Southern Sands Ecolodge Map & Directions
Address: Plot 54, Ndlovumzi Nature Reserve, Hoedspruit, 1380
Directions
These directions are from the Johannesburg area. Pack the car the night before!!! Get on the N12 towards Witbank. If you leave early enough, you can watch the sun come up. We can stop at any petrol station along the way for a coffee break. When you near Witbank slow down to the speed limit as they often trap in this area. Don’t bother stopping as there is nothing to see or do in Witbank. Carry on and join the N4 from Pretoria….You are heading in the direction of Middleburg and Nelspruit. Going through the toll is a good sign….. Once past Middleburg (another place there is no need to stop) drive on for approximately 70km’s. Take the exit to Belfast. Turn left off the slip way, there is a 2km drive to Belfast in which time you can make sure your windows are closed and the doors are locked. There are three stop signs which should be obeyed before the little town. Drive carefully as the road surface is sometimes shocking…. As you drive into the town you will see a Shell petrol station on your left. Go past that and then through the next stop street, at the now 3rd stop street turn right. There is sometimes a sign that points you towards Dullstroom. (Recap: at the 6th stop sign turn right) Ignore the pub at the exit of the town (which states there is no pub for another 23km) It is normally closed anyway. Pray there is no rain, mist or fire on this stretch! Just do it – pray the prayer now! 50km later you will reach Dullstroom. Now this is normally a beautiful and quaint place to stop. Especially the Dullstroom Inn, where the first Finders Keepers loot was hidden. It also has a fire that has not been allowed to go out for the last 100 years….(and also the most delicious ice cold Castle Light draught) However – you somehow left late and now you need to press on. Watch out for potholes on this 40 km section to Lydenburg. There are one or two areas where you really need to keep your eyes open….(that is a figure of speech, they should be open all the time) This is how I deal with Lydenburg. (pay attention, I am going to type this only once) Remember, windows closed and doors locked. As you get to Lydenburg the road reaches a T-juction. Go left! Now stay in the left lane. There are a number of stops and robots. The road will go up a hill. Near the top the left lane becomes a left only lane – this is what you are waiting for – follow the lane left – at the robot. Stay on this road even though the thing disappears into dongers from time to time. The road will bend to the right – this again is a good thing as this is the direction you want to go in. Now you go straight, a couple of stops and traffic lights and you are on the open road again. Another 40km to Origstad. Origstad is a tiny little place with one trap. The Lamb and Ale. Many a weary traveller has quenched a terrible thirst here….but I digress. Onwards, towards the JG Strydom pass and tunnel. The road is pretty good at this stage – but a word of warning – this is a trap. After the initial climb of the pass and down the other side, comes a nice open stretch where one is tempted to try and make up some time. Be very careful as the corner at the end of this stretch it has a vicious bend to the left. There are many cars and trucks that have ended their journey here…. Enjoy the scenery in the mountains, look out for the little waterfall just before the tunnel and whatever you do – do not forget to hoot a hello to the Lowveld as you drive through the tunnel. Wind your way down the escarpment. At the bottom of the pass there is a bottle store that looks like a castle, make a note of your mileage or reset it, as 17,6km down the road there will be a sign that says Liverpool and one that says Ndlovumzi. Turn left onto the dirt road. Take it easy. Follow the road for about 7,5 km until you get to our gate. Please use the road as a game viewing road, on the left is a wildlife farm where we often see antelope like sable, nyala and kudu. Giraffe often tower over the road as well. Take a minute at the little dam as there is a pod of hippo that live in it. The gate is a nice big, thatched gate that has a sign which reads, Ndlovumzi Nature Reserve. There you will need to complete a form saying who you are and where you are staying. It also costs you R150.00. The guard will direct you to Southern Sands Ecolodge or number 54. We are quite close to the gate. Once you make the left turn onto the driveway it is straight all the way to the gate, please drive through the gate and down to the farmhouse. Welcome to Southern Sands Ecolodge.