Johannesburg Hotel

[kesha]

I stay at Intercontinental and guns go to room with me no issues. In the am the bellhops escort you to the ticket counter luggage in tow. No issues but have stayed at Afton and Safari Club both nice places I just prefer not to get a shuttle when you can just walk across.

 

[WAB]

The "meal" at Afton House or African Sky mean nothing to me. I fly KLM and the flight arrives at 2230. By the time I've cleared the police station, it's probably 2330. Who wants to eat a steak at that time and i doubt one would be offered. KLM feeds me pretty well.

After 22.5 hours of travel, I don't feel I want a shuttle ride anywhere, plus I often have an early flight the next morning.

Apario from Hunters Support escorts me to and from City Lodge to the police station. It's my security blanket.

With that schedule I’d stay on airport as well. We typically arrive in time for dinner and a relaxing drink by the fire.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

five of us are booked at Africa Sky in April, cost for the room, dinner , breakfast and meet and greet at the airport is 185.00 called hunters package, the guys that were there last year said it was great

 

[WAB]

five of us are booked at Africa Sky in April, cost for the room, dinner , breakfast and meet and greet at the airport is 185.00 called hunters package, the guys that were there last year said it was great

You will love it. My wife would not be a happy woman if I suggested transit through JoBurg without a stay at Africa Sky.

 

[DonPablo]

Is this the place you guys are referring to:

Africa Sky Guest House

 

[mdwest]

Before our 2020 trip was cancelled, we had been booked for the overnight at Africa Sky. I’m a Marriott Concierge Lifetime Platinum member. I was going to use points for overnight stay. That thought was short lived. Marriott is not gun friendly. I had asked my concierge and she looked into it at great length and could not get me in with guns.

I realize this is an old post.. but... are we talking Marriott in general? or Marriott in Joberg?

I travel with firearms quite a bit.. and stay in Marriotts A LOT... I was just in a Marriott property this weekend.. WITH firearms.. (was at a shotgun tournament.. with probably 20 other people in the hotel also attending the same tournament.. all with firearms in their rooms)..

Ive never had anyone at Marriott say or do anything about bringing a firearm into the hotel (very obvious what we're carrying through the lobby with the shotguns in soft cases, etc)...

In fact, a couple of years ago when we were traveling (without an obvious firearm), we stayed in a Courtyard Marriott in a smaller sized South East TX town.. and there was a guy hosting a little localized "gun show" in the conference room at the hotel.. He had a booth set up in there with probably 50 firearms on display.. and had people coming in and out of the hotel all day to buy/sell/trade with him..

 

[Justbryan]

I always stay in Afton House and have done their gun permits, their transportation, and they are set-up to store guns while away from the lodge. Great steak after long flight.

 

[Daveboone]

I agree the experience you land and you're already on Safari. View attachment 452744

Hah! I have the exact same photo!

 

[Daveboone]

Our trip last spring was our first time traveling internationally. We stayed at the Afton and were delighted with the service (pick up at the airport, assist with baggage,) great meal and overall great experience. On top of that, my wife was delighted with the limited but excellent assortment of quality souvenirs. If you have the time, they are happy to arrange a tour or transportation for day outings.
They saved our but last year when all United flights were cancelled due to fuel shortages. on very short notice they had a room for us....when many went without. The cost including meals is a fraction of an equivalent American hotel in a major city...and there is no equivalent. Camp fire in the garden, gin and tonic on request, great safari conversation....

 

[WAB]

Is this the place you guys are referring to:

Africa Sky Guest House

Yes, it is over the top. I had stayed elsewhere, but once we tried Africa Sky that was it. We now never transit through Jo’Burg without a stay there.

 

[Philip Glass]

Yes but please bear in mind not all South Africans know how to handle gun and the laws.
Most likely 95% of our whole population has never even touched guns before.

City Lodge and Intercontinental don’t pay any attention to rifle cases. No issues at all

 

[fourfive8]

City Lodge and Intercontinental don’t pay any attention to rifle cases. No issues at all

Agreed. They pay no attention to hunters hauling gun cases into the lobby and lining up to check in. I have no idea where such ideas get started. City Lodge is easiest by far. It is comfortable and secure. Food is good and the “continental breakfast” is tops and anything but “continental”. Plus in places like the City Lodge I think it’s a good idea that numbers of hunters show up with their rifles… it does not go unnoticed by staff and management where their living and money come from.

I’ve also stayed at the Nkanga Lodge a couple of times when traveling with PH. Easy drive about 15 mins from the airport. Also no issue with guns there. Actually a very quiet, pleasant, secure place to stay in town with large attractive grounds. Reasonable rates and hunter friendly mngt.

 

[WAB]

Agreed. They pay no attention to hunters hauling gun cases into the lobby and lining up to check in. I have no idea where such ideas get started. City Lodge is easiest by far. It is comfortable and secure. Food is good and the “continental breakfast” is tops anything but continental. Plus I think it a is good idea to show up with you rifles… it does not go unnoticed where their living and money come from.

I’ve stayed at City Lodge, Intercontinental and Africa Sky. If you’re looking for the easiest, regardless of price, it’s the Intercontinental. I would categorize it as up-scale European.

City Lodge is a good mix of convenience and economy. It is a perfectly fine mid range hotel, not dissimilar to any number of the nicer chain hotels in the US.

If you want to feel like you have arrived in Africa, Africa Sky would be my recommendation. It is an experience far beyond the other two. For me the overall experience is paramount and I want it to start as soon as I hit the ground.

I have not stayed at Afton House. I hear that it is great, but now that my wife has stayed at Africa Sky, my choice has been made for me.

 

[sureshot375]

My favorite place to stay is Witwater Guest House. It’s really nice. The dinner and breakfast are top notch. The rooms are significantly nicer than Afton. The showers are the best after that flight.

Cons: I’ve never ran into any other hunters there. There is also a squatter camp that has popped up across the road. It’s safe and secure, but not the best scenery out the front gate.

Whitwater Guest House and Spa