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That route looks right Graham!
The route we take is in at Golela/Lavumiso and out at Mananga, there is only 1 stretch of road from the turn off to Siteki from Big Bend that is potholed but if you take it slowly it is fine.

If you would like a more detailed map which you can print out, just PM me your e-mail address.

we done this end of August no problems at all with the border post either side, We go to Swaziland every year and all the problems we have picked up have been on the South African side, it takes ages to declare something so we decided not to do that again, always know where your engine number is they take so long to find it. Swazi side stamp pay road tax and there you go no probs.

Thank-you for the map - it is very useful. According to the a post here http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/t ... ID=2059420 there are some gravel roads on this route.. How much of the route is gravel, or are they incorrect?

Hi Graham,
the route I described going between Golela/Lavumiso and Managa Border posts through Big Bend and on the Siteki road has no gravel sections, some potholes on the Siteki section but otherwise the roads are all in quite good condition.

Thats a fair amount of time Bushcraft, I know the feeling with kids in the car, 10 minutes out the driveway and my little one is asking, ''are we there yet''.... ... The in-car dual DVD players have been my saving grace on many trips....

If we eat padkos and just stop to use toilets along the way we make it in under 7 hours. I would say that the average time using the Volksrust, Ermelo, Waterval Boven and onder route is around 11 hours so I would put the time saving at closer to 4 hours using Swaziland. Just never get behind a tour bus at the border post. BTW I am wondering when the Lavumisa entry into Swaziland is ever going to be commissioned - its been standing finished for nearly a year now and the badly signposted detour still wends its rough path through the staff village.

I am planning a similar trip to St Lucia from Croc bridge in Aug - thinking about entering at Mananga and going put at Lavumisa. Tempted to go round via PR after reading these stories - I have also heard to PR roadworks have improved and are being finished in July?

We have just done the trip through Swaziland, also in Feb this year and had absolutely no problems whatsoever.
In fact the piece from Big bend to Siteki that was so badly potholed has now been largely patched and altho still quite rough, nothing like it used to be.
We even took all our meat etc through with not a second glance.
Did declare the serial numbers for cameras, laptops etc as per the list at the border posts.

We have travelled the Swaziland route out of preference for many years now because of the huge chunk of time saved and although there are minor irritations and warnings to be heeded. I would never travel to Kruger any other way!

We had trips through Swaziland in Dec, March and April.
Even though there were delays at Golela (as long as 40 mins once), because of long weekends, it went smoothly.
Lavumisa side always seems to check our vehicle for meat but don't mind the groceries they see.

We have now pulled the caravan this route for the past 6 trips to KNP and as Kite, Penny and Elsa says no problems. It`s the way to go

I would caution trverlers thro Swaziland to watch out for the speed humps as some are not marked. I was returning home frrom Kruger and hit one just before entering the Hlane Royal national Park and 300mtrs later my fuel pump which is in the petrol tank packed up. For 3 hours i was stranded on the side of the side of the road with no cell reception and no one stopping to help. I was very fortunate a ranger from the park stopped to say that this was a park and i should not be out of my bakkie, i told him of my problem and he called the park mechanic who helped me out and to get home.

Graham, basically anything electronic and of value that you carry through.
Also the engine # of the car and I see they even asked about jewellery this time which had to be declared, not the value just the number.
What we do is type up a list on the computer at home then print it out so it saves a lot of time and you just write on the form "See attached List"
It was quite amusing when we were coming back this time and my SO took the form to the customs officer to be stamped at the Lavumiso border, to be asked, "What all these things?"
When we explained that they were items that had to be declared as per the rules there, he merely shrugged, and stamped the form looking most bemused!
I just wish there was some consistency as it never seems to be the same from trip to trip, one time they will be asking about any fresh meat etc, another time they simply wave you through?

I will be coming from Kruger so will make sure we don't have wors sandwiches from the previous night's braai! Will type a list and find engine number and add it when we rent the car. Anywhere good to stop between Mananga and Lavumisa? Will fill car up at Komatipoort or in Kruger perhaps.

I want to see the Jozini dam before doing the last leg to St L - can anyone tell me where the best viewpoint is? I am interested in water infrastructure hence the unusual request!

Fuel is actually cheaper in Swaziland, less taxes than what we are subjected to I guess.

We don't usually stop off anywhere but there is a nice looking place called Nisela, think its one of the game reserves, has a nice big deck overlooking the water.

Possibly if you take the Jozini turn off the N2 you will get some good views of the dam but I am not sure.