Location & Travel

Arathusa Safari Lodge is located in Mpumalanga, South Africa, within the northern sector of the coveted Sabi Sand Reserve, adjacent to the world-renowned Kruger National Park. This region has a long and reputable history within the South African tourism industry due to the presence of incredible concentrations of wildlife, which is accessible via high-quality private game safaris.

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Experience the heart of the African bush with daily direct flights with FedAir from Johannesburg and Cape Town to Nelspruit KMIA and Skukuza Airport gateway to the Kruger National Park and the private game lodges. A short, small aircraft transfer connects you onward to Arathusa’s doorstep and the Arathusa Airstrip. On departure, a short air transfer from the lodge airstrip or Skukuza Airport to Nelspruit KMIA connects you conveniently to Livingstone (Zambia) and Vilanculos (Mozambique) gateway to the Bazaruto and Benguerra Islands. Cemair & Airlink also offer flights to Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit.

Please contact reservations@arathusa.co.za for further information.

Exclusive private charter flights may be arranged directly to and from Arathusa Safari Lodge’s own private airstrip. Please contact reservations@arathusa.co.za to obtain a quotation.

Note: Flights may only land and take off outside of game drive times.

Arathusa Airfield, located just to the west of the Kruger National Park, has a  tarred runway which is 1200 metres long. The geographic coordinates of this airport are 24 degrees, 44 minutes, 39 seconds South (S24°44’39”) and 31 degrees, 31 minutes, 21 seconds East (E031°31’21”). Arathusa Airfield is 1200 feet above sea level.

FEDERAL AIRLINES SHUTTLE AND CHARTER FLIGHTS – 

Federal Airlines offers a premium point to point shuttle service and also highly customizable charter flights. Two flights from Johannesburg to Sabi Sands and two flights from Sabi Sands back to Johannesburg are offered daily – see timetables below:

Morning departure from Johannesburg to Lodge

• Check in for this flight will be open from 07:00

• Pax must be checked in at the Federal Airlines kiosk latest 09:30 to connect onto this flight

• Pax must be checked in at the Federal Airlines departure lounge latest by 09:45 to connect onto this flight

• Departure and arrival times may vary up to one hour

• The Arathusa arrival and departure fee applies to the following lodges: JSH, CHP, CHI, NKO, DJM, SLV and SIM and is excluded from the above fare

• Please note that a R250 fuel levy has been included in our rates

Morning departure from Lodge to Johannesburg

• IMPORTANT – Please note this departure could depart anytime between 11:00 and 11:30, this is done to accommodate guests departing from various lodges, therefore we recommend no Domestic connections for flights departing before 15:00 from Johannesburg

• IMPORTANT – Please note this departure could depart anytime between 11:00 and 11:30, this is done to accommodate guests departing from various lodges, therefore we recommend no International connections permitted for flights departing before 16:30 from Johannesburg

• Departure and arrival times may vary up to one hour

• Connections onto Tswalu and Madikwe can be accommodated

• The Arathusa arrival and departure fee applies to the following lodges: JSH, CHP, CHI, NKO, DJM, SLV and SIM and is excluded from the above fare

Afternoon departure from Johannesburg to Lodge

• Check in for this flight will be open from 07:00

• Pax must be checked in at the Federal Airlines kiosk latest 11:30 to connect onto this flight

• Pax must be checked in at the Federal Airlines departure lounge latest by 11:45 to connect onto this flight

• Departure and arrival times may vary up to one hour. Passengers booked on the Air France, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Swiss Air and Lufthansa will be accommodated on this departure providing the aircraft arrives as per its regular schedule time

• The ARATHUSA arrival and departure fee applies to the following lodges: JSH, CHP, CHI, NKO, DJM, SLV and SIM and is excluded from the above fare

• Please note that a R250 fuel levy has been included in our rates

Afternoon departure from Lodge to Johannesburg

• IMPORTANT – Please note this departure could depart anytime between 12:30 and 13:00, this is done to accommodate guests departing from various lodges, therefore we recommend no Domestic connections for flights departing before 17:00 from Johannesburg

• IMPORTANT – Please note this departure could depart anytime between 12:30 and 13:00, this is done to accommodate guests departing from various lodges, therefore we recommend no International connections permitted for flights departing before 17:50 from Johannesburg

• Departure and arrival times may vary up to one hour

• The ARATHUSA arrival and departure fee applies to the following lodges: JSH, CHP, CHI, NKO, DJM, SLV and SIM and is excluded from the above fare

Contact Federal Airlines for more information.

