TRAVEL TO SOUTH AFRICA AND SKUKUZA

Various international airlines offer flights to South Africa. Delegates should make their own travel arrangements to and from South Africa. Most international flights will arrive at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. From there, Skukuza is about 438 km by road. The Kruger Park gates close at 18:00 in October, and delegates should make sure to be there in time following arrival at Johannesburg. There are no regular shuttles between the airports and Skukuza, and therefore the conference organisers are arranging a dedicated conference shuttle service. Return transport in small buses (maximum 13 passengers) between OR Tambo International Airport to Skukuza will be provided for delegates at an additional cost. These vehicles will also be available during the week of the conference for delegates who booked the service to do sight-seeing early morning and in the afternoon. Should you require any assistance or advice about your travel to Skukuza, please contact the Conference secretary.

ORGANISED TRAVEL TO AND FROM SKUKUZA
Transport from OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg): The journey time is about six hours (438 km), including comfort stops.

The shuttle service has to be booked in advance and be paid for together with registration and accommodation fees. Please indicate on the online registration form if you wish to use the minibus transport option. You will also have to communicate your arrival and departure times at OR Tambo with the conference secretary once you have made the arrangements.  PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU CAN COMPLETE YOUR REGISTRATION FORM WITHOUT THIS DETAIL – we just need to know whether you will make use of the service.

IMPORTANT:  In order to have sufficient time to comfortably reach the Kruger Park before the gates close, the shuttles must leave O R Tambo International Airport no later than 11:00 on Sunday 11 October 2026. If you are going to use the shuttle, please ensure that your flight arrives in Johannesburg sufficiently early (allowing time for immigration formalities, baggage retrieval and flight delays) to meet that deadline. Also, the return shuttles will leave Skukuza at 08:00 on Friday 16 October 2026 and should reach O R Tambo International Airport between 15:00 and 16:00. Your return flights should be booked to allow sufficient time for security and check-in procedures and for unforeseen delays.

Transport from Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (Nelspruit/Mbombela) 
Delegates could opt to fly from Johannesburg to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, which is about 95 km, or 1 hour 50 minutes’ drive from Skukuza. Local carriers have regular flights from Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban to KMIA.

Transport from Skukuza Airport (Skukuza) 
Delegates could also fly from Johannesburg to Skukuza Airport, which is about 20 minutes’ drive from Skukuza. Only a few flights are offered per day from OR Tambo International Airport.

Please check the Conference Fees page for the transport fees.

Private travel to Skukuza
Delegates who wish to make their own way to Skukuza by private vehicle can consult the Kruger Park website for routes from the Johannesburg area to the various gates of the Park. The closest entry gate to Skukuza is the Kruger gate.

Please note: in October, the Park and camp gates all open at 05:30 and close at 18:00. Please ensure you arrive at the Park with sufficient time to pass through the formalities at the Park gate and then to get to Skukuza before 18:00. The Kruger Park website has a table of minimum travel times between the various gates and camps in the Park. For Skukuza, the recommended Park entrance gate is Kruger gate (about 30 minutes’ drive from the gate to Skukuza).

Notes:
1. The minimum travel times do not allow for any stops for game viewing, etc.
2. No motorcycles or open vehicles are allowed in the Park.
3. Outside of the camps, visitors are not allowed to get out of their vehicle in the Park, except at certain specifically designated picnic and viewing sites.
4. Travel within the Park is slower than outside with speed limits in the Park of 50 km/h on tarred roads and 40 km/h on gravel roads and a recommended average speed of 30 km/h. Therefore, if you are pressed for time, rather enter the Park through the Kruger Gate as this is the closest to Skukuza.

Hotels close to OR Tambo International Airport
If your flights are arranged in such a way that you have to arrive a day before or if you have to depart a day later than the above dates, it is recommended that you book accommodation in one of the hotels close to O.R. Tambo International Airport. Please contact the conference secretary for assistance in this regard.

