City Lodge questions

[McKenzie Sims]

I enjoy that city lodge breakfast buffet. Just the thing before the flight to Windhoek!

Haha thats 100% right!

 

[Hombre]

I've stayed at all three. City Lodge is so convenient, not the African bush camp setting but after 20 hours of flying, who cares.

 

[UpNorthMI]

I was just at City Lodge, I used Gracy travel for permits, Bruce was amazing and took care of everything on arrival at the airport, collecting guns and getting us to the hotel.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

does Henry at Rifle Permits require your paperwork be sent Fed X or DHL to him or can it be Faxed/Emailed?

 

[Hogpatrol]

does Henry at Rifle Permits require your paperwork be sent Fed X or DHL to him or can it be Faxed/Emailed?

Somewhat OT but with Gracy, it's a website with fill in the blanks. No emailing, no snail mail, no fedex/ups, etc.

 

[Spearhead]

I scheduled my stay at city lodge through gracy travel-their man Bruce is exceptional and the reason I continue to use them. He handles gun permits and guides you to the hotel. City lodge is not fancy, more like generic but is comfortable and close. I ate dinner and breakfast buffet there and enjoyed both but breakfast was quite good imo.

If time were not an issue I would like to experience the other hotel options as well but like you. I had to be on an early flight-

I second Bruce. Great man and can get you through security quick too!!!

 

[Spearhead]

I've stayed at all three. City Lodge is so convenient, not the African bush camp setting but after 20 hours of flying, who cares.

Exactly.

 

[Rare Breed]

does Henry at Rifle Permits require your paperwork be sent Fed X or DHL to him or can it be Faxed/Emailed?

emailed.

 

[jpr9954]

I stayed at City Lodge on May 31-June 1. I used RiflePermits.com. A sweet husband-wife team of Marius and Anna met me when I arrived and then the next morning walked me from the hotel to Airlink check-in. They were the nicest couple and made it pain-free.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Have your PH pick you up at the airport and go hunting. Why is thi$ $uch an i$$ue? I'd NEVER stay over with my rifles in a city. Then again, i'd also never vote Dem. I once had a Zim PH pick me up at OR Tambo at 11 pm, we drove on the N1 for hours, hit this Brazilian steakhouse at 1 a.m. and pressed on for hours, staying at some other PHs guest house at 3 a.m.-then we pressed on to Zim the next day. No BS, just Hunting and experiencing Africa in the wilds, far away from cities-precisely what we went there for in the first place!

 

[375Fox]

Have your PH pick you up at the airport and go hunting. Why is thi$ $uch an i$$ue? I'd NEVER stay over with my rifles in a city. Then again, i'd also never vote Dem. I once had a Zim PH pick me up at OR Tambo at 11 pm, we drove on the N1 for hours, hit this Brazilian steakhouse at 1 a.m. and pressed on for hours, staying at some other PHs guest house at 3 a.m.-then we pressed on to Zim the next day. No BS, just Hunting and experiencing Africa in the wilds, far away from cities-precisely what we went there for in the first place!

Sounds like you paid the PH an extra day rate and an extra driving charge. I’ll go to sleep that night, take a short flight the next morning, and be ready to hunt. Saves both you and the PH a lot of time.

 

[fourfive8]

If your hunt destination is not relatively close to JNB and there is a commuter flight connection to near your PH and destination, why in the world have the PH drive long distance RT and use up a day or two of your hunt for what amounts to a long distance taxi ride? Makes no sense. Have Bruce (Gracy Travel) or whomever meet you in arrivals hall JNB, gather your bag(s) then escort you to SAPS to get your gun, then escort you to City Lodge. Check in. Grab a meal, jump in bed and get some rest. If your morning flight allows, partake in a nice buffet (excellent) breakfast next morning, check out, have Bruce meet you at City Lodge and escort you to your flight check-in for last leg. Long international travel is stressful. Using a travel agent and meet/greet removes stress. Staying at a hotel like City Lodge which is basically at the airport further reduces stress as does good rest and good food. Being paranoid about staying at City Lodge with your gun seems silly but if paranoid reasoning forms the basis of your recommendation, so be it.

Plus, I'm not sure how being picked up at some odd hour after an extremely long trip just to get to JNB followed by sitting in a vehicle on highways from JNB to destination for who knows how long has anything to do with experiencing the wilds of Africa? That makes even less sense than the gun in a city paranoia thing.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Have your PH pick you up at the airport and go hunting. Why is thi$ $uch an i$$ue? I'd NEVER stay over with my rifles in a city. Then again, i'd also never vote Dem. I once had a Zim PH pick me up at OR Tambo at 11 pm, we drove on the N1 for hours, hit this Brazilian steakhouse at 1 a.m. and pressed on for hours, staying at some other PHs guest house at 3 a.m.-then we pressed on to Zim the next day. No BS, just Hunting and experiencing Africa in the wilds, far away from cities-precisely what we went there for in the first place!

