Kruger National Park Airport in Skukuza
Kruger National Park airport in Skukuza is the prettiest tiny airport I’ve seen. The architecture is very authentic African style but has all the features of a modern airport.
We arrived at Kruger National Park after a layover in Istanbul for dinner, a nice breakfast in the Paris airport lounge and a terribly chaotic transfer in Johannesburg.
I had expected it to be a just a tiny landing airplane strip like in Masai Mara National Park. But it turned out to be a memorably beautiful airport.
We had bought the Kruger National Park tickets on the website, starting the following day, as we had planned to relax at the resort after the extremely long travel. So when we arrived at the Skukuza Airport, we didn’t think of going to the conservation desk.
After getting the baggage and the seemingly long wait for our rental SUV to arrive, as we were finally leaving the airport, we got stopped at the exit. The guard couldn’t let us into the Kruger National Park without a ticket. Since we had landed in Skukuza airport inside the national park, there was no other way out. So, we returned and got the ticket. It probably took an entire 5 minutes to sort it out! Thanks to the tiny and by then completely empty airport.
The Kruger National Park Airport at Skukuza was very thoughtfully, built in 2014 and was a momentous occasion for South African tourism. Read all about the Skukuza airport layout and design.
In the airplane, I got into a conversation with a lady sitting behind me. She was arriving from London to meet her son and his family. Her son is in charge of Kruger’s fire management and her daughter-in-law is in charge of water conservation at Kruger. They live in the staff housing in Skukuza village, with all the amenities and wonders of a top National Park. They’re raising their children in a wonderful village around humans and animals and all the conservation efforts. They even have a little school for the staff in Skukuza.
At the baggage claim, she introduced me to her adorable grandkids, a gorgeous mix of British white and African black genes. I got so into them that I didn’t notice the activity behind me. As I turned around my bags had disappeared. I thought my family took the bags to the rental car but no one was in sight.
Wondering what could have happened to the bags, I walked around the parking lot in search of my family. Just to notice that a tour bus driver was loading my bags along with his tour group’s things! Luckily, I arrived on time to clear the confusion. I got the bags back and waited as the car rental office brought in the car from another location.
In the meantime, I made friends with all the airport staff and the caretakers as I waited.
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Suzy
October 19, 2018 @ 8:52 pm
This looks lovely and a nice way to enter Kruger NP. I visited back in 2011 and drove from Johannesburg. Visiting Kruger was one of the top moments of my life. I would love to bring up my children like the family you mentioned – what a wonderful childhood. I hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip.
Jyoti
October 19, 2018 @ 11:29 pm
Hi Suzy, I love the idea of taking the family to Africa and re-living the experience with the kids. It’ll be amazing.
We debated between driving from J’Burg, flying to Skukuza or one of the other airports. We had read reports of violence and car theft on the long drive so we decided to fly.
Arunima Dey
October 19, 2018 @ 9:03 pm
It’s like a Boutique airport! I am heading their next year if all goes well but OH MY GOD, it’s expensive to fly to this airport. I think I will just from Joberg.
Jyoti
October 19, 2018 @ 11:26 pm
That’s the right word, Arunima! It is a boutique airport. I just never heard ‘boutique’ with an airport until now.
J’burg is probably at the top of the list of worst airport… if such a list existed 🙂
We changed there and had enough in just the transfer.
I hope you’ll fall in love with Africa.
Sanne Grieten
October 19, 2018 @ 11:23 pm
This is indeed the most beautiful airport I have ever seen. Okay, it isn’t as big as the airports I am used to, but I’d definitely going to travel to the Kruger National Park Airport just to see it with my own eyes!
Jyoti
October 19, 2018 @ 11:45 pm
Hi Sanne, it’s certainly very small, and totally unique.
I hope you’ll enjoy the airport and the wildlife in Kruger 🙂
Amy Alton
October 19, 2018 @ 11:39 pm
Wow, it’s gorgeous! I went through 8 years ago, I don’t remember it being so fancy!
Jyoti
October 19, 2018 @ 11:43 pm
You’re right Amy, it was made all over again very recently. It looks brand new – it fits the natural surrounding and yet very modern.
