Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport – MQP Mpumalanga
Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) is a public airport located 16.7 miles from Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa. This privately-owned airport began its construction in 2011 and is under the operations of Primkop Airport Management (Pty) Ltd. MQP serves as the hub for Airlink and Federal Air with scheduled flights to local and regional destinations including Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Livingstone, Vilankulo, Skukuza, Timbavati, and Phinda. In 2018, this airport served 271,809 passengers coming in and out of Mpumalanga.
Best Time to Visit
This airport was opened to replace Nelspruit Airport (NLP), a smaller airport situated in Mbombela. MQP-Mpumalanga currently serves the residents of Mpumalanga Province as well as tourists who are flying in to visit Kruger National Park. Mpumalanga shares its borders with other provinces such as Limpopo, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Free State.
Meanwhile, Kruger National Park is one of Africa’s biggest game reserves and is the first national park in South Africa with protected areas. This huge tourist attraction draws in many travelers from all over the world. Aside from Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park, MQP Airport also serves the town of Hazyview.
What to Do & Area Attractions
Visitors flying into Mpumalanga have two options, MQP Airport or Nelspruit Airport (NLP). The distance between MQP to NLP is 22.5 miles or a 40-minute drive.
When it comes to booking hotels near the airport, travelers have plenty of options to choose from. The Muluwa Lodge is a popular choice for many tourists thanks to its stunning panoramic views of the mountains. The Destiny Lodge White River by Bon Hotels is another excellent choice and is only 2.4 miles from MQP.