Directions to Isibindi Zulu Lodge

Click here to open a Printable Map with Directions.

Click here to open this location in Google Earth

Road access - From Johannesburg (approximately 4 1/2 – 5 1/2 hours)

Take the N3 highway out of Johannesburg to Durban. Pass Heidelberg and take the second off ramp to Villiers, this is just before the tollgate (marked R26/R103). Turn left and then right onto the R103. Stay on this road, then take the turn off to Vrede R34. Just before Vrede you turn right at a junction which will keep you on the R34. Continue straight on this road bypassing the turnoff to the residential part of Vrede. This will take you past Memel and towards Newcastle. Go past Newcastle and follow the signs to Ladysmith/Dundee (N11). After approximately 20kms, turn left towards Dannhauser on the R621. At the crossroads, Dannhauser Bridge is on your right and a Shell service station is directly in front of you. Turn left to Dundee, still following the R621. At the next T-junction, turn left again onto the R68 to Dundee.

Pass through Dundee, entering the town Karel Landman Street, then turn left at the traffic circle (round-a-bout) into Victoria Street. At the second robot (traffic light), turn right where the road forks. Take the left fork (there is a BP station on your left). This is the R33 to Greytown. Travel approximately 45km on this tarred road. You will pass 2 x Rorke’s Drift signs along the way – ignore them! When you see the iSiBiNDi Eco Reserve sign and the Elandskraal sign on your left, turn left onto the dirt road. Continue on this dirt road for approximately 14km. Once you have passed a stone church and cemetery on your left, turn left to Rorke’s Drift. If you pass a Zulu trading store on your right, you have GONE TOO FAR!

After approximately 6km you will see the iSiBiNDi Eco Reserve sign on your left – a few metres further you will see a large black gate indicating the entrance on the right. Press the buzzer and Reception will open the automatic gate for you. Follow the dirt track all the way to the top of the “koppie” or hill, where you will see the parking area on your left.

From Durban (approximately 4 – 5 1/2 hours, depending on route)

Take the N3 out of Durban to Pietermaritzburg/Harrismith. Once in the Pietermaritzburg area, go past the Durban off-ramp and take the Church Street/Greytown R33 off ramp. Head towards Greytown, following the R33 past Albert Falls Dam, through New Hanover and Seven Oaks. Pass straight through Greytown and head towards Dundee, following the R33. You will pass through Keate’s Drift, Tugela Ferry and Pomeroy. We suggest you do this trip by daylight as the route is poorly lit, the road is steep and winding and there may be stray animals on the road.

Approximately 11kms after Pomeroy when you see the iSiBiNDi Eco Reserve and the Elandskraal sign on your left, turn right onto the dirt road. Continue along this road for approximately 14kms. Once you have passed a stone church and cemetery on your left, turn left to Rorke’s Drift. If you pass a Zulu trading store on your right, you have GONE TOO FAR!

Alternatively, from Durban take the N3 to Ladysmith. See above directions from Johannesburg, however read from line 4 (but turn right, not left off the N11 towards Dannhauser/Dundee) and continue as per directions.

From Northern KZN - Option 1

Proceed South towards Richards Bay on the N2. Take the Empangeni turnoff and when you reach a set of robots (traffic lights), turn right and pass through the town, going straight all the way through past several traffic lights. On leaving Empangeni, you will be heading towards Nkwaleni. Travel for approximately 47kms where you’ll reach a T-intersection which indicates the towns of Nkwaleni and Eshowe to your left and Melmoth to your right. Turn right and travel for approximately 27km on the R66 to Melmoth. Drive straight through the town and after 2-3kms turn left for Babanago. Continue for approximately 27kms, when you will suddenly see a faint sign on the lefthand side of the road, indicating a righthand turn towards Babanago. This is easy to miss, so keep an eye out. Turn right and continue for another 33kms to the town of Babanago. This part of the road experiences low level cloud and mist so take care!

Once you arrive in Babanago you will come to a four way stop. Turn left towards Nqutu. After approximately 42kms you will see a sign indicating Isandlwana Battlefields. Turn left onto the dirt road and proceed for approximately 16kms. You will pass Isandlwana Lodge on your right, but keep proceeding now towards Rorke’s Drift. Take a left at the Rorke’s Drift sign (D30) and travel for another 9kms. You will cross the Buffalo River. Shortly after at the T-junction turn left towards Rorke’s Drift again. Pass the Museum and battlefield sites and continue through the town for another 10kms. You will see several iSiBiNDi Eco Reserve signs showing you where to go. Pass Fugitive’s Drift.

Please note that the stretch of road between Melmoth and Babanago is currently in a very poor condition and contains many large potholes. Driving at speeds not more than 50kmph in some places is recommended. If you would prefer an alternate route, do not turn off after Melmoth towards Babanango but rather continue heading straight towards Vryheid on the R34. When nearly in Vyrheid take the R33 towards Dundee and then continue towards Rorke’s Drift (see Option 2 below).

ISiBiNDi Lodge will be on your left hand side a few kilometres later. You will see a large black gate indicating the entrance on the right. Press the buzzer and Reception will open the automatic gate for you. Follow the dirt track all the way to the top of the “koppie” or hill, where you will see a parking area on your left.

Option 2
From Pongola head south on the R66 towards Vryheid. After approximately 23kms, turn right onto the R69 to Vryheid. Travel for 106kms. Bypass the town of Vryheid and head for Dundee on the R34 which after 25kms turns into the R33. Travel for a further 41kms until you reach Dundee. From Dundee follow directions as per from Johannesburg above.

From Mpumalanga/Kruger Park

From the Kruger Park, head towards Hazyview, taking the R40 or R538 towards White River, then Nelspruit. Take the N4 towards Machadodorp. Turn off to Carolina on the R36. At Carolina take the R33 east towards Swaziland. After approximately 37km it will join with the N17 at the village of Warburton. Leave the N17 and continue with the R33 southwards. Pass through Amsterdam and continue until the R33 joins with the N2 South and passes through Piet Retief. Then leaving the N2 again, continue with the R33 southwards through Paulpietersburg/Vryheid and on towards Dundee.

Once in Dundee, the R33 becomes Victoria Street. At the second set of robots (traffic lights) on Victoria (the intersection with Wilson Street), there is a BP service station across the corner. Turn left into Wilson Street and continue out of town. The road once again becomes the R33. Head towards Greytown for approximately 45kms, passing the town of Helpmekaar.

You will pass Rorke’s Drift signs along the way – ignore them! When you see the iSiBiNDi Eco Reserve sign and the Elandskraal sign on your left, turn left onto the dirt road. Continue on this dirt road for approximately 14km. Once you have passed a stone church and cemetery on your left, turn left to Rorke’s Drift. If you pass a Zulu trading store on your right, you have GONE TOO FAR!

After approximately 6km, you will see the iSiBiNDi Eco Reserve sign on your left – a few metres further you will see a large black gate indicating the entrance on the right. Press the buzzer and Reception will open the automatic gate for you. Follow the dirt track all the way to the top of the “koppie” or hill, where you will see the parking area on your left.

GPS CO-ORDINATES / Lodge: S 28º 25.896’ E 30º 33.723’