I wasn’t quite prepared for my safari to start as soon as I left the airport car park.
But that definitely was an elephant standing in dry river, a few minutes after we embarked on the bumpy sand track just minutes after landing.
Giraffes at the thatched Skukuza Airport in Kruger National Park in South Africa. Sarah Swain
Skukuza Airport: A Unique Bush Experience
Skukuza Airport, once named the “world’s most beautiful,” offers an experience unlike any other. Located directly within South Africa’s Kruger National Park, the airport is so integrated into the wilderness that wildlife occasionally wanders onto the runway. While fences keep out large animals like rhinos and leopards, monkeys, vultures, and even the occasional snake have been known to make an appearance.
Designed for the Bush
Forget sterile airport terminals; Skukuza is designed to blend into its surroundings with:
- Natural Aesthetics: A thatched roof and lush tropical gardens.
- Local Flair: Chic animal statues that reflect the park’s spirit.
Accessible Travel
Despite its exclusive feel, the airport is not just for private jets. It serves as a hub for Airlink, which operates ten daily flights connecting Skukuza to Cape Town and Johannesburg. Remarkably, these flights are competitively priced, often costing no more than a standard domestic ticket.
Sarah at Skukuza Airport in Kruger National Park. Sarah Swain
Once you get off the plane, forget jostling at the conveyer belt for your baggage.
Staff loaded all the suitcases from the plane on a truck. They placed them by hand on a wooden platform out the front, and we grabbed ours.
A rhino statue at Skukuza Airport in Kruger National Park in South Africa Sarah Swain
From there, our safari lodge driver loaded them directly onto the truck headed to Sabi Sand Reserve nearby.
We were straight into the bush with impala and even that elephant putting in an appearance.
And on our return three days later we got a better look at the airport Forbes named the most beautiful in 2018 (articles have resurfaced recently, as travellers flock on safaris).
It’s certainly the most jaw-dropping one I’ve ever seen.
There are only three check-in desks, one security scanner, and a small shop.
Walking to the plane at Skukuza Airport in Kruger National Park in South Africa Sarah Swain
We waited for our flight on chic seats in the outdoor covered lounge overlooking a tropical garden.
And when the plane landed just metres away (yes, it’s quite loud) there were no announcements. Instead, a nice chap walked out and told us it was time to get on.
We walked over to the aircraft, which was parked amid the spectacular bush.
It’s honestly a journey I’ll never forget
Tropical gardens complete with a fish pond at Skukuza Airport in Kruger National Park in South Africa. Sarah Swain
Other renowned airports round the world include tropical-feeling Koh Samui Airport in Thailand.
It feels like an outdoor mall, with cafes, shops, bars, and grassy areas where you can relax.
The indoor garden at the Orchard at Doha’s Hamad International Airport. Getty
But you can get an impressive layover at bigger hubs too.
