SANParks.org Forums

So just a brief update....received many conflicting reports on road conditions.
Eventually we just decided to do the trip we originally planned.
Left Lower Sabie at 6 a.m. and eventually departed from Komatipoort at around 08:00.
Travelled N4 to the R38 turn off, then to Barberton.
Road was OK.
Then from Barberton to Badplaas and Carolina. 5 Stop/go sections, with the one just before Carolina being quite bad, but at least that part of the route will be good once all the roadworks are done.
The section between Carolina and Ermelo was atrociously bad.
Easily the worst part of the entire trip.
Ermelo to Standerton was good to very good.
Standerton-Vrede was very good.
The section between Vrede and the R103 to Warden (15 km) is completely under reconstruction, which resulted in 15 km of detours....Once we reached the R 103 the road was fair to good to the junction with the N3.
Had to deal with the long weekend traffic on the N3, but that was OK.
Eventually reached Glen Reenen at about 5 pm.
Last part of the journey was delayed by severe thunderstorms!

Hi Deamole - we travelled up to Punda Maria from Durban at the beginning of September. We over-nighted at Bela-Bela on the way up and the headed straight up to Louis Trichardt via Polokwane. We then took the 524 via Thohoyandou, thence to Punda. We had absolutely no problems with this route, and confidently recommend it. The road itself was in very fair condition - the normal potholes here and there but nothing major - so the only thing to be aware of is that a lot of people live up there. I cannot comment on the Giyani route - so over to you.

Have a good one!

Agreed with dog, the road is cool via Thohoyandou

Hallo There!!

What is the quickest and best road to Shingwedzi from Bela-Bela?

If you have the time: Polokwane - Tzaneen - Phalaborwa gate. And then up through Kruger.

A way less attractive way is Polokwane - Louis trichard - Punda gate, and down to Shingwedzi.

Did this route two weeks ago; it is fine! Just one word of caution: there are some SERIOUS speed bumps on the way into and leaving Dullstroom! Overall; the speed limits on this route are there for a reason! There are a few potholes and some bits of uneven road surface; but these are quite easy to see. After the recent very heavy rains, there is one (small) section before you make the descent towards the Abel Erasmus pass where the left lane has been damaged by water; but once again, this is clearly marked by warning signs.

Hi Vinkie

The best route should be via Swaziland. I spoke to people from Kwazulu Natal at Croc Bridge gate who did just that. I would however go to Hluhluwe first and then to Kruger. It will be quite a drive from Croc Bridge to Hluhluwe / St Lucia and back. (I couldn't get a distance for the Swaziland route, but if you travel around Swaziland it will be about 690 km from Lower Sabie to St Lucia one way)

You could either fly to Durban and drive to Hluhluwe (about 200 km) or fly to Joburg and take the N17 down to St Lucia(about 600km)


Hope this helps a bit

Enjoy the planning

Have just done the route from Hazyview to Johannesburg and Back via Schoemanskloof.

The road form Hazyview to White River (and obviously back) is good - please be aware there are road works just outside White River on the Northern side at Casterbridge or the Bagdad Centre - or the junction where the road goes to Hazyview R40 and Numbi

They are installing a Traffic Calming Circle (or similar) to prevent vehicles from approaching this junction too fast

The road to Nelspruit is good - just beware of speeding they have ad hoc speed traps.

The Schoemanskloof road has two Stop Start construction sites - and depending on the time of day the stopping times will vary - we did not stop for longer that 5 minutes for both stops.

Please be mindful of the stops because we saw two accidents - last Wednesday and both were just before the stop area - indicating the cars were going to fast entering the construction zone (the only accidents I have seen on this route in several years and I use that route a lot)

Hi Kicker Cat,

We are booked into Lower Sabie for 5 nights in December. We are travelling from Edenvale and was looking at the Kruger map and wondering which gate to enter. (nice to have choices I guess). We will need to spend some time in the park as the new time of only being given your key to accommodation is at 2pm.

