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The more well known and popular Kruger drives and water holes keep on providing pleasure and great game viewing and other related opportunities to many visitors for good reasons. However, most of the times we tend to prefer the less popular (and crowded) drives or spots as we do like the peace and quiet more. Are there perhaps any of these less visited (by humans) drives or water holes which can be recommended?

Grantmissy there are plenty actually
Good topic here.
Mainly up north. Letaba upwards

All of the roads are fine. Just around camps there may be some more traffic, a little further away it's quiet.

I've always found the Punda Maria area quiet, as long as you stay away during holiday season (people use the main road to get up towards Mozambique), but the sand roads are peaceful.

Most dirt roads are less travelled than the tar roads, (except the S100 & JJ highway, the Biyamiti loop) especially north of Satara.

What I think you're looking for are specific spots/waterholes that are not too bad, and relatively quiet... Well, I have done Kruger north to south in December, and I have been looking more or less for the same spots. This is my recommendation.... This is only if you're not a big5 'hunter' and appreciate any sighting and have no problem with tough dust roads.

South:
Hard to find a quiet spot, however I found the s25-s108-H5 loop, just north of the s25 quiet a good piece. Nice and quiet.

S65 is not that busy, also a good road!

Furthermore, the s36, especially up to Jones /Lugmag Dam as well as the S33 Vutomi road..

I personally found the s37 not to bad either....


Central:
The s39 (southern part) is quiet, not that many animals but very scenic! And you never know. s39 (northern part) is very good!

The s47 Tzendze loop North of Letaba is teaming with wildlife, and relatively quiet.

The Road to Mingerhout Dam is also very scenic and lots of animals around.

North:
Road to Stapelkop dam west of Mopanie is long and tough, however the dam is extremely beautiful and I personally have seen lots of animals there!

Thiyongeni loop is a MUST in the afternoon, although there will be a few cars around, it will never get extremely busy. VERY good road, one of the best in the park!

S52 dustroad towards Bateleur from Shingwedzi, awesome loop and nice and quiet. Red Rocks and Tsanga Outlook for the view and peacefulness.... ALSO A MUST DO!

s56 Mphongolo loop, extremely beautiful and there is always something around. relatively quiet. My favorite loop in the park.

Mahonie loop and loops to Klopperfontein are a must.... always something to see, very scenic and quiet.

Extreme North:
The s63 dustroad loop is quiet after the picnic spot, and a must visit.

Hope this helps, and remember: @ the right time @ the right place.... My best sightings have been on the more quiet roads....!

Thanks for all the responses, it is appreciated. Gamespotter thank you for sharing this as it is fits the purpose perfectly. Wow, but you do have an impressive and very specific knowledge of the Kruger roads and water holes! It suits your forum name well. No, we are not “big five hunters” and less concerned with gravel roads, they always treat us just fine. But it is nice to have a bit more knowledge or background of the less traveled roads than just to enter and drive. We actually like and prefer the scenarios that you described so well.

He forgot the Tropic of Capricorn... You will see cars there, but the sightings there are amazing.

CENTRAL
Even when satara is full you will only see two or three cars pass you on the s126 Sweni river road.

Also South of that the s125 is quiet.

On our last visit in Jan when travelling along the S100 we got to within 30m from the S41 junction without seeing another car.

But seriously we also the southern end of the S90 to be quiet and great for bird watching but not great for pulling over for coffee and rusks.

We tend to park up (for coffee & rusks break) at one of the waterholes on the Mahonie Loop and have never, ever seen another car there. Just can't remember the name

Witsand.

CENTRAL

The s35 and 37 are the eastern dirt roads between Nwantetsi and Tsokwane. Quiet in terms of cars. Unfortunately didn't see much. Gonna try again.

the s90 is so underated. Had a great sighting of 2 males in peak afternoon time all to myself



Besides this I often find clear Martial Eagle and Bataleur sightings on the dead trees. Often seen buffalo here as well. For your coffee and rusks go a tiny bit up the s41 and turn off to a quiet spot which is beautiful. Gudzani dam

Some of the jewels of Kruger are also:
S69 (First loop on the H9, from Letaba to Phalaborwa).
S39, Timbavati road, even just for the astonishing beaty.
S44/S93 (Above Olifants)
S126, Sweni road, again for the beauty.
S145, (past Talamati) for the sightings
and of course the S28 and S29 around Lower Sabie.

Thank you all for the very usable and practical information. saraf those Punda waterholes are indeed very suitable for a “coffee and rusk” break. It sounds nice. The other one on the Mahonie loop is called Coetzer if I am not mistaken. We once saw wild dogs at Witsand some years ago.

And that is where we saw our Caracal kittens, so definitely one not to be missed!