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How to reach us

Makanyi Lodge is 63km (approximately 1 hour 30min by car) from Hoedspruit East Gate, our closest airport. South African AirLink and CemAir operate scheduled flights to and from Hoedspruit. Kindly note that if you use a GPS these are the correct coordinates (below) to the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve control gate. Once inside the reserve please follow signs to Makanyi Lodge. S24° 21’ 00.5” E31° 09’ 26.2”

Get to us By air

Commercial flights

DIRECT FLIGHTS TO/FROM HOEDSPRUIT EAST GATE AIRPORT

Airlink – Johannesburg International Airport (OR Tambo)

Johannesburg (JNB) –  Hoedspruit (HDS)

  • 4Z871 JNB 10:30  – HDS 11:25
  • 4Z873 JNB 12:50 – HDS 13:45

Hoedspruit (HDS) – Johannesburg (JNB)

  • 4Z872 HDS 12:05 – JNB 13:10
  • 4Z874 HDS14:20 –  JNB 15:25

Airlink – Cape Town International Airport

Cape Town (CPT) –  Hoedspruit (HDS)

  • 4Z657 CPT 10:40 – HDS 13:10

Hoedspruit (HDS) – Cape Town (CPT)

  • 4Z658 HDS 13:55 – CPT 16:40

CemAir – Johannesburg International Airport (OR Tambo)

Johannesburg (JNB) –  Hoedspruit (HDS)

  • 5Z0890 JNB 11:40/13:00  – HDS 12:35/13:55

Hoedspruit (HDS) – Johannesburg (JNB)

  • 5Z0889 HDS 13:05/14:30 – JNB 14:00/15:25

CemAir – Cape Town International Airport

Cape Town (CPT) –  Hoedspruit (HDS)

  • 5Z1812 CPT 09:30 – HDS 12:00

Hoedspruit (HDS) – Cape Town (CPT)

  • 5Z1811 HDS 12:30 – CPT 15:15

Due to times changing, please visit the website to see all flight times and details:

DIRECT SCHEDULED & CHARTER FLIGHTS

 FEDERAL AIR SCHEDULED (SHUTTLE) FLIGHTS

  • Johannesburg – Makanyi Lodge (Duration 1 hour 30 min)
  • Departure 11H30 / Arrival 13H00
  • Cost per person from 2025 – R9,900.00

Makanyi Lodge – Johannesburg (Duration 1 hour 30 min)

  • Departure 10H00 / Arrival 13H00
  • Cost per person from 2025 – R9,900.00

Additional Information:

  • Airfares are quoted in South African Rands (ZAR), all fares include applicable taxes & VAT.
  • Airfare rates are subject to change without notice, please confirm with our reservations department for final rates.
  • Rate differences may apply when a date, time or route change is made.
  • Check in for flights will be open from 07H30 up to 30 minutes before the departure time.
  • Guests must check in at the Federal Airlines’ kiosk in Johannesburg latest 09H30 to connect onto the flight to Makanyi Lodge.
  • Departure and arrival times may very up to one hour.
  • Please note that departure times from Thabamati Airstrip could depart on the hour or with a 30 minute delay, therefore it is recommended not to book connecting flights departing before 15H00 for Domestic and 16H30 for International.
  • Landing / Departing fee applies per person one way, guests to settle prior or direct at Makanyi, valid yearly between 1 Jan – 31 Dec and subject to change without notice.
  • Pick up / Drop off road transfer vehicle fee per one way, guests to settle prior or direct at
  • Makanyi, valid yearly between 1 Jan – 31 Dec and subject to change without notice.
  • Road transfer between Thabamati Airstrip & Makanyi Lodge is approx. 15 – 20 minutes per way.
  • Road transfer departure from Makanyi Lodge will be 45 minutes prior to the flight take off time due to airstrip and flight protocols at Thabamati Airstrip and with Federal Air.
  • We can assist in booking KMIA shuttles, Lowveld Interlodge shuttles and private charters with Federal Air.
  • If you would like to make use of any other air charter company, please contact Makanyi Lodge prior to booking as not all charter companies are permitted.
  • Please contact reservations@makanyilodge.com for bookings and further information on flight T&Cs.

Get to us by road

Self - Drive

Self Driving Directions

Johannesburg / Pretoria

  • Take the N4 to Witbank.
  • Take the Belfast off ramp (R33 / R540).
  • Once in Belfast town, turn right into Voortrekker Street and continue straight to Dullstroom on R540.
  • Drive straight through Dullstroom town and continue to Lydenburg.
  • Once in Lydenburg turn left into Potgieter Street and continue straight to Ohrighstad on the R36.
  • Drive straight through Ohrighstad and continue on R36 until it turns left to Tzaneen. DO NOT turn, but continue straight on R531 to Hoedspruit.
  • In Hoedspruit, continue straight over the bridge crossing the train line to a four way stop.
  • At the stop turn right and continue towards Bosbokrand / Bushbuckridge along the R40.
  • 6/7km from Hoedspruit, note the Eastgate Airport sign on your left.
  • At the sign, turn left.
  • Drive ±15km until you reach Timbavati Private Nature Reserve Control Gate.
  • At the entrance gate, you will be required to pay an entrance fee.
  • Continue on for ±13 km, until you see a stone plinth with a Makanyi Lodge sign on your left, turn right at the sign.
  • Continue on for ±17 km, until you see a stone plinth with a Makanyi Lodge sign in front of you, turn left at the sign.
  • Follow signboards to the lodge for an additional 5km.

