South African airports: a guide for safari travellers

Africa’s busiest airport and the main gateway for Madikwe and Pilanesberg. Most international flights to South Africa land here.

Where

East of Johannesburg, about 25 km from Sandton and the city centre, and about 50 km from Pretoria

Terminals

Terminal A (international) and Terminal B (domestic), joined by a central building — easy to walk between

Airlines

SAA, Airlink, FlySafair, CemAir and LIFT, plus most international airlines

Into town

Gautrain to Sandton in about 15 minutes (buy a Gautrain card at the station; trains run roughly 05:00–21:30). Authorised taxis, Uber and Bolt from the marked pick-up zones, and all the big car-hire firms

For your safari

Federal Air’s daily Madikwe shuttle leaves from the Federal Air terminal here. By road: Pilanesberg ≈ 2–2 h 30, Madikwe ≈ 4 h 30

A smaller, quicker airport on the north-west side of Johannesburg — the closest airline airport to Pilanesberg and Madikwe.

Where

On the R512 between Randburg and Hartbeespoort, about 30 km from Sandton

Airlines

FlySafair to Cape Town, Durban, East London, George and Gqeberha

Into town

Taxis, Uber and Bolt, and car hire at the terminal

For your safari

Pilanesberg ≈ 1 h 45 and Madikwe ≈ 3 h 30–4 h by road. Road transfers to both reserves can start here

Two private airstrips inside the reserve, used by the Federal Air shuttle and by charter flights.

Flights

Federal Air from O.R. Tambo, twice a day: about 10:00 and 13:00 out, 11:30 and 14:30 back (each flight ≈ 1 h). Times can shift by up to an hour

Luggage

Soft bags only: 1 × 20 kg bag (max 60 × 40 × 30 cm) and 1 × 5 kg hand-luggage bag per person

On arrival

Your lodge meets the plane. The drive from the airstrip takes from 5 minutes to about 1 h 40, depending on the lodge

Fees

Guests arriving by air pay a slightly higher conservation fee (R240 adult, R150 child per stay)

Right beside Sun City and Pilanesberg — but currently for private charters only.

Where

Between Sun City and the Kwa Maritane gate of Pilanesberg

Status

A fire destroyed the main terminal in August 2023. The airport runs from temporary facilities, and in October 2026 the government put its upgrade out to tender. There are no scheduled airline flights

For your safari

Charter flights can land here by arrangement; your lodge collects you. Most guests fly into Lanseria or O.R. Tambo and drive or transfer

Botswana’s capital airport is closer to Madikwe’s western lodges than any South African airport.

Where

North of Gaborone, about 30 km from Madikwe via the Tlokweng / Kopfontein border post (open 06:00–00:00)

Airlines

Airlink from Johannesburg, plus Air Botswana

For your safari

Lodges can arrange a road transfer across the border, or a light-aircraft charter. Bring passports for everyone, and a cross-border letter if you drive a hired car