I’m headed to the dark continent for the first time in May. Trying to iron out flights with us having moved to Dallas. Looking to hunt May 4 -10. Best flight I can find is delta through Atlanta but gets us into Johannesburg at 5:45p and then I need to jump on a plane to East London. Best I can find is 1 hour after landing which is too close for me. Thoughts on staying at onsite hotel at airport? Read on here some issues in town before so dosnt give me warm and fuzzies.
Have other options with Qatar or British airways but trying to have beat experience we can from start to finish for the wife and I.
Love any opinions or suggestions
Dale
I stayed at City Lodge for the first time my last trip (March/April this year). No issues at all, easy walk, just load up airport carts and take everything with you. In fact I used Henry's service and the nice older lady (forget her name) who meets you and walks you through the rifle permits, anyway she walked us all the way up to the desk. You push the cart to the elevator, get everything loaded in with you and push the button for the lobby and unload the elevator right near the desk. Get a bellboy the next morning to bring you down and try as he might, he could not find us a cart so he used his cart and took our luggage, guns and all... All the way to check in for our flight to PE. I tipped him well
However I have another suggestion. Has your wife been to Versailles France? Is she into such things? It will cost extra and depends upon how tough the both of you are when it comes to sleeping on planes and staying awake and staying happy when tired.... But fly Air France to Paris, you arrive in the morning. go online and book a private guide with a van to pick you up, along with your carry ons, you will have checked everything else through to Joburg. Work with Lori
@Travel Express if you want help. Be sure to check reviews on the tour company/driver. Book a full day and have him take you to Versailles, he will serve as a private tour guide and can keep your carry on stuff locked in the van. You can stop when and where you want to eat. He'll have you back to the airport about 7 PM and your flight to Joburg will depart about 10 or 11 PM. You board the cross Atlantic flight, they feed you dinner and dim the lights, have a couple drinks or take some mild sleeping pills, I just use Advil Nightime. But set you schedule on when you are arriving and try to get 4 to 6 hours sleep or napping in. Stay awake all day in France, (same story if you go to London or any other European city), board your flight to Joburg, I think they feed you again but not sure, they will tun down the lights and you should be able to sleep until they wake you for breakfast and to land early morning and you should easily make your flight into East London (I don't know those schedules, again lori can help).
Three huge benefits of this; 1.You skip the expense, hassle, and concerns about staying overnight in Joburg. 2. You get big brownie points for taking you wife on an extra European day vacation. 3. You are on schedule with your sleeping. Believe me this can be huge! That long flight from Atlanta can be managed but it can also really screw you up for several days. Being on a sleep schedule to wake up just before daybreak and be ready to go really makes the hunt so much more enjoyable! To me it was worth the 2 nights on a plane.
A side benefit of this is you arrive early enough to get settled in at camp, sight in your rifles. And probably talk your PH into taking you on an afternoon hunt... And if you booked with a traditional outfit, this is still your arrival day and does not count as a hunting day so get that for free.
