Overnight Johannesburg Recommendation

[mdwest]

oh I hear you man. My patience was non-existent after the flight, immigration, SAPS and then checking in.

I think I am going to try out Africa Sky or Afton house and maybe spend a day there, before proceeding on to the safari. My wife is going to join me so I think we may try out a hunt in flatter terrain as she will be miserable hunting in the EC. Might need to pick your brain about that over lunch one day soon

Lets plan a link up at Rudy's again soon!

If @cash_tx is nice we might even ask him to come along too...

 

[mdwest]

All true.
However for two days it's not worth it IMHO.
It's a four hour ordeal one way with 2+ hours flight time.
If he had 3-4 days, definitely!
One side note Cape can be very rainy during their Winter.

We got lucky while we were there.. @Bos en Dal SAFARIS warned us the winter wasnt the best time to visit Cape Town as well (due to the weather).. it was beautiful for us though.. other than one morning where it was a little foggy for the first few hours, and one evening where we got a couple of hours of rain, it was honestly nearly perfect... slightly cold, but far from freezing.. clear skies... and because thats not the time of year that South Africans are typically vacationing, nothing was crowded or overly busy, etc.. we pretty much could get into anything/everything we wanted with no waits, or concerns about getting tickets, no crowds, etc..

 

[Rare Breed]

Ok guys. I have researched and read a lot on here about the different overnight places to stay on arrival. After 5 trips I have never needed to overnight but for 2024 I may. As researching flights I can arrive 1-2 days ahead of when safari starts and save a lot on a flight I am looking at. That being said I figure give me time to get over jet lag and rest up before safari starts and do some sight seeing.
Where would you recommend for the best price for two days with moderate comforts and good food. Also service maybe to take to do some shopping. But a secure place also.
Thanks in advance.

I have tried the top 3 and have found the following: City Lodge is clearly the best value for the money, don’t have to leave the airport, comfortable rooms and awesome food buffet that for my simple food palette was exceptional all for about $125 per night

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

Hey all thanks for all the suggestions.
I have made a plan.
Took @WAB advice.
WhatsApp with PH Gerrit and we are just gonna start 2 days earlier and head up into Limpopo and hunt a Hippo.

 

[MTA]

Hey all thanks for all the suggestions.
I have made a plan.
Took @WAB advice.
WhatsApp with PH Gerrit and we are just gonna start 2 days earlier and head up into Limpopo and hunt a Hippo.

sounds like a hell of a plan! good luck

 

[mdwest]

Hey all thanks for all the suggestions.
I have made a plan.
Took @WAB advice.
WhatsApp with PH Gerrit and we are just gonna start 2 days earlier and head up into Limpopo and hunt a Hippo.

Now you have me burning with jealousy...

I thought I had a good chance to get a PAC hippo this past July.. but things didnt work out.. I had never really considered hippo before.. but thought if the opportunity avails itself, why not?

After things didnt work out (hippo decided he'd head back to the national park and stop harassing the locals and raiding their crops), Ive been thinking about one ever since..

I'll definitely be following along when you chase yours!

 

[jpr9954]

Ok guys. I have researched and read a lot on here about the different overnight places to stay on arrival. After 5 trips I have never needed to overnight but for 2024 I may. As researching flights I can arrive 1-2 days ahead of when safari starts and save a lot on a flight I am looking at. That being said I figure give me time to get over jet lag and rest up before safari starts and do some sight seeing.
Where would you recommend for the best price for two days with moderate comforts and good food. Also service maybe to take to do some shopping. But a secure place also.
Thanks in advance.

I'm really glad you posted this as I need the same information for next May/June.

 

[Doubleplay]

I have tried the top 3 and have found the following: City Lodge is clearly the best value for the money, don’t have to leave the airport, comfortable rooms and awesome food buffet that for my simple food palette was exceptional all for about $125 per night

Yes but OP was talking about two days.
Two days at City Lodge at the airport?
Personally I wouldn't..

