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Thanks for the update Lesego! We will be there first week in September.

Hoping the S125 is passable in Nov.............not a train smash, but would be nice to enter at Malelane and travel it through to Croc Bridge!!

Also hope the detour around Balule fixed by then as we will be travelling from Croc bridge to Phala twp days later!!

Hi there
Just come back from a stay at Biyamiti. The Camp Manager reports that the repair of the Biyamiti Bridge over the s25 is not a Parks Board job, but has to be done by the Provincial Roads Dept. Apparently the job has not even gone out to tender yet so can't imagine that the repair will happen any time soon. It definitely has an impact on a Biyamiti stay, not that I mind as I can drive around all day, but I know that doesn't appeal to all. Also noticed that there was quite a lot more traffic on the Biyamiti Road - I guess some cheeky folk decided that the broken bridge gave them free rein to "rat run" on the Biyamiti private road.

Thanks for that info Gilly................I won't hold my breath for November then!!

In that case it would be reasonable to permit 'rat runners' on the Biyamiti 'private' road.

Sorry Bush Baptist - but I respectfully disagree. The Biyamiti residents are already prejudiced by having their easy access to Crocodile Bridge and that part of the Park "cut off " by the broken bridge. It is not fair for them to have to give up the peace and quiet of their area as well. The Biyamiti road is marked as being for residents only, I dont think KNP visitors can decide to ignore that restriction.
It is still possible to drive the the S25 and then double back to the S119 / S118 James Road without "rat running" on a restricted road.

Welcome to the forum Gilly Mac.

No need to apologise for your opinion. This is a forum where we can disagree and still be friends.

A few years ago I stated that there should be no private roads in Kruger. Visitors to 'exclusive' camps pay for the exclusivity of the camp. All visitors pay the same entry fees so why limit the roads, so I see no need to make some roads exclusive. I understand that some roads are not suitable for some vehicles, but that is another matter.

There should be no discrimination because of money. Heck, we have had so much discrimination in this country. Most has been abolished, so let's not have it in Kruger.

I know all about discrimination, being a left handed ginger.

Hi Bush Baptist and Gilly Mac,

I concur that both has a point that should be taken into account.

When you make a study of the "private" roads in Kruger you will find that these type of camps are situated at the dead-end of such a road, except for Biyamiti

My personal experiece of the Biyamiti road is that it was not constructed to carry heavy traffic (road is quite narrow and lots of ups and downs and concrete laiden portions to curb erosion) and that is maybe the reason for only allowing residents to use the road, although the camp is not situated at a dead-end .

Excessive use of this road, combined with the rainy season at hand, might lead to erosion and destruction of the road surface, with no road at all in the end .

Roads near Bataleur and the one to Talamati that is now for all come to mind.

Sorry to appear dumb, but what is "rat running"?

Rat running, or cut-through driving, is using secondary roads or residential side streets instead of the intended main roads in urban or suburban areas.

(Admit it - you knew that, really - didn't you?)

One of Val's naughty days again .

Rat running is the term used by residents of the used roads, when clever people use their roads as an alternative route to avoid congestion on the main roads to get to their desination quicker.

Thanks guys for helping out this dumb blonde!!

Kruger National Park flood repair update

An update on the Kruger National Park flood repairs as at 07:00 a.m. on 5 September 2012.

Camps open
All

Picnic Spots Open
All

Access roads inside the park
All roads, except the following, are open:

S25 (From S26 to S139, Biyamiti Low Level Bridge inaccessible): Temporary access planned to open end September 2012.
S33, S84
Balule Low Level Bridge (detour via S89 and S90): Balule Bridge is expected to reopen by 15 November 2012.
H1-5 (From S91 to H8) (detour via S91, S92 & H8 – detour 17km of which 12km is gravel road): Breach on H1-5 near N’wamanzi is expected to reopen by 30 September 2012.

Gates: All are open

Issued by:
South African National Parks (SANParks)

Emergency Numbers:
Media enquiries:
Reynold Thakhuli 073 373 4999 or Gabrielle Venter 082 696 4724

Tourist Enquiries:
Joep Stevens 082 802 8093