Babanango Valley Lodge is situated off the R68 between Dundee and Melmoth in Northern KwaZulu Natal in the KwaZulu Natal Battlefields. It is a 12km dirt road from the R68 to the lodge.
There is now a road which shortens the distance to KwaZulu Natal Blood River Battlefields by 50km each way enabling us to offer a new tour also incorporating the Prince Imperial Monument.
Situated within the Babanango Valley Private Nature Reserve are a Luxury Lodge and a Bush Camp. Babanango is ideally situated to visit the KwaZulu Natal Battlefields.
Directions to Babanango Valley Lodge
From Durban International
Follow the N2 north for about 141km. Turn off onto the R66 at the Dokoweni Toll plaza (towards Eshowe/Ulundi). Proceed for about 72km past Eshowe and through Melmoth.
Directions from Hluhluwe
Follow the N2 south for an average of 110km to Empangeni. Turn inland onto the R34 for 75km through Melmoth.
From Melmoth
Please fill petrol here. On the outskirts, turn left onto the R68 towards Babanango. There are two turns, the first on the fringe of the town, the other 4km outside - if you take the first one, you will get to a T-junction after 4km, simply turn left here and continue.
Twenty kilometres from Melmoth, there is an unusual right turn on the R68 towards Babanango (also sign posted here to Dundee) - going straight will take you to Nkandla, so don't go straight. Take this turn (still the R68) and continue for 36km Babanango.
At the stop street turn left (signs here to Babanango Valley) and proceed for 4km. Turn right onto the D139 (also signed to Babanango Valley) and proceed 12km to Babanango Valley Lodge (take your odometer reading).
Petrol
Unleaded fuel is less commonly used in rural areas where vehicles are usually older. It is therefore often unobtainable or is obtainable (sometimes) and only during business hours. Please remember to fill petrol at the following towns:
- Arriving from Durban/Coast - Melmoth
- Arriving from Mpumalanga/Swaziland - Vryheid
- Ariving from Johannesburg/Drakensberg - Dundee
From Johannesburg (International)
Take N3 south for about 100km. At Villiers, turn off onto the R103, proceed south for 61km, turn left onto the R34, past Vrede and Memel to Newcastle. Through the town, turn right (south) onto the N11. Proceed 32km, turn left onto R621 to Dundee.
From the Drakensberg
Amphitheatre / Cathedral Park
From the Amphitheatre/Cathedral Peak region proceed through Bergville across the N3 onto the N11 and then on through Ladysmith. After Ladysmith, continue 20 kilometers along the N11 north. Turn right onto R602 to Dundee.
Central and southern Drakensberg
From other areas south of the Cathedral Peak and the southern Drakensberg, proceed onto the N3 North and take the Berville off ramp onto the N11and then on through Ladysmith. After Ladysmith, continue 20km along the N11 north. Turn right onto R602 to Dundee.
From Pietermaritzburg
Take the N3 north past Mooi River and Estcourt for 150km. Turn off at Bergville ramp onto the N11 and then on through Ladysmith. After Ladysmith, continue 20km along the N11 north. Turn right onto the R602 to Dundee.
Directions from Dundee
Please fill petrol here
Take the R33 towards Vryheid. Six kilometres from Dundee, turn right onto the R68 to Nqutu. At the stop street in Nqutu, turn right and proceed for 50km. Turn left onto the D139 (also signed as Babanango Valley) and proceed 12km to Babanango Valley Lodge.
Directions from Mpumalanga / West Swaziland
Proceed south to Vryheid. Please fill petrol here. Take the R33 towards Dundee. About 35km from Vryheid (28km from Stillwater), turn left towards Nqutut/eMondlo. At the stop street in Nqutu, cross straight over and proceed for 50km. Turn left onto the D139 (also signed as Babanango Valley) and proceed 12km to Babanango Valley Lodge.
