Directions & location
How to get to Ukutula Lodge & Game Reserve
Exact address, GPS pin, drive times from Johannesburg, Pretoria and the airports — plus the two things almost every GPS gets wrong: the final gravel road and the drive from the gate to reception.
By appointment only
No walk-ins — booking essential
Ukutula Lodge & Game Reserve does not accept walk-in visitors. There is no gate entry or reception check-in without a confirmed booking reference. Please book online ahead of your visit so your slot is secured and you are registered on arrival.
How far is Ukutula Lodge & Game Reserve?
Ukutula sits on the Gauteng–North West border near Brits, about 30 km past Hartbeespoort Dam. The figures below are the honest door-to-reception times — tarred-road driving plus the gravel section and the internal reserve road — not the optimistic number your GPS will show.
From Johannesburg
120 km
Realistic: 2 – 2½ h
From Pretoria / Centurion
85 km
Realistic: 1¾ – 2 h
From OR Tambo Airport
165 km
Realistic: ± 3 h
From Lanseria Airport
75 km
Realistic: 1¾ – 2 h
Also written “Ukutula Lion Park” or “Ukutula Lion Lodge” — it is the same reserve on the R512, and the travel times above apply either way.
Self-drive: read this first
Add 30–45 minutes to whatever your GPS says
- The last stretch is gravel. Once you leave the R512 the road becomes gravel and corrugated in places. Drive slowly, keep your distance from dust, and allow an extra 30 to 45 minutes over your GPS estimate — especially after rain or in a low-clearance car.
- The gate is not reception. From the entrance gate it is a further 10 to 15 minutes on the internal reserve road to reception, at reserve speed limits, with game possibly on the road.
- Everyone registers on arrival. All guests must check in at reception before the tour — bring your booking reference and ID. Registration takes a few minutes per group.
- Aim to arrive 30 minutes early. Tours leave on time and cannot wait for late arrivals, so build the buffer in rather than rushing the gravel road.
Travel time calculator
When should you leave?
We add the gravel road, the gate-to-reception drive and 30 minutes for registration — so the time below is realistic, not optimistic.
Leave by
05:10
To be registered and ready for a 08:00 tour start.
Map & GPS pin
Address & coordinates
The Farm Klipkop 411, JQ District, R512
Brits, 0250 · North West Province · South Africa
GPS: -25.521922, 27.673801
Distances & drive times
Tarred-road driving only — add the gravel section and gate-to-reception time on top.
Step-by-step route from Johannesburg
- Take the N1 north out of Johannesburg towards Pretoria, then the N4 west towards Rustenburg / Brits.
- Continue on the N4 past Hartbeespoort Dam and take the R512 turn-off towards Brits.
- Follow the R512 for roughly 15 km — the Ukutula Conservation Centre turn-off is signposted on your right.
- The final section is gravel. Slow down, allow 30–45 extra minutes and follow the reserve signs to the gate.
- From the gate, drive 10–15 minutes to reception at reserve speed limits, then register before your tour.
Signal drops in patches past Hartbeespoort — download the offline map area, or save the coordinates -25.521922, 27.673801 before you leave.
Directions FAQs
Can I walk in to Ukutula Lodge without a booking?
No — Ukutula Lodge & Game Reserve is strictly by appointment only. Walk-ins are not accepted, and there is no gate entry or reception check-in for unbooked visitors. Every guest must have a confirmed booking reference, which you present at reception on arrival. Book online ahead of your visit; if a slot is full we will guide you to the next available departure.
How far is Ukutula Lodge from Johannesburg?
Ukutula Lodge & Game Reserve is roughly 120 km from Johannesburg (Sandton or the CBD). The tarred drive is about 90 minutes, but you should allow around 2 to 2½ hours door-to-reception once you add the final gravel section, the gate-to-reception drive and arrival registration.
How far is Ukutula from Pretoria?
About 85 km from Pretoria and Centurion — roughly 65 minutes on tarred roads, or 1¾ to 2 hours realistically including the gravel road, the internal reserve road and registration.
How far is Ukutula from OR Tambo International Airport?
Around 165 km, about 2 hours of tarred-road driving. Landing visitors should allow 3 hours from airport to reception, so a same-day morning tour is only realistic off an early-morning arrival — or book a return transfer and let the driver handle the timing.
Where exactly is Ukutula Lion Park located?
Ukutula Lodge & Conservation Centre — also known as Ukutula Lion Park — sits off the R512 near Brits in the North West Province of South Africa, on the Gauteng / North West border. It is about 30 km past Hartbeespoort Dam and pairs easily with a Hartbeespoort day trip.
What is the exact address of Ukutula Lodge & Game Reserve?
Ukutula Lodge & Conservation Centre, The Farm Klipkop 411, JQ District, off the R512, Brits 0250, North West Province, South Africa.
What are the GPS coordinates for Ukutula?
Latitude -25.521922, longitude 27.673801. Enter those coordinates directly into Google Maps, Waze or Apple Maps — they land on the reserve entrance.
Is the road to Ukutula tarred?
The route is tarred until the final section off the R512, which is gravel. Self-drivers should add 30 to 45 minutes to whatever time their GPS shows, drive slowly and avoid low-clearance sports cars after heavy rain.
How long does it take from the gate to reception?
Allow a further 10 to 15 minutes from the gate to reception along the internal reserve road, and remember that every guest must register at reception on arrival before the tour starts.
How early should I arrive at Ukutula?
Arrive at least 30 minutes before your booked tour start time so registration is complete and your guide can brief you. Tours depart on time and cannot wait for late arrivals.
Is there cellphone signal on the way?
Signal drops in patches past Hartbeespoort and on the gravel section. Download the offline map area before you leave Johannesburg or Pretoria.
Rather not drive the gravel road?
A door-to-door return transfer removes the gravel road, the timing maths and the drive home after a long day in the sun. Add it to any tour when you book.
More about Ukutula Lion Park