There is one path through it, I found it when I sent a merchant there for the same reason. It runs north/south from roughly where the city of Timbuktu is located. You can skirt the wastes to the west into that rebel province, but I couldn't get all the way to where the village is located. The village doesn't even show on the map normally, so I think you're right. I don't think it's accessible until the map expands allowing you to go to the new world.