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.
LESS TIME IN TRANSIT – MORE TIME ON SAFARI!
The fastest and easiest way to reach Arathusa Safari Lodge is via Federal Air’s daily 1.5hour flight from Johannesburg International Airport directly into the Arathusa Airfield. It is then a short 5-minute transfer to the lodge in an open safari vehicle. We will gladly book these flights on your behalf.
Alternatively, a number of other airlines fly into the region to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport, Skukuza Airport and Hoedspruit Airport.
Click here for a comprehensive flight schedule and flight route overview.
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.
Gate Fees
The following gate 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) R330.00 per entry PLUS a per person fee of R150.00 per entry (2025: R350 and R150 respectively)
• These are once-off fees and apply to self-drive guests and road transfers.
• 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 / 4 hours by road from Arathusa Safari Lodge
• Hoedspruit is approximately 2.5 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
• The following gate 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) R330.00 per entry PLUS a per person fee of R150.00 per entry (2025: R350 and R150 respectively)
• These are once-off fees and apply to self-drive guests and road transfers
• While Arathusa Safari Lodge is accessible with 2-wheel drive vehicles, it is a dirt road and access is more comfortable in a vehicle with a high ground clearance
• 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.