South Africa's most punctual domestic airlines in September 2014

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has published the on-time performance results of domestic airlines’ flying out of OR Tambo in Johannesburg, Cape Town International Airport, and Durban's King Shaka International Airport in September 2014.
On-Time Performance is measured by comparing the actual off-block time (when aircraft pushes back) against the airline schedule time for a departing flight. The measurement is done in accordance with the IATA (International Airlines Transport Association) universal standard benchmark with considers a 15 minute deviation from the scheduled time as an on-time departure.

OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg - 15 Min on Time Performance September 2014 (airport target 87%)

1. Airlink - 93.50% (August 85.56%)
2. Mango - 92.61% (August 89.40%)
3. South African Airways - 90.15% (August 83.41%)
4. British Airways Domestic - 89.58% (August 76.83%)
5. Kulula.com - 88.67% (August 78.96%)
6. SA Express - 81.61% (August 77.32%)

Cape Town International Airport - 15 Min on Time Performance September 2014 (airport target 90%)

1. Airlink - 94.50% (August 88.64%)
2. SA Express - 93.56% (August 90.18%)
3. Kulula.com - 91.72% (August 84.62%) 
4. South African Airways - 91.04% (August 82.66%)
5. Mango - 90.72% (August 88.15%)
6. British Airways Domestic - 90.22% (August 85.46%)

King Shaka International Airport, Durban - 15 Min on Time Performance September 2014 (airport target 91%)

1. SA Express - 93.92% (August 92.38%)
2. Mango - 92.02% (August 90.83%) 
3. Kulula.com - 91.67% (August 87.09%)
4. South African Airways - 91.30% (August 88.97%)
5. Airlink - 91.18% (August 89.97%)
6. British Airways Domestic - 90.03% (August 83.72%)

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Airlink: More flights and frequencies Cape Town <> Upington!

As from today (06 Oct 2014), South African carrier Airlink increased its flights and frequencies between Cape Town's Cape Town International Airport (CPT) and Upington Airport (UTN) in Upington in the Northern Cape. The airline introduced a new flight on Mondays and Fridays between the two destinations as well as an additional flight on Sundays.

Mondays and Fridays:

• Cape Town 12:15 > 13:35 Upington
• Upington 13:55 > 15:15 Cape Town

Sundays:

• Cape Town 10:45 > 12:05 Upington
• Cape Town 13:15 > 14:35 Upington
• Upington 12:50 > 14:10 Cape Town
• Upington 15:00 > 16:20 Cape Town

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Cape Town: MyCiti introduces Table Mountain shuttle

Great news for travellers visiting Cape Town. The operator of the cableway up Table Mountain, Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, has partnered with the City of Cape Town to operate a MyCiTi shuttle service between the top of Kloof Nek Road and the Cableway’s Lower Station. The buses will operate daily from 07:00 in summer (07:30 in winter), with the last shuttle departing the Lower Cable Station at 19:00.

To Table Mountain:

• take the Route 106 or Route 107 to Camps Bay to to the top of Kloof Nek Road
• disembark at the Lower Tafelberg stop situated at the Kloof Nek Road/Tafelberg Road intersection
• cross Kloof Nek Road by using the new signalised pedestrian crossing
• board the Route 110-bus to the Upper Tafelberg stop
• disembark at the cableway station

From Table Mountain:

• bord the Route 110-bus at the Upper Tafelberg stop
• disembark at the Lower Tafelberg stop situated at the Kloof Nek Road/Tafelberg Road intersection
• take the Route 106 or Route 107

Fares during peak hours (weekdays 06:30 - 08:30 & 16:00 - 18:00):

• R6,30 oneway (Mover)
• R8,90 oneway (Standard)

Fares outside peak hours (outside peak hours on a weekday, or any time on weekends and public holidays):

• R4,80 oneway (Mover)
• R6,80 oneway (Standard)

Everyone over four years needs a so-called myconnect card to travel with Cape Town's MyCiti buses. myconnect cards are availale for R35 from MyCiTi station kiosks and participating retailers. More info >>

Kulula (South Africa) & Air France sign codeshare agreement

The French flag carrier, Air France, has signed a codeshare agreement with South Africa's largest low-fare airline kulula.com. Under the agreement, Air France will add its code (AF) to kulula.com's flights within South Africa. This will allow Air France's customers to seamlessly connect to and from Cape Town, Durban, George and East London and to enjoy the benefits of purchasing a single Air France ticket with the convenience of one-stop check-in and baggage transfer. Bookings will open for sale at a later date, pending the South African Department of Transport's regulatory approval.
The codeshare agreement with Air France is kulula.com's second partnership with a SkyTeam Alliance member following the successful implementation of the codeshare agreement signed with Kenya Airways in April 2014.

