I will be overnighting in Johannesburg for 1 night this upcoming May. Curious if anyone has stayed at the Protea Hotel by Marriott O.R. Tambo Airport (not the Protea in the transit terminal). If you have stayed there, do they have a secure place for your firearms? I am aware of the City Lodge, African Sky and Alton but it’s a fairly short overnight and I prefer to stay near the airport and can use Marriott points at the Protea. Also, has anyone stayed at the Hilton Windhoek - and do they have a secure storage place for firearms? Thx

City Lodge is at the airport and you can walk to it. Just took my rifle to room.

quote:

Originally posted by bobmn:
City Lodge is at the airport and you can walk to it. Just took my rifle to room.

Did the same in Sept. 10 min to the room great breakfast included with the stay.

Sorry no, only experience is with Africa Sky and Intercontinental. Highly recommend Intercontinental. Any IHG points?

I would not take a shuttle to any area hotels around JNB - sometimes you have to wait 30 minutes or more and there is the potential for "issues" taking a van offsite. So stick to either the Intercontinental or City Lodge. Safer and less potential for "issues". Both are well versed in firearms.

But to answer your question - I have stayed at the Protea Hotel and it took almost two hours to get to my room. But I am sure they also have no problems with handling firearms.

The Hilton in Windhoek is safe and they can deal with your firearms. However, be careful wandering around Downtown these days. The thugs are out and about regardless of time of day but especially at night. Try not to look like a tourist.

quote:

Originally posted by bobmn:
City Lodge is at the airport and you can walk to it. Just took my rifle to room.

That’s what I did when catching a flight the next morn to Zim.

Leftcoast,

I always recommend my clients transiting O.R. Tembo stay at City Lodge. You pick up your guns, cross the street, up the ramp and take the elevator to the Hotel. Simple and safe. I'm discouraging all my clients from staying off the airport proper for safety sake and just for the convenience of not having to mess with using the shuttles. Additionally the City Lodge is quite nice with a killer breakfast buffet. I do recommend dinner at Quills in the Intercontinental that is in the same building as City Lodge. Treat yourself. It is very nice!

Mark

I always stayed at the Afton House, they pick you up and put you back on the plane, they take care of your guns, no lines they walk you through the lines and put you in your seat..the foods good the beds are out of this world and the rooms are plush with tub and shower and clean....The spoiled me over the years..I guess they are still in business, we were all getting pretty old last time I stayed there..

Afton House is still going strong

Protea is further from the terminal than Citylodge or Intercontinental, and will require a mini bus
Ride which could be problematic.
I have just booked Citylodge again for my stay in May .
You take your firearms to your own room which I like.
I have stayed there at least a dozen times now, and it's the best option
By far.

Cheers

Nick

I've stayed at the Afton House. It was fine with the new owners.

Dave

i fail to see the logic in taking a mini bus or shuttle to stay at these lodges when all you want to do is transit overnight to fly out again.
There have been major issues with tourists being robbed/ assaulted etc on these shuttle rides near and around the airport.
I just don't get it???????????????????

Nick

To each his own, you don't have to get it..I enjoyed the ride and the stop at the gun stores and being with old friends..The only hassle with thugs I ever got into was in the airport itself..

When was the last time you were in J'Berg Ray?

The place has had a huge escalation in car /mini bus jackings leaving and going to OR Tambo.

No reason to risk robbery or death as happened a few months ago to some tourists in this exact situation.

As you say to each his own

My wife and I stayed at African Sky and reccommend it highly. Gilbert our driver picked us up ,shepherded us through customs immigration and the dreaded SAPS. On the return trip,everything was chaotic, we could not a straight answer or coherent directions from anyone. Gilbert from African Sky saw us and again escorted us through the SA beauraucratic morass and we were not even guests of African Sky. That is service above and beyond the call of duty. Yes Gilbert got a large tip but in all honesty, I firmly believe that was not his only motivation. He truly wanted to excell at his job. Also the steak dinner and breakfast at African Sky were wonderful. Jerry Hoover

Agreed Jerry, Gilbert is fantastic, as is Africa Sky.

After Gilbert picked us up and was driving to African Sky, he had the car radio on and it was so soft we could hardly hear it. I asked Gilbert what kind of music he had on the radio and with a shy smile he told us it was Country and Western. Being from Texas we told him to turn it up so we could all enjoy it. His grin changed from shy to ear to ear.
This was not the first time I found Africans who loved country music, both black and white. Maybe Texas culture will change the world. Jerry Hoover

I've literally stayed at them all over the years. With that said, City Lodge would now be my first choice, especially after the incident that I personally witnessed at Africa Sky last August, and as subsequently discussed here on AR. Yes, Gilbert, Deidre and all of the others on staff at Africa Sky are wonderful, and I've stayed there many, many times, but my future trips will have me staying at City Lodge.

My son and I missed our connecting flight last October and had to stay at the Protea in the Airport overnight. The service and rooms were terrible. If you want more details PM but I would never stay there on purpose.

