What to Do in South Africa – According to Qantas Frequent Flyers
A chance encounter with a baboon, coming eye-to-eye with the Big Five at a luxury safari lodge and having a drink under jacarandas in full bloom. Qantas travellers share highlights from their recent trips to Johannesburg and beyond.
“At a safari lodge, we saw elephants, lions, hippos, giraffes and cheetahs.” – Andrina Graham , Silver Frequent Flyer
“Our group of four families flew to Johannesburg to celebrate a friend’s 50th birthday. We made the 2.5-hour drive to Bakubung Bush Lodge – a safari reserve in Pilanesberg National Park – where we saw elephants, lions, hippos, giraffes and cheetahs.
“After four nights we moved on to Sun City Resort, a couple of hours from the city, which has golf courses, a waterpark, casino, shopping, restaurants and cinemas. We accidentally left the door to our hotel room at The Palace of the Lost City unlocked when we went to breakfast on our last morning at the resort – we came back to find that baboons had snuck in and eaten our popcorn and lollipops. Fortunately, they left our passports intact!”
Andrina flew Qantas from Sydney to Johannesburg.
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“The Soweto neighbourhood is iconic – and so colourful.” – Amber Hunter, Bronze Frequent Flyer
“My husband and I make an annual pilgrimage to our South African homeland, flying Qantas from Sydney to Johannesburg and landing at 5pm, when the city has a golden glow.
“The city’s Soweto neighbourhood is iconic and vibrant – you’ll see the colourful Orlando Towers, Vilakazi Street – known for being the home of Nelson Mandela – roadside barbers, taxis blaring music, and ladies carrying fruit on their heads and babies on their backs.
“We always seek out a local restaurant for shisa nyama – meat cooked over coals. For a luxe experience, kick back with a drink on the terrace overlooking jacaranda trees at Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff.”
Amber flew Qantas from Sydney to Johannesburg.
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“We loved having a game of padel at the Houghton Golf Club – it’s similar to tennis and is very popular.” – Alexis Aaron, Bronze Frequent Flyer
“We were on our way to get married in Cape Town so I was travelling with my huge wedding dress. The Qantas crew were so kind and hung it up in the cabin on the flight over.
“After the wedding, we returned to Johannesburg before travelling on to the Molori Safari Lodge in Madikwe for a mini honeymoon. The resort was so luxurious and we saw the Big Five – lions, leopards, rhinoceros, elephants and African buffalos – which was incredible.
“Back in Johannesburg, we loved having a game of padel at the Houghton Golf Club. It’s similar to tennis and is very popular in South Africa.”
Alexis flew Qantas from Sydney to Johannesburg.