Port Elizabeth - not a friendly experience

After the nice visit to the harbour and airport of East London, we continued our journey along the coast towards Port Elizabeth. 

Along the way we stayed over at Green Fountain Farm Resort, just before Port Alfred. Amazing place, owned and managed by amazing people, Rob and Frieda Greyling. Look at www.greenfountainfarm.co.za for more information.

First port of entry on our agenda for the day, was Port Ngqura, 20 km north of Port Elizabeth. The harbour is situated at the mouth of the Coega river. It is part of the plans of the Coega Development Corporation and is South Africa's newest harbour. This first commerial cargo ship moored here in October 2009. The harbour was officially opened on 16 March 2012.

But that is about as far as we got here. Despite numerous attempts at various offices and gates, we could not get more information or pictures, and did not gain entry into the harbour area. We were invited to submit a written request to visit  the port, which will then be proccessed within 48 hours - not suitable for our tour ...

Road entrance to Port Ngqura

Permits required to gain entrance here

Coega Development Corporation - burocratic red tape galore! 

At Port Elizabeth Harbour, South Africa's third biggest after Durban and Cape Town, we had a similar experience with no better luck. Transnet's access control was strictly enforced and we could not see much nor gained entry or access to information. We were told that when luxury cruise liners visit the harbour, the general public is allowed access with little control over cameras. Despite this, I could not convince them to allow us similar access.

Port Elizabeth harbour - no entry here

The word 'Welcome' has different meanings for different people

Port Elizabeth International Airport, previously known as the HF Verwoerd Airport, gave us a more welcome feeling. The staff at the information desk were eager to provide us with all the information we needed or to introduce us to the right people.

There are no sheduled international flights to/from Port Elizabeth. When international passengers do arrive on chartered or private flights, the immigration staff (based in town) will be called out to process their airports. Most of the domestic airlines offer scheduled flights to and from all the major centres of South Africa.

East London - the friendly little city

After reaching the top of Sani Pass, the last of our border posts by road, we headed south along the coast to complete the tour with the last harbours and airports. First stop was East London. We experiened it as a clean, friendly city, not too big and not too small either.

The unique harbour 'in' the mouth of the Buffalo river, South Africa's only river harbour, has international status. This is mainly due to the international cargo ships serving the motor industry, specifically Mercedes Benz, whose manufacturing plant keeps this city alive. Ships with a capacity of 5,000 cars can often be seen leaving the harbour. Its not only motor cars though, as the port also boasts the biggest export grain elevator of all SA ports.  

Immigration officials from the Dept of Home Affairs are based in town. They are called out when crew from international ships want to disembark, or when the occasional cruise ships visit the harbour.

There are plans to establish a waterfront boardwalk with restaurants and other entertainment on the eastern side of the harbour. This can only make East Londen more attractive.

Eastern side of East London harbour

Looking at the western side of East London harbour - for the motor industry

Waterfront development planned for this section of East London harbour

East London airport, only 10 minutes drive from the harbour, was previously known as the Ben Schoeman Airport. After the democratic elections in 1994, it was renamed to East London International Airport.

The airport is neat and tidy and quite busy on the Sunday morning that we were there. There are daily domestic scheduled flights by SA Airlink, SA Express and Kulula to all the major centres of South Africa. No scheduled international flights, and according to the airport manager on duty, and much to our surprise, it has no immigration processes to deal with international passengers. I will certainly verify this as it is listed by the Dept of Home Affairs as an international airport. 

The signage does not display 'International' status

East London is also known as Buffalo City

Bram Fischer International Airport - Bloemfontein's port of entry

Although the airport in Bloemfontein is called the Bram Fischer International Airport, there are no scheduled international flights to the airport. Private and chartered international flights may land at the airport. The immigration officials who are based in town 10 km away, will then travel to the airport to process the passports of international passengers.

The domestic airlines Mango and SA Express have several scheduled flights to Bloemfontein on a daily basis.

The airport buildings are new and modern after recent upgrades to the value of R46m for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. On 13 December 2012 the airport was officially named Bram Fischer International Airport.

