SANParks.org Forums

Firstly, a very warm welcome Darth

I see that the 30th August is a Sunday. That is good news. We are then not looking at hectic week day traffic.

Your plan is very feasable. I am not sure which camp you will be staying at for the first night, but the gate closing time is 6pm. If anything should happen to delay you, phone Numbi as soon as possible. The number is 013 735 5133. They are very accomodating if they have prior warning.

The road to Nelspruit is fairly straight forward. I would suggest that you take the "Schoemanskloof" pass road to Nelspruit after the Machadodorp toll. It is the route veering to the left. It tends to have less traffic, particularly big trucks. It is also in very good condition.

Depending on your time, I would make one of two suggestions. If you are not in a hurry, you can go via Hazyview on the R40. There is a very substantial Mall in Hazyview where you can do some shopping. If you are a little more rushed for time, there is a convenient shopping centre with a good "Spar" on the main route in Nelspruit.

It is just before the White River turn off on the left hand side of the road. Maybe someone can help you with the name of the centre.

If you take this option, you can go straight to Numbi Gate on the R538. It is a turning to the right almost immediately after exiting White River.

I am sending you a pm of suggested stop over for you home journey.

Welcome Darth,

I agree with MM & other suggestions.

Only thing that I would recommend is you get to Hazyview and then take the route to Numbi. The alternate direct route to Numbi once you exit White River is not the best road to take IMHO especially given that you would be approaching closer to sunset.

Definitely get to Hazyview first.

Enjoy !!!

Hi all,

Not sure if I can post here so apologies if not and please feel free to remove. We are spending 2 1/2 weeks in Kruger in Jan but have decided to start right far north at Punda and are flying into Nelspruit from UK via JNB.

We would like to take 2 nights to drive up. 1.5 days really to get an early start into the park after the 2nd night.

We would like to see Blyde River Canyon but have no real idea on timescales/options available. Is it even possible in this time?

Any ideas anyone?

Thanks

Lastpride, This Map might help with some of the roads and distances.
I am sure if you left very early you would be able to get in 1 or 2 or the sightings along the way.

I would recommend staying at Blyde River canyon while in the area as I don't know of many places between there and Punda gate .
You would get to Punda from Blyde area in around 5 hours .

I'd go with this one. Basically all the exciting and interesting stuff to see is pretty much between Nelspriut and Phalaborwa. Not too sure what the road is like further north or if there is anything worth seeing between Phalaborwa and Giyani.

It is a very long drive too so rather spend as much time in the park as possible.

There is a nice loop from close to the Phalaborwa gate which will take you to north or Letaba and is probably an area you may not get to see on your way down the park. (Assuming of course, that is your plan.)

Places of interest outside the park on your way up, Bourkes Luck potholes. Loads of water falls. God's Window is a spectacular view over the lowveld from the plateau. Last thing really worth seeing is the three rondavels and that is pretty close to Phalaborwa anyway.

Maybe spend Friday night in Sabie and Saturday night in Phalaborwa. That will give you ample time for a leisurely cruise around the good stuff to see outside the park and help maximise your time insidethe park. Take a nice slow dat drive to Punda inside the park.

Great Idea Cees. I am glad I thought of it.

Hi Lastpride,

You could stay over one night in Hazyview - (Hippo Hollow) or near Ohrigstad (Manoutsa) - the scenery from the Albert Erasmus pass is breathtaking over the Olifants river. These sleepovers could give you a good starting point to explore the area.

Second night you could spend at Moholoholo rehab centre - there are about 4 different accommodation options here - be sure to take a tour of the wildlife rehab centre - The owner is passionate about everything wild and wonderfull.

I will have a look at my info at home maybe there's a better option...

If you would really like to spend some time at the Blyde River Canyon and not just drive through with a short hop out to watch, I suggest you stay at the Forever Resort Blyde Canyon.
There are some different vantage points than from the main road and it is a lovely resort.
However, Graskop is also a good choice, with much to see all the way from Sabie to Blyde Canyon - Waterfalls: Lone Creek, Horseshoe, Bridal Veil, Mac Mac, Maria Shires, Forest Falls (my favourite), Lisbon, Berlin; then also Gods Window, Bourkes Luck, natural bridge just outside Graskop and pancakes at Scotts in Pilgrims Rest.
Too much to fit into a day.
Decide what you want to focus on - if it is the Canyon, I suggest the Forever Resort right at the Canyon. Beautiful place. Enjoy.

For the trip further north, I am not too familiar with the area.
But why not stay the extra night at Punda Maria camp (it is very close to the gate)?
People often try and sleep the night before they enter Kruger Park outside the park with the idea to make an early entry into the park the next day.
I much rather prefer to sleep that "extra night" in the park, even if I get there late during the day.
You can still make the "early start" the next day, but from within the park!
I am not sure what the distance is from Blyde River Canyon to Punda Maria gate, perhaps someone else on the forum can assist.

Good day everyone.

I am spending a week in Kruger Park in November. We travel from Scotland to Joburg and then drive to Tzaneen for a night. We are then going to Punda Maria for 2 nights, Bateleur for 1, Olifants for 2 and Skukuza for 2.

As far as getting from Tzaneen to Punda Maria are we best to take the R36 and R81 to Giyani or the R71 and R529. They look about the same distances but I just wandered if one was quicker, easier than the other. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as this is an area that we do not know, as previously travelled to Phalaborwa gate from Mount Sheba near Pilgrims Rest.

Many thanks.

Katy

P.S only 45 days to go!!

Hi Caledonian35 and welcome.
We recently did that trip and the quickest route to Punda Maria is the R36 and then the R81. In fact if you look at the map, before Mooketse there is a road (long side of the triangle) shown as 17 kms from the R36 up to the R81 - you can take this road (it is a good tar road) and save some kms instead of going all the way to Mooketse then turning right onto the R81.

The two routes in question are:
- N1 to Polokwane, Tzaneen, Gravelotte, Phalaborwa gate
- N4 to Belfast, Lydenburg, Hoedspruit, Phalaborwa gate

We will be leaving late afternoon and travelling early evening with a caravan en tow. What would be the fastest/safest route from Pretoria to Phalaborwa? I have never done the Polokwane/Tzaneen/Phalaborwa road and heard that the going might be slow? Which route do you take and why?

The route through Belfast, Lydenburg is cheaper as far as tollfees are concerned. The road is not in good condition though. With a caravan I will take Polokwane then to Tzaneen via Duivelskloof, a bit longer bu no serious mountains & a nice road to drive.

Johan the Dullstroom -Lydenburg road is a nightmare. We used that road in January and I don't think I'll ever use it again The potholes are huge and if it dark you may not see them. The consequences......
There is another route from Middlebug to Burgersfort then Orichstad. I have not used it but it may be a better option. From Orichstad onwards the road is not too bad, but is slow through the settlements and of course the Abel Erasmus pass is very scenic, but is not designed for anything more than about 80km/h
My opinion is leave early on the Thursday to avoid the Moria traffic and use the N1.

Or do Scipio's route via duiwelskloof. It branches off at Polokwane and goes around Mooketsi so you do not go past Moria. Also until Polokwane you are on a double lane highway and if you manage to leave at around lunch or before from Pta you should be ahead of the traffic to Polokwane.

This is the R555 I think. Used it a couple of times when I was commuting between Jo'burg and a private reserve near Hoedspruit.
I think its quite a lot shorter and quieter, but not all of it is marked so well, so make sure you know where the turns are (I got lost once). If you go this way, get off the N4 after Middelburg, not before it, else you have to go through the town (though I think you miss a toll if you get off before).