the rental car offices.

The drive to the Kruger area the next day is very easy; all the rental car people have good maps to get you out of the airport and onto the correct freeway.

However "Kruger" is a big area, and the drive can be shorter or longer by quite a margin depending on where in the park or on the periphery (e.g. Sabi Sands or other private reserves) you're going. If you're headed to a lodge with evening game drives, don't try to make the evening the first day; chances are you won't.

Instead, we've gotten into the habit of spending the first night after Joburg somewhere in the Panoramic Route - Graskop or Pilgrims Rest, for example, or in Nelspruit if heading for the southern reserves, and then get to the lodge early enough the following morning to be able to make the most out of our lodging investment. If you stay on the Panoramic Route, you'll have the added benefit of some of the nicest scenery in the country.

cary999

We also liked the Southern Sun ORT- until they doubled their rate. But if you don't mind $250 a night, fine. Also, the Sun Intercontinental is just a very short walk from the airport terminal, across the street - but much more $$$. In two weeks I'll be staying at the Metcourt Laurel (for first time) for about $140 night (2 nights).

regards - tom

ShayTay

Another Southern Sun hotel near the airport (2.5 km) is the Garden Court O R Tambo. You might check their rates and availability at www.southernsun.com. They are less expensive than Southern Sun O R Tambo. They used to charge a small amount for their shuttles... don't know if they still do.

Gardyloo

<i>We also liked the Southern Sun ORT- until they doubled their rate.</i>

In our experience the rates vary wildly from one day to the next - very demand-sensitive. I'd certainly check it before picking somewhere else.

laurie_ann

divine 54, the link to portfoliocollection was just to their general website. Which B&amp;B were you recommending near the airport?

gigib

Thanks everyone, this is helpful.

Gardyloo, we are going to spend all our time at the Kruger guest camps. My plan is 3 nights at Lower Sabie so we will enter at Crocodile Bridge, then 3 nights on the Sweni wilderness trail (hopefully), then 3 nights at Olifants. We would then exit ar Orpen gate (I think), head for the Panorama Route and spend one night somewhere, Blyde Canyon area? before heading back to JNB and one possible overnight before flying back home again.

Any suggestions on where to stay to see as much as the Panorama Route as we can in one afternoon and one morning?!?

It is a ridiculous long way from California to S. Africa, I wish we had more time to spend, but we don't just yet!

cary999

In Sep of 2006 we stayed at the Doves Nest B&amp;B near the airport - http://tinyurl.com/6ftzxz
Nice family owned B&amp;B, will pick you up at airport.

regards - tom

Gardyloo

<i>We would then exit ar Orpen gate (I think), head for the Panorama Route and spend one night somewhere, Blyde Canyon area?</i>

We stayed last time at the Graskop Hotel - http://www.graskophotel.co.za/ - and thought it was fine, especially as it was walkable to Harrie's Pancakes - to die for.

Graskop is just a skip and a hop from several of the Panoramic Route highlights - Three Rondavels, God's Window (love the &quot;Keep God's Window Clean&quot; signs) and lovely drives hither and yon.

Back2Sabi

Just stayed at the Metcourt Laurel in June during a layover on honeymoon. Room was very clean and complex was nice (though pretty empty.)

And it was a bit strange to feel like you were in some Las Vegas casino in South Africa. Once you were inside the complex, you could have been anywhere. (We call it &quot;Airport Vegas&quot; in our house.)

But it was clean. And VERY easy to get to/from airport. Which is everything we could ask for in a layover! And the breakfast was excellent.

Word of warning: Some of the rooms at the Metcourt don't have real windows. Ours looked out into a hallway. Not a big deal, but just a little weird. Would stay there again, but at the Mondior as they have true windows, I believe.

And our favorite part of the Metcourt was that it was cheap, given the amenities and location!

Mohammed

Another vote for the Southern Sun at OR Tambo for an overnight stay after a long flight, very good and very convienient.

We too had done a Kruger Self Drive earlier his year and chose to fly the next mornig from JNB to KMIA where we picked up the car.KMIA is a sweet little airport, and about an hours very unstressful driving from Kruger gates (Malelane, Numbi, etc).

safarichuck

Tom, carry999-
It looks like we will be in Joburg at the same time. Perhaps we can get together for a beer. We will be in Joburg in between Mala Mala and Savuti. I'm charging my batteries this very moment. Perhaps our itineraries will overlap? Let me know.
Regards-Chuck

cary999

Chuck - I arrive JNB Sep 2, 5pm. Go to Metcourt Laurel for nights of Sep 2 and 3. Morning of Sep 4 fly JNB to Hoedspruit then to Kings Camp. At KC for Sep 4-12, transfer to Ngala Lodge for nights 12-19. Sep 20 back to JNB and home.

Do we cross somewhere? Hope so.

regards - tom

safarichuck

Tom,
We will be in Joburg on September 3rd and staying at the Southern Sun. We depart Joburg the morning of the 4th for Savuti, Little Vumbura and Chitabe Lediba. So it looks like we will overlap in Joburg the afternoon and evening of September 3rd. We will arriving Joburg from Mala Mala and arrive about 1:30 P.M. on Wed. September 3rd. It would indeed be nice to get together and share experiences.
Regards-Chuck

cary999

great Chuck, it's a plan. You want to email me at tdgraham at sbcglobaldot net and we'll work out a few details.

regards - tom

cary999

great Chuck, it's a plan. You want to email me at tdgraham at sbcglobaldot net and we'll work out a few details.
One more thing, my spam filter will likely catch your email. I answer all legit email same day or sooner. So if you don't hear back from me please try again.

regards - tom