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Travel from the USA to Johannesburg, South Africa
There are many Airlines and many routes to Johannesburg, South Africa. From the US to any European hub will work. Some would prefer to stay over in a European city such as Amsterdam, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Lisbon and others.
However, if time and/or cost are factors and you can endure a very long flight, the most direct ones are from New York JFK, Washington DC Dulles and Atlanta. Of the three only one is non-stop, Washington DC Dulles on South African Airways. The other two stop in Dakar, Senegal for refueling and a crew change for about an hour. You will not be allowed to deplane in Dakar.
Currently, South African Airways departs Washington DC Dulles daily at 5:20 p.m. and arrives
Johannesburg, SA at 3:30 p.m. the next day. Remember, during the fall and winter, Southeast Africa is 7 hours later than Eastern Standard Time. That's 15 hours, 30 minutes non-stop. All three return flights stop for refueling and crew change either on Sal Island, Cape Verde or Dakar, Senegal. South African Airways currently departs both New York JFK and Washington DC Dulles. Delta Airlines has initiated a route from Atlanta to Johannesburg. Delta from Atlanta and South African from JFK stop both directions for refueling and a crew change.
If you are traveling only to Maputo, you can make the last connection on Mozambique Airways (LAM) at 7:55 p.m. arriving Maputo at 8:55 p.m. To continue on from Johannesburg to Maputo by South African Airways requires that you stay until the next day in Johannesburg. Flying LAM may be your most efficient pattern to Maputo. However, if you are continuing on to Pemba, you may want to stay in Johannesburg and then connect to Pemba via Maputo the next day on LAM. Currently, South African Airways flies only to Maputo. South African Airlink flies direct to Pemba, two days a week and to Beira, near Dondo, only on certain days. Ideally, booking your Mozambican domestic flights prior to booking your international flight is preferred since every option domestically in Mozambique is not the same each day.
The above paragraphs offer some suggestions and options. However, some airlines change their schedules often. Be sure you have the most up to date information before you begin your booking.
This is particularly true of LAM in Mozambique.
South African Airways Website
Delta Airlines Website
Please note that Mozambique Airlines (LAM) is Currently not part of the International Airline Reservation System
Please note: Iris Ministries has a corporate account with LAM (Mozambique Airlines). Heidi uses LAM often. You can help Heidi by making a copy of your itinerary that contain your LAM flights. Heidi will get mileage credits when you turn in the copy of your LAM schedule to Ania Noster, Pamela Maxwell or Shara Pradhan at Pemba.
Since LAM is currently not part of the international airline reservation system, booking flights on LAM can be a challenge. South African Airways does fly from Johannesburg to Maputo and South African Airlink flies from Johannesburg to Beira. Beira is the Mozambican Airport for traveling to our base in Dondo.
Currently, the easiest way to book LAM flights for domestic travel in Mozambique is through the Dana Agency in South Africa. See their website link below. You can phone them or work with them by email. Remember that South Africa and Mozambique are 7 hours later than Eastern Standard Time in the fall and winter and 6 hours in the spring and summer.
travel from Johannesburg to Maputo
You have two good alternatives for getting from Jo'burg to Maputo and back.
The first and most convenient is to add a connecting flight to your itinerary. If your travel agent adds it as a leg to your itinerary, it's less expensive than booking a separate return flight. Generally it is possible for your travel agent to arrange your flight schedules without an overnight stay in Johannesburg. If you provide the details of your arrival, we will meet you at the airport.
The other is to rent a vehicle, which you could do at the airport in Jo'burg. This is convenient, but expensive. Driving here is challenging (and on the left side of the road). *NB—Be sure to specify that the vehicle is being driven to Mozambique—many rented vehicles cannot be taken across the border into Mozambique. A valid driver's license from your home country is all that's required, but you may want to get an International Driver's Permit from your local Automobile Association, as well. If you choose to get a vehicle, you will need to get directions from us to our Zimpeto location outside Maputo. Vehicles of all descriptions can also be rented once you arrive in Maputo—either at the airport itself or in the city.
