Travel Options
All the information you need about getting to Arathusa Safari Lodge
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.
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
Airport | Standard Times | Other Information |
---|---|---|
Departure: Johannesburg | Departure: 10:30 | Day of the week: Mon – Sun |
Arrival: All lodges | Lodges Arrival: 12:00 | Stops: Varies |
• 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
Airport | Standard Times | Other Information |
---|---|---|
Departure: All lodges | Departure: 11:00 | Day of the week: Mon – Sun |
Arrival: Johannesburg | Lodges Arrival: 12:30 | Stops: Varies |
• 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
Airport | Standard Times | Other Information |
---|---|---|
Departure: Johannesburg | Departure: 12:30 | Day of the week: Mon – Sun |
Arrival: All lodges | Lodges Arrival: 14:00 | Stops: Varies |
• 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
Airport | Standard Times | Other Information |
---|---|---|
Departure: All lodges | Departure: 12:30 | Day of the week: Mon – Sun |
Arrival: Johannesburg | Lodges Arrival: 15:00 | Stops: Varies |
• 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 entry PLUS a per person fee of R140.00 per entry (2025: R350 and R160 respectively
• Heavy vehicles: (over 3500kg GVM) R540.00 per entry (fees are inclusive of 15%). 2025: R620
• Effective 01 January 2024 to 31 December 2024 the mandatory Sabi Sand Wildtuin Conservation Levy is R345 (inclusive of 15% of VAT) per person per night.
Effective 01 January 2025 to 31 December 2025 the mandatory Sabi Sand Wildtuin Conservation Levy is R410 per person per night (inclusive of 15% VAT, and subject to change as prescribed by the Sabi Sand Reserve)
• 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 Acornhoek/Manyaleti Road
• Turn right at the robot to Acornhoek/Manyaleti
• Continue straight for 36km
• 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 7km to the Acornhoek / Manyeleti road turn left at the robot
• Continue straight for 36km
• 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
* Orpen Gate is approximately 46 km / 1.5 hours by road from Arathusa Safari Lodge
Due to the ongoing roadworks on this route, please enquire with the lodge for 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.