 

[jacques smith]

We stayed at southern sun in June this year. City lodge was booked; inter continental was booked and I’m glad they were. Place is brand new with shuttle service every 15 min to terminal it takes about 6 minutes and runs like clockwork Amazing room service and the best breakfast ever. Bartenders know how to make a springbok. Definitely worth checking out

 

[meigsbucks]

I’ve stayed at Africa Sky twice. Nothing but good to say about it.

 

[Arctic97]

I have stayed at Afton House 4 different times over the years. Last time just weeks ago.
Elize and the staff there are always on their game and will take great care of you.
Use Mr. X for your permits through Afton and the service at both ends of your trip will be WELL worth it. They will also arrange side trips for you if you have extra time. We even did a "Day" room at the end of our trip to have a place to freshen up and rest before the late night Delta 201 flight left. I think the charge for that was only $50 - it was so nice to have a place to shower, rest, and repack before they escorted us all the way through check in that night.

 

[WAB]

Hey all thanks for all the suggestions.
I have made a plan.
Took @WAB advice.
WhatsApp with PH Gerrit and we are just gonna start 2 days earlier and head up into Limpopo and hunt a Hippo.

That’s gonna be a heck of a lot more fun than hanging around Jo’Burg for two days!

 

[jsnhghs]

Another vote for Afton House. That’s where we stayed for both our trips.

 

[npm352]

I've used Afton in 2005 and 2023. Nice place to stay. Good service.

 

[Philip Glass]

Ok guys. I have researched and read a lot on here about the different overnight places to stay on arrival. After 5 trips I have never needed to overnight but for 2024 I may. As researching flights I can arrive 1-2 days ahead of when safari starts and save a lot on a flight I am looking at. That being said I figure give me time to get over jet lag and rest up before safari starts and do some sight seeing.
Where would you recommend for the best price for two days with moderate comforts and good food. Also service maybe to take to do some shopping. But a secure place also.
Thanks in advance.

If I had that schedule I might consider Africa Sky. It is nice and has the real African style. The other thought is the hotels by the casino that has a mall etc and is near the airport. It has shuttle service. I've done both but rarely have time to do so. The normal super short overnights find me at City Lodge and longer one night stays at the Intercontinental. Next year we have an overnight on the way home to make the Qatar flights work and will have time to enjoy the Intercontinental Again.

 

[BigGame]

Afton house has been my go to for years!

 

[Philip Glass]

I stayed at city lodge for the first and last time this year. I can’t for the life of me understand why everyone loves it.

I literally had people enter my room multiple times. I got no sleep. It was sketch.

My favorite place is whitwater guest house and spa. The food and service is great. Showers and bathrooms are top notch.

By the time you go down the elevators. Walk over. Go up the elevators. Get checked in. Take your bags to your room. Come back down for dinner. You could have been relaxing at whitwater for 30 min.

Whitwater Guest House Here is a link.

Where exactly is Whitwater? I've never heard of it. It can't be as close as City Lodge/Intercontinental. I stay at City Lodge all the time and have never had issues.
I always like to hear about other options.

 

[Philip Glass]

Mark, go to camp two days early, don’t hang out in JoBurg for two days. Ask for a day rate to hang out, help
With chores, whatever.

Not a bad idea if it works out.

 

[Safari Dave]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn near the airport at my request. It was better than most US Holiday Inns and cost $40/night!

My safari company's concierge kept up with my rifles (for no official charge), but I tried to treat him like he was the commanding officer of Fort Knox!

(Gracy and @TRAVEL EXPRESS can provide a similar service, if your safari company doesn't)

 

[Philip Glass]

Hey all thanks for all the suggestions.
I have made a plan.
Took @WAB advice.
WhatsApp with PH Gerrit and we are just gonna start 2 days earlier and head up into Limpopo and hunt a Hippo.

Excellent idea!