Getting Here

Most visitors to Makalali Private Game Reserve, fly into O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) near Johannesburg. From here a connecting flight goes to Easte Gaste (HDS) in Hoedspruit.

Alternatively, you could hire a car in Johannesburg and drive to the reserve via the N4. The drive takes between 4½ and 5½ hours.

Pretoria

– Take the N4 towards Malatheni (Witbank) onward towards Belfast.
– Take the Belfast off ramp
– In Belfast, turn right at Belfast Toyota onto Dullstroom / Mashishing (Lydenburg) road (R540)
– At the T-junction (R540 & R36) turn left to Mashishing.
– In Mashishing, turn left at the Ohrigstad sign & follow the main road (de Clercq Street) towards

Ohrigstad.
– Follow the R36 through Ohrigstad and through the Strijdom Tunnel.
– Turn left towards Tzaneen (still R36).
– There is a Total Filling Station of your left. This is the last stop to re-fill before reaching the Toro River.
– Follow the road across the Olifants River, past the Oaks (local village).
– Follow the road and past the Phalaborwa / Mica turnoff (+- 10 km) and follow the Makalali Signs.

Nelspruit

– Take the R40 towards White River
– Continue onwards on the R40 towards Hazyview
– Drive through Hazyview and follow the signs posted for Bushbuck Ridge (still R40)
– Drive through Bushbuck Ridge and continue straight towards Tzaneen (R36)
– There is a Total Filling Station of your left. This is the last stop to re-fill before reaching the Toro River.
– Follow the road across the Olifants River, past the Oaks (local village).
– Follow the road and past the Phalaborwa / Mica turnoff (+- 10 km) and follow the Makalali Signs.

Hoedspruit

– Take the R40 (Klaserie Road) towards Phalaborwa.
– Follow the R40 +- 27km, crossing the Olifants River.
– Turn left on the R526 at the signpost Ohrigstad / Lydenburg.
– Follow the R526 until you get to a T-junction.
– Turn right onto the R36 towards Tzaneen

Finish for all routes:

– Turn right at Gravelotte turnoff, this road becomes a gravel road.
– Proceed through the boom gate.
– Travel +- 9 km on the gravel road towards the Makalali Private Game Reserve main gate on your right
– Once through the gate, follow the Toro River Lodges site posts.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner, or for multiple-destination flights check Expedia, to see which airlines can take you to O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), and what tickets would cost.

Domestic Flights

Scheduled domestic flights can be booked with several carriers:

SA Airlink (flies to Hoedspruit)
CemAir (flies to Hoedspruit)
- Kulula.com (Low-cost airline flying to major centers)
- Mango (Low-cost airline flying to major centers)

Passport, Visa & Other Entry Requirements

Entry requirements can change, so please contact your local South African embassy to verify the information below is current.

A passport is required for all foreign visitors and has to be valid for at least six months.
All foreign visitors will need to carry a return or onward ticket.
Citizens from most countries (http://www.home-affairs.gov.za/index.php/countries-exempt-from-sa-visas) do not require a visa and will get a 90-days entry permit on arrival.
Children (under 18 years of age) must have a certified copy of their full, unabridged birth certificate as well as a valid passport to enter South Africa. If a child is traveling with only one parent, or no parents, the child must have an affidavit from the missing parent(s), which gives their consent for the child to travel.