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We are about 650 km from Johannesburg and
Pretoria and 350 km from Durban. |
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| Durban | Johannesburg | Pretoria . | By Air or Coach | Notes on using the Dirt Road |
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If you are considering using the dirt roads please ring to check the state of them, especially during or after wet weather. |
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FROM DURBAN ± 350 KM - Should take between 3½ and 4 hours. - Please click for full directions Take the N2 toll road from Durban. (Follow signs to the North Coast) You can use the tarred road from Hluhluwe to Mbazwana. You can use this or you can use the Sodwana off ramp, about 10km north of Hluhluwe, followed by about 75 km of dirt road |
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FROM JOHANNESBURG ± 600 KM Should take between 6 & 7 hours. - Please click for full directions Go Via Ermelo -There are three main ways to do this. A. Take the N12 - Take Ogies off ramp (R545) B. Take the N12, N4 - Take Ermelo/Hendrina off Ramp (N11) C. Take the N17 - Through to Ermelo |
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FROM
PRETORIA ±
600 KM Should take between 6
& 7 hours Take the N4 - Take Ermelo/Hendrina off Ramp (N11) |
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You
may want to take advantage of the tarred road from Hluhluwe to the
Mbazwana. Note that this will save you about 60km of dirt road
but will
add about 75km to your journey. It
is about 116km from Pongola to Hluhluwe. |
BY AIROverseas visitors will fly to either Johannesburg or Durban International airport. It is about 6 to 7 hours by car from Johannesburg and about 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours from Durban. The
nearest domestic Airport is Richards Bay. COM AIR have regular daily flights. Alternatively you can use our airport transfer whereby we can pick you up at Richards Bay airport. This will cost R1,050.00 per vehicle There
is a small grass strip at Mbazwana, about 15 km from Sodwana. This strip
accommodates up to 12- seater planes. You can also land a helicopter at the Lodge, but charters would be prohibitively expensive. |
BY
COACH
The nearest set down point for the Greyhound type coaches is Empangeni or Richards Bay. It
takes about 9 hours from Johannesburg (10 ½ from Pretoria). It is still about 2½ hours by car to Sodwana. (From Empangeni get onto the N2 and use the Durban directions.) You can hire a car from here but if you wish you can get a minibus taxi or a bus to Mbazwana. |
BY
BUS TO
MBAZWANA
The bus costs about R30. The minibus taxi will cost about R50 From Mbazwana you can get a minibus taxi to Sodwana Bay Lodge for about R10 Alternatively
you can use our transfer whereby they will pick you up from Empangeni. (Please note prices may change without notice - please ring to check current price) |
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If you are considering using the dirt roads please ring to check the state of them, especially during wet weather. |
| From Durban | ||
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Should take between 3½ and 4 hours. Take the N2 toll road from Durban. (Follow signs to the North Coast) You can use the old way using the Southern Maputaland off ramp, about 10km north of Hluhluwe, followed by about 40 km of dirt road if you want. Most people use the Hluhluwe tarred road, especially as there is an Engen garage and a Wimpy in Hluhluwe Take the N2 to the Hluhluwe off ramp. Into Hluhluwe, past ENGEN & WIMPY on left. At
the T
Junction turn Left. Continue for
about a km then you turn right over the railway line. It will be signposted
Sodwana. Cross over the first two roundabouts and then turn right. You will pass the Engen garage on your left. Continue to the T Junction and turn right. Crossover the next roundabout and then on to Sodwana. You can bypass Sodwana by turning right at the first roundabout onto about half a km of dirt road. Then turn right at the roundabout. The road is tarred all the way to Sodwana Bay Lodge about 10 km away. The Lodge is on your left just after the Garage. Please watch out for Pedestrians the whole way. You must also be careful with Cows and Goats on the road. Via
Southern Maputaland Off Ramp - (Using old way)
N2 to the Southern Maputaland off ramp. (About 10km after Hluhluwe off ramp.) Turn right over the highway. T junction just off the tar. Turn left onto the dirt road. Continue to railway crossing ± 3km. Over the crossing and turn right. Continue on the dirt road past the turn off to Phinda mountain lodge ± 12km Continue on the dirt road past the turn off to Phinda forest lodge ± 12km Another 15km and you join the tar road just before the Lower Mkuze bridge. Cross over bridge and continue all the way to Mbazwana. (about 30km) Cross over the first two roundabouts and then turn right. You will pass the Engen garage on your left. Continue to the T Junction and turn right. Crossover the next roundabout and then on to Sodwana. The road is tarred all the way to Sodwana Bay Lodge about 10 km away. The Lodge is on your left just after the Garage. Please watch out for Pedestrians the whole way. You must also be careful with Cows and Goats on the road. |
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| From Johannesburg | ||
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Should take between 6 & 7 hours. Go Via Ermelo -There are three main ways to do this. A. Take the N12 - Take Ogies off ramp (R545) Go through Ogies and onto the Bethal road. About 64 km to Bethal R545 Go
through Bethal follow signs to Ermelo N17. About 55 km to Ermelo on the N17 B. Take the N12, N4 - Take Ermelo/Hendrina off Ramp (N11) Continue past Witbank & join the N4 . This is now a toll road. Take the N11 off ramp to Ermelo About 102 km to Ermelo on the N11 via Hendrina C. Take the N17 - Through to Ermelo The first part is a toll road. Then through Leandra, Kinross, Bethal and on to Ermelo From
Ermelo: Go through Ermelo follow signs to Piet Retief, The N17 now becomes the N2. About 100 km to Piet Retief on the N2, Go through Piet Retief follow signs to Pongola About 100 km to Pongola on the N2, Go through Pongola follow signs to Mkuzi Most people use the Hluhluwe tarred road, especially as there is an Engen garage and a Wimpy in Hluhluwe
Sodwana Via Hluhluwe Note that this will save you about 60km of dirt road but will
add about 75km to your journey. It
is about 116km from Pongola to Hluhluwe. Take the N2 to the Hluhluwe off ramp. Into Hluhluwe, past ENGEN & WIMPY on left. At
the T
Junction turn Left. Continue for
about a km then you turn right over the railway line. It will be signposted
Sodwana. Cross over the first two roundabouts and then turn right. You will pass the Engen garage on your left. Continue to the T Junction and turn right. Crossover the next roundabout and then on to Sodwana. You can bypass Sodwana by turning right at the first roundabout onto about half a km of dirt road. Then turn right at the roundabout. The road is tarred all the way to Sodwana Bay Lodge about 10 km away. The Lodge is on your left just after the Garage. Please watch out for Pedestrians the whole way. You must also be careful with Cows and Goats on the road.
