Kempton Park

Kempton Park is a city in the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality of Gauteng, South Africa. Established in 1903 on the Zuurfontein farm by German settler Karl Wolff, the settlement was named after his hometown Kempten before being Anglicised. Situated on the Witwatersrand Highveld plateau at an altitude of 1,600 metres (5,250 feet), the city has a population of approximately 170,000 residents.

The city developed from an agricultural settlement into a major commercial and industrial hub following the construction of Jan Smuts Airport in 1952, renamed O. R. Tambo International Airport in 2006. Today, Kempton Park consists of residential suburbs including Birchleigh, Van Riebeeck Park, Norkem Park, and Glen Marais, alongside industrial districts like Isando and Spartan that house freight logistics operations.

Subtropical highveld weather brings warm summers with rain and dry, cool winters. Visitors primarily enter Kempton Park for airline transfers, business conferences at Emperors Palace, or golf at the local 18-hole course.

By Air

O. R. Tambo International Airport (IATA: JNB) sits directly inside Kempton Park, 2 to 8 km from central residential districts. South African domestic airlines include FlySafair, Airlink, South African Airways, and Lift, connecting to Cape Town (2 hours 10 minutes), Durban (1 hour 10 minutes), and Port Elizabeth (1 hour 40 minutes). International carriers include Emirates, Qatar Airways, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Delta, and United, with direct flights from London (11 hours) and Dubai (8 hours). Ride-hailing from the terminals to local hotels costs ZAR 80–180 ($4.40–$10 USD).

By Train

The Gautrain high-speed rail network operates the Airport Line through Kempton Park via Rhodesfield Station. Gautrain services run every 10 to 20 minutes. A trip from O. R. Tambo Airport to Rhodesfield takes 3 minutes, while connecting to Sandton takes 12 minutes (ZAR 45–60 / $2.50–$3.30 USD from Rhodesfield, or ZAR 220 / $12 USD from the airport station). Transfers at Sandton link to Pretoria in roughly 45 minutes total. Trains feature modern, single-class air-conditioned seating. Metrorail Gauteng operates low-cost commuter trains on the Springs–Kempton Park–Johannesburg line, stopping at Kempton Park and Birchleigh stations (ZAR 10–20 / $0.55–$1.10 USD).

By Bus

Ekurhuleni Bus Services (EBS) and Putco run regional commuter buses connecting Kempton Park to Johannesburg CBD (25 km west) and neighbouring East Rand towns. Buses run every 20 to 30 minutes during morning and evening peak hours (06:00–08:30 and 16:00–18:30) and hourly off-peak, with a journey time of 45 to 60 minutes to central Johannesburg (ZAR 25–40 / $1.35–$2.20 USD). Long-distance intercity bus lines (Intercape, Greyhound) operate out of Johannesburg Park Station, 25 km west. Citybug Shuttle Service runs express buses from O. R. Tambo Airport to Mbombela/Nelspruit 4 times daily (4 hours journey time, ZAR 450 / $25 USD).

By Car

Kempton Park connects directly to the Gauteng highway grid via the R21 (Albertina Sisulu Freeway), N12, and R24 routes. The R21 highway links Kempton Park to Pretoria (50 km north, 35 to 45 minutes drive time). The N12 highway connects to Johannesburg CBD (25 km west, 25 to 35 minutes drive time).

Car rental desks for Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Budget, and Tempest operate inside O. R. Tambo Airport, with daily rental rates starting from ZAR 350 ($19 USD). Ride-hailing apps Uber and Bolt operate throughout Kempton Park, charging ZAR 40–150 ($2.20–$8.25 USD) for suburban trips. Minibus taxis run along Pretoria Road and CR Swart Drive, charging ZAR 15–25 ($0.80–$1.40 USD) per passenger. Gautrain midibus feeder routes connect Rhodesfield Station to nearby commercial zones for ZAR 13 ($0.70 USD).

• Emperors Palace Resort (64 Jones Rd) — Casino, hotel, and entertainment complex adjacent to the airport perimeter. General resort entrance is free; show tickets at the Theatre of Marcellus cost ZAR 150–500 ($8–$27 USD).

• Kempton Park Golf Club (Green Green Ave) — An 18-hole parkland course established in 1965 where Ernie Els played during his youth. Visitor green fees cost ZAR 250–450 ($14–$25 USD).

• Festival Mall Ice Rink (CR Swart Dr & Kelvin St) — An indoor ice skating rink inside Festival Mall. Entry costs ZAR 120 ($6.60 USD), with skate rental at ZAR 60 ($3.30 USD).

• O. R. Tambo Airport Viewing Deck (Terminal 1 Upper Level) — Public observation terrace overlooking the airport aprons and main runways. Free entry.