Gate Fees

The following vehicle entrance fees are charged by the Sabi Sand Wildtuin on entrance into the reserve, and are excluded from the rates for accommodation:

• Light vehicles: (under 3500kg GVM) R310.00 per vehicle PLUS a per person fee of R140.00 per entry

• Heavy vehicles: (over 3500kg GVM) R540.00 per vehicle (fees are inclusive of 15%)

• Effective 01 January 2021 to 31 December 2022 the mandatory Sabi Sand Wildtuin Conservation Levy is R151.80 (inclusive of 15% VAT) per person per day. Effective 01 January 2023 to 31 December 2024 the mandatory Sabi Sand Wildtuin Conservation Levy is R345 (inclusive of 15% of VAT) per person per day.

• This contribution goes towards conservation initiatives within the Sabi Sand Game Reserve, with a particular focus on the prevention of rhino poaching.

• These costs are added to invoices for accommodation, although arrangements may be made to add the charges to extras payable by guests on departure from the reserve.

Distances

• Johannesburg is approximately 550 km / 7 hours by road from Arathusa Safari Lodge

• Nelspruit is approximately 170 km / 3 hours by road from Arathusa Safari Lodge

• Hoedspruit is approximately 2 hours by road from Arathusa Safari Lodge

• Orpen Gate is approximately 46 km / 1.5 hours by road from Arathusa Safari Lodge

• From Johannesburg, take the N12 to Emalahleni (Witbank). At Emalahleni (Witbank), take the N4 to Nelspruit

• You will go through 2 national toll gates on this road – Please insure to carry enough money for all toll gates

• Take the R40 from Nelspruit to White River and proceed to Hazyview

• Remain on the R40 towards Bushbuckridge (from Hazyview it is approximately 68 km/ 1 hour until Orpen Road, R531)

• Turn right onto Orpen Road, R531

• Continue straight for 30km, once you pass the South African Wildlife College (on your left), after 100m turn right onto a Gravel Road. Follow this road for 3km, turn left (turn is 50m passed a soccer field on your right)

• Drive down a narrow road for 400m, turn right on to a wide sand road, continue for another 7.8km

• At the T-junction you will see the Hluvukani Viva petrol station in front of you

• Turn left onto the tar road to Gottenberg / Manyeleti

• Follow the tar road for 6.1 km. Turn right onto dirt road

• Follow dirt road for 6.4 km until the Uthar Clinic is on your left

• Turn left on gravel road (Utha Store will be on the right) – 7.3 km to the Gowrie Gate

• Entrance fee to the Sabi Sands Game Reserve is payable in cash

• Travel straight through the Gowrie Gate. At signboards continue straight to Arathusa Safari (do not turn right to Arathusa Private) – 5.9 km

• Turn right at the stone wall for Arathusa Safari Lodge & follow the road until the entrance to the lodge on the right

Download Directions

• From Hoedspruit take the R40 towards Klaserie

• Follow the R40 until you get to a T-junction

• At the T-junction, turn left

• Travel on this road for 2km to the Orpen Road, R531, turn left

• Continue straight for 30km, once you pass the South African Wildlife College (on your left), after 100m turn right onto a Gravel Road

• Follow this road for 3km, turn left (turn is 50m passed a soccer field on your right)

• Drive down a narrow road for 400m, turn right on to a wide sand road, continue for another 7.8km

• At the T-junction you will see the Hluvukani Viva petrol station in front of you

