Afton Safari lodge

TokkieM said:

Just had a overdue hunt debrief with clients that hunted SA late last year. We had as always booked their stay at Africasky well in advance, the all inclusive package with 2 days of guiding. Clients added 2 extra days to see JHB and Pretoria. They arrived in JHB on Sunday, all good with the meet and greet. Arrive at AS and they can't find the booking for the clients or the guide, clients phone us we phone and mail AS to no avail. We have confirmation emails from Leoni at AS that all is good and guides are arranged. Clients stay at the lodge the whole of Sunday, one day wasted. Turns out there is no hot water, clients get to use another shower, pipes are leaking water all over the bathroom. Till today no reply or apology to the clients or us and we send 10+ clients a year their way. Always supported them can't do that anymore. May have to give Afton House a try too.

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Leoni was the problem with my stay there. Had mine and Maddy’s arrival as PM instead of a.m., so no pick up at Tambo, and cancelled our two companions stay when we showed up and they didn’t. They were scheduled to show up that evening. They got there and their reservation had been cancelled. Total shit show.
Gilbert jumped out of bed and came to get us. Queen straightened out cancellation when others arrived, and both Queen and Gilbert spent the rest of our stay making sure our experience was turned around. Still can’t say enough good about both of them.

enysse said:

Afton is getting expensive...

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You know how it is....all American hunters are rich!

I simply used Rifle Permits and stayed at City Lodge this last trip. Went very well, simple. Service from both was fantastic. Anna with Rifle Permits walked us all the way to the front desk. Then on the return the Bell Hop couldn't find any airport carts so he pushed our luggage all the way to check in for our flight to PE. Needless to say I tipped both well.

For many years we have recommended both the Africa Sky and the Afton Safari Lodge almost exclusively to our clients overnighting in Jo'burg. We use both options as Africa Sky offers a bit more luxurious accommodation and an in-house full service restaurant. It is a more popular choice with the ladies and family groups.... The Afton is the less luxurious, but still comfortable and traditionally the less expensive choice of the two.

The Afton Safari Lodge (formerly the Afton House) was sold by the previous long-time owner Annilese, due to her failing health over the last couple of years of her ownership. Unfortunately, the quality of service and upkeep also suffered a bit during this period. The new owner (Richard Lendrum of The African Hunting Gazette) took over in May 2017, and there were a few minor bumps in the road during the transition. However, they seemed to have righted the ship quickly, and we have had nothing but accolades from our clients staying there since. My wife and I stayed there ourselves during the first week of the new ownership, and we had a great stay although the rooms did look a bit tired and in need of TLC... The Afton was in the beginning stages of that renovation while we were there. I would assume that the new renovations to the rooms and common areas are reflective in the price increases.

Both the Africa Sky and the Afton offer many other guest services including VIP and standard airport meet & greet, rifle import assist, complimentary transfers, luggage storage, and area tours. Many of our guests have used their VIP, luggage storage, and rifle assist services with no complaints whatsoever.

I have stayed at City lodge twice, very serviceable and no problems at all. I have since begun staying at Africa Sky. I believe that I have stayed there 8 or 10 times now, and every time the experience has been over the top and logistics have come off without a hitch. We feel very much at home at Africa Sky and are treated like family. Very sorry to hear that some have had problems.

I stayed at Africa Sky for the first time last year and it was great. If you have plenty of time AS is great and there will be hunting stories around the fire. If you have an early flight I recommend City Lodge as the economy choice right at the airport or Intercontinental as the premium choice. I usually don’t have time to enjoy the Intercontinental except for meals so flip a coin on which hotel at the airport to use. I am usually able to use IHG points to get a room there and thankfully because it’s pricy.

I fly the red eye in order to fly to East London the same day and to have one more hunting day for a same duration overall trip, so I do not have overnight experience with any of them, but I have nothing but good things to say about Afton House/ Safari Lodge pre-approved SAPS 520 and Standard Meet & Greet service. Charney Haywood, their Administration Manager ( info@aftonsafarilodge.com ) has been very pleasant to deal with and very effective.

City Lodge is just so dang convenient. A very short walk and an elevator and you're there. After that flight the least thing I want to do is get in a car even for a few minutes .

