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Got a trip coming up end of april. Will be staying 3 days in Mapungubwe, then of to kruger for 3 weeks. Any suggestions for roads to take from Mapungubwe to either Pafuri or Punda Maria ?

Hi

We did that route in Dec last year, but the other way. From Punda we went to Pafuri (good chance to see that part of the park) and then we drove the R525 (which had some potholes and road works for about 10km close to the park, the rest was fine), the R508, N1 to Musina, and then took the R572 to Map. Roads all fine.

Agree with DB.

Just avoid the potholes and enjoy the way to the Pafuri entrance gate (stop and take a photograph of the beautiful Baobab next to the road) and then experience the wonders and mysteries of Pafuri.

Thanks for the advice. Only staying on night and Punda the heading south. Want to try and squeeze a drive to crooks corner in somewhere. Ruff traveling time from Mapungubwe to pafuri ?

From the Map main gate, it is about 300km. It does depend which section of Map you will be staying in. If you are in the west, add on about 45mins. And allow for slower driving closer to Pafuri gate. If you enter at Pafuri, you pass the turn to the river road via the Pafuri picnic spot, and to Crooks Cnr - so if you leave Map early, certainly very doable to visit Crooks Cnr on your way to Punda.

Stop at Pafuri Picnic spot for lunch and have a chat to Frank.. Have your yellow ribbon and binos handy He spots them a mile off

Thanks you so much. Just wat I wanted to hear. Will be in the limpopo forest tent camp for th 3 nights. Was planning on leaving as early as possible.



If time allows, will definitly stop over.

How safe is this route ? Does it pass through venda ?

We felt perfectly safe all the way. The road was pretty quiet. And we were towing a caravan.

Not sure of where Venda area is/was ... but not once did I feel we needed to worry at all. Its very 'rural'.

Thank you once again.

Now to ffw time to our wedding then the honeymoon to start in the bushveld

Congrats on the wedding .... don't rush it too much, enjoy and savour the special time. And do have a really wonderful honeymoon

They are currently working on the last few km's just before the Pafuri gate. There's a detour next to the original road for 5-10km (can't remember exact distance) but we did find it quite easy going at the end of January.
The Musina-Pafuri road is much quiter and in better condition than the Makhado-Punda Maria road. There are a lot less small villages to drive through and therefore far fewer donkeys and cattle to be avoided.

If you get there early enough you'll have more than enough time to visit Crooks Corner and the picnic site. It's only ±90min drive from the picnic site to Punda Maria.
Don't forget to do Mahonie loop around Punda camp. One of my favourite roads with scenery and vegetation you won't find anywhere else in the park.

I will also be driving from Mapungubwe to Punda — entering at Parfuri gate — in mid-April and am wondering where along the way is a good place to stock up on fresh veggies and other groceries. Is there a PnP, Spar or similar along the route?

@Johann: Thanks for the heads-up on the roadworks!

Arks, we stopped at a nice little Spar in Musina which was well situated on the road for us considering we were towing. It has a parking area, and is on the corner of the main road and where you will turn to take the road to Pafuri in Musina. There were other grocery shops in the town too along the main road.

Thanks, DB! Sounds perfect.