Accommodation and Travel

WITS Rural Facility (WRF). (All prices include VAT)

• 70 twin rooms available. We encourage/request those attendees who are willing to share accommodation, to please do so, so that we can accommodate as many delegates as possible on site.

Dinner is included with your accommodation at Wits Rural (including the Gala Dinner). If you are not staying at WRF, you will need to book and pay for the Gala Dinner along with your registration fee.

The accommodation at WRF is comfortable and spacious. Each bedroom has 2 single beds, a desk, 2 chairs and air-conditioner. The wi-fi connection in the bedrooms is fast. There are 3 cupboards. There is an en-suite bathroom with toilet and shower, as well as a kitchenette with small fridge and a microwave, plus a gas stove at Bushcamp.

Main Lodge (Conference venues located here)

• 48 Ensuite twin bedrooms en suite twin bedrooms (two single beds per room).
  
  

Bush Camp (800 m from the Main Lodge)

• 22 Twin bedrooms en suite twin bedrooms (two single beds per room).
  
  

Bushcamp / Main Lodge - Accommodation Prices: 

• Dinner, Bed and Breakfast (includes Gala Dinner):  R1155 pp sharing per night; R2310 pp per night single (special arrangement needed for single accommodation).
• Dinner and Bed (Breakfast self-catered; includes Gala Dinner): R965 pp sharing per night; R1930 pp per night single (special arrangement needed for single accommodation).

Caravilla

• Students only; 5 km from Main Lodge via main road entrances; morning and evening shuttle will be provided at set times.

• 10 Dormitories - 4 students per dormitory, communal ablutions and communal kitchen.

• Dinner and Bed (Breakfast self-catered in communal kitchen; includes Gala Dinner): R530 pp per night (4 sharing per unit).

Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC)

• Location: 26 km from Wits Rural Facility on the Orpen Road.
• 32 units have been reserved for SAAB conference (until the end of April).

Rates (2025)

• R850 per room (2 single beds per room, shower en suite).
• Breakfast should be booked here too: R150 pp per day.
• + One 3-bedroom house (one king-size bed, one queen-size bed, two singles) also available @ R2800 per night; Self-catering possible here.

Please BOOK Directly 

• Email Hazel Timm: htimm@sawc.org.za.The following information must be provided:
• Name of group: SAAB Conference (N.B. Include this!)
  • Name of delegate:
  • Billing Address: If individual or company:
  • Arrival date:
  • Departure date:
  • Meals to be had on SAWC campus: Include breakfast here; lunches are included in your conference fee:
  • Dietary requirements of the delegate:
  • Arrival time on arrival date:
  • Car Registration:

Hans Höheisen Wildlife Research Station (HHWRS)

• Self-catering accommodation (in 10 units); ca. 36 km from WRF Main Gate (towards Orpen Gate);
• Contact: jeanette.wentzel@up.ac.za

SleepOver Orpen Gate (25 km from WRF Main Gate).

ShickShack Backpackers (3.5 km from WRF Main Gate).

HoyoHoyo Acorns Lodge (2 km from WRF Main Gate).

Timbavati Lodge (5.3 km from WRF Main Gate).

Please Note: We strongly advise you NOT to book accommodation (BnB’s) in Acornhoek township for security reasons.

Weather: Winter days in the Lowveld are usually fairly warm (averaging 20 – 25 °C, but the nights can be cold (e.g. 12 °C), so important to include some warm clothing for the evenings.

Getting There:

Driving

If you plan to drive, please note that it takes 5½ to 6 hours from Pretoria or Johannesburg. 

