Last Word
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The three Cape hotels are a drive from Cape Town International Airport. The safari lodges take a flight plus a road transfer, or a longer drive. Flights to Madikwe and road transfers are not included in the rate, but our Reservations team can arrange them for you at an additional cost. This guide shows the options for each property and how to combine them in one trip. All times are approximate and depend on traffic.
Travel times at a glance
| Hotel or lodge | Nearest airport | By road |
|---|---|---|
| Last Word Constantia | Nearest airport: Cape Town International | By road: About 25 to 30 minutes from the airport |
| Last Word Franschhoek | Nearest airport: Cape Town International | By road: About one hour from the airport |
| Last Word Long Beach | Nearest airport: Cape Town International | By road: About 45 minutes from the airport; 45 to 60 minutes from the city centre |
| Last Word Kitara | Nearest airport: Hoedspruit (Eastgate) Airport | By road: About 90 minutes from the airport through the reserve; about 6 hours from Johannesburg |
| Last Word Madikwe | Nearest airport: Madikwe West Airstrip, with Federal Airlines from OR Tambo (about one hour) | By road: About 4 hours from Johannesburg and OR Tambo International Airport |
| Last Word Makanyane | Nearest airport: Madikwe Eastern Airstrip, with Federal Airlines from OR Tambo (about one hour), then about 20 minutes to the lodge | By road: About 4 to 5 hours from Johannesburg and OR Tambo International Airport, depending on the route |
Getting to Last Word Kitara
Last Word Kitara is in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, in the Greater Kruger. The nearest airport is Hoedspruit (Eastgate). There are direct scheduled flights from Johannesburg and Cape Town, with some additional services depending on the season; schedules change, so our Reservations team will advise on the best option. From the airport, the road transfer through the reserve takes about 90 minutes and can be arranged at an additional cost. Our Romance Unleashed package already includes transfers.
Driving from Johannesburg takes about 6 hours. You need an SUV or 4x4-type vehicle for the roads in the reserve. Self-drive guests enter through Incheni Gate, which is open from 06:00 to 18:00, so plan to reach the gate well before 18:00. Our driving directions are on the Kitara page.
Getting to Last Word Madikwe and Last Word Makanyane
Both lodges are in the Madikwe area of North West Province, close to the Botswana border. You have two options:
- Fly: Federal Airlines flies from its own facility at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to Madikwe in about an hour. Our Reservations team can book the flights for you at an additional cost, so you don't have to arrange them yourself. Last Word Madikwe guests land at the Madikwe West Airstrip. Makanyane guests land at the Madikwe Eastern Airstrip, about 20 minutes from the lodge; the return transfer between the airstrip and Makanyane is included in the rate. Applicable landing fees are separate reserve charges.
- Drive: Last Word Madikwe is about four hours by road from Johannesburg and OR Tambo International Airport; self-drive guests use Wonderboom Gate, which is open from 06:00 to 18:00 daily. Last Word Makanyane is about four to five hours by road, depending on the route, and has its own private gate, so there is no gate fee there. Driving directions for both lodges are on their pages.
No malaria tablets are needed for Madikwe and Makanyane, which makes them an easy safari to add to a short trip or a family holiday.
Getting to the Cape hotels
All three Cape hotels are reached from Cape Town International Airport.
- Last Word Constantia is in the Constantia Valley, in Cape Town's southern suburbs, about 25 to 30 minutes from the airport. The area's historic wine estates, Kirstenbosch and Table Mountain are close by.
- Last Word Long Beach is directly on the beach in the village of Kommetjie, on the Atlantic side of the Cape Peninsula: about 45 minutes from the airport and 45 to 60 minutes from the city centre. Cape Point is about 35 to 40 minutes away and Boulders Beach about 30 to 35 minutes.
- Last Word Franschhoek is on the high street of Franschhoek village, in the Cape Winelands, about one hour from the airport. Once you are there, the restaurants, galleries and shops are within easy walking distance.
Airport transfers and transfers between our hotels can be arranged on request at an additional cost. In the Cape we can also arrange private drivers and guided day trips, from simple private transport to a fully guided day tour, at an additional cost and subject to availability.
Combining safari and the Cape in one trip
Most guests combine a safari with a stay in the Cape. The easiest route is to fly into Cape Town, spend a few days at Constantia, Long Beach or Franschhoek, then fly to Hoedspruit for Kitara, or to Johannesburg for Madikwe and Makanyane. You can also do it the other way round.
Our packages are built around these routes:
- The 9-Night Journey: Kitara or Madikwe, then Franschhoek, then Constantia.
- Romance Unleashed: Long Beach, Franschhoek, then Kitara.
- Family Adventure: Madikwe, then Constantia.
- Exclusive Use: Long Beach, then Kitara or Madikwe.
Tell us your dates and our Reservations team will plan the flights, transfers and order of stays with you, and point you to any current direct offers. Call +27 21 794 6561 or email stay@thelastword.co.za. Still choosing where to stay? Read Kitara, Madikwe or Makanyane? and Constantia, Long Beach or Franschhoek?.