Getting there
The easiest is to put THE COWSHED into WAZE and let it take you there :)
DIRECTIONS TO THE COWSHED FROM JOHANNESBURG - 3.5 hours drive
Directions to the Cowshed via Machadodorp plaza:
From Pretoria, take the N4 East to Belfast. Continue on the N4 past Belfast, still on the N4 through the Machadodorp Toll Plaza. + 2km after the Machadodorp Plaza, turn left onto the R36 to Lydenburg, left again at the Bambi Hotel, still on the R36 to Lydenburg. Drive for + 23km’s and turn left at the second Rustenburg turnoff onto a dirt road. Follow the dirt road as per the map for 4 km’s, you will see WILSONIA FARM gate on your left, 750m past the gate you will see the entrance to The Cowshed on your right.
Directions to the Cow Shed via Dullstroom:
From Pretoria take the N4 East to Belfast. Take the Belfast turnoff and turn left into Belfast town. In town there will be a sign to turn right onto the Dullstroom/Lydenburg road. Pass through Dullstroom and drive about 38 km’s towards Lydenburg (cross the Dorpsriver 3 times).
Turn right onto the Coromandel Farm Road (dirt road). Drive 8km until a T-junction and turn right onto the R36 to Machadodorp. Travel about 2 km down Witkliphoogte. Take your first turn right into Rietfontein (dirt road) and about 3km later you will see the entrance to the Cow Shed on the left. If you see Wilsonia on your right you have gone 750m too far.
Once you hit the dirt road, please follow the signs 'The Big Day' until you get to The Cowshed.
Info about the Toll Plazas:
You will pass through three Toll Plaza’s if you go via Pretoria, Witbank and only the second two if you travel from the East Rand, Witbank. Diamond Hill Plaza, Middleburg Ultra Shell Plaza and Machado Plaza.
Updated toll rates: www.aa.co.za/on-the-road/calculator-tools/toll-fees.html
The Cowshed can be reached by car & helicopter :)
If you like road trips & company:
A good idea would be to gather a few mates travelling through and hire a van which can accommodate up to 9 people. That way, you can all enjoy the road trip together and save on travelling costs.
If you want to save time:
Alternatively you can fly to Nelspruit and hire a car. The venue is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes from Nelspruit airport.
OR
If you want to squeeze in a little safari:
Fly to Hoedspruit (Eastgate airport) and stay a few nights at a game lodge nearby then hire a car and travel to the venue, 2 hours drive away.
PLEASE NOTE: UBER DOES NOT OPERATE IN THE AREA
I'm coming from abroad where do I fly to?
There are a few ways to go about this:
Fly to OR TAMBO (Johannesburg International Airport). Stay in Johannesburg for a few days (check out accommodation section for places to stay) and then travel by car to Mpumalanga.
OR
Fly to OR TAMBO (Johannesburg International Airport) and connect to either to Nelspruit or Hoedspruit. Spend a few days in the bush (please see 'Other things to do in the area') then hire a car and travel to the wedding. You can then choose to either drive to Johannesburg on the 15th of December and catch a flight home from there or if you want to avoid Johannesburg completely, drive back to the airport where you arrived from and head out from there.
How long is the drive from Johannesburg to the venue?
3.5 hours from Johannesburg
2 hours from Hoedspruit
1 hour and 20 minutes from Nelspruit
What are the roads like?
Very good, highway most of the way. They are being upgraded at the moment and will be completed by October 2019. There is a short dirt road from the main road to the venue. Dependent on where you are staying, we suggest you ask them if you need a 4-wheel drive when booking your accommodation.
Should you want a bush/safari experience before or after the wedding, there are many lodges with the Big 5 a few hours away. We recommend the following:
Thornybush Luxury Game Lodge Selection
Check out the following sites for more options:
www.luxuryhotelsguides.com
www.krugertravel.com
PLEASE NOTE THAT LODGES FILL UP QUICKLY AS DECEMBER IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST HOLIDAY PERIODS
We have all the major car hire companies in South Africa.
Here are a few to choose from:
PLEASE NOTE THAT DECEMBER IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST HOLIDAY PERIODS SO BOOK YOUR CAR ASAP
UBER:
Uber works very well in Johannesburg. It's safe and so easy to use.
TRANSPORT FROM THE AIRPORT (OR TAMBO)
Uber works from here too, but we do have a very efficient, sorted train service, GAUTRAIN, that operates between the airport and Sandton and Rosebank. We are staying in Parkhurst so Rosebank is our closest station.
A WORD ON THE GENRAL TAXI SERVICE:
Don't do it.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT WITHIN JOHANNESBURG:
Tricky. Not recommended.