SANParks.org Forums

I have seen some mentions of this short road (between Skukuza and Tshokwane) but no specific post on it.

Anyone have any comments on the road.

Have been along this way many times but never on this loop.

Hi BH,

I have been on this road numerous times & really enjoy it.
Have never seen any "super" sightings on it but am always drawn to it.

Not much traffic so if do see something chances are u will be by yourself.

Have seen my 1st bushbuck in KNP here as well as impala(obviously), giraffe , buffalo,rhino & elephants feeding at dry riverbed (drainage line). Baboons often seen in trees alongside riverbed.

During my time in park leopard was often recorded in this area.

Worth a try..



.

Hi BH
We always do this road found it to be most productive in early to mid morning often seen lion Leopard and cheetah on this route and very often the smaller antelope. I also like to bird watch on this loop as it has a variety of different bush types as you travel along, its not as popular as the main road so is more peaceful.

Seems like it is a good spot for leopard as others as well as myself have seen the dappled one on this road.

I know in Feb. there was a Leopard seen regularly on this little loop, unfortunately not by us tho.
I think it was BGS who saw one there during the cricket weekend.

Hi

According to forum posts and the sightings board it must be an productive road.....I have driven it quite often (especially) early morning...and only found a giraffe and impala. The surrounding are very densly vegetated and there are a few steep slopes next to the road if I remember correctly..

Lion is spotted on it regularly as far as I know....

I've seen lion and wild dog on this road. The dappled one very close to the loop on the tar, but never in Marula loop, although I just have the feeling there are plenty in the area.

Many years ago, i saw the remains of a giraffe kill on this road. Still a lot of meat left. Its neck was lying across half the road. There must have been about 10 hyeanas as well as loads of vultures.
The smell was bad, but we stayed for about an hour. Still one of my best/memorable sightings.

More recently, saw wild dog on this road about 3 years ago.

I enjoy this alternative to the tar road, but have had limited success considering the number of times!

All the others are correct, though, and I did see leopard, lion and hyena there all in one afternoon!

What really peeves me, is the shallow crossing of one of the sandy riverbeds on the road, where some "off-road" enthusiasts often take a spin on the sand before returning to the road!

The Marula Loop runs along side the (or even across) the sand river. There's a resident pride of lions around there (the sand river pride) and also a male leopard has its territory in that area (close to sand river bush camp)

Marula loop could be very quiet at times, and could spring out
great surprises at other times, i have had the opportunity of seeing many lion sightings on this route, and a leopard sighting.

Hey guys and gals!!

I'll be honest i'm actually quite surprised this is the first specific thread devoted to this road because as far as i'm concerned it's one of the best roads in the whole park !

Family has been going along this route for over forty years and we seldom hit the tar road along this stretch ... You have to be at the right place at the right time, as we all know, but in the last 5 years alone have had 5 leopard sightings, 6 lion sightings (everytime in the road), 2 packs of wild dogs, a cheetah and not to mention all the rhino and elephants that abound in the area !!

Like everyone has already mentioned the small buck species are plentiful here and we nearly always find Vervet's or Baboon's along this stretch.

The little causeway through the dry Mutlumuvi river bed is the best place to sit in the late evening, it's quiet and have seen two sightings of leopard on this little causeway alone (once on a night drive)...

It's always going to be the luck of the draw and that's what makes it so exciting.

Enjoy!

I have seen Leopard in the Mutlumuvi river bed. That was about a year ago.
I just enjoy the route regardless of what I do or don't see. On my last ride I saw many raptors on my early morning game drive.

We have often seen banded mongoose along this road, plus wild dog, lion, ellie etc etc

Also had my third bummer on this road last week.

The tar road has provided the dappled one though...