King Shaka International Airport - serving Durban and surroundings

We drove to King Shaka International Airport from Ballito early on a rainy Saturday morning. The airport is just south of Ballito and it is a 20 minutes drive to the airport. If it wasn't for  the construction work at the N2 turn-off to Ballito, it could have been 10 minutes. The airport is 60 km north of Durban city centre along the N2.

The previous international airport, south of Durban, was opened in 1951 and was known as the Louis Botha airport. After the 1994 democratic elections, it was renamed to Durban International Airport. Due to (amongst others) a relative short runway, the airport lost a lot of its international traffic. Construction work for the new airport started in September 2007. It was opened a month before the start of the FIFA Soccer World Cup in 2010. 

The terminal buildings are modern and impressive. All the major domestic airlines offer daily scheduled flights to Durban. Emirates and Air Mauritius are amongst the international scheduled flights. 

During 2013, Skytrax acknowledged King Shaka International as the best airport worldwide for airports with less than 5 million passengers per year.

On the Saturday that we visited the airport, it was quiet and the only international flight was due at 17:30 from Dubai. Although it was early November, the terminal buildings were already full of Christmas decorations.

Entrance off the N2 to King Shaka International

A bull at the Shark's airport ?

Christmas  time is showing in the terminal building

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport - proud gateway to the lowveld

Situated between White River and Mbombela (Nelspruit) is the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport. The best access road is probably the R40 from White River's side. It is in the heart of the green, lush lowveld and the closest entrance gate to the Kruger National Park, Numbi gate, is only 25 km away.

The airport is in operation since 2002 with a runway of 3 km long and 60 meters wide. It can accommodate large jets such as Boeing 737, 747, 767 and Airbus. The impressive airport buildings have an African theme with grass roofs and decor that fits well in the bushveld area.

Airlink provides daily domestic scheduled flights to and from Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, and internationally to Livingston (Zambia). Many private and chartered flights, local and international, also make use of the airport. SA Express, another domestic airline, will also provide scheduled flights shortly.

The airport staff, from operations to immigration, are proud and pasionate about 'their' airport and took time to show us around enthusiastically.

Entrance to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport

Entrance to terminal buildings at KMIA

Airport buildings seen from across the runway

International departures at KMIA

Daily scheduled flights

Polokwane International - Limpopo cosmopolitan

Polokwane is about 300 km North of Pretoria on the N1. Beautiful highway all the way - BUT you pay a price. There are 4 toll gates before you reach Polokwane and the current rate for a standard vehicle is a total of just short of R125. The R101 is an alternative route that can be recommended, except for the first part through Hammanskraal. There are many taxis and 4-way stop streets, but from about Pienaarsrivier the R101 is a scenic route up to Polokwane.

Polokwane International airport is surrounded by a military a base. There are no scheduled international flights to Polokwane, but many private holiday makers use this as a port of entry to the many game lodges and hunting farms in Limpopo. Airlink provides daily scheduled domestic flights from various SA airports.

The airport gained its international status in 1996 and boasts modern terminal buildings. Facilities, that inlude restaurants are neat, clean and appears to be very effiient.

OR Tambo - Africa's busiest airport

OR Tambo International airport, about 50 km from Johannesburg city centre, was previously known as Jan Smuts Airport. It was renamed to Johannesburg International Airport after the 1994 democratic elections, but got its current name on 27 October 2006, the birthday of Oliver Tambo, a former president of the ANC.

During 1996, this airport became the busiest in Africa with a capacity of more than 28 million passengers per year, surpassing Cairo at the time. It is amongst the 100 busiest airports in the world and is one of only a few airports world wide with scheduled flights to all 6 inhabited continents.

During our visit on a Friday morning at 9am, it was as busy as at anytime. As with most airports, it was not possible to reach the immigration officials, nor the airport management. We visited the police station to get 'prove' of our visit.

I was impressed with the red and green lights in the parking area that indicate the number and position of available parking bays.

Lanseria International Airport -the success story continues

When travelling to Gauteng by air, I always try to avoid the mad rush usually experienced at OR Tambo airport. I rather use Lanseria airport because it is much quieter with much less passenger and road traffic. My last visit to Lanseria was in July this year, 3 months before this revisit for the border post tour. It is amazing how much has changed at the airport in just 3 months.

