One of the questions we’re often asked by prospective walkers is:

“How do I get from the airport to Nieu-Bethesda?”

Until now, many guests have hired a car and driven the approximately 316km from Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (formerly Port Elizabeth Airport) to Nieu-Bethesda – a beautiful road trip, but one that can feel daunting, especially for solo travellers, international visitors, or anyone arriving specifically to walk one of our Caminos.

So we’re delighted to share some news.

Our Airport Shuttle Service – Launching May 2026

From May 2026, Slackpacking the Karoo will offer an airport shuttle service between Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (Gqeberha) and Nieu-Bethesda, available at an additional cost.

This means you can now arrive, be collected, and settle into your Karoo adventure with far less planning and far more ease.

Why we’re offering this:

We’ve listened to our walkers.

Many people have told us they love the idea of joining a Camino, but the travel logistics have felt like a barrier.

We wanted to remove that barrier.

Now getting to the Karoo can be part of the relaxation – not another thing to organise.

This is ideal for:

Solo Travellers

No car hire needed. No navigating unfamiliar roads.

International Guests

A smoother, simpler way to join your Caminos.

Friend Groups

Travel together from the airport and let the adventure begin from day one.

Corporate & Team Building Groups

Our shuttle service makes it even easier for teams to escape the city and join one of our shorter slackpacking experiences as a memorable team-building retreat.

Imagine swapping the boardroom for big skies.

Find out more about the 100km Nieu-Bethesda Camino