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Hi all,

I'll be in the KNP in a few days and this time I thought of doing half a day trip to Blyde canyon or gods window...
can any one assist with some information?

is it worth a half day trip day - or is it a trip of a whole day at least?

how much time is the drive there?
is it a safe drive?

and if someone knows the was - how do I get there exactly from Phabeni gate...?

thanks in advance!

Hi homer.s!

The best access to this area from Kruger is from Phalaborwa gate. It takes about an hour to get to the area from this gate. Personally I would sepnd a day in and around this area rather than a half day because you may want to stop for sometime at some of the destinations.
I am not sure where you are staying but if accomodation isnt booked yet I would spend sometime in Letaba camp (50km from Phalaborwa gate) and make a day trip out from there. You will spend hours driving to these locations from Phabeni gate and back and even a local who knows the roads and drives fast will only be able to do the trip and back with only having enough time for half a day-so in my opinion its not an option to leave from Phabeni gate, go to the area and then reutrn later. YOu will have to stay much closer.

If time is an issue but budget isnt, I was fortunate enough to join a helicopter flip from close to the Phabeni area. We flew for 3 hours in and around the gorge etc and stopped for a champagne breakfast.

With respect o-dog, I would have thought that Orpen or Paul Kruger Gates would be the ones to do Blyde area as a day visit from, Phala is way too far.

It does of course depend on where you are staying in Kruger?

Call me a mad as a hatter Cloggie, but according to me you should use Orpen Gate....
From there it is around 50 kilometers to Klaserie via the R531, instead of call it 110 from Phalaborwa Gate.
And you have 4 camps near Orpen Gate, Orpen itself, Maroele, Tambotie and Talamati.

Here is a map: http://www.krugerpark.co.za/dnl/kruger-park-map-pdf.pdf

My personal opinion would be to do such a trip either side of your stay in Kruger.
Why waste precious time in the park by travelling outside at other locations for the whole day which is what I think you need to give the area its due justice.

Thanks for confirming my thoughts Duco!!

Good idea Elsa!!!

I agree with Duco and Elsa, and just want to add that you should bear in mind that the speed limit through large parts of the rural areas from KNP, on the way to God's Window and Blyde canyon, is 80km/h, with cattle, goats, pedestrians and slow vehicles causing delays. Mountain passes also take time to drive, with trucks etc slowing you down. It would be nothing more than an exercise in frustration to leave the park, rush to these places, which are quite far from any park gate, and then having to rush back before the park- and camp gates close.
Rather book a night at one of the resorts at Blyde Canyon, and do a day trip from there.

Hi Homer

Definitely can be done.

We did this as restocking run one trip after two weeks camping we went out Numbi gate from Pretoriuskop .went to the potholes , pilgrims rest stopped at Gods window and saw the clouds (bad day for this ) then stopped in Hazyview to restock supplies and still had time for a nice trip back from Kruger gate to Pretoriuskop camp in the afternoon .

Must admit though if I were on a short stay would not leave and come back but rather do as Elsa suggested and do at the start or end of the trip.

The area described has a beauty that is quite special. I agree that it should not be attempted from the Park, but rather before, or after a visit.

There are so many unusual sightings, such as Mac Mac falls, Bourkes potholes, Graskop pancakes its not worth rushing.

Your best route from the park would be via Orpen gate. I would suggest that you spend a night at Swadini Aventura and spend a full day in the area as it a scenic and beautiful area to explore.

I wouldn't do that, homer.s, especially not from Phabeni Gate.

Me and DuQues did something similar before - exiting at Orpen because it looked like a very clever idea at the time to get to Phabeni Gate and Skukuza quickly, to meet somebody. It was a never to be repeated experience. I was driving and exiting Kruger in the middle of a holiday and suddenly adapting to driving through an area packed with people, animals and slow traffic, left me a nervous wreck. And I'm used to driving.... It took us half a day just to get from Orpen (the area you want to be doing sight-seeing in!) to Phabeni.

I go with Yusuf, and have done that personally as well, with DuQues and on another vacation with somebody else. Book an extra night outside the park at Swadini or Blyderivierspoort (stayed at both personally in a tent and utterly loved it!) and explore the Panorama Route at your leisure. Then the heavy slow traffic is less of an irritation and you can look around.

sure Orpen is the best as others have said - put it this way, we've gone from Phalaborwa side and it was smooth going. A suggested though...spend a night out of the park if possible but either way dont leave from Phabeni, Numbi or Paul Kruger gates

If you stay OUTSIDE the Park you can exit wherever you want really. Then it's a simple slow drive taking your time, to Blyderivierspoort for example. I just prefer the drive from Orpen Gate through the JG Strijdom Tunnel. Just take with a lot of patience for the less than road-worthy vehicles you'll meet on the Abel Erasmus Pass. Comfort wise I agree with o-dog - the drive from Phalaborwa is a nice easy one, although busy and keep your eyes open for people and anilmals. Depends what you want to see and where you're spending your last night IN the Park.
But a day-visit I would steer away from completely.

Visited KNP Sept 2010. Left Skukuza via Phabeni and spent 3 days at Pilgrims Rest. Planned to do the whole loop from there ie. Bourke's Luck, 3 rondawels, shoe house etc.

Visited God's Window, The Pinnacle and Berlin Falls and called it a day after that. Spent the rest of my stay in The Church Bar and Johnny's Pub. Graskop town seems on the bones of its ar*e so you will be touched for cash on a regular basis.

The locals have booths set up at most of the stops and wanted R10 a pop just for the photo opportunities. So add R150 to R200 to your petrol and food budget for that trip. Remember that with the demise of PR as a tourist stop (the gold rush theme will give way further down the line for sure), the local sightseer will be squeezed along with the overseas visitor who probably wouldn't feel the hit.

Sad to have missed out as it was my first time up there, but I would suggest go for it if you have the cash to burn. I don't work with a credit card so it was a no-brainer for me.

Trying to decide if it is worth it to add a day to our trip to drive the panarama route and check out the canyon. We would be coming our of the Kruger Gate in the morning and want to get back to Nelspruit for a flight the following day.

?? How far is that/how long will that take? The posts/info I have been reading are confusing me.

?? Is it a "must-see" for most? We will probably not have a chance to come back to SA.

Our Plan:
4 Days: Cape Town/Cape of Good Hope/Stellenbosch
4 Days: Drive Route 62 to Kynsna and Surf, Dive, Hike, etc.
Last day in Kynsna - Fly from George to MQP & spend the night at airport hotel
Kruger:
Day 1 - Rent a car in MQP and drive to Berg-En-Dal .
Day 2 – Berg-En-Dal Safari - Self-Drive, Organized Night Tour
Day 3 – Skukuza Safari - Self-Drive Morning, Organized Night Tour
Day 4 – Skukuza Safari - Self-Drive Morning, Pack and party!
Day 5 - Fly MQP to J-Burg and fly out that evening to Tampa.

THANK YOU!!