Lanseria airport was first used in August 1974. It is continually upgraded and improved and today it has several scheduled domestic flights to and from Cape Town and Durban by Kulula and Mango airlines. There are no scheduled international flights, but it is very popular for private and chartered flights from international destinations. The rich and famous often use this airport to escape the attention of the masses. 

Approximately 3 million passengers per year pass through Lanseria with ease and comfort. There are plans to upgrade it further without doing away with the comfort and relaxed feeling. The management is very aware of the reasons for its success and plans to maintain and improve on it.

Pilanesberg International - lost city missing out

Just 10 km away from Sun City is the Pilanesberg International airport. The airport was established in 1981 to service the high number of visitors to the very popular Sun City hotel complex and game reserves in the area. The annual Million Dollar golf challenge during December kept the airport on the international radar and it was upgraded and extended in 1999 when Airport Company SA (ACSA) took over the management.

Sad to say, but since then the operations at the airport slowly deteriorated. There are no more scheduled flights to Pilanesberg. There can be several reasons for the declining number of passengers at the airport: general state of the economy, more self-drive visitors, more casinos in rest of South Africa, I don't know what else. The North West provincial government took over the management of the airport in 2011.

During our visit there on a Thursday morning, there were no flight activities. Staff at the check-in counters were lying down, trying to sleep. Others were loitering around, looking bored. 

The Million Dollar Golf Challenge event is happening soon. Hopefully this will wake every one up again and passengers will stream into this beautiful part of South Africa. 

Upington International - dag 7 (7 Okt)

Die lughawe fasiliteite by Upington is in 2009 opgeknap. Die uiteinde is 'n standaard wat moeilik geklop sal word. Dit is werklik wereldklas: smaakvol, mooi, netjies, skoon en op die oog af uiters effektief.

Immigrasie beheer by die lughawe word op 'n "call out" basis gedoen. Wanneer internasionale passasiers opdaag word die amptenare by Dept Binnelandse Sake in Upington uitgeroep om die nodige te kom doen. Die lughawe is so 8km uit die sentrale deel van Upington.

Gedurende weeksdae is daar daagliks 3 geskeduleerde vlugte van Johannesburg en 1 van Kaapstad. November maand begin die internasionale "vragseisoen". Ek het gedink dit het iets met landbouprodukte te doen, maar die vriendelike personeel vertel my dit is daaglikse geskeduleerde vlugte, hoofsaaklik van Duitsland, met nuwe motors wat hier getoets word.  

Upington se 4.9km aanloopbaan is een van die langstes in die wereld. Dit het tot gevolg gehad dat Upington geklassifiseer is as 'n alternatiewe landingsplek vir Nasa se ruimte pendeltuie.

Dag 1 - eerste "grensposte"

Kaapstad Internasionale lughawe  was soos verwag nie baie maklik om  toegang te kry na die plek waar paspoorte gestempel word nie. Maar ons het darem vriendelike amptenare by die Doeane beheerpunt gekry wat bereid was om vir ons 'n stempel te gee.

By Kaapstad hawe in die Waterfront was die immigrasie kantoor 'n verassing. Die gebou is redelik oud, effe verwaarloos en onopvallend. Ek wonder hoeveel mense glip die land hier binne ...
Maar weer eens was die personeel vriendelik en het ons 'n stempel gekry.

In Saldanha Baai het ons baie gesoek na die regte plek. UIteindelik is ons verwys na die SARS kantoortjie. Mnr Kuys, 'n Doeane en Aksyns inspekteur het ons vertel dat daar nie meer 'n immigrasie beheerpunt vir skeeps bemanning is nie - dit word nou via Kaapstad gedoen.  
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It was not possible to gain access to the immigration control at Cape Town International airport - as expected. However, we did get a stamp from a very friendly Customs official.

The immigration office at Cape Town harbour in the Waterfront was a surprise. Old and not very easy to find. But friendly staff gave us a stamp.

In Saldanha Bay we found out that there is no longer an immigration control point for sea crew - it was moved to Cape Town.