SANParks.org Forums

Thoughts on directions from Jo'burg to Punda Maria? And suggestions for a place to stop and stock up on food/camping supplies along the way?

Hi Fishing Owl.
I would take the N1 north.
If you are leaving from the airport take the R21 north to Pretoria and then follow the signs to the N1 north.
You need to go past a number of smaller towns and once in Polokwane you could replenish stocks there.
I don't know the shops there, but it is a fair sized town and will have a Spar and almost certainly a Pick n Pay. Get back on the N1 as far as Makhado formerly Louis Trichardt .
Take the R524 to Thohoyandou . B
Go through the town and onto Punda Maria

N12 east is not too bad BUT if you hit JHB between 06.45am and aboutm8.15am Geldenhuys and Gilooleys interchange are horrific. I
f you leave Potch at 7am , you'll only get to this area I guess around 9?
So assuming there's no accident it shouldn't be too busy.
It will then take 4-4/12 hours to get to Malelane so you would get there about 2pm which gives you 6 hours to get to Lower Sabie.
Its possible. Its 65km from Malelane to LS at an average speed of 25km time about 3hours.
But if you are delayed along the way Crocodile Bridge is only about 40min from Malelane and 35km (1and half hour about? to LS

I'm a new member and have a question about driving to KNP.
I shall arrive in JNB airport on 11:55 am coming from WDH.
Until I finished customs and got the rental car, I expect it will be about 1:00 pm.
Do You think, I could drive to Pietersburg for the first stop or is that to far, because it's already dark?
I'm afraid, it could be danger driving in the dark as I heard, there may be people walking on the roads.

Next day I will drive to Kruger, first stop there shall be in Shingwedzi.
Does anyone know a good hotel near Pietersburg?

Hi Heiko

Pietersburg will be ok as a stop and it is a double lane highway all the way there and I have never had a problem with pedestrians till Pietersburg.

Hi everybody,

we will drive with a VW Polo from JHB to Phalaborwa. Does someone know which route is the best?
N1 via Pietersburg or N4 via Nelspruit?

Thanks for helping me!

Hi Kamanjaka.
I would suggest you take the N1 for a few reasons:
1) better condition road than the Belfast/Lydenburg/Dullstroom area that has a lot of bad pot holes );
2) lovely scenery through Duiwelskloof / Modjadji area;
3) there are road works on the N4, so there may be time delays ;
4) had some bad mist yesterday in the Belfast area and 5) the Bosbokrand area is not always safe to drive through - stone throwing etc.
Do not drive through Pietersburg, rather travel via Haenerstburg / Duiwelskloof/Tzaneen to Phalaborwa.
ENJOY and drive safely!

There are a lot of posts on this but assuming you are entering by Malelane or Croc Bridge Gates then as you leave the airport follow the signs for Boksburg (R21) then fork left for Witbank (N12) which meets up with the N4 at Witbank.
Just before Waterval Boven turn left onto the R539 Schoemanskloff loop.
It's a much nicer run.
I think it is signposted Nelspruit.
Just after you hit the N4 again you will find Eric's on the right for a well needed pitstop.

N1 is the quicker route with highway all the way to Plolkwane, then the route down to tzaneen is very scenic. The route to Nelspruit is a long way round. The other possible way is N4 to Belfast, the Dullsrtoom, Lydenburg, Orichstad, Strydom tuinnel/ Abel Erasmus pass. Its alos scenic,but takes longer as from Belfast on it is mostly single lane traffic and not a freeway

kamanjaka.
The route you take will depend on many things.
Firstly, the time you leave JHB, secondly the place you will be staying on your first night and finally, whether you want a scenic route or a direct route.

The scenic routes to KNP are either via the N1 and Polokwane, Magoebas Kloof, Tzaneen, Phalaborwa and into KNP at the Phalaborwa gate, or via N4 Belfast, Lydenburg, Sabie and into KNP at Phabeni Gate close to Hazyview.

The most direct Route is N4 to Nelspruit, White River and into KNP at Numbi Gate, or Nelspruit, Malelane and in at that gate.

