Overnight Johannesburg Recommendation

Mark Biggerstaff

Mark Biggerstaff

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Ok guys. I have researched and read a lot on here about the different overnight places to stay on arrival. After 5 trips I have never needed to overnight but for 2024 I may. As researching flights I can arrive 1-2 days ahead of when safari starts and save a lot on a flight I am looking at. That being said I figure give me time to get over jet lag and rest up before safari starts and do some sight seeing.
Where would you recommend for the best price for two days with moderate comforts and good food. Also service maybe to take to do some shopping. But a secure place also.
Thanks in advance.
 
City Lodge at the airport is super convenient and reasonably priced. The rooms are only OK, and the hotel restaurant is OK… nothing special.. but I think it’s the easiest and cheapest solution, and acceptable…

I haven’t stayed at Afton House personally, but we picked up @roverandbrew there this last trip… he said it was super nice, staff was super friendly, etc… and it’s just a 5-10 minute drive from the airport…
 
I stay at the Sandton Sun for a couple days each trip - you can arrange a shuttle from the airport with the hotel. The hotel is attached to the mall there. Great restaurants in the mall (Trumps, Butcher Shop and Grill, Hard Rock Cafe, etc.), cheap massages too. You can get a car at the hotel to take you to Safari Outdoor if you'd like. Alot of folks worry about Joberg, but play it safe and you should be good. Sandton (I hear) has the most wealth in all of SA and the mall reflects that. This sounds right up your alley, exactly what I like to do.
 
I stayed at the city lodge in May and thought it was excellent. Im not as fancy as my buddy @mdwest because I thought the food was pretty good :LOL:

The cost of the room was cheap, the room was clean and the service was good. The bellhop who brought up my rifle case was one of two people I tipped my entire time in Africa. Having them there to haul my stuff around after that delta flight was a God send

One note on the restaurant, get the buffet as ordering from the menu gets you the worlds slowest service. Buffet is instant. Here is the tbone steak I got for $7-8

IMG_5243.jpeg
 
Last edited:
TOBY458 said:
City Lodge was great for us this year. A simple walk through the airport gets you there, and the food was great.
Click to expand...

+1

Convenience won the day for me with City Lodge.

Friends stayed at Afton and had good things to say.
 
I stayed at Afton Lodge this summer for a trip to Eastern Cape (the Delta 200 flight) and arrived after dark, honestly didn't get to check out much of the grounds, as I left Afton around 8 am the next morning. Other patrons staying there had an extra day onsite and said they enjoyed it. The room was comfortable and no complaints other than trying to watch the TV for news. I stayed in the Intercontinental last year, same late arrival and early departure for EC, so I don't have a recommendation on staying there for extra days (what they might offer. My room was very comfortable, above what I experience stating at Hampton Inns for work. Sorry for not giving you a better reference.
 
Last year we stayed at the City Lodge because we were flying out early the next day. Got in late and the restaurant had just closed. They were happy to cook us some starters and we sat out on the deck/lounge ate, had a cigar and no one complained about us sharing a bottle of our own Scotch. Rooms were clean and nice. Great service as well. Couple of years ago we stayed at the President Lodge about 10 mins from Airport. Very clean and secure. Airport pick up and delivery.
 
Mark Biggerstaff said:
Ok guys. I have researched and read a lot on here about the different overnight places to stay on arrival. After 5 trips I have never needed to overnight but for 2024 I may. As researching flights I can arrive 1-2 days ahead of when safari starts and save a lot on a flight I am looking at. That being said I figure give me time to get over jet lag and rest up before safari starts and do some sight seeing.
Where would you recommend for the best price for two days with moderate comforts and good food. Also service maybe to take to do some shopping. But a secure place also.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Mark Biggerstaff said:
Ok guys. I have researched and read a lot on here about the different overnight places to stay on arrival. After 5 trips I have never needed to overnight but for 2024 I may. As researching flights I can arrive 1-2 days ahead of when safari starts and save a lot on a flight I am looking at. That being said I figure give me time to get over jet lag and rest up before safari starts and do some sight seeing.
Where would you recommend for the best price for two days with moderate comforts and good food. Also service maybe to take to do some shopping. But a secure place also.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Four of us overnighted at City Lodge in the Joburg airport this past June en route to Maun, Botswana. Hotel is a short walk for the airport, my room was perfectly adequate for approx $98US, and the breakfast buffet was very good for approx $10US. Will definitely stay there when we travel to SA again.
 
Africa sky was a great place to stay, food was very good and room was nice,
 
Depends how much sightseeing you want to do as you could do a short trip to Pretoria the Capital be taken around by a tour guide to see sights and still spend time in maals and restaurants.
Pretoria is only 40 minutes away and a total different vibe and world than Joburg.
 
I stayed at city lodge for the first and last time this year. I can’t for the life of me understand why everyone loves it.

I literally had people enter my room multiple times. I got no sleep. It was sketch.

My favorite place is whitwater guest house and spa. The food and service is great. Showers and bathrooms are top notch.

By the time you go down the elevators. Walk over. Go up the elevators. Get checked in. Take your bags to your room. Come back down for dinner. You could have been relaxing at whitwater for 30 min.

Whitwater Guest House Here is a link.
 
I’ve only stayed at two. Africa Sky and Intercontinental.

Africa Sky took care of my permits and storage of my firearm for two weeks. (That was expensive). Staying there at the same time were Johan Calitz and Ivan Carter. The accommodations were clean but basic.

The Intercontinental, first class in every way. Best stay in or near the airport.

I have not stayed at City Lodge but would have no reservations about staying there. It’s close to the train station if you want to go to Sandton or Rosebank.
 
I’ve stayed at city lodge and Africa sky. I would pick africa sky again without hesitation. It is nicely apportioned. The food was good as was the service. It was also more expensive than city lodge and required a 10 min drive. I think the additional cost was delivered in a more comfortable setting, a nice outdoor area, and an atmosphere that didn’t seem like a big hotel. I’m sure they can arrange a driver for tourism. They will also hold your rifles in the safe.
 
I've stayed at Africa Sky twice and give them high marks. However, two days would be pretty boring and not cheap, IMO.
 
I have nothing, but good things to say about the Afton House.

Lon
 
I stayed at City Hotel in August, one night before catching the next morning's flight to Harari. The staff were polite and helpful. The room was nice, clean, and not overpriced for what it is. Traveling by myself, I felt safe there. I used Rifle Permits. In the evening, we went outside and crossed a street to the hotel's main entrance. The next morning, the Rifle Permits person escorted me back to the airport through a garage area so we did not go outdoors. I got there late and left early, so I can't comment on the food. You can probably arrange for a tour driver if you spend an extra day, but you would leave your luggage in the room. I didn't ask if City Hotel had a facility to lock up the rifles. Maybe someone here can comment on that.

Take care, Laura
 
Afton house or africa sky
They both will arrange daily trips for you
 
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