EXPLORE Kempton Park

Kempton Park, situated on the East Rand in Gauteng, is a large town next to which international airport was built. It is a mere 32km drive to Johannesburg city and a 50km drive to Pretoria.  

Established in 1903, Karl Wolff subdivided a portion of his Zuurfontein farm into residential stands and named the new village Kempten, after the Bavarian town where he was born. It was later anglicized to Kempton Park where Jan Smuts Airport was built in 1952. This too was renamed to Johannesburg International Airport in the 90’s and again renamed to Oliver Thambo International Airport in 2006. It is Africa’s busiest airport with one of the world’s longest international airport runways and is a modern complex of six terminals that host 60 different airlines.

Kempton Park was declared a city in 1992 and boasts 5 major high schools, a number of entertainment and sporting facilities and many shopping malls. The Deli and Arts & Crafts Market is a popular quarterly run market that bring traders and culinary delights from all across South Africa, definitely worth a visit when in Kempton Park. There are numerous places where Day Spas can be enjoyed to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and working life. Motocross and quad biking sports are a popular phenomenon amongst the locals, so you will be sure to find many tracks in and around the city including the Rally Star Track Racing circuit. 

Situated next to one of the largest townships in South Africa, Tembisa where you can go on a Township Tour and gain insight into the soul of true township living. Kempton Park is also home to a fantastic museum, Kempton Steam Museum where the world’s largest working triple-expansion steam engine can be found. With a fascinating history of the development of technology and engineering in South Africa can be witnessed. This truly is a must-do when visiting Kempton Park.

Kempton Park accommodation is superb and ideally situated within close proximity to the international airport. A variety of hotels, guest houses, bed and breakfasts and self-catering houses and apartments are available to travellers alike.