Celebrating the TRansformative ​connection of land and its ​people

DISTANCES

TRAVELING TIMES IN HOURS (APPROXIMATE)

TRAVELING TIMES IN KILOMETERS (APPROXIMATE)

DURBAN TO PARKING LOT

Directions to Big Skies Manguzi Parking Area from Durban

(travel time approximately 5 – 6 hours)

You can use Google maps for this part!

• Departing from Durban or King Shaka Airport, head north on the N2 highway. Pass by Ballito, Mtunzini, Empangeni, Richard’s Bay, and Mtubatuba. Take the ​Hluhluwe/Sodwana offramp to get onto the R22.
• Hluhluwe town is 3km from the N2. Traverse the town and continue on the R22 for 80km to Mbazwane (Mbazwana). Proceed straight through two traffic ​circles.
• About 30km after Mbazwane on R22, you will encounter signposts for the D1849 Coastal Forest Reserve road on your right. Keep going straight for another ​15km on the R22 until you reach the Phelandaba traffic circle (also known as KwaNgwanase on maps).
• At the Phelandaba traffic circle, turn right and travel 22km to the town of Manguzi/Farazella Border Post.
• Upon reaching Manguzi town, you will pass an Engen garage followed by Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) on the right. Shortly after, turn right at the Fa Da ​Shop/Happy Supermarket. This turn is opposite the SuperSpar supermarket on the left. If you reach the Total Garage on the main road, you have gone too far ​and need to turn back.
• After turning right at the Fa Da Shop, continue on this side road past Themba Nkosi Pharmacy on the right. Cross a small stream shortly after.
• Immediately after crossing the stream, the road splits; take the right fork. The tar road ends just past the small stream crossing, and around 200-300m ahead, ​you will see a large white wall on the right. Look for the 4228 Gele Gele Street Big Skies Car Park sign painted on the wall. Our security guard and your guide will ​be waiting here to greet you. Toilet facilities are available on-site.

GAUTENG TO PARKING LOT

(travel time approximately 8.5 – 9 hours)

You can use Google maps for this part!

• Leaving Johannesburg, follow the N17 east past Springs toward Bethal.
• Leaving Pretoria, you can take either:
• the N4 east, turning off onto the R545 to Ogies and then Bethal, OR
  
• the R50 through Delmas to join the N17 at Leandra, continuing to Bethal.
  
• From Bethal, continue along the N17 to Ermelo, where you will join the N2 and then proceed to Piet Retief and Pongola.
• From Pongola, continue on the N2 for approximately 50 km. At just over 50km from Pongola, take the Jozini turnoff to the left. Follow the road 20km up onto ​the Lebombo Escarpment.
• From Jozini, head north over the dam wall for about 40km until you reach a T-junction of the village of Bhambanana.
• Turn right at the Bhambanana T-junction. At the 45km mark, you will reach the Phelandaba traffic circle. Continue straight through the traffic circle and follow ​the sign to Manguzi/Farazella Border Post – approximately 22km.
• Continue along the main road, passing the Engen Garage and KFC. Shortly after, you will see the Spar on your left. Across from Spar, is Fa Da Shop. Turn right ​down this street. If you reach the Total Garage on the main road, you have gone too far and need to turn around.
• After turning right at the Fa Da Shop, continue down this side road. Cross over a small bridge.
• After crossing the stream, the road forks; take the right fork. The tar road ends here, and you will continue for about 200-300m until you see a large white wall ​with Big Skies marked. There is a toilet at our parking lot.

• GOOGLE MAPS OR SIMILAR APP CAN BE USED FOR ​DIRECTIONS TO MANGUZI BUT NOT TO CAMP.
• ALL PICK UPS ARE DONE IN MANGUZI.
  

