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PLAN & BOOK

Plan Your Trip and Book

IN SHORT

Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve is in the eastern Free State, South Africa. Its main gate is about 295 km (185 mi), or 3.5 hours’ drive, from O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg. Qwantani, inside the Reserve, has its own access road and is about 320 km (200 mi), or 4.5 hours, from the same airport.

Getting here

From

To

Distance

Drive time

Route

O.R. Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg)

Reserve’s main gate

about 295 km (185 mi)

about 3 h 30 min

N3 south to Harrismith, then the R74 towards Bergville

O.R. Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg)

Qwantani

about 320 km (200 mi)

about 4 h 30 min

N3 south to Harrismith, then as from Harrismith below

King Shaka International Airport (Durban)

Reserve’s main gate

about 320 km (200 mi)

about 4 h

N3 north, then the R74 via Winterton, Bergville and Oliviershoek Pass

King Shaka International Airport (Durban)

Qwantani

about 370 km (230 mi)

about 4 h 45 min

N3 north to Harrismith, then as from Harrismith below

Harrismith

Reserve’s main gate

about 21 km (13 mi)

about 20 min

R74 south towards Bergville

Harrismith

Qwantani

about 45 km (28 mi)

about 1 h

N5 towards Bethlehem; R712 towards Phuthaditjhaba; S20 gravel road at the Qwantani sign. Last 23 km on gravel

Reserve’s main gate

Qwantani

about 43 km (27 mi)

about 1 h

R74 north, then the R712 and the S20 gravel road. Qwantani is not reached through the main gate

QWANTANI GPS

28° 29′ 28.0″ S, 29° 00′ 19.6″ E

598 Craigielea Farm, R712, Harrismith, 9880, South Africa

RESERVE MAIN GATE GPS

28° 25′ 08.2″ S, 29° 03′ 54.1″ E

R74, about 21 km (13 mi) south of Harrismith

Navigating to Qwantani?

Enter Qwantani's address or GPS, not "Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve". Qwantani has its own access road from the R712; the Reserve's main gate on the R74 is about 43 km (27 mi), or 1 hour, away by road.

Driving tip

South Africans drive on the left. The last 23 km (14 mi) to Qwantani is gravel, rocky in places, with a 40 km/h (25 mph) speed limit. A standard hire car manages if driven slowly; avoid low sports cars and try to arrive in daylight. Check that your hire agreement covers driving on gravel roads. Drive times above are without stops; allow extra time for heavy trucks on the N3.

Frequently asked
questions

It is near Harrismith in the eastern Free State, South Africa, in the foothills of the northern Drakensberg close to the KwaZulu-Natal border. Its main gate is on the R74, about 21 km (13 mi) south of Harrismith.

Yes. Qwantani is inside Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve on the dam’s shoreline, but it has its own access road from the R712. It is about 43 km (27 mi), or 1 hour, by road from the Reserve’s main gate on the R74, so navigate using Qwantani’s address or GPS.

O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg is the nearest. It is about 3.5 hours’ drive (295 km, 185 mi) to the Reserve’s main gate and about 4.5 hours (320 km, 200 mi) to Qwantani. King Shaka International Airport near Durban is about 4 hours (320 km, 200 mi) from the main gate and about 4 hours 45 minutes (370 km, 230 mi) from Qwantani.

Yes, a hire car is the easiest way to reach the reserve and explore the region, as there is no convenient public transport.

Qwantani, a First Group resort on the dam’s shoreline, has 53 three-bedroom self-catering chalets inside the nature reserve; the reserve itself also offers camping.

Expect eland, mountain reedbuck, grey rhebok and blesbok, plus Cape vultures, black eagles, secretarybirds and southern bald ibis, with the occasional bearded vulture.

Autumn (March to May) and spring (September to November) are best for mild hiking weather, summer for watersports, and winter for clear days and cosy fireside evenings.

Yes, the dam is a well-known fly-fishing destination, best known for its yellowfish.

Yes. From Qwantani, Golden Gate Highlands National Park is about 1.5 hours’ drive (about 70 km, 43 mi), and the Sentinel car park, where the Amphitheatre hike starts, is about 2 hours (about 75 km, 47 mi).

Two to three nights gives time for a hike, a boat trip and a day trip to Golden Gate or Clarens.

Prices are in South African rand (ZAR); use a currency converter for your home currency.

Yes, Qwantani has designated dog-friendly chalets; please read the dog policy before booking.

No. This visitor guide is published by Qwantani, a First Group resort on the shore of Sterkfontein Dam. The reserve itself is managed by the Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA).

Yes. The eastern Free State is a malaria-free area.

Book your stay

Ready for the lake? Our reservations team can help you choose a chalet, plan activities or arrange a longer stay.

You’ll book securely on Qwantani’s booking page.

Phone: +27 58 623 0882

Email: qwantanires@firstgroup-sa.co.za

Address: 598 Craigielea Farm, R712, Harrismith, Free State, 9880, South Africa.

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