REACHING ASKARI
Askari is situated in the Limpopo province of South Africa, 450km from Johannesburg. You will first need to fly into Johannesburg’s OR Tambo international airport. From Johannesburg you will travel onward to our local town called Hoedspruit in the Limpopo province. We will collect you in Hoedspruit and travel together for the final 1 hour journey to the reserve. From Johannesburg to Hoedspruit you have TWO Options:
1. An internal flight which takes 1 hour
2. A shuttle bus transfer which takes 6 hours (cheaper)
The best combination for ease and cost is normally to arrive on the internal flight on your start date and leave with the road transfer on your last day. Please check flight times and chat to us if you need advice.
All bookings and payments for travel must please be made directly with flight/transfer companies and cannot be organised by Askari.
Option 1: Internal Flight
JOHANNESBURG TO HOEDSPRUIT
You must book your internal flight with South African Airways airlink.
The Askari team arrive at the airport at 13.30pm so you are welcome to arrive earlier than that and just await collection in the airport lounge.
Arrival: Please book on flight number SA Airlink 4Z873 (Departs OR Tambo 13.05 & Arrives Hoedspruit 14.00) on the Monday your project starts.
Departure: Please book on flight number SA Airlink 4Z874 (Departs Hoedspruit 14.30 & Arrives OR Tambo 15.30) on the Monday your project ends.
NB: There are no airport transfers available outside of these times.
Option 2 – Private Transfer By Road
JOHANNESBURG TO HOEDSPRUIT
NB: Please check carefully that bus times fit around your flight times!
For the road transfer you will use a company called ‘Safari link‘. You will receive a special Askari volunteer price of R650 (South-African rand) ONE-WAY. The shuttle leaves very early in the morning (7am) from the Johannesburg OR Tambo airport so can be taken on the Monday your project begins and have you in Hoedspruit by lunchtime ready for the Askari collection. If you are staying overnight in Johannesburg before taking the shuttle, be sure you organise a transfer with your hostel/accommodation to OR Tambo ready for the early departure.
Make a booking
Click here for their website and to make your booking. Remember you must tell them that you are volunteering at Askari to qualify for the special, discounted rate. To avoid international bank fees, they allow you to pay CASH as you board the shuttle on the day. Please make sure you have this cash (in local South African Rand only – no other currency) with you. This is also great news as you will not lose your money if you have to cancel due to covid restrictions and possible changes it may cause to your itinerary.
Arrival: The shuttle will bring you directly to Hoedspruit where we will collect you – The Monday your project begins. Please book to get off the bus at Hoedspruit Eastgate airport.
Departure: You will board the bus on the Monday your project finishes at 11.15am. Please book to board the bus at the Rockfig Lifestyle centre in Hoedspruit. We will be sure to have you in Hoedspruit in time for your departure.
You will only get to the OR Tambo Johannesburg airport between 5 and 6pm. Be sure that this leaves enough time for your departing flight and if not you will need to organise a nights accommodation near the airport for the Monday and only fly out on Tuesday.
Accommodation Options
JOHANNESBURG
Here are some suggestions for accommodation near Johannesburg airport. Most establishments offer free shuttles to and from the airport so be sure to check this when booking. You will need to be dropped at OR Tambo for 6.30am if boarding the Ashton’s morning bus on your Monday start date.
• The Africa centre
• Mbizi Backpackers Lodge
• Terrylin backpackers
• Airport Inn
• Sunrock Guesthouse
• Bookings.com
HOEDSPRUIT
• The Bushbabies Elite Lodge
• Loerie Guest House
• Thuhlo Lodge
• Mist of Gold
• African Rock Lodge
Askari will only collect from the Hoedspruit accommodation options listed here, on the Monday start date of your project. Alternatively you can choose different accommodation on Booking.com and make your own way to Hoedspruit Eastgate airport to meet us at 1pm.
WOW 🤩 thank you so much to our awesome volunteer and photographer Audrey Fanjoy (@audthebelge) for sharing this incredible photo of the Askari pride during her stay last month. They sure look like one formidable force! Simply stunning. Keen for more? Check out www.audfanjoyphotography.com #askariwcp
Our current Askari team has had a busy orientation week consisting of a few lectures and introduction to different aspects of the bush. ![]()
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Other activities consisted of cleaning our nyala breeding camps, killing alien plant species and learning more about fences and the role they play in animal management. We also had the opportunity to visit the very educational Timbavati museum where we got a closer look at many of the species we come across on a daily basis.