The new Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (KMIA) is open near Nelspruit, just 90 minutes drive from the Mozambique border and very near Kruger National Park. This will create some interesting new possibilities for our visitors—including vehicle rental at KMIA in order to visit Kruger and drive to Maputo and back. It may be possible to arrange your flight itinerary to fly directly to KMIA instead of through Johannesburg, South Africa.
(There are also bus connections available between Jo'burg, Nelspruit and Maputo. However, due to the many inconveniences associated with this option--and the unreliability of the service--we are no longer recommending this alternative to our visitors.)
South African Airways Website
Mozambique Airlines Website in Portuguese
Mozambique Airlines Website in English
Dana Agency, Nelspruit, South Africa
Dana Agency Maputo, Mozambique Contact Information
Travel From Johannesburg To Pemba
Pemba is about 1,000 miles north of Maputo. Most will fly to Pemba via Johannesburg. You have two choices of airways from Johannesburg to Maputo, South African Airways (SAA) and Mozambique Airways (LAM). However, traveling on north from Maputo to Pemba can only be done on LAM. Therefore, the connections are sometimes better by traveling LAM from Johannesburg to Pemba via Maputo. On LAM to Pemba from Johannesburg, the flight always stops at Maputo. Most of the continuing flights to Pemba will stop at either Beira or Nampula. The direct flights from Maputo to Pemba or return to Maputo currently only happen once a week subject to change monthly.
There is a connection from Johannesburg by South African Airlink (SAA) to Beira and then LAM on to Pemba but it is not scheduled daily as the flights are from Maputo. The number of flights have been increasing so schedules continue to improve. Depending on your flight to Johannesburg, you may have to overnight in Johannesburg or Maputo to make the connection to Pemba.
Both LAM and SAA have websites that are located on the "Links" page of this site. Even though LAM has been improving recently, making the reservations on LAM can be challenging since LAM currently is not on the international reservation system that most travel agencies use. The cost of flying LAM from Johannesburg to Pemba return varies depending on when, which flight, where and who makes the reservations. The cost range is currently between $550 and $950 coach.
Another option is to fly to Pemba via Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from the north. LAM recently started a route from Nairobi, Kenya via Dar es Salaam to Pemba. Currently, it is not a daily flight.
Everyone needs to be aware of the huge reduction in allowable luggage weight from international flights to domestic flights. This is always a problem flying into Pemba. Accessing Pemba from an international flight is not possible. Be sure to check with your airline choice on allowable luggage weights or you may pay an unreasonable amount in excess luggage charges from either Dar es Salaam or Maputo on the way to Pemba.
More recently, South African Airlink flies direct from Johannesburg to Pemba return. As of this posting flights are available to Pemba return only on Tuesday and Saturday. This is a good choice for the following reasons:
You can book the South African Airlink through South African Airways as a leg of your total trip if you use South African Airways to Johannesburg. Your luggage can be checked through to Pemba thus eliminating the problem with a huge reduction in luggage weight allowance from international flights. Since the South African Airlink leg is available only on Tuesday and Saturday, you must
coordinate the rest of your trip to arrive and return to Johannesburg on the correct day for your connections.
Another option is as follows:
In case any of you are interested in booking the Pemba-Joburg South African/Airlink flight thru the Pemba Beach Hotel (though the savings is very minimal) you can directly contact:
Elize Scheepers
:: Reservations & Systems Manager
:: [t] +27 11 467 1277 :: [f] +27 11 465 9623
:: [c] +27 (0) 83 642 1663 :: [skype] elizeatrani
:: Durham House, Fourways Office Park, Roos Str, Fourways
:: elize@raniresorts.com :: www.raniresorts.com
Or you can call the Pemba airport South African Airways/Airlink office at either number below:
+258 825625720
+258 27221700
They are located upstairs at the Pemba airport and are open Monday-Friday 9am-4pm to go and pick up your ticket. (They are not closed for lunch)
Mozambique Airlines Website in English
Dana Agency, Nelspruit, South Africa
Dana Agency Maputo, Mozambique Contact Information
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