You can't go wrong with AfricaSky. Great staff and facilities.

City Lodge gets my vote for a hassle free overnight.

I will be overnighting in Joburg with a friend this summer that does not walk well. Are there carts that I can load our firearms and bags for the walk to City Lodge?

Mike

I have stayed at City Lodge several times and it is so easy. Use Gracys meet and greet and they have Bruce there to help with gun permits. They meet you at plane and help you clear customs then help you with gun permit and take your luggage on carts to City lodge.Half hour after landing you are in room.

quote:

Originally posted by MLindsay:
I will be overnighting in Joburg with a friend this summer that does not walk well. Are there carts that I can load our firearms and bags for the walk to City Lodge?

Mike

Yes, there are plenty of them.

I'll bet Africa Sky wished it had called itself African Sky since no one seems to get the name right.

Africa Sky

African Sky

I personally don't feel it is secure enough because of the layout.

Afton is much more secure.

The shuttle to and from Afton isn't a public multi-hotel shuttle. It is owned and staffed by Afton and just goes straight to the premises.

quote:

Originally posted by postoak:
I'll bet Africa Sky wished it had called itself African Sky since no one seems to get the name right.

Africa Sky

African Sky

I personally don't feel it is secure enough because of the layout.

Afton is much more secure.

The shuttle to and from Afton isn't a public multi-hotel shuttle. It is owned and staffed by Afton and just goes straight to the premises.

Yes and so is Africa Sky’s but that still not stop an attempted robbery at the guest house. Sure that could happen at the airport too, but that would kill JNB the transportation hub of Southern Africa :

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
I always stayed at the Afton House, they pick you up and put you back on the plane, they take care of your guns, no lines they walk you through the lines and put you in your seat..the foods good the beds are out of this world and the rooms are plush with tub and shower and clean....The spoiled me over the years..I guess they are still in business, we were all getting pretty old last time I stayed there..

I've stayed at The Afton House in SEP 2016 and they were fantastic. One of the side benefits is that you get to meet other hunters, as the place caters exclusively to people going on safari.

It is a place to make hunting friends from all over the world.

I understand it is under new management since last year, but hopefully the operation hasn't changed.

BH63

One other thing: Staying at City Lodge you can meet and talk with other hunters in the lounge or when you are eating. Not the same ambience as that of Afton House or Africa Sky, but certainly much easier for your overnight stay in Joburg.

Afton House is actually even better now

quote:

Originally posted by BuffHunter63:

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
I always stayed at the Afton House, they pick you up and put you back on the plane, they take care of your guns, no lines they walk you through the lines and put you in your seat..the foods good the beds are out of this world and the rooms are plush with tub and shower and clean....The spoiled me over the years..I guess they are still in business, we were all getting pretty old last time I stayed there..

I've stayed at The Afton House in SEP 2016 and they were fantastic. One of the side benefits is that you get to meet other hunters, as the place caters exclusively to people going on safari.

It is a place to make hunting friends from all over the world.

I understand it is under new management since last year, but hopefully the operation hasn't changed.

BH63

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
Leftcoast,

I always recommend my clients transiting O.R. Tembo stay at City Lodge. You pick up your guns, cross the street, up the ramp and take the elevator to the Hotel. Simple and safe. I'm discouraging all my clients from staying off the airport proper for safety sake and just for the convenience of not having to mess with using the shuttles. Additionally the City Lodge is quite nice with a killer breakfast buffet. I do recommend dinner at Quills in the Intercontinental that is in the same building as City Lodge. Treat yourself. It is very nice!

Mark

^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^^^^^

Citilodge hands down!!!

quote:

Originally posted by MLindsay:
I will be overnighting in Joburg with a friend this summer that does not walk well. Are there carts that I can load our firearms and bags for the walk to City Lodge?

Mike

Yes, indeed, Mike. You collect your cart or carts just after passport check near to the carousel that your bags come out on. NOTE: With some airlines you have to sign for your firearm in the baggage area, and they deliver it to the firearms branch of the South African Police Service which you find outside and to the right of the exit from the secure area. The place to check for your firearm is a little office just near Carousel 8, if I recall, but just ask any of the workers there.

The carts are just like the ones in Frankfurt. You can use them up and down the escalators, just let go of the brake handle so they stay in place. You'll find at the end of the longish walk on one of the upper floors past the rental cars is an elevator that takes you up to City Lodge.

Might be worth it to hire one of the many lads looking for work for maybe five bucks to push your cart as far as the City Lodge elevator.
Regards, Tim

AfricaSky for me. I have stayed there for several years and have always had A+++ experiences. Yes I read about the incident there, not enough to deter me from continuing to stay there. Things like that can and do happen everywhere including here in the US.

I enjoy the relaxed environment there, lounging in the couch area, sitting by the fire and enjoying a nice big fat steak dinner before hitting the pillow.

quote:

Originally posted by bobmn:
City Lodge is at the airport and you can walk to it. Just took my rifle to room.

Same as I did. Very convenient. Decent room and food. And cold Castle beer.