 

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport

  • At the turning circle leaving the airport, turn right.
  • At the first stop street, turn left onto the Plaston Road, and drive straight.
  • At the T-junction, turn right to White River. Once in White River, turn left at the second traffic light (at Ntt Toyota), then right at the first traffic light.
  • Turn left onto the R40, and drive straight towards Hazyview.
  • Drive straight through Hazyview town on the R40 and continue on to Bushbuckridge and Acornhoek.
  • At the first traffic light when entring Hazyview, turn right onto the R40 passing Perry’s Bridge Trading Post and Hippo Hollow Country Estate on your left to Bushbuckridge.
  • Drive through Bushbuckridge and Acornhoek while continuing on the R40 towards Hoedspruit.
  • At the sign “Hoedspruit,” turn right and continue for approximately 17km.
  • 8km before Hoedspruit turn right at the sign “Timbavati & East Gate Airport”.
  • Drive ±15km until you reach Timbavati Private Nature Reserve Control Gate.
  • At the entrance gate, you will be required to pay an entrance fee.
  • Continue on for ±13 km, until you see a stone plinth with a Makanyi Lodge sign on your left, turn right at the sign.
  • Continue on for ±17 km, until you see a stone plinth with a Makanyi Lodge sign in front of you, turn left at the sign.
  • Follow signboards to the lodge for an additional 5km.

 

Sabi Sands Game Reserve (Shaw’s & Newington Gate)

  • Once leaving from the Sabi Sand Reserve, turn right onto the R536 towards Hazyview.
  • At the first traffic light when entering Hazyview, turn right on to the R40, passing Perry’s Bridge Trading Post and Hippo Hollow Country Estate on your left to Bushbuckridge.
  • Drive through Bushbuckridge and Acornhoek while continuing on the R40 towards Hoedspruit.
  • At the sign “Hoedspruit,” turn right and continue for approximately 17km.
  • 8km before Hoedspruit turn right at the sign “Timbavati & East Gate Airport”.
  • Drive ±15km until you reach Timbavati Private Nature Reserve Control Gate.
  • At the entrance gate, you will be required to pay an entrance fee.
  • Continue on for ±13 km, until you see a stone plinth with a Makanyi Lodge sign on your left, turn right at the sign.
  • Continue on for ±17 km, until you see a stone plinth with a Makanyi Lodge sign in front of you, turn left at the sign.
  • Follow signboards to the lodge for an additional 5km.

Please request written directions from the reservations team from any other location. GPS / Google Maps is not recommended as this will direct you on the wrong roads.

    PRIVATE ROAD TRANSFERS

    2025 Private Road Transfers and Rates

    Direct road transfers to/from Makanyi Lodge

    Hoedspruit East Gate Airport
    Duration approx. 1 hour 30 min

    Vehicle rate one way:

    • 1pax – R2250
    • 2pax – R2500
    • 3pax – R2830
    • 4-7pax – R3170
    • 8-13pax – R3830

    Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport
    Duration approx. 3 hours 30 min

    Vehicle rate one way:

    • 1pax – R4090
    • 2pax – R4530
    • 3pax – R4870
    • 4-7pax – R5280
    • 8-13pax – R5940

    Skukuza Airport
    Duration approx. 4 hours

    Vehicle rate one way:

    • 1pax – R4660
    • 2pax – R5190
    • 3pax – R5720
    • 4-7pax – R6390
    • 8-13pax – R7050

    Additional Information

    • Road transfer rates are quoted in South African Rands (ZAR), all fares include applicable taxes & VAT.
    • All rates are quoted per vehicle per one way and applicable to the number of guests travelling.
    • Rates are subject to change due to fuel increases.
    • Rates include the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve vehicle entry fee.
    • Rates exclude the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve Conservation levy.
    • All road transfers are outsourced, private and vehicles are air-conditioned.
    • Should a destination you require not be listed, please contact us.
    • Rates are subject to change without notice, please confirm with our reservations department for final rates.
    • Please contact reservations@makanyilodge.com.dedi988.jnb1.host-h.net for bookings and further information on transfer T&Cs.
    GPS Coordinates

    Kindly note that if you use a GPS these are the correct coordinates (below) to the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve Control Gate. Once inside the reserve please follow signs to Makanyi Lodge and/or the written self-drive directions provided on the website or by our reservations team.

     S24° 21’ 00.5”

    E31° 09’ 26.2”