Sodwana Via Jozini If you are not going go via Hluhluwe take Jozini off ramp, about 55 km from Pongola, which is also called Northern Maputaland. About 20 km to Jozini. The road winds it way up the Ubombo mountains, past Jozini Dam. It is very twisty so be careful. Go through Jozini and it is sign posted right to Sodwana. They have tarred the first few km down the hill and up to the petrol station on the right, and up to the first bridge. About 7 km in all. There is ford at the bottom of the hill so be careful after heavy rain. Then onto the dirt road. The section after the tar has fever trees on either side and has proven to be dangerous when in flood. Be very careful after prolonged heavy rain, especially if the ford was difficult to cross. Go about 12 km to T Junction turn Left. Go about 24 km to Junction turn right. Go about 22 km to Mbazwana where they have tarred the last couple of km's into Mbazwana. The road takes you through Mbazwana where there is Petrol, Shops and an ATM. Keep on the tarred road and you will come to a T Junction, about 0.6 km after veering into Mbazwana. Turn right and after about 300m go across the new roundabout. (Turn right for Hluhluwe). The road is tarred all the way to Sodwana Bay Lodge about 10 km away. The Lodge is on your left just after the Garage. |
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| From Pretoria | ||
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Should
take 6 to 7 hours. Take the N4 Continue past Witbank onto toll road. Take the N11 off ramp to Ermelo About 102 km to Ermelo on the N11 via Hendrina Go through Ermelo follow signs to Piet Retief, The N17 now becomes the N2. About 100 km to Piet Retief on the N2, Go through Piet Retief follow signs to Pongola About 100 km to Pongola on the N2, Go through Pongola follow signs to Mkuzi Most people use the Hluhluwe tarred road, especially as there is an Engen garage and a Wimpy in Hluhluwe
Sodwana via Hluhluwe Note that this will save you about 60km of dirt road but will
add about 75km to your journey. It
is about 116km from Pongola to Hluhluwe. Take the N2 to the Hluhluwe off ramp. Into Hluhluwe, past ENGEN & WIMPY on left. At
the T
Junction turn Left. Continue for
about a km then you turn right over the railway line. It will be signposted
Sodwana. Cross over the first two roundabouts and then turn right. You will pass the Engen garage on your left. Continue to the T Junction and turn right. Crossover the next roundabout and then on to Sodwana. You can bypass Sodwana by turning right at the first roundabout onto about half a km of dirt road. Then turn right at the roundabout. The road is tarred all the way to Sodwana Bay Lodge about 10 km away. The Lodge is on your left just after the Garage. Please watch out for Pedestrians the whole way. You must also be careful with Cows and Goats on the road.
Sodwana Via Jozini If you are not going go via Hluhluwe take Jozini off ramp, about 55 km from Pongola, which is also called Northern Maputaland. About 20 km to Jozini. The road winds it way up the Ubombo mountains, past Jozini Dam. It is very twisty so be careful. Go through Jozini and it is sign posted right to Sodwana. They have tarred the first few km down the hill and up to the petrol station on the right, and up to the first bridge. About 7 km in all. There is ford at the bottom of the hill so be careful after heavy rain. Then onto the dirt road. The section after the tar has fever trees on either side and has proven to be dangerous when in flood. Be very careful after prolonged heavy rain, especially if the ford was difficult to cross. Go about 12 km to T Junction turn Left. Go about 24 km to Junction turn right. Go about 22 km to Mbazwana where they have tarred the last couple of km's into Mbazwana. The road takes you through Mbazwana where there is Petrol, Shops and an ATM. Keep on the tarred road and you will come to a T Junction, about 0.6 km after veering into Mbazwana. Turn right and after about 300m go across the new roundabout. (Turn right for Hluhluwe). The road is tarred all the way to Sodwana Bay Lodge about 10 km away. The Lodge is on your left just after the Garage. |
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| Notes
on the dirt road: |
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Please respect the dirt road. You may be tempted to go faster than is safe. A speed of 80kph to 100kph is reasonable in dry conditions. Note your km reading as you commence each section. You will then be more aware of your position in the event of a breakdown. Remember that cell phones do not work along all the sections of the dirt road. In wet conditions reduce speed to 40kph to 60kph. Although the stretch you may be currently on is dry, you may suddenly hit a wet patch without warning. Also be careful of pedestrians, cows and goats. While the pedestrians will generally move out of the way, the cows and goats will not. Please be aware of the dust and stones you are leaving behind you and try to pass cars, people and animals, accordingly. |
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