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Supermarket prices in South Africa

To give you an idea on the supermarket prices in South Africa, we have set up a list of what we think are the most typical items travellers usually buy. It hopefully helps planning your holidays in South Africa. Safe travels! [exchange rates in the daily news update]

 

• bread - from R7.79/loaf (700gr)
• Rama Margarine - from R11.30/250gr
• eggs (large, free range) - from R15.00/6ea
• mixed fruit jam - from R8.50/225gr
• peanut butter - from R16.00/250gr
• Nutella - from R24/190 gr
• Bovril - from R22.00/125gr
• Marmite - from R22.00/125gr
• baked beans - from R5.90/can (400gr)
• bacon - from R25.00/250gr
• milk - from R11.50/1l
• muesli - from R28.00/750gr
• yoghurt (plain) - from R6.00/175gr
• cheese - from R27.00/200gr (sliced gouda/cheddar)
• potatoes - from R10/kg
• tomatoes - from R11.00 (750gr)
• onions - from R8.00/kg 
• mushrooms - from R20.00/250gr (white mushrooms)
• cucumber - from R12.00 (english cucumber) 
• lettuce - from R9.50 (crisp lettuce)
• avocado - from R19.50/1.5kg
• pasta - from R10.00/500gr (macaroni)
• pasta sauce - from R9.00 (instant) 
• instant soup - from R8.00 (Cup-A-Snack e.g. Chicken & Mushroom Noodle Soup)
• biscuits - from R6.50/200gr
• rusks - from R25.00/500gr
• chewing gum - from 8.00/pack (Dentyne)
• boerewors - from R57.00/1kg
• steak - from R80.00/kg (T-bone)
• chakalaka - from R12.00/can (400gr)
• chutney - from R23.00/bottle (Mrs H.S.Ball's Hot Chutney 470gr)
• hot sauce - from R13.00/bottle (125gr)
• potato chips - from R2.50/30gr
• bottled water (still) - from R4.00/500ml 
• Coke - from R9.70/500ml
• fresh juice (orange) - from R18.30/1l
• beer - from R9.50/330 or 340ml (Black Label/Castle/Hansa)
• beer - from R9.50/330ml (Windhoek Lager)
• cider - from R11.00/330ml (Hunters Dry)
• cider - from R12.50/330ml (Savanna Dry)
• wine - from R25.00/750ml or R80.00/5l box (white)

The list above is probably missing some items. Let us know what you think is missing & we will add it! 

Virgin Australia adds new codeshare route with South African Airways

Australia's second-largest airline, Virgin Australia, is set to expand its codeshare agreement with South Africa's flag carrier, South African Airways (SAA). The airline will commence codeshare on South African Airways' daily direct services from Perth to Johannesburg in South Africa. This follows the launch of South African Airways' codeshare on Virgin Australia's daily services from Perth to Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Sydney earlier in 2014. Tickets will be available for sale from 14 October 2014 and for travel from 21 October 2014.

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Kruger National Park Calendar - November

Weather:

• early summer
• very hot days and warm evenings
• rain - rainfall usually double that of October

Temperatures:

• between 16°C - 32°C (Fahrenheit: e.g. 28°C = [(28x9)]/5 + 32 = 82.4°F)
• visit our webcam page for live footage from Kruger National Park! 

Landscape:

• lush vegetation
• many trees in flower
• new pans appear in drier areas
• river levels start rising

 Animal Activity:

• breeding season underway for most animals
• plains animals very aggressive in protecting their young as predator activity increases
• explosion in insect activity after the first good rains

 Kruger National Park tours >>
Kruger National Park info guide >>

accommodation in the Kruger NP area >>
online car hire >>