Don't know what the N1 is like north of Johannesburg. But I have been in the bakkie out in the country side of the NW province late at night. Did it once, no intention of doing it again. Donkey dodging and whatever other livestock was directly on or on the side of the road all the way to the destination. Not too mention locals driving drunk. Been there done that, no hanks, I'll spend a few bucks in City Lodge if it has to be. The hotel is attached to the airport and not going to have problems.

 

[C.W. Richter]

Don't know what the N1 is like north of Johannesburg. But I have been in the bakkie out in the country side of the NW province late at night. Did it once, no intention of doing it again. Donkey dodging and whatever other livestock was directly on or on the side of the road all the way to the destination. Not too mention locals driving drunk. Been there done that, no hanks, I'll spend a few bucks in City Lodge if it has to be. The hotel is attached to the airport and not going to have problems.

"don't know what the n1 is N of joberg..." LOL Where in Africa have you been?? The population is quite low compared to other continents, so the other travelers are quite safe! lol Are you telling me you've never been to the NW or Limpopo or Louis Trichardt or Kruger??? This is a VERY weak attempt at what I'm calling BS. I'm NOT selling anything like most, so I'm simply telling the truth. LOL

 

[spike.t]

"don't know what the n1 is N of joberg..." LOL Where in Africa have you been?? The population is quite low compared to other continents, so the other travelers are quite safe! lol Are you telling me you've never been to the NW or Limpopo or Louis Trichardt or Kruger??? This is a VERY weak attempt at what I'm calling BS. I'm NOT selling anything like most, so I'm simply telling the truth. LOL

OK let's put it this way....I would refuse to drive long distances at night in any African country....fkd if I am risking wiping out on any one of quite a few things you might encounter in the dark...you come here to hunt and you stay at a hotel and we leave early the next morning....been there done that night driving and you can forget it...but as usual someone thinks they are an expert after doing something once or twice over this side of the ocean.....and @PHOENIX PHIL has been out to Africa in at least a couple of countries a few times, so no need to sarcastically rubbish his opinion.....

 

[Hogpatrol]

Have your PH pick you up at the airport and go hunting. Why is thi$ $uch an i$$ue? I'd NEVER stay over with my rifles in a city. Then again, i'd also never vote Dem. I once had a Zim PH pick me up at OR Tambo at 11 pm, we drove on the N1 for hours, hit this Brazilian steakhouse at 1 a.m. and pressed on for hours, staying at some other PHs guest house at 3 a.m.-then we pressed on to Zim the next day. No BS, just Hunting and experiencing Africa in the wilds, far away from cities-precisely what we went there for in the first place!

Some, maybe more, of us have bad backs and can't take more than a couple hours of sitting in a vehicle, especially the hard sprung ones that PHs use for everything.

 

[Philip Glass]

We usually stay at Africa Sky when we get to Jburg. This trip we will be leaving early the next morning on a puddle jumper so thought it might be better to stay at the airport. Gilbert at Africa Sky is a great asset getting through saps, and we sent our gun paperwork to Africa Sky ahead of time so it all goes smoothly.

My question is does City Lodge have a similar service for hunters staying over to leave in the morning. Thanks for any help.

You don't need it. The hotel is literally in the airport. Just follow the signs or head towards the parking garage and you are there. Watch out for the vultures! If you want to lay a porter fine but don't pay them much. They are getting pushy these days.
I enjoy City Lodge for many reasons. I feel that for these short overnights it is the best.
Now as to rifles. I use @riflepermits.com for all my groups. They are excellent to deal with and I so enjoy Anna and Marius greeting me On arrival! They are happy to sell you a VIP service if you would like.

 

[skydiver386]

When I go hunting, I have no problem being cold, wet, tired and sometimes miserable in pursuit of game.

When I'm traveling to or from a hunt I enjoy anything that makes the trip more comfortable and enjoyable.

A good dinner, a good night's sleep and a breakfast buffet at the African Sky did wonders for my first Safari experience. I met fellow hunters and guides at both meals, and this was something I'd never considered before my trip, but now look forward to on any return hunts in South Africa.

 

[fourfive8]

While City Lodge is an excellent option, there are others of course. I’ve done many different combinations coming and going out of JNB. I’ve overnighted at City Lodge many times stress free. I’ve had PH pick me up on arrival and proceed to alternate lodging in town before heading out following morning. Then return via commuter flight to JNB for return connection to US bound flight. But to hit the road for long drive, possibly long RT drive for return to JNB at end of rip, to final destination after long international flight is not recommended, IMO.

 

[Puddle]

Don't know what the N1 is like north of Johannesburg. But I have been in the bakkie out in the country side of the NW province late at night. Did it once, no intention of doing it again. Donkey dodging and whatever other livestock was directly on or on the side of the road all the way to the destination. Not too mention locals driving drunk. Been there done that, no hanks, I'll spend a few bucks in City Lodge if it has to be. The hotel is attached to the airport and not going to have problems.

At least the donkey pulling the cart knows the way home in the dark, and if it's a wise old fella it also knows to stay to the side of the road!