Location & Directions

Sausage Tree sits inside Olifants West Nature Reserve, part of the Greater Kruger, with our address registered at 25 Cambridge, Olifants West Nature Reserve, Hoedspruit, 1380, Limpopo. The reserve is in South Africa’s northern Lowveld, roughly twenty-five minutes from Hoedspruit town and forty to forty-five minutes by road from the nearest airport. The route in is detailed below; please follow our directions rather than relying on Google Maps, which routes through inaccessible bush sections.

Where we are

Olifants West Nature Reserve is one of the sub-reserves that together form the Balule Nature Reserve, a member of the Associated Private Nature Reserves (APNR). The APNR shares unfenced borders with Kruger National Park itself, so wildlife traverses freely between the reserve and the broader Greater Kruger ecosystem.

By air

Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport (HDS) is the nearest commercial airport, approximately forty-five minutes by road from camp. It is served by daily SA Airlink flights from Johannesburg and seasonal flights from Cape Town.

Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP, near Nelspruit) is also viable but is a longer drive — typically two to three hours from the airport to camp.

We arrange private road transfers to and from both airports on request. Inter-lodge transfers can also be arranged if you are arriving from or departing to another lodge within Olifants West Nature Reserve.

By road from Johannesburg

The drive from Johannesburg is approximately five to six hours via the N4 and the R40 / Long Tom Pass route. Renting a vehicle is a viable option from any major rental provider at OR Tambo International. Self-drive guests are welcome — we send full directions once a booking is confirmed.

By road shuttle

A daily road shuttle service operates between Johannesburg and Hoedspruit:

  • Northbound: 06h45–07h15 depart Johannesburg OR Tambo Central Bus Terminal → 12h45–13h15 arrive Olifants West Nature Reserve gate on the R40
  • Southbound: 11h30–11h45 depart Olifants West Nature Reserve gate on the R40 → 18h00–18h30 arrive Johannesburg OR Tambo Central Bus Terminal

We collect from and return you to the Olifants West Nature Reserve gate.

Self-drive directions from Eastgate Airport (HDS)

  1. Leaving the airport, turn right onto the Argyle Road (the road towards Eastgate).
  2. At the toll gate, turn right onto the R40 Klaserie road, direction Phalaborwa.
  3. Continue straight through Hoedspruit, observing the four-way stop streets in town (stop and proceed in order of arrival).
  4. Continue on the R40 towards Phalaborwa. After approximately 23 km you will see the Olifants West Nature Reserve sign on your right.
  5. Turn right through the gate of Olifants West Nature Reserve.

Please follow these directions rather than Google Maps — Maps will route you straight through inaccessible bush. We send a copy of these directions with every booking confirmation.

At the gate — conservation levy

The Olifants West Nature Conservancy levy is payable at the gate on entry: R120 per vehicle plus R450 per person. Payable by credit card at the gate; ask the guard for a map of directions to Sausage Tree if you are not handed one. This levy is separate from your accommodation rate and goes to the reserve’s conservation and anti-poaching budget.

Inside the reserve

You are driving on private property inside the reserve. The internal speed limit is strictly 30 km/h. Please do not exit your vehicle at any point between the gate and the camp — the reserve is unfenced from the broader Greater Kruger, and wildlife including predators may be present anywhere on the route.

If you have questions about the route or transfer arrangements before booking, please get in touch or check availability and ask in your enquiry.

Every booking with Sausage Tree contributes R50 to Daktari Bush School and Wildlife Orphanage.