Skukuza Airport, the prettiest airport in the world
26.01.2025
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Established in 1958 and named in honour of James Stevenson-Hamilton, the first warden of the Kruger national park is the only commercial airport in Kruger National Park, located near Skukuza, the main rest camp in the park. In 2018, the airport was dubbed "the prettiest airport in the world" by Forbes.
In 2001, commercial flights were discontinued due to the opening of Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport near Nelspruit. Charter flights were still accepted at the airport if scheduled ahead of time.
Commercial flights were reopened in the second half of 2013, and management of the airport was handed from South African National Parks to a private operator, the Skukuza Airport Management Company, which is jointly owned by Lion Sands Reserve, Federal Air and Airlink.
The airport is at an elevation of 1,020 feet (311 m) above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 17/35 with an asphalt surface measuring 1,550 by 30 metres (5,085 ft × 98 ft). The runway is sloped, putting the northwest end at 1,034 feet (315 m) elevation and the southeast end at 992 feet (302 m). Landing permission is handled by the Skukuza Air Port Management Company.
The only commercial flights to Skukuza are offered by Airlink, with a single daily flight to Cape Town and two daily flights to O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. Private and charter flights are also available, but as Skukuza has a limit of 10 landings and 10 take-offs per day between the hours of 09:00 and 15:00, slots are limited. Flights are also required to take specific paths in order to reduce noise in sensitive natural areas. The airport has also been continuously used by the South African Air Force for anti-poaching efforts.
The airport has a small retail gift shop as well as a coffee shop and bar for visitors waiting for their flights. Three check-in counters are available, and there are couches available as well.
Avis Car Rental runs the car rental facilities at both Skukuza camp and Skukuza Airport. In addition to the rental facility at the airport, they provide a shuttle service to the main Skukuza camp. Lion Sands Reserve provides free shuttles from Skukuza airport for guests to the reserve.
Kruger 2025 Day One 6 January Malelane to Crocodile Bridge via Skukuza