Shivani Sharma
October 20, 2018 @ 12:57 am
Wow, that is one unique airport national park, you had quite an experience with the luggage too 😉 Lovely pictures, I hope to see it too someday 🙂
Jyoti
October 20, 2018 @ 6:45 am
Hi Shivani, the luggage story seems funny as I remember it now but it could have been quite a mess as it was our first day and there aren’t any malls or shops around there to replace clothes and all the personal items. I really lucked out 🙂
Kelsey Cetin
October 20, 2018 @ 1:06 am
Wow this is an amazing airport. I love the interior design and how it captures the culture of the people. Thank you for sharing!
Jyoti
October 20, 2018 @ 6:42 am
Hi Kelsey, it so evident that the put a lot of effort into designing the airport to naturally fit into the National park.
Danielle
October 20, 2018 @ 1:54 am
I’ve been to this airport, our car stopped here on the way to where we were staying in Kruger. I only used the toilets and checked out some shops but I agree that it is such a stunning and unique airport. Great post!
Jyoti
October 20, 2018 @ 6:40 am
That’s a good idea because there aren’t too many restrooms in the park.
Most people never go there. I think it’s a destination in it own right.
Madhu
October 20, 2018 @ 6:49 am
What a cute and pretty airport..looks really cozy and amazing .wpuld love to be here.by the way you had a really long flight.
Jyoti
October 20, 2018 @ 7:23 am
Hi Madhu, Skukuza is certainly a charming airport to land at. All the fatigue melts away before starting the amazing wildlife viewing of Kruger National park begins.
Jamie
October 20, 2018 @ 7:22 am
I want to go to Kruger just so I can see the airport 🙂 I’m hoping for a trip to Africa soon. This is very helpful.
Rowena
October 20, 2018 @ 7:59 am
Oh man, that is a cute little airport! I love airports where there’s a lot of exploration opportunities. These days I do a lot of lounges, but often bc the airports are no fun to be in!
Jyoti
October 20, 2018 @ 8:05 am
Totally Rowena! Skukuza airport is the cutest little airport and the location within Kruger National park makes it so convenient.
I agree with the lounge decision. Especially in the busy airports like Istanbul.
Dagney
October 20, 2018 @ 9:02 am
I had no idea you could fly directly into the national park! What an adorable airport, though. But bizarre that you can’t get into the park without a ticket despite technically being IN the airport. Just one of those fun idiosyncrasies! Glad you didn’t lose your bags! That would have been a headache.
Jyoti
October 20, 2018 @ 5:22 pm
Hi Dagney, some large national parks have mini airports or plain landing stipes inside. Masai Mara has a landing strip and the hotel jeeps come all the way to the airplane 🙂
But I’ve never come across such a well made mini airport!
Yes, the requirement to purchase Kruger national park entrance just to leave the airport was unexpected but understandable. No wonder everyone was going to the the Conservation line and we just walked past 🙂
Samantha
October 20, 2018 @ 7:37 pm
I have never seen someone write a post dedicated to an airport, but I can see why you did! The baggage carousel is so cute, I think that would make it a much more fun experience if all airports had cool baggage carousels!
Wandering Bird
October 20, 2018 @ 11:36 pm
Awww- that is cute! And how convenient to fly straight there. We’re hoping to visit Kruger next year- might have to try it!!
Anisa
October 21, 2018 @ 2:52 am
That airport is impressive, you can tell it looks brand new. Good to know you need to get the pass before leaving and thank goodness you caught that tour guide before he ran off with your stuff!
Claudia
December 17, 2018 @ 3:42 pm
Very interesting indeed!! I am doing my dissertation about Sense of Place at the airports and I came across your blog after having decided to include Skukuza Airport as one of the examples on airports in Africa. I knew I wasn’t wrong!! Beautiful pics, I love them.
Jyoti
December 18, 2018 @ 10:27 pm
Hi Claudia, I’m glad you included Skukuza airport in your research. They’ve definitely done an amazing job or making it true to its surroundings while incorporating all the modern creature comforts.
I’d love to see your thesis and what else you’re covering