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Hey Guys
I am planning a trip to Marakele and I want to know the best drive from Klerksdorp(My home town) to Marakele.
All Help will be appreciated..
Thanx

Hi,

Looking at Google Earth, your best bet will probably be Krugersdorp => Ventersdorp => Rustenburg => past Pilanesburg =>Thabazimbi although I have no idea of the condition of the roads.

Time from JHB to Marakele is about 3.5 hours, so to come up here first will turn your trip into a 6 hour oddessy.

When are you going? (I'm there in April)

Cheers

Thanks for the advice... will hopefully be going there in a few weeks time, after which i might go to kruger

Hi there,

Who knows the shortest route from Madikwe to Marakele?

Hi petries,

Looking on Google Earth, the shortest route looks like Madikwe => Northam (Turn Left) => Thabazimbi => Marakele

Straight line distance looks around 120 Km's, but this route will probably be closer to 150/160 Km.

It looks like the section from Madikwe to Northam is a sand road though.

Cheers

I have booked Marakele at the end of June. I know it is not far but cannot find out exactly how far.

How long does it take from the Fourways area? Time and distance?

Looking forward to the trip.

Hello Hippotragus,

It's about a two hour drive tp Fourways (where we live) via Brits. Don't have the kilometrage handy but can let you know if you want. We drove back from Mapungubwe today and came through Thabazimbi and was in Brits an hour later. The traffic starts to get rather hectic from there on to Fourways, so depending on the time of the day the time may be longer. We have also stayed at Marakele. I will be posting my report about Mapungubwe later in the forum.

Thanks, Jozigirl.

I thought it would be between 2 and 2 and a half hours. I think it is about 250km. My daughter went a while ago, but can't remember how long it took her!! We won't be in a rush, anyway. I was just curious.

Glad you enjoyed Mapungubwe - we are going there in May.

Hippotragus

Could anyone help me... I would like to know the approx. travel time
from Bela-Bela to Marakele????

It should take you about 2 hours (R516->R511->R510). It's about 150 kilometers, but you won't be able to drive 120 all the time.

Hi can someone please tell me the best route to take to Marakele from JHB?
i heard the Brits road is terrible? i will leave next friday midmorning or early afternoon
How long will it take me to get there from JHB (Does the gates closes at 17h00?)

Regards
Kallie

Kallie

From what I have heard the R511 between Brits and Thabazimbi is close to non-existent. When I went through there in March this year there were stretches where one drove beside the road with trucks swerving all over to avoid the potholes with no regard for smaller vehicles. And when I say potholes I mean serious holes! Deep and dangerous.

Your only real other option is to take the N1 to Modimolle (Nylstroom). Then take the R33 to Vaalwater. Turn west onto a gravel road towards Alma and follow it in the Direction of Thabazimbi. The gravel road from Alma through Rankin's Pass was in a good condition as of December 2010 when we went through there. We were able to do 80kmh with our Ford Bantam as the road was even and compacted hard! Please consult google maps if you want to take this option and be sure of your directions. This is however a lot further, and although VERY scenic, still quite a trek. It might be easier (and even quicker) to take the R511 and do the real bad stretches slowly.

I suppose this is of no help, but it just gives you more options. Contact Sanparks or Thabazimbi tourism and hear what they have to say.


Regards

Stephan

The road between Brits and Thabazimbe is dangerously non existent and I mean dangerous!
I cannot comment on the other roads but I would think the one past Bela-Bela would be the best option to take from Johannesburg at the moment.

Allow yourself about 3 hours for the drive. Remember your break begins the moment you shut the door behind you. I'm not sure what time the gate closes at the moment but midmorning or early afternoon should get you there in time.

Have fun and spare a thought for this Marakele junkie sitting at home!

Thank u Stephan & JenB
Ok i will think of u when i sit and watch the sun go down over Marakele

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