• Turn left onto the tar road to Gottenberg / Manyeleti

• Follow the tar road for 6.1 km. Turn right onto dirt road

• Follow dirt road for 6.4 km until the Uthar Clinic is on your left

• Turn left on gravel road (Utha Store will be on the right) – 7.3 km to the Gowrie Gate

• Entrance fee to the Sabi Sands Game Reserve is payable in cash

• Travel straight through the Gowrie Gate. At signboards continue straight to Arathusa Safari (do not turn right to Arathusa Private) – 5.9 km

• Turn right at the stone wall for Arathusa Safari Lodge; follow the road until the entrance to the lodge on the right• From Hoedspruit take the R40 towards Klaserie

• Follow the R40 until you get to a T-junction

• At the T-junction, turn left

• Travel on this road for 2km to the Orpen Road, R531, turn left

• Continue straight for 30km, once you pass the South African Wildlife College (on your left), after 100m turn right onto a Gravel Road

• Follow this road for 3km, turn left (turn is 50m passed a soccer field on your right)

• Drive down a narrow road for 400m, turn right on to a wide sand road, continue for another 7.8km

• At the T-junction you will see the Hluvukani Viva petrol station in front of you

• Turn left onto the tar road to Gottenberg / Manyeleti

• Follow the tar road for 6.1 km. Turn right onto dirt road

• Follow dirt road for 6.4 km until the Uthar Clinic is on your left

• Turn left on gravel road (Utha Store will be on the right) – 7.3 km to the Gowrie Gate

• Entrance fee to the Sabi Sands Game Reserve is payable in cash

• Travel straight through the Gowrie Gate. At signboards continue straight to Arathusa Safari (do not turn right to Arathusa Private) – 5.9 km

• Turn right at the stone wall for Arathusa Safari Lodge; follow the road until the entrance to the lodge on the right

Download Directions

• Travel from Orpen Gate on the R531 towards the R40

• About 10 km on the tar road, before the South African Wildlife College, you will see a gravel road to your left

• Turn left (helpful hint – if you pass the South African Wildlife College, you have gone too far)

• Follow this road for 3km, turn left (turn is 50m passed a soccer field on your right)

• Drive down a narrow road for 400m, turn right on to a wide sand road, continue for another 7.8km

• Continue on this gravel road until you reach a T-junction

• At the T-junction you will see the Hluvukani Viva petrol station in front of you

• Turn left onto the tar road to Gottenberg / Manyeleti

• Follow the tar road for 6.1 km. Turn right onto dirt road

• Follow dirt road for 6.4 km until Uthar Clinic is on left

• Turn left on gravel road (Utha Store will be on the right) – 7.3 km to the Gowrie Gate

• Entrance fee to the Sabi Sands Game Reserve is payable in cash

• Travel straight through the Gowrie Gate. At signboards continue straight to Arathusa Safari (do not turn right to Arathusa Private) – 5.9 km

• Turn right at the stone wall for Arathusa Safari Lodge & follow the road until the entrance to the lodge on the right

Download Directions

• Entrance fee to the Sabi Sand Reserve, at the Gowrie Gate entrance: See above for details.

• While Arathusa Safari Lodge is accessible with 2-wheel drive vehicles, it is a dirt road and access is more comfortable in a 4-wheel drive vehicle

• Use Gowrie Gate ONLY. Due to river crossing you will not be permitted to use any of the other gates in Sabi Sand Reserve

• It is best to arrive before 15h30 for the afternoon game drive, although check in time is from 12h00. It takes approximately 7 hours to drive from Johannesburg to the lodge

• Please DO NOT follow your GPS ‘quickest route’ co-ordinates to Arathusa Safari Lodge. This route inevitably leads guests through the incorrect entry gates (Kruger National Park and into the Sabi Sand Reserve) which do not service Arathusa. Furthermore, many of the prescribed roads are not navigable in a normal vehicle. Following GPS co-ordinates can result in getting lost in the middle of the bush, or unnecessary delays of up to 3 hours.