Recommended routes if driving from the south (e.g. Pretoria, Johannesburg):

• N4 via Dullstroom & Abel Erasmus Pass (shortest route):
  N4 – Take the R540 to Belfast (eMakhazeni) and then Dullstroom (Emnothweni) – R36 to Mashishing (Lydenburg ) and to Ohrigstad, then via Abel Erasmus Pass towards Hoedspruit (R527); turn right to take the R531 to Klaserie (no need to go to Hoedspruit) and then south (still on R531) to Orpen Road towards Wits Rural Facility and Orpen Gate. (N.B. PLEASE be wary of some bad potholes in road from Dullstroom to Lydenburg/Mashishing (and after it) and after Abel Erasmus Pass on R527.
• N4 to Mbombela (previously Nelspruit), R40 to White River and Hazyview, followed by Bushbuckridge and Acornhoek area, then turn Right onto Orpen Road (R531) towards Wits Rural Facility and Orpen Gate. (Note: Try to avoid peak hour traffic in Bushbuckridge; road conditions in this area are usually very slow due to goats and people).
• Note: N4 to Mbombela/Nelspruit: the Schoemanskloof route option is scenic and a very good road (preferred over the route via Ngodwana as it avoids the logging trucks).
• Note: Dirt roads within Wits Rural Facility are drivable with a sedan car with careful driving.

N.B. Please avoid travelling after dark on both these routes.

 Flying

AirLink flies from Bloemfontein, Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg (OR Tambo) directly to Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit.

CEM Air flies directly from Cape Town International Airport and Johannesburg International Airport (OR Tambo) to Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit. (There are connecting flights from other destinations.)

SAA, FlySAFAir and AirLink fly to Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP) from various cities in South Africa, which is a 30-minute drive from the city of Mbombela (Nelspruit), and a 50-minute drive from the nearest entrance of the Kruger National Park. Car hire is available at the Airport.

AirLink flies directly into Skukuza Airport (in the Kruger National Park) from Johannesburg (OR Tambo) and Cape Town International Airports.

Car Rental - Hoedspruit

Avis Car Hire and Europ Car Hire are available at Eastgate Airport, Hoedspruit. Other car rental options available in town.

Shuttle Service

Wits Rural offers a shuttle service to/from Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit: R470 per person.

If you are planning to visit the Kruger National Park before or after the SAAB Conference, you are advised to book accommodation AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, as this is a popular season and during the School Holiday period. Your nearest camp to Wits Rural Facility is Satara, known for its good game viewing. Both Skukuza and Lower Sabie camps are located on rivers, as are Olifants and Letaba camps (further north).

Use the SANParks website to book accommodation: https://www.sanparks.org/reservations/.

N.B. The speed limit of 50 km/h on tar roads and 40 km/h on gravel roads in the Kruger National Park affects travel time. So please plan accordingly.

Day trips are also possible and can be prebooked (online), but this is not usually necessary if you get to the entrance gates early.

Daily entrance fees

• R128 pp (SA citizens and residents);
• R257 pp (SADC citizens);
• R535 pp (International visitors);
• No charge if you have a Wild card.

You will need your ID or Passport to enter the park.

N.B. Please avoid using Numbi Gate to access the southern part of the KNP. Rather use Phabeni or Kruger Gates, or Malalane Gate (if coming from the south). This is for safety reasons. Orpen Gate is nearest to Wits Rural Facility (for entrance after the conference, or exit prior to the conference).

Please Note: Although Malaria is not rife at Wits Rural Facility, it is important to read the malaria information below and consult with your medical doctor.

Malaria is endemic in some areas of South Africa, including parts of Mpumalanga and Limpopo. September to May is considered the malaria season, with the cooler months of June and July being low-risk periods.

Some of the precautionary measures you can take to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes:

• Mosquitoes that carry malaria generally bite between dusk and dawn. Close windows and doors and remain indoors during this time.
• Use mosquito repellent on exposed skin.
• Use mosquito coils.
• Wear long-sleeved, light-coloured clothing, long trousers and socks, especially at night.
• Ceiling fans and air conditioners are also effective in preventing mosquito bites.
• Chemoprophlyaxis help to reduce the chances of getting ill with malaria. These medicines must be taken according to the instructions given by your local medical practitioner or pharmacist.

Malaria symptoms may only develop 10–14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Even if you have taken chemoprophylaxis, you can still contract malaria, and then this incubation period might be longer.

• Flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, sweating, fatigue, myalgia (back and limbs), abdominal pain, diarrhoea, appetite loss, nausea and vomiting, could be an indication of malaria.
• You should seek immediate medical attention if you have flu-like symptoms for up to six months after visiting a malaria area.

Regional Malaria risk map