Woodford @ OR Tambo International Airport

OR Tambo International is Africa’s gateway into Johannesburg and, for the majority of visitors flying in from abroad, into South Africa.

As Africa’s busiest airport, the world-class facilities are designed to accommodate traffic of around 28 million visitors per year from the 40 international and domestic airlines it hosts, while employing some 18 000 people to ensure that everything runs smoothly on the ground and in the air.

As with all major airports, the sheer size of OR Tambo can be a little daunting for first-time travelers. Woodford Car Hire offers some information about the country’s largest airport:

Security

As with most major airports in South Africa, a South African Police Service (SAPS) unit can be found at OR Tambo International Airport. You’d likely find members of the SAPS patrolling the airport, as well as ACSA officials stationed at both the domestic and international terminals. The airport is considered to be relatively safe, but still requires a degree of caution, especially for first-time visitors.

Restaurants

The airport boasts an extremely wide range of restaurant and fast food outlets, located at a number of places within the airport. The main food court can be found on the mezzanine floor between the domestic departures level and the domestic arrivals levels.

Business

OR Tambo has a full bevy of business-orientated services and facilities, including a conference and business support centre. Wi-Fi hotspots are many, and can be found in most areas of the airport. Travellers can also make use of internet cafés for a fixed connection, with facilities in both the general area of the airport as well as beyond the security check-in gates.

Transport

There are many ways of getting from OR Tambo International to Johannesburg (and back). The rapid rail system, the Gautrain will get you from the airport to Sandton – the corporate hub of the city – in 13 minutes and costs around $12. There are also ACSA-accredited taxi services available at both the international arrivals and domestic arrivals terminals, but one should always be wary, asking for drivers’ credentials if they suspect anything to be amiss.

Car Rental

The easiest and most flexible way of getting around the city and exploring Johannesburg during your stay would be to rent a vehicle. And there would be no one better to rent from than South Africa’s largest independent vehicle rental company, Woodford Car Hire.

Woodford Car Hire can be found among the other rental agencies, a level below the international arrivals sections.