Regional airline opens new safari link

South African domestic and regional airline, CemAir, will launch direct scheduled flights between Johannesburg and MalaMala Game Reserve, starting 1 June 2024.

Thabo Mosololi, Managing Director MalaMala Game Reserve said, "We are delighted to be able to partner with CemAir to provide our guests with a new, convenient and efficient means of accessing South Africa's premier safari destination. This collaboration will enable us to open up a new gateway to the western sector of the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve as well as directly to MalaMala and we look forward to welcoming the first of many CemAir flights to our airstrip on 1 June 2024". 

MalaMala is one of the largest private Big Five game reserves in South Africa. It shares an unfenced boundary with Kruger National Park and is situated between the park and Sabi Sand Nature Reserve.

The route will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays using a 37-seat Dash-8-100 aircraft.

The flights depart OR Tambo at 11h15 and arrive at MalaMala at 12h30. It then departs MalaMala at 13h00 and arrives at OR Tambo at 14h15. The flights are currently open for sale via the CemAir website.

Shaniel Singh, CemAir Chief Commercial Officer, told Tourism Update that the airline had been in discussions with MalaMala Game Reserve for some time regarding a scheduled service.

“MalaMala currently only has a charter service into the reserve, which makes connectivity extremely difficult for guests. CemAir is not just servicing a single lodge but rather a service to multiple properties/lodges/camps west and south of the MalaMala airstrip e.g. Kirkmans, Londolozi, Sabi Sabi, Leopard Hills etc.”

Speaking on the possible expansion of services to other lodges in the future, Singh said the airline would engage and explore opportunities if it made commercial sense and increased volumes into a certain park or area.