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As mentioned - depending on the route there are two / three toll gates on the road to Nelspruit

If you use the road via Centurion and then past the CSIR the first one is on that road - then there is the one near Ultra City (Middleberg) and the Machado Toll plaza just after Machadadorp.

If you use the road past the Airport then you miss the toll Gate just outside Pretoria.

If you use the Malelane gate there is a Toll gate on that road - not sure what that one is called

To summarize - to Malelane there are Four or if you use the airport road Three toll gates.

WRT meat - if you stop at the SPAR in Nelspruit - they have a great Rump steak in what they call Grill Butter (magnificent for braaiing) but they are huge - about 1 kg each - so perhaps you want them to cut it in half or order a half Kilo piece. if you phone them they will freeze it for you.

They also sell Ice and those special cooler bricks - pre frozen.

KR

KC

Update on the road Report

There are currently roadworks (stops for 5 minutes or more) on the R40 approximately 8 k's outside Hazyview (from the turn off into Haztview proper)

Please also note that the traffic lights on the the extension of Portia Shibangu Drive (that's the road where you turn right at the Blue Haze Mall) to go to Paul Kruger Gate.

There are also several traffic lights out on the road to Paul \kruger Gate as well as on the road through Bush Buck Ridge

There is also a high Traffic Police presence in the area on all roads at the moment - not just trapping but checking vehicles as well - this is good - but please be careful and if you are told you were speeding ASK for the fine - don't offer cash.

Enjoy your trip in the Area

KR

KC

To and from Johannesburg and back to Hazyview last week.

Road was OK but be carefull - there are now THREE stop go sections on the Schoemanskloof Road.

The stops were not of long duration but the approach can catch one out a little - the advance warning on the one stop is IMHO just a little too short.

Had really strong wind from the South on the way back from JHB with quite a lot rain from the first toll - Pretoria side - all the way to Nelspruit.

Travel Safely.

KR

KC

Latest update - the stop and Go sections (all three) have been removed from the Schoemanskloof Road - HOWEVER BE AWARE - there are now Speed Limit signs - 100 KM Per hour - I can confirm three traps on the road on last Friday 14th Dec and three yesterday Monday the 17th.

The R40 from White River is still good although there is now some deterioration on the sides and on the main section of the road - caused probably by the coal trucks.

The road from Hazyview to Phabeni is good - also beware of speed traps - this road varies from 60 KMPH to 80 in some sections.

S3 In Kruger from Doispane Road to Paul Kruger side is OK - there are some patches which can if there is rain be quite slippery but the road is OK - we had an incident with a grumpy Male Elephant on Saturday - seems like he is in the area at the moment - we also had a herd of Elephants (about 100 strong) on the road - lots ob babies so please be careful.

Enjoy Kruger this December and please act responsibly - still to many people speeding

KR

KC

Kicker Cat,

Thanks for the info.
I will be travelling this route from Jhb to Melalane on Sunday.

In the Nelspruit area is it easy to pick up the new bypass?
Are you automatically on it? Or do you have to look out for it?

Can't miss it, yoda, just keep going It's great. I reckon it cuts 15 to 20 minutes off the original road. (Although it did confuse my GPS a lot - she thought I was doing 120 km/h in open veld )

Hi All.
We are headed to KNP on the 31st Dec and our first two nights are at Letaba and was thinking of entering at Orpen rather than Phalaborwa as we can only check in from 2pm.
Has anyone recently travelled to Orpen from Jhbg via Nelspruit, Hazyview along the R40?
If so what is the road condition like? I know it is slower from Hazyview (lower speed limits) than other roads to Orpen, but I am starting to seriously dislike the Lydenburg routes due to the bad road conditions.
Is the R40 any better than the R36/R540?
Your experiences/comments will be appreciated
Many thanks

Hi GlenD

I traveled that road about a month ago - but at 06:30 and I have to say I was quite pleasantly surprised - the road was good and on a lovely sunny morning was nice to see the surrounding area.

Please note however that it is now Holiday season so there may be more traffic on the road than usual - when I traveled that route is was moderately busy - not too many vehicles - that may be different during holiday time.

One thing I can tell you is that this road is quite dangerous at night - and more so during the weekedns and party times - lots of intoxicated people - both in cars and on foot.

I don't want to be too negative but please be careful on the R40 and the section to Orpen (the Bushbuckridge road) The drivers do not respect White lines or the Orange lines (emergency lanes) on the side of the road - both seem to mean that these are indicators to pass - I have seen to many accidents as a result of this practice

Have a safe trip and a wonderful New Year in the Park - it is really looking great - green and lush.

KR

KC

Hi GlenD - we travelled the Lydenburg - Ohrigstad - Klaserie - Orpen road in October and it wasn't too bad. OK the climb over the pass can be a pain if there is slow traffic and there were occasional potholes, but on the whole not as bad as previous trips.

However, there has been considerable rain since then, so more potholes might have developed.

Whichever way you go, travel safe and have a great time in KNP!

Thanks Hippotragus
I travelled the R36 between Lydenburg and N4 in May this year and bust the right front shock due to the bad road.

I have since decided to leave a bit later and enter at Phala, going via Polokwane/Tzaneen.

I just came back from Kruger in Nov via Phala/Tzaneen and there are major road works with a stop/go on the Magoebaskloof road and no overtaking (officially) which made it quite slow. The stop was 10 or 15 mins (with very enterprising locals selling fruit and veggies while you wait ). Of course in that hilly country there is nowhere much to put detours. I took the George's Valley road R528 from Tzn which was fine until I hit the R71. Wished afterwards that I had gone up through Duiwelskloof R36 and caught onto the R81 to Polokwane although that is a road I have never travelled. The area from Moria throught to Polokwane is practically urban now and scary with pedestrians and fast moving traffic. I counted one dead dog and one kitten.

Tzaneen to Phalaborwa is a good road.

GlenD enjoy your trip and safe travelling.

I went to Phalaborwa via Belfast/Lydenburg and found a good road with repairs being done in places and few potholes. Also missed the Machado toll . I just battled with signage going through both Belfast and Lydenburg and had to ask in both places because neither is straight through.

I found the Lydenburg road absolutely fine. If you go to Lydenburg and then the Long Tom Pass you will drive through some stunning countryside!

This time we might try (to get to the Forever Blyde resort before heading to Kruger) N4, R539, R37, R532 as the journey looks spectacular. Any thoughts?

Hi

Can anyone advise me what the current state of the roads are from Belfast to the Strydom tunnel area so that I make a decision as to whether I should enter the Kruger from one of the southern gates or at Orpen gate. I am going to camp at Satara.

Garrow, I did that road a week ago, and it is fairly bad, lotsa potholes, and deep ones at that. But it could be negotiated during the day, at night it might be a bit dicey.

That road is proof that it is possible to make a road in a pothole.