I live in JHB and always use the Numbi gate as it is the closest Gate to JHB, but I leave home at 1 am to get to the gate at opening time.
This makes my journey in the darkness so scenery is not an issue.

If your first night is somewhere like Letaba, then it is 220 km from the Numbi gate to Letaba and it takes around 9.5 to 10 hours to do the trip. You might want to then go into the park at a closer gate.

Alternatively, you can go N4 Belfast, Lydenburg, Hoedspruit and go into KNP at the Orpen Gate.

As you can see it depends on what you want, where you are going and what time you leave JHB.

Please let us know if you need more info or give us an idea of time of departure, where you are staying first night and what you would like to see.

I must agree.

Your plan to drive from Johannesburg to Olifants is not a good idea. Though it MAY BE possible, it is not practical!

Book your first night at a camp right next to a gate. I would go for Orpen (Tamboti tented camp is part of Orpen and is real nice to stay in.) if you are heading to Olifants.

If you drive to Orpen, take the N4 form Johannesburg, past Witbank and Middelburg. Then leave the N4 at Belfast, go through Belfast to Dullstroom, go to Lydenburg, then Ohrigstad, go through the J.G. Strydom tunnel (on R36 road), to Hoedspruit and then to Orpen.

Do not follow the N4 all the way to Nelspruit, because then you have to go through Bosbokrand, which is a heavily populated area with difficult driving circumstance!!

In fact, it might be nice to stay one night in Graskop or Sabie area! It is near the Blyderivierspoort canyon, and Gods Window. This is a beautiful area, with magnificent views. Worth a visit! And on your way to the KNP.

For places to stay near Graskop: Forever resorts Blyderivierspoort would be a good bet! Here is a link with a few options HERE

Enjoy!

Imberbe, I couldn't agree with you more.
I would not even think about starting out to Olifants at 10am from Jnb international.
You are going to be very tired.
I often do the Louisville, Atlanta to Jo’burg flight which takes about 22 hrs flying time and I love Kruger as much as anyone on this forum, but to get in a car after that flight and drive to Olifants there is no way I would do it.
I am assuming that you both are coming from Europe and that can take anywhere from 10 to 20 hours flying time so you are going to be very tired when you get off the plane.
Like imberbe said, spend a night in Sabie, it is wonderful there and Blyderiver canyon is amazing and it always gets me in the mood for Kruger, so it is well worth a stop. plus (I think) it is the third largest canyon in the world if that gives any idea of it's size.
To be honest, I really don't know if you will make it to Olifants in time. the traffic in and around Jo’burg is horrible and it seems it is worse as of late.
I really would stay in Sabie if I were you both or try and get a camp closer to the edge of Kruger.

Ok Bekkie that was a few questions in one
Just to confuse you , you can also go to Sabie via Long Tom Pass! Long Tom is a very Scenic route and personally I would choose that route if you want scenic (although both the others are very pretty as well. ) But to go Long Tom, you should turn off at Belfast and go Dullsrtoom Lydenburg. This is also a scenic route and Dullstroom is worth a visit if you'' ve not been there before. Also you miss the Machadadorp very expensive toll plaza by using this route
If you have to chose between Schoemans kloof And Wateval Boven tunnel, I would go Scoemans kloof. I think its prettier and you avoid the disgusting smell of the saw mill and you avoid most of the trucks. The only reason I use the other pass is if I am going to Kaapsehoop.
Kaapse hoop is a very pretty village, but is very very very quiet during the week. You will battle to find a coffe shop open on weekdays. I love going there, but only on weekends when the place comes alive

Schoemanskloof road is a nicer option.

Hello all,
My husband and I are traveling from the USA to SA in February. We will be spending our first night in JHB and heading toward Kruger the following morning. We will spend the following night outside the park and our first stay inside is at the Olifants camp.

Originally I wanted to take a scenic route through the Blyde river canyon area - but now I'm wondering if we will have enough time with only one day outside the camp. Can we leave JHB early in the morning, drive the canyon circle and overnight in Hoedpruit easily or would this be taking on too much driving? The following morning we will have to head for our camp at Olifants, either through Orpen or the Phalaborwa gate. We'd like to get to our camp early enough to maybe take part in a night drive.