Jo-burg Hotels

[Hogpatrol]

Have stayed at CIti Lodge numerous times. Food is good, breakfast made to order. They also stored bags while I made a side trip.

 

[BigGame]

If you book City Lodge, make sure your reservation includes breakfast.

 

[Philip Glass]

Hey Guys,
What’s the best hotel to stay for an overnight in Jo-burg before heading out to Zim the next day? I stayed at the African Sky two years ago which was fine, but if there’s something more reasonable and easier that would be great. Thanks!

For me it depends on your layover. Most of the time we simply do not have time to enjoy Africa Sky or even the Intercontinental. For my bleary eyed self I really enjoy rolling my bags right down to City Lodge, having a drink, a nice meal, and a fab breakfast.
I no longer take the early AM flights to my destination. 10AM or later is what I tell Patrick to book for me. Even so I am going to choose City Lodge most of the time.
I do have wonderful memories of layovers that were long and lazy, sitting by the fire meeting other hunters at Africa Sky!

 

[Sourdough]

The Intercontinental. Excellent service and great food. And across the driveway from the airport.

 

[Fatback]

Another vote for CitiLodge. I’ve stayed there on 6 of my 7 trips. As previously mentioned, convenient, rooms are clean and the food is good.

 

[MLindsay]

Sitting in City Lodge
Perfect place to stay

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

The best is the Intercontinental at JNB:

https://www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/us/en/johannesburg/jnbhc/hoteldetail

The most reasonable is City Lodge at JNB:

Relax at City Lodge Hotel at OR Tambo International Airport

Stay at City Lodge Hotel for a restful experience near OR Tambo International Airport. Perfect for a peaceful night’s stay before your flight.

citylodgehotels.com

You can't have both the best and most reasonable, pick one.

Spot on

I normally pick city lodge and enjoy their breakfast buffet.

 

[Nicaburns]

We just got back and did Afton Safari Lodge and used Mr. X… I can’t state strongly enough how smoothly they made the whole trip. Our DL0200 was nearly 3 hours late but they met us at the plane, handled our bags, and had the staff stay to cook us a steak dinner at the lodge!
Mr. X holds sufficient clout that he shooed away inspectors and they they did not even open our gun cases when we arrived! The next morning, Airlink had failed to enter that my friend was traveling with a firearm and Mr. X went and got the manager and got it fixed almost instantly. The whole experience was an incredible example of great service, great lodging, and great food!

 

[Rare Breed]

Does City Lodge have a restaurant or bar that will be open late evening?

Yes. It stays open to 10 at night and opens for breakfast at 4 AM

 

[TEXLNGHRN]

We just got back and did Afton Safari Lodge and used Mr. X… I can’t state strongly enough how smoothly they made the whole trip.

With all the recommendations for Africa Sky, City Lodge, and even the Intercontinental, I was wondering where the love was for Afton and Mr. X / Afton's rifle permitting service.

We've used the combo twice to overnight in Joburg before connecting outbound on Airlink the next day. Each time, a member of our party got the VIP meet at the gate, and we were led through customs, checked baggage, and rifle pickup and and then taken to Afton where we had the steak dinner - no matter how late at night thanks to delayed flights from the US. Breakfast is included the next morning.

Agree that Mr. X seems to have the clout at OR Tambo to get just about anything done relating to rifles, at least with firearms authorities and with Airlink. It's nice to have that resource. Makes dealing with airports and airlines a breeze.

On this last trip, we preceded the newbies in our party by a week. We booked them with Afton and Mr. X so that we knew exactly what they would experience and that they would be in great hands - indeed, led by the hand from gate to lodge.

I'm open to trying City Lodge and/or Africa Sky, but I've been happy with what I've gotten through Afton. Plus they have a pretty interesting trophy room to check out and from which one can gain inspiration.

Here are a few pics from our 2024 and 2026 trips (includes a cameo from an AH member's trophy):

IIRC this bontebok was taken by an AH member but remained "behind bars" due to challenges importing it into the US. Pic is from 2024 and it now has a more prominent place in the Afton trophy room.

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

With all the recommendations for Africa Sky, City Lodge, and even the Intercontinental, I was wondering where the love was for Afton and Mr. X / Afton's rifle permitting service.

We've used the combo twice to overnight in Joburg before connecting outbound on Airlink the next day. Each time, a member of our party got the VIP meet at the gate, and we were led through customs, checked baggage, and rifle pickup and and then taken to Afton where we had the steak dinner - no matter how late at night thanks to delayed flights from the US. Breakfast is included the next morning.

Agree that Mr. X seems to have the clout at OR Tambo to get just about anything done relating to rifles, at least with firearms authorities and with Airlink. It's nice to have that resource. Makes dealing with airports and airlines a breeze.

On this last trip, we preceded the newbies in our party by a week. We booked them with Afton and Mr. X so that we knew exactly what they would experience and that they would be in great hands - indeed, led by the hand from gate to lodge.

I'm open to trying City Lodge and/or Africa Sky, but I've been happy with what I've gotten through Afton. Plus they have a pretty interesting trophy room to check out and from which one can gain inspiration.

