SANParks.org Forums

The latest Getaway has a lovely article on what it considers to be the top ten Kruger drives.

I cannot argue with their take, as I have not driven many of the drives mentioned. My only problem with the article is that too many of the drives mentioned can only be accessed by 4X4's. This excludes a vast population of tourists.

Their top ten drives are:

1. Timbavati route, S39.

2. Luluvhu River road S63

3. Nyala drive, S64

4. Mahonie route S99

5. Mphongolo Loop S56

6. S50 and S106 between Shing and Mopani

7. S100, of course for the Lion catchers.

8. Lebombo eco trail

9. Mananga adventure trail

10. Madlabantu adventure trail.

I thought what would mine be? Many are the same, but some differ.

1. Pafuri route

2. Timbavati S39

3. S100, just for fun

4. Mphongolo road, love it.

5. S28, always delivers, even if its just peace and quiet.

6. S30 Salitje road. Lovely when Eloff street is too busy.

7. S139, sadly only for Biyamiti guests.

8. Mahonie loop

9. S65, seldom busy and often has interesting moments.

10. S1, maybe I have learnt to associate it with arriving, but I do enjoy it.

How would the rest vote?

You and I have similar taste

1. H7 Orpen to Satara
2. S39 (Timbavati - Northwards)
3. H1-4 (Satara-Olifants)
4. H10 Lower Sabi to Tsoks
5. S28
6. S65
7. S139 (for biyamiti users and rule breakers )
8. S56 Mphongolo Loop NW of Shing
9. S50 Kannidood road East of Shing
10. S64 nyala drive by Pafuri

Nice topic MM

OK make way mites, here come miss random
My top ten routes so far in no order is:
1. S65
2. S1
3. H10
4. H1-2
5. H7
6. H1-4 (between Satara and Olifants)
7. S118/S114 (follow the Mlambane river)
8. S44/S46 (river road between Olifants and Letaba)
9. H3
10. H4-1
Decisions, decisions

Top 10 ... hmmm

1. S99 - Mahonie Loop
2. H1-4 - Satara to Letaba and vice versa
3. H1-7/H1-8 (Shingwedzi to Punda/Pafuri)
4. Crooks Corner Loop
5. H1-1 - Pretoriuskop to Skukuza
6. S128/S30 (Lower Sabie to Skukuza)
7. H4-2 or the S28 (Lower Sabie to Croc Bridge)
8. S44/S46 - Letaba to Olifants
9. H6 - Nwanetsi Picnic Spot to Satara
10. Any road I drive for the 1st time entering a gate

My favourite drives are those that, to me, defines a certain area of the park. Some of them have been quite productive, others maybe not so...

In the south:

S65
S25
S21

Moving towards the center:

S33
S39 (Timbavati northwards)
S100 (this absolutely defines Satara for me; I love it!)

In the north:

S46 at Letaba
S52 at Shingwedzi, possibly my favourite drive in the park.
S56 follows close on the heels of the S52
and the Luvuvhu river loop at Pafuri.

What would the top 10 be if you split summer and winter roads? Gomag's website have top 10s and top 5s for most things apart from that they don't clarify things by season...

Graham, if I look at the roads mentioned by the Mites, nearly all run near water and so productive in winter and summer

drive+ reason' why I like them'

1. S28 (peaceful road)
2. S90(for better sunrise picture)
3. S29(for cheetah)
4.S130(north for natural pan jan-mar)
5. S137(for memorial sightings)
6.H4-1(Aug-oct,leopard guarantee)
7.S114(rare sightings, sable etc)
8.S1(wild dog)
9. H10(early morning, lions)
10. S100(for its history and fame)

Let me see....
In no particular order, just looking at the map.

1. S63 (to Crooks corner) for it perfect beauty.
2. S99 Mahoni loop
3. S50 (Shing to more or less Mooiplaas), but all the way, not just Kanniedood
4. S143 Capricorn loop, for the sightings
5. R52 (now called S52) Red Rocks loop for beauty and sightings
6. S44, for the memories of a pack of wild dogs, and a leopard kill.
7. S56, Mphogonlolo loop. Sheer beauty!
8. S39, Timbavati road
9. H7! Probably the best road in Kruger for sightings
10. S140/S145, for the ever present Sable

And I ran out of numbers....

Mine are

1. The Mahonie Loop at the old world style Punda Maria camp
2. The Tropic of Capricorn, great atmosphere
3. The trip from Punda Maria camp to Pafuri picnic site including the drives around the picnic site and especially the Nyala drive.
4. The Leopardy Kanniedood dam route near Shingwedzi
5. The route to Letaba from Shingwedzi via a stop at Mopani.
6. The Mphongolo Drive including a must stopover at Babalala picnic site
7. The very peaceful and serene road from Pafuri gate to the Pafuri picnic spot and a chance of seeing some magnificent Kudu along the way
8. The Orpen gate to Satara road for seeing a variety of animals, every time
9. The road from Phalaborwa gate passing the turn-off to Shimuwini Camp to Mopani, just for the scenery including some of the stunning klipkoppies
10. The S100 This is actually one of the few Kruger road numbers that I can remember because it is mentioned so regularly and consistently but see numbers 1 to 9 above.

1. Timbavati Road - S39
2. Salitje Road - S30
3. Crocodile River Road - S25
4. The Dust Bowl - S100
5. Orpen - Satara Road - H7
6. Eloff Street - H4-1
7. S36 between Tshokwane and the H7
8. Croc Bridge - Lower Sabie - S28
9. Olifants - Letaba - River Road
10. Nsemani - Timbavati - S40

S83
S122
S29
S36
S140
S56
S39
S28
S25
S50