• Modderfontein Nature Reserve (Ardeer Rd, Modderfontein) — A 275-hectare reserve located 10 km west of Kempton Park with native flora and dam habitats. Adult entry costs ZAR 40 ($2.20 USD); children pay ZAR 20 ($1.10 USD).

• AECI Dynamite Factory Museum (1 Francis St, Modderfontein) — Located inside an 1895 residence 10 km west of the city, displaying the history of explosives manufacturing on the Witwatersrand. Entry costs ZAR 30 ($1.65 USD).

• Ice Skate at Festival Mall — Skate at the East Rand's only indoor ice rink, open daily for public sessions.

• Play Golf at Kempton Park Golf Club — Play 18 holes on the tree-lined fairways. Equipment hire is available at the pro shop.

• Attend Shows at Emperors Palace — Watch live musical performances and stand-up comedy at the Theatre of Marcellus.

• Walk Trails at Modderfontein Reserve — Follow four marked hiking and mountain biking trails running along the Modderfontein Spruit.

• Watch Aircraft at Bonaero Park — Observe arriving long-haul international flights on final approach to runway 03L/21R from public streets in Bonaero Park.

• Tribes African Grill & Steakhouse (Emperors Palace, 64 Jones Rd) — Steakhouse serving flame-grilled beef cuts, kudu, springbok, and ribs. Mains cost ZAR 180–360 ($10–$20 USD).
• Plaka (Emperors Palace, 64 Jones Rd) — Greek restaurant offering souvlaki, grilled calamari, and meze platters. Mains cost ZAR 140–280 ($7.70–$15.50 USD).
• Paco's Restaurant (Gleneagles Rd) — Portuguese eatery known for peri-peri chicken, prawns, and rump steak. Mains cost ZAR 130–250 ($7.15–$13.75 USD).
• RocoMamas (Festival Mall, CR Swart Dr) — Fast-casual diner serving smashburgers, chicken wings, and craft beers. Mains cost ZAR 90–170 ($5–$9.35 USD).
• Thato's Kitchen (Kempton Park CBD) — Traditional South African dining serving mogodu (tripe), pap, beef stew, and chakalaka. Mains cost ZAR 60–110 ($3.30–$6 USD).

• News Café (Festival Mall) — Chain bar and lounge serving cocktails, coffee, and light meals.
• Hangar 22 (Bonaero Park Shopping Centre) — Local pub with aviation memorabilia, sports screens, and draught beer.
• Water Safety: Tap water across Kempton Park is treated by Rand Water and is safe to drink.

• Budget: Road Lodge O.R. Tambo Airport (Kempton Park perimeter) — Simple air-conditioned rooms with private bathrooms near the airport terminal. Rates start from ZAR 850 ($47 USD) per night.
• Mid-range: Premier Hotel O.R. Tambo Airport (73 Gladiator St, Rhodesfield) — Hotel offering free airport transfers, an outdoor pool, and an on-site restaurant. Rates start from ZAR 1,400 ($77 USD) per night.
• Mid-range: City Lodge Hotel O.R. Tambo Airport (Above Multi-Storey Parking 2) — Hotel situated directly within the airport grounds. Rates start from ZAR 1,800 ($99 USD) per night.
• Upscale: InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (Opposite International Arrivals) — Five-star hotel featuring an indoor heated pool, full-service spa, and fine-dining restaurant. Rates start from ZAR 3,800 ($210 USD) per night.
• Upscale: Peermont D'Oreale Grande at Emperors Palace (64 Jones Rd) — Five-star hotel resort with formal gardens, casino access, and dining venues. Rates start from ZAR 3,200 ($175 USD) per night.

• Festival Mall (CR Swart Dr & Kelvin St) — Shopping center containing 150 retail stores, including major South African supermarket chains Pick n Pay and Checkers.
• Emperors Palace Retail Galleria (64 Jones Rd) — Specialty shops selling South African leather goods, gold jewellery, and travel accessories.

• Johannesburg (25 km west) — South Africa's economic center, featuring the Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill, and Soweto township tours. Reachable in 25 minutes via the N12 highway or 15 minutes on the Gautrain.
• Pretoria (50 km north) — South Africa's administrative capital, featuring the Union Buildings, Freedom Park, and the Voortrekker Monument. Reachable in 40 minutes via the R21 highway.
• Benoni (15 km southeast) — East Rand town featuring the Lakeside Mall, Benoni Lake Golf Club, and the Bunny Park. Reachable in 15 minutes via the R23 route.
• Cradle of Humankind (65 km northwest) — UNESCO World Heritage site housing hominid fossil sites at Sterkfontein Caves and the Maropeng Visitor Centre. Reachable in 60 minutes via the R21 and N14.
• Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve (50 km south) — Protected highveld reserve near Heidelberg offering hiking trails and game drives. Reachable in 45 minutes via the R59 highway.