4X4 VEHICLES FROM PARKING LOT TO CAMP

(4X4 vehicles only & DO NOT USE GOOGLE MAPS)

(travel time approximately 1 hour; limited cellphone signal)

• It will take approximately 1 hour from Big Skies Manguzi Parking to Gugs Lodge or Little Gugs camp.
• Leaving the Big Skies secure parking in Manguzi, turn right and travel south along a gravelled district road for approximately 700m; at this point take the right ​fork onto a slightly smaller gravel road. Follow the gravel road for 3km before coming to another junction; turn left here; There is a hand painted sign done by ​our resident artist here.
• Follow this slightly larger gravel road south for nearly 7km. At the 7km mark, there is a turn off to the left here that takes you across the Siyadla River to Bhanga ​Nek; Do not turn left; keep right and continue.
• After around 8,5km you will pass KwaZibi clinic on your right. Continuing for 4km where you reach something of a T-junction - the main road follows a left bend ​at this point. You will see on this corner, on your right hand side, a big brown signboard with “KwaZibi Clinic.” Follow this sandy road and follow Gugs & Little ​Gugs signs to get into camp from here.
• We have placed hand-painted signposts at pivotal points but if ever in any doubt please don’t hesitate to ask directions from anyone in the friendly ​KwaMpukane community. They will be able to assist.
• Landmarks to look out for in this last 2,5km stretch include driving through a eucalyptus plantation, past an outhouse on the left with the label ‘DJ Mlambo’, ​after this, a wooden structure serving as a community bar on the right. At all times you should be able to see an old, bent fire tower on a dune, to the ​east/ocean side/left hand side;
• Having passed the bar mentioned above, you will shortly see a Gugs signpost, turning left. Travel down into a dip and follow right turn at the bottom of the dip, ​up an incline on the other side, leading into camp.

4X4 VEHICLES

(4X4 vehicles only & DO NOT USE GOOGLE MAPS)

(travel time approximately 1 hour; limited phone signal)

• From Durban direction: follow N2 north, turn off onto R22 at Hluhluwe/Sodwana offramp. Continue past Mbazwana. About 15-20 minutes later, you will see a D1849 ​signpost along with a big brown “Coastal Forest Reserve Info Lapa” signboard. Turn right here off the tar R22 road, onto a gravel road.
• From Jozini/JHB direction: Phelendaba traffic circle, turn right at traffic circle - follow signs to Mbazwana/Hluhluwe. Approx 15km later you will see the D1849 signpost – turn ​left onto gravel road.
• Please send a Whatsapp to the camp phone once you turn onto the D1849 road. It is about 60 minutes drive into camp from here.
• Approximately 4km along this gravel road you will pass Coastal Cashews on your right; 14km later the road forks – keep to the right fork – follow the Coastal Forest sign. You ​can also look out for our artist made signs.
• 2km later, there is a sign with L1734 and Manzengwenya CP school. The road forks here - keep on the left side of this fork.
• 3km later you will see a big brown signpost indicating a left turn to Manzengwenya, Lala Nek, Rocktail Bay & Black Rock. There is also a sign indicating a left turn for D253; ​Underneath these sign posts, there is a small hand-painted blue sign saying “Big Skies”.
• Turn left here and then veer right. Follow “Big Skies” signs. Follow this road through the plantations for 5,5km.
• Continue 150m. You will see “Gugs” sign showing a left turn here. It is a very sharp left hand turn and it can become very sandy on this corner. If you travel 10m or so further, ​rather turn here and continue back in the direction you came in, taking the right side of the fork, with less chance of getting stuck. You are now on an unmarked (and no ​signal) road
• After 1,5km take the right fork (there is a signboard with “Big Skies” showing the right fork at this point). Continue following this track through the coastal forest for 2km. You ​will emerge into some coastal grassland. Continuing another 1km where you will start seeing KwaMpukane Community houses. CONT. next page
• There is a sign saying “almost there”. Continue straight along this road (do not turn right here – very sandy dune track). This follows up a gentle, small hill. You are ​approximately 1km to camp at this point. Follow the signs to “Gugs” for the main Lodge or “Ubunye / Research” for those camps. Shortly after you have driven through the ​main gate, keep to the left hand fork. Parking is at the top of the hill, on your right hand side.
• UBUNYE/RESEARCH - DIRECTIONS For Ubunye / Research, you have followed the signs for Ubunye / Research (kept to the right hand fork where the signs showed Gugs ​(left) and Ubunye / Research (right). You will be driving along the outside of our main camp fence area, which will be on your left. Continue for a couple of minutes until you ​reach a sign on your right stating “Research Camp”. There is a gate just after this sign, on your left. Turn left into the gated area. Please close the gate once you drive ​through. This is kept closed, as are all gates around Gugs property, to keep the cows out.
• Once you have driven through the gate you will drive up a slight hill; follow Ubunye / Research sign with a left turn. Then keep to the right-hand fork in the road. Shaded ​parking is on your right hand side.