Here are a few pics from our 2024 and 2026 trips (includes a cameo from an AH member's trophy):

View attachment 775061

View attachment 775062

View attachment 775063

View attachment 775064


View attachment 775066

IIRC this bontebok was taken by an AH member but remained "behind bars" due to challenges importing it into the US. Pic is from 2024 and it now has a more prominent place in the Afton trophy room.

View attachment 775067

View attachment 775068

View attachment 775069

I’ve used all of the above. If my connecting layover in Joburg is more than 15-18 hours or it’s after 12PM I’ll stay at Afton or City Lodge. If I’m connecting in the morning I stay at an airport hotel.

Example:
Joburg has 1 flight per day to Beira Mozambique at 10:30 am or so. If I flew into Joburg on Delta or United in the evening I’d stay at City Lodge to account for potential delays and head down to the airport at 8am for the connection. If however I flew into Joburg via British, Emirates, Qatar, or Lufthansa in the morning and the connection time was “too tight” for me, I’d overnight at Afton or City Lodge enjoying the day to relax and acclimate.

Some people like to have a full rest/recoup day or two on the front/backend of their Safari to recover or avoid Jet Lag. If you’re one of these people, I find An or City Lodge a better option.

 

[Rare Breed]

With all the recommendations for Africa Sky, City Lodge, and even the Intercontinental, I was wondering where the love was for Afton and Mr. X / Afton's rifle permitting service.

We've used the combo twice to overnight in Joburg before connecting outbound on Airlink the next day. Each time, a member of our party got the VIP meet at the gate, and we were led through customs, checked baggage, and rifle pickup and and then taken to Afton where we had the steak dinner - no matter how late at night thanks to delayed flights from the US. Breakfast is included the next morning.

Agree that Mr. X seems to have the clout at OR Tambo to get just about anything done relating to rifles, at least with firearms authorities and with Airlink. It's nice to have that resource. Makes dealing with airports and airlines a breeze.

On this last trip, we preceded the newbies in our party by a week. We booked them with Afton and Mr. X so that we knew exactly what they would experience and that they would be in great hands - indeed, led by the hand from gate to lodge.

I'm open to trying City Lodge and/or Africa Sky, but I've been happy with what I've gotten through Afton. Plus they have a pretty interesting trophy room to check out and from which one can gain inspiration.

Here are a few pics from our 2024 and 2026 trips (includes a cameo from an AH member's trophy):

View attachment 775061

View attachment 775062

View attachment 775063

View attachment 775064


View attachment 775066

IIRC this bontebok was taken by an AH member but remained "behind bars" due to challenges importing it into the US. Pic is from 2024 and it now has a more prominent place in the Afton trophy room.

View attachment 775067

View attachment 775068

View attachment 775069

They are great to your point. I just know Murphy’s law exists and if I am leaving early the next day why would I leave the airport? What if there is a traffic jam getting to the airport? No thanks…now if I have a full day to spend in JNB you bet I would take one of the out of airport hotels

 

[DPHunter4570]

City Lodge is easy, comfortable and good food. Don't have to leave the airport. We stayed there in May of this year. Afton was nice in 2024, but you have to do the dance with the guns and leaving the airport. I did enjoy it there though and the food was excellent.

 

[Betterinthebush]

Afton lodge. I have my flight schedule tailored to enjoy a day’s rest with them both incoming and outgoing. The hospitality, service and fare are just perfect for safari travelers.

 

[MacJenkins]

I stayed at city lodge for the first time this year. It is inexpensive and close. But honestly Gilbert from Africa Sky could get me to thier lodge just as fast if not faster. Yes more expensive but much nicer and food far better than city lodge. If that matters to you.

 

[markm]

Hey Guys,
What’s the best hotel to stay for an overnight in Jo-burg before heading out to Zim the next day? I stayed at the African Sky two years ago which was fine, but if there’s something more reasonable and easier that would be great. Thanks!

City lodge is the best

 

[jpr9954]

I've stayed at CityLodge at the airport and on Barbara Rd, the Holiday Inn, and Southern Sun. All are good. Closest, of course, is CityLodge. The others have free shuttles.

I will be staying at Southern Sun again this coming Friday. Food is very good and you can get a room with two double beds.

 

[Zinz]

My vote goes to Afton, hands down. I just spent the night and then the afternoon a couple days later when I traveled to Namibia out of RSA. I was only visiting old friends in Namibia and didn’t plan to hunt. Afton held my rifles and ammo in their vault while I was gone. They pick me up and hand deliver me thru rifle check in on my departure.

Fantastic service and a very good shop to buy things instead of the airport curio shops.

I’ll use Afton from here on out.

Ed Z

 

[HSands]

City Lodge by a mile. Easy in, easy out and the food / bar area is pretty good!

 

[MacJenkins]

My vote goes to Afton, hands down. I just spent the night and then the afternoon a couple days later when I traveled to Namibia out of RSA. I was only visiting old friends in Namibia and didn’t plan to hunt. Afton held my rifles and ammo in their vault while I was gone. They pick me up and hand deliver me thru rifle check in on my departure.

Fantastic service and a very good shop to buy things instead of the airport curio shops.

I’ll use Afton from here on out.

Ed Z

Just have to ask. I’ve done Afton once. Have you done Africa Sky?