Simbavati River Lodge

PLEASE NOTE: Whilst you may not need a 4x4, we highly recommend you driving a high clearance vehicle. The gate is open from 06:00 – 18:00. VERY IMPORTANT: Please DO NOT arrive at the lodge late, as you will then miss the afternoon/evening game drive and lunch, which we do not serve later than 15h00. It is also safer not to drive in the reserve and arrive at the lodge when it is dark. If you are going to be late due to unforeseen circumstances, please let us know on (015) 7939021/22. Please note: Continuous cellular telephone reception just before the Enkhulu Gate. However, there is NO mobile network available in the reserve. Directions by Road from Johannesburg/Pretoria: Simbavati Safari Lodges are a six to eight hour's drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria. Whilst you may not need a 4x4, we highly recommend you driving a high clearance vehicle Directions from Johannesburg/Pretoria to Simbavati River Lodge N1 ROUTE (recommended route) The N1 route via Polokwane is an alternative from Gauteng to Simbavati River Lodge. Although this way is ±50 km longer than the Dullstroom route and one pays more in toll fees, for some people this is a better option. It is a road without potholes, and there are fewer delays due to heavy, slowmoving trucks. From OR Tambo International Airport follow the R21 north to Pretoria. Just before you reach Pretoria take the N1 North to Polokwane. (From Johannesburg, you follow the N1 North to Polokwane). Take the R71 to Tzaneen just before you get Polokwane. Follow the R71 via Grobler Street through Moria to Tzaneen. Do not turn off the R71 until you get to the Tjunction. Turn right onto the R36/R71 towards Tzaneen. Turn left onto the R71 at the first offramp and stay on the R71 through Giyani, Letsitele and Gravelotte until you reach the next TJunction. At the Tjunction turn right onto the R40 south towards Hoedspruit, White River and Mbombela. Continue straight through Hoedspruit. Drive ±6.5 km and then turn left on the D1909 (Argyle Road). The signage reads Timbavati and Eastgate Airport. Please DO NOT rely on your GPS after Hoedspruit. It will lead you to the wrong lodge which will mean a twohour detour. After about 300 m. you will get to a control gate, where you pass through. Continue straight, past the airport, for another 18 km until you reach the Enkhulu Control Gate into the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. The gate is open from 06:00 – 18:00. You will be expected to pay an entrance fee here (R300 *Subject to increase from 01 Jan 202531 Dec 2025). Very important: Please do not arrive at the lodge late, as you will then miss the afternoon/evening game drive and lunch, which we do not serve later than 15h00. It is also safer not to drive in the reserve and arrive at the lodge when it is dark. If you are going to be late due to unforeseen circumstances, please let us know on (015) 7939051/3. Please note: Continuous cellular telephone reception ends here. Continue straight for another 27 km (please ensure that you keep to the speed limit and do not get out of your car) until you reach the sign for Simbavati River Lodge. Here you turn right onto a gravel road. Continue on this road by following the signage for another ±6.4 km until you reach Simbavati River Lodge. DULLSTROOM ROUTE (Please be aware that this road has some very bad stretches with potholes, but it is still the fastest and most preferred road by regular travellers). From Johannesburg take the N12 to Witbank (Emalahleni) and continue on the N4. From Pretoria, take the N4 to Witbank (Emalahleni). Follow the N4 and turn left to Belfast (Offramp R33/R540). Once in Belfast, turn right into Voortrekker Street and continue straight with the R540 to Dullstroom. Drive straight through Dullstroom and continue to Lydenburg (Mashishing) on the R540. At the Tjunction turn left into Lydenburg (Mashishing) into Viljoen Street (R36). Turn left again into Voortrekker Street. Turn right into De Clercq street and follow the R36 through Ohrigstad. After the Abel Erasmus pass, the R36 turns left to Tzaneen. Do not turn left here, but continue straight on the R527 until you reach the town of Hoedspruit. (The distance between Ohrigstad and Hoedspruit is ±85 km). Once in Hoedspruit, continue straight. After the bridge crossing the railway line, turn right at the fourway stop and stay on the R40 South towards Hazyview and White River. Drive ±6.5 km and then turn left on the D1909 (Argyle Road). The signage reads Timbavati and Eastgate Airport. Please DO NOT rely on your GPS after Hoedspruit. It will lead you to the wrong lodge which will mean a twohour detour. After about 300 m. you will get to a control gate, where you pass through. Continue straight, past the airport, for another 18 km until you reach the Enkhulu Control Gate into the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve. The gate is open from 06:00 – 18:00. You will be expected to pay an entrance fee here (R300 *Subject to increase from 01 Jan 202531 Dec 2025). Very important: Please do not arrive at the lodge late, as you will then miss the afternoon/evening game drive and lunch, which we do not serve later than 15h00. It is also safer not to drive in the reserve and arrive at the lodge when it is dark. If you are going to be late due to unforeseen circumstances, please let us know on (015) 7939051/3. Please note: Continuous cellular telephone reception ends here. Continue straight for another 27 km (please ensure that you keep to the speed limit and do not get out of your car) until you reach the sign for Simbavati River Lodge. Here you turn right onto a gravel road. Continue on this road by following the signage for another ±6.4 km until you reach Simbavati River Lodge. From Hoedspruit, it will take you approximately 90 minutes to get to the lodge. Emergency Contact Number: +27 (0)15 793 9051/3 * Whilst you may not need a 4x4, we highly recommend you driving a high clearance vehicle