I just want a place to have a shower, sleep, and a decent meal. I get all of that at City Lodge. I've been happy all three times I've been there.

Royal27 said:

City Lodge is just so dang convenient. A very short walk and an elevator and you're there. After that flight the least thing I want to do is get in a car even for a few minutes .

I just want a place to have a shower, sleep, and a decent meal. I get all of that at City Lodge. I've been happy all three times I've been there.

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Have stayed there many times .it's the easiest and best way. And you can't beat the breakfast in morning.

I know this may sound dumb, but what do you do with your firearm when staying at one of the airport hotels? When I stay at the Afton House our firearms are locked in a safe are not allowed in the room. Thx

tay50 said:

I know this may sound dumb, but what do you do with your firearm when staying at one of the airport hotels? When I stay at the Afton House our firearms are locked in a safe are not allowed in the room. Thx

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I bring mine right in the room .I have never had any problems.

Royal27 said:

City Lodge is just so dang convenient. A very short walk and an elevator and you're there. After that flight the least thing I want to do is get in a car even for a few minutes .

I just want a place to have a shower, sleep, and a decent meal. I get all of that at City Lodge. I've been happy all three times I've been there.

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Royal I agree with you! It’s very good for the money in my opinion.

tay50 said:

I know this may sound dumb, but what do you do with your firearm when staying at one of the airport hotels? When I stay at the Afton House our firearms are locked in a safe are not allowed in the room. Thx

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You just keep it in the room with you.

I have kept my firearm in the room when at Afton...never a problem. When we leave early the next morning only the cook is around....would not consider leaving my rifle anywhere but in my room...with me. Afton is not the most reliable in the mornings that I have stayed since they were sold, no one around to pay but have left the funds with the cook, seems that the cook is there when we arrive at 7 pm and there the next morning at 7 am, never any management to be seen.

Philip Glass said:

You just keep it in the room with you.

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Yup!

And I've never felt this was unsafe at all. I'm in the room with the guns anyway unless I'm downstairs eating. I guess there is some small risk of theft, but that exists anywhere. Heck the argument could be made that a locked room full of guns makes a much more inviting target than hitting one single hotel room.

I have stayed there three times, the last time was the first week it became Afton Safari House, every time our rifles were put in a safe, maybe it was an option, never really asked. Thanks for the information.

Afton treated us well last Summer. Mr X got our gun permits extended when everything shifted two days to the right and sent them to our Limpopo outfitter while we were in the field. We left a $5 adaptor in the room and the gal manning their desk offered to meet our outbound flight to get it back in our hands. The steak dinner was wonderful....

I can say that I have stayed at Afton a couple of times before it was sold and it was just fine. Staying there again in May and decided to use their pre-approved gun permit service, which I have never done before. Always did it myself with zero hassles. Anyway, I emailed them all the docs last Friday morning at 0600 their time, by 1130 today, again their time, I had an e-mail back saying the permits for the 3 in my party were approved already. That was fast service. I look forward to staying there again and will report what it was like when I return.

I've stayed at City Lodge and Africa Sky several times. Like them both, and especially the whole package that AS offers. Next time I'll probably do City Lodge again, so I have a question for those of you who have used Henry at RiflePermits. Does he allow you to scan and email documents to him for SAPs's pre-approval? Reason I am asking is that the time I stayed at City Lodge, I was going to use him but at that time he told me I had to snail mail the documents to him, so that was a deal killer. Wondering if that's true now.

JGRaider said:

I've stayed at City Lodge and Africa Sky several times. Like them both, and especially the whole package that AS offers. Next time I'll probably do City Lodge again, so I have a question for those of you who have used Henry at RiflePermits. Does he allow you to scan and email documents to him for SAPs's pre-approval? Reason I am asking is that the time I stayed at City Lodge, I was going to use him but at that time he told me I had to snail mail the documents to him, so that was a deal killer. Wondering if that's true now.

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Not sure about Henry, but as I said above, I emailed 21 pdf docs for 3 of us to Afton and they had the permits done in less than 2 business days! I really cannot imagine that Henry cannot also do the same by now...??? Nothing like "fill and sign" for a pdf doc, allows you to fill in all the blocks on all the forms and even add signatures - all without every having to print them on paper. So nice and such a clean look.