Traveling is fun, and the excitement starts from planning your travel. While most people tend to stick to the normal, flying major carriers like American and staying at Marriotts, one "hotel" in South Africa might look appealing to travelers who are interested in aviation and want their stay to be special and memorable.
 

The Aerotel in South Africa

Aerotel is a hotel in Hoedspruit, South Africa, 450km Northeast of Johannesburg. Hoedspruit is known for ecotourism, thanks to its proximity to nearby Kruger National Park.

The town is served by Air Force Base Hoedspruit, known as Eastgate Airport, for civilian flights. Airlink and CemAir operate flights from Cape Town and Johannesburg.

The hotel itself consists of two aircraft, a Boeing 737 and a Boeing 727. According to Aerotel, the 737 accommodates six cabins, while the 727 offers the entire plane for private lodging.

While the Aerotel might differ a lot from your typical Marriott, it offers the same amenities as any 4-star hotel should. It features a full dining restaurant, complimentary breakfast, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, a guest lounge, and even an outdoor pool with a bar. Spa services nearby are also offered on request, along with in-room dining.

BIL Business Class

The BIL Business Class rooms are located in the 737. There are six cabins, each named after six different cloud formations. The cabins have a nice layout with large beds and separate shower booths, despite the Boeing 737 being a narrowbody aircraft. 

From its appearance, the cabin definitely looks more like the Etihad Residences than a business-class cabin. It might even offer more than the Residences, as the cabins in the Aerotel are across the full width of the aircraft, unlike the Residences, which only use half of the aircraft width!

While the cabins might not look like real aircraft cabins, they do seem to balance the use of an airplane with providing a decent hotel room.

SAL VIP

SAL VIP is located in the 727. Actually, SAL VIP is the entire 727. The trijet has been converted into a nice home, with bedrooms, a full kitchen, and even a living room.

SAL (nicknamed Sally by Aerotel) was actually a presidential aircraft back in its flying days, so the legacy for VIP use continues today as a luxury house. With more room space than a typical junior suite, SAL VIP seems best for families and larger groups.

Aircraft Information

Before being converted into a hotel, these Boeings flew busily in their heydays. First, let's look at the Boeing 737 used as BIL Business Class.

This Boeing 737, registered as ZS-BIL (hence the hotel branding), is a Boeing 737-200 variant. With a line number of 806, it was first delivered new in October 1981 to Ansett Airlines (later known as Star Alliance founding member Ansett Australia Airlines), with registration number VH-CZR.

Since then, the 737 has had several ownership changes, including America West, Aerovista in Kyrgyzstan, Kam Air in Afghanistan, and Starline KZ in Kazakhstan. In January 2011, the 737 was transferred to Gryphon Airlines and registered as ZS-BIL. It was leased to Allegiance Airways Gabon from 2011 to 2016, and finally, in 2019, the retired 737 was converted into a hotel.

The second aircraft, the Boeing 727, was added to the hotel in June 2021, to add a VIP suite for their accommodation offerings. This 727, a Boeing 727-100, was registered as J2-KBA.

With a line number 418, the 727 was delivered new to Frontier Airlines (not the low-cost airline today) on June 2nd, 1967, with registration number N7273F. This means the 727 is over 57 years old now! Braniff then used it for private use (Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway Company), Dart, and DSTS until April 2001.

After that, the Djibouti Government acquired this 727 for presidential use and registered the trijet as J2-KBA. Interestingly, J2-KBA was also used as a registration number for a Dassault Falcon 50, which the Djibouti government also used in the past.

J2-KBA flew for the government until 2012 and was parked until the hotel acquired the aging aircraft. It was transported from Johannesburg O.R Tambo Airport to Hoedspruit on a five-day journey. The 727 was said to already be equipped with 18 beds.

Bottom Line

The Aerotel in Hoedspruit is a fun place to stay while visiting Kruger National Park. From promising amenities to unique cabins to stay the night, the Aerotel could give visitors a lasting memory of their African adventure.

While the Radisson just down the street might sound promising for visitors who just need a good night's sleep, the Aerotel seems like the better option. It provides everything that a four-star hotel should, plus the uniqueness of sleeping inside a luxury aircraft cabin. Of course, the complimentary breakfast is also hard to turn down!

Rates at the Aerotel start at 3900 rands, or 215 USD, depending on currency exchange rates. To be eligible for a refund, you must cancel at least 30 days in advance.