VISAS

Some countries are exempted from visa control, which means that citizens from those countries do not need a visa to visit South Africa. Please visit the website of the South African Department of Home Affairs to see whether your country is one of the exempted ones, or whether you will need a visa to enter South Africa. If you are travelling with children, please make sure that you have all the required documentation with you before departing to South Africa. You can either use the eVisa portal to apply for a Visa, or visit the South African mission in your country.

Visas are not issued at South African ports of entry, and airline officials must insist on visas before allowing passengers to board. If you arrive without a visa, immigration officials are obliged to put you onto a flight back to your home country.

Please contact the conference secretary should you need an invitation letter to submit as part of the required documentation.

DIETARY REQUIREMENTS

Due to the remoteness of the venue, the only special diets which can be offered is vegetarian.  Kosher and Halaal meals are unfortunately not available.

INTERNET ACCESS AND CONNECTIVITY

Good internet connectivity cannot be guaranteed in Skukuza. Please do not rely on connectivity to download any presentations or live streaming.

INVITATION LETTERS

Requests for official Letters of Invitation (to help secure funding or facilitate entry into South Africa for participants) and any other information on the conference should be addressed to the conference secretary (thereza@technoscene.co.za).

MALARIA

The Kruger Park falls within the malaria risk area. The highest risk period is between December and April (end of the rainy season).  Visitors wishing to take prophylactics should consult a knowledgeable medical practitioner or recognized travel clinic about recommended medication, as certain products cause nausea, hallucinations or other negative side effects with certain people. You can visit the website of SANPARKS or the National Department of Health for an explanation on risk and advice on precautionary measures. Many people decide not to take prophylactics and rather try to avoid getting bitten. The most vulnerable times are between dusk and dawn. People are advised to stay indoors during these periods or cover exposed skin with light clothing or insect repellants. The ankles are the most critical area. Please note that no prophylactic is foolproof and any person developing flu-like symptoms 7 to 20 days (or even longer) after being in malaria areas should be tested immediately for malaria, until the symptoms clear or an alternative diagnosis is made. It is important to advise medical practitioners that you have been in a malaria area to avoid incorrect diagnosis. NB Most types of mosquitos do not carry the malaria plasmodium and if one is bitten it does not mean one will contract malaria. Only mosquitoes of the Anopheles genus carry the plasmodium, and then only if they have previously fed on an infected host.

DRESS CODE AND WEATHER

The dress code for the conference sessions and all functions is “informal”.

In October, the weather in Skukuza is generally hot with average temperatures ranging from 27°C to 33°C during the day and cooling down to around 13°C to 17°C at night. The month typically sees about 3 to 8 days of rain, with an average rainfall of around 39 mm. Overall, October offers a mix of warm days and cooler nights, making it a pleasant time to visit, especially if you prefer dry and sunny conditions.

You can click here for a weather forecast of Skukuza for October 2026.

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

The official language of the conference will be English. No simultaneous translation services or interpreters will be provided.

ELECTRICITY

The electricity supply in South Africa is 220/230 Volts AC, 50 Hz.  Hotels are equipped to accept appliances fitted with a 16 Amp 3 point round pin plug.  Most bathrooms are equipped for electrical shavers with 5 Amp 2 pin plugs.

SAFETY

Please be alert and look out for your possessions when you travel in the country.  As in all countries, pickpockets are always around targeting people who look like tourists.  If you travel by car, please keep your doors locked and do not get out of the car in quiet spots – drive to the nearest petrol station or police station, in case of problems. If you are driving yourself, you are welcome to check your planned routes with the conference secretary.

AWARDS

Prizes for the best student poster presentations will be awarded. The Jan Boeyens medal for young scientist will be awarded during a dedicated Jan Boeyens Session.

PHOTO COMPETITION

We are running a fun competition for the best nature picture taken during the conference. Please load your best picture(s) on the computer at the registration desk as soon as possible – we will run them continuously for everyone to enjoy.

Condition: the picture has to be taken in the Kruger Park between 12:00 Sunday 11 October 2026 and 10:00 Thursday 15 October 2026. The ten best pictures will be selected and the delegates will have the opportunity to select the winning picture during the closing session on Thursday.

Picture of hyenas: Heini Dirr, Indaba 9