Upgrades to the airport, which serves as a gateway to the KNP, started shortly after the start of the coronavirus lockdown. A statement by the Eastgate Airport company announcing the completion of the refurbishment reads that the airport “stems from the southern end of Hoedspruit Airforce Base which is home to 19 Squadron helicopter units and in the late 1990s was converted to a civilian airport and was also earmarked for a Nasa shuttle landing in the 1980s”.

“More recently, it has served as a key access point to the KNP and surrounding private game reserves in Limpopo and Mpumalanga. “An average of 150 flights and 7000 passengers passes through Eastgate Airport at any given month. “With a growing client base of surrounding residents and incoming tourists, airport management embarked on a refurbishment project which was completed at the start of November.

“The upgrades included adding more check-in counters and increasing the size of the departure lounge and baggage claim area. “Eastgate Airport’s curio shop and refreshment kiosk were also revamped, along with the entrance gate and parking area which now features a shaded area for select vehicles.

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“The shaded parking area, sponsored by Kapama Private Game Reserve, allows visitors to hop directly onto a game vehicle.” The boarding area has also been upgraded to include a comfortable and sheltered waiting area with sufficient seating. Previously, passengers had to wait in the sun until boarding, according to the statement.

“Returning guests and residents of the area are in awe of the transformation. It’s much more spacious, check-in is smoother, luggage is handled quickly, and the waiting area is much more comfortable.” In addition to servicing private charter flights, Eastgate Airport is frequented by two commercial airlines, Airlink and CemAir.

The flight from Johannesburg to Hoedspruit takes just 55 minutes and the cost of a one-way ticket starts at around R1,551 on Airlink and R1,424 on Cemair. Both airlines also operate a two-and-a-half-hour flight from Cape Town. Avis also operates a car rental service at Eastgate Airport, offering multi-seater airconditioned vehicles for self-drive safaris to the KNP.