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TRAVELLING TO KAEM

The travel and accommodation information is to assist our KAEM participants to find their way to Augrabies Falls, as well as accommodation in case participants choose Package Option 2 where they need to arrange their own accommodation.

Location

The Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon (KAEM) takes place in the vicinity of Augrabies which is situated 120km west of Upington in the Northern Cape Province of South Africa.

sa-map

Approximate distances between some of the cities in South Africa and Augrabies Falls are as follows:

  • Johannesburg to Augrabies – 900km
  • Cape Town to Augrabies – 870km
  • Durban to Augrabies – 1,300km
  • Port Elizabeth to Augrabies – 1,000km

Flying to Upington Airport from Johannesburg or Cape Town

Airlink is the only airline carrier that flies between Johannesburg and Cape Town to Upington.  You can book Airlink flights online or your travel agent can book these flights on your behalf either as part of your international air ticket or as separate tickets.

Please note that Airlink flight schedules may change from time to time. In such a case, we will do our utmost to inform you of any changes as early as possible and do our best to assist you with any flight changes where possible.

The following Airlink flights are available on: 

  • 12 September 2024:

    • Johannesburg (O.R. Tambo International) to Upington

      SA AIRLINK (4Z761) – 07:10 JHB -> 8:40 UTN
      SA AIRLINK (4Z763) – 11:00 JHB -> 12:30 UTN
      SA AIRLINK (4Z769) – 15:34 JHB -> 17:15 UTN

    • Cape Town International to Upington

      SA AIRLINK (4Z645) – 06:45 CPT – 08:05 UTN

The following return Airlink flights are available on:

  • 22 September 2024:

    • Upington to Johannesburg (O.R. Tambo International)

      SA AIRLINK (4Z764) – 13:00 UTN -> 14:25 JHB
      SA AIRLINK (4Z770) – 17:40 UTN -> 19:05 JHB

      Please note: there is no direct return flight to Cape Town on 22 September 2024.

KAEM bus transfer from Upington Airport to Augrabies Falls:

  • KAEM bus transfer from Upington Airport to Augrabies Falls will be arranged to coincide with the arrival flights as well as the Johannesburg departure flight.
  • Upon arrival, the KAEM BUS will depart from outside the terminal building after you have collected your luggage.
  • On 12 September and 15 September 2024, the KAEM BUS will leave Upington Airport for Augrabies Falls at 13:00.
  • On 22 September 2024, the KAEM BUS will leave Augrabies Falls at the Park at 9:30.
  • BUS TRANSFER: ZAR 380 One-way / ZAR 760 Return

Procedure to book the flights via the internet:

Should you have any questions or require advice with regards to the travel and transfer options, please contact Simoné at simone@kaem.co.za or +27 83 709 8170. 
Should you need to fly and arrive earlier or depart a day later, we can arrange special transfer for you at an additional cost.

Please remember it is compulsory to attend RACE BRIEFING on:

  • Friday 13 September 20224 at 10:30 at Augrabies Falls Lodge for KAEM Big Daddy.

Accommodation in Johannesburg

There are various options for accommodation in close proximity to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg should you be arriving before 12 September 2024. For your convenience, book a hotel that has a shuttle service and a restaurant on the premises.

Various recommended airport hotels:

Accommodation in Cape Town

There are various options of accommodation in Cape Town depending on where you want to stay; i.e.: at the Waterfront, in the City, at the beach.  For your convenience, book a hotel that has a shuttle service and restaurant facilities on the premises.

Accommodation options can be explored here: https://hotels.travelstart.com

Travelling by InterCape bus

The InterCape Bus Company offers bus transport from around South Africa.  You can purchase your ticket online at www.intercape.co.za

InterCape Bus

InterCape Depots

Johannesburg Depot – Intercape Office, Park City Transit Centre, Johannesburg Station
Cape Town Depot – Intercape Office, Unit 2, Old Marine Drive, Cape Town Station
Upington Depot – Intercape Office, Lutz Street
Kakamas Depot – Kalahari Gateway Hotel, Voortrekker Street

Transfers to and from the Augrabies Falls National Park from Kakamas.

KAEM books transfers to and from Upington Airport via Kakamas to the Augrabies Falls National Park, with Ecobus, a local bus hire company in Augrabies. The bus will stop at the Kalahari Gateway Hotel in Kakamas to pick up and drop off participants traveling from and to Kakamas to Augrabies Falls National Park. These transfers cost R100 each way (R200 return) and this amount can be added onto your entry fee.  From Kakamas it is a 35km road trip and we have allocated 30min for this trip.

Kakamas / Augrabies Falls National Park:

In case you may choose to travel by bus to Kakamas, please contact Simoné at simone@kaem.co.za and inform her of your travel arrangements. Transfer will be arranged for you, if possible to coincide with the transfer from Upington Airport to Augrabies Falls and return.

Travelling to Augrabies Falls National Park by car

You may travel to Augrabies Falls National Park by car, either directly to the Park or to Upington International Airport where you can make use of the KAEM bus travel option to Augrabies Falls National Park.

Car hire options can be explored here: http://cars.travelstart.co.za/#/searchcars

Accommodation options at Augrabies prior to and after the race

For those participants that choose Package Option 2, please arrange your own accommodation and meals for prior to and after the race.

Accommodation options in and around Augrabies includes:

Alternatively, you can browse Lekkerslaap.co.za for more options.