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I can't tell you if there is a better alternative but the Timbavati Road was a very productive road for me last month. It had a high concentration of general game (that probably attracts lots of predators that I didn't see) and some wildebeests allowed me to get very close to them.

Well, that's another proof that one has to be at the right place at the right time. One day a road is full of game, and the next day there's nothing. That's why I always hesitate to give advice on "good or bad roads"...

Hi Bushmad / Graemy / Katja,

Thank you very much for the advice - it definitely helps.

Bushmad, i'm only there for 2 days and have both nights in Olifants. Couldn't get alternate accommodation since park is full as it is a long weekend. Please let me know where I find the wild dog/hyena den thread.

Thanks.

Here's the link, frog

Hi Frog,
lots of really good advice here. The only thing I can add is, if you are travelling all the way from J'burg, do the main tar routes. It is a long way and you will be tired. I have never been disappointed on these roads.
I love the Timbavati route, although I have never really seen much game, but travelling long distance on gravel after a long ride from J'burg might not be that enjoyable.
Enjoy Olifants. I really love the Camp and everything it has to offer.

I really enjoy the drive to the Timbavati picnic spot, not because i have seen a lot of game,because I have not seen much besides general game, but i always feel that something magic can happen on this drive. And I always attempt to go on it,but i leave it to my gut feeling when i wake up in the early hours to plan the days travels.ONE DAY!!!!!!

I love that road...once with my dad on that road saw 7 prides of lion including what we thought might have been the Sweni pide (+-16 lions) and we were the only car there besides with the big pride!

Am I reading well??? 7 prides on 1 drive??? And on the same road??? Was there sort of a lion convention going on?

Yip 7 in 1 drive though the sweni(???) pride was on the road perpendicular to that road!

Below a photo of the dam take on 31 January 2006. Note the difference in the water level. Also a photo of the Piet Grobler Dam plaque.



For those of you that cannot read the inscription on the plaque it read as follow:

Piet Grobler Dam

This structure has been erected in honour of and to commemorate ex-minister of Lands PCW Grobler. Piet Grobler was a great grand nephew of President Paul Kruger and founder of the South African National Park system. He piloted the National Parks Bill through parliament on 31 May 1926 and in doing so established the Kruger National Park.

In later years he was also instrumental in proclaiming the following National Parks: Kalahari Gemsbok National Park – 1931, Addo Elephant National Park – 1931, Bontebok National Park – 1931, Mountain Zebra National Park – 1937

This dams original name was Groblershoop, but was changed on request of the Grobler family.

Thanks luislang. My map does not even list a name for this dam. Fortunatly I took a photo of the plaque.

I have spent 9 days in the park from 04-12 Aug 07. I took the S39 after spending 2 nights at Olifants & I absolutely loved that road ! Its just got a special feeling and the habitat is different from what u will find elsewhere.

At the Piet Grobler Dam I have probably seen my best lion sighting ever. 3 magnificent, fully maned male lions standing on the embankment overlooking the dam. Spent an hour with them & not a single car in all that while.

Not far from dam +- 400m saw lions at a kill the following day.

All in all in my time must have seen about 50-60 lions & almost all the lions that were seen were never far away from a water source. Handy to keep that in mind when looking for the big cat.

S39 well worth a try...