It is a pity that was changed few years ago. 12am was so much more convenient . Always concerned with the fresh meat etc which needs to be refrigerated!

Which gate yould you recommend? I don't really fancy Numbi as we are sisters travelling together and am quite concerned with the road from Nelspruit to Numbe, or has it improved?

Would appreciate your feedback.

Hi Marge,

Don't view the check in time at LS as a negative - leave early and get in at Malelane - you can get in at 06:30 if you want

To get to KP from Edenvale allows two choices - I guess from there I would go past the airport on the N12 till it becomes the N4 - then on to Nelspruit via the Schoemanskloof route - see my post above. (by the way this will save you the cost of one toll gate - at present)

Then depending if you need to stop in Nelspruit for provisions you need to take the Nelspruit Barberton road - if not keep on the new road (bear right ) it is a bit confusing here because they are busy doing road works but just keep an eye open.

If you bypass Nelspruit you will be on the road towards Malelane. Please drive carefully and remain vigilant.

If you need to go into Nelspruit you can stop at the Crossing and get fantastic meat at the SPAR - Ice or frozen cooler bricks. You can also stop at Malelane - Pick and Pay on the right and Spar you need to turn left at the Toyota garage - can't miss it. If you are there after 07:30 you can get a reasonable breakfast at Wimpy just next to the Pick n Pay

I would enter at Malelane - often there are Lion and or Leopards in the area near the gate - also stop and have a good look both ways on the bridge - often there is game to be seen - Elephants and Buffalo.

You then have many choices - you can take the H3 up North and cut across any of the roads that will take you to the H4 - 2 which will take you South to LS or you can take the S114 - travel Eastwards along this sand road towards the H4-2 (My reference is the AA map of Kruger - not easily available anymore)

I am sure you are likely to have a map of Kruger so the choices once in KP are wide and varied.

I hope this helps - if you need any more info please let me know either post or PM

Enjoy your trip - I am going in again on Saturday.

KR

KC

As mentioned - depending on the route there are two / three toll gates on the road to Nelspruit

If you use the road via Centurion and then past the CSIR the first one is on that road - then there is the one near Ultra City (Middleberg) and the Machado Toll plaza just after Machadadorp.

If you use the road past the Airport then you miss the toll Gate just outside Pretoria.

If you use the Malelane gate there is a Toll gate on that road - not sure what that one is called

To summarize - to Malelane there are Four or if you use the airport road Three toll gates.

WRT meat - if you stop at the SPAR in Nelspruit - they have a great Rump steak in what they call Grill Butter (magnificent for braaiing) but they are huge - about 1 kg each - so perhaps you want them to cut it in half or order a half Kilo piece. if you phone them they will freeze it for you.

They also sell Ice and those special cooler bricks - pre frozen.

KR

KC

Update on the road Report

There are currently roadworks (stops for 5 minutes or more) on the R40 approximately 8 k's outside Hazyview (from the turn off into Haztview proper)

Please also note that the traffic lights on the the extension of Portia Shibangu Drive (that's the road where you turn right at the Blue Haze Mall) to go to Paul Kruger Gate.

There are also several traffic lights out on the road to Paul \kruger Gate as well as on the road through Bush Buck Ridge

There is also a high Traffic Police presence in the area on all roads at the moment - not just trapping but checking vehicles as well - this is good - but please be careful and if you are told you were speeding ASK for the fine - don't offer cash.

Enjoy your trip in the Area

KR

KC

To and from Johannesburg and back to Hazyview last week.

Road was OK but be carefull - there are now THREE stop go sections on the Schoemanskloof Road.

The stops were not of long duration but the approach can catch one out a little - the advance warning on the one stop is IMHO just a little too short.

Had really strong wind from the South on the way back from JHB with quite a lot rain from the first toll - Pretoria side - all the way to Nelspruit.

Travel Safely.

KR

KC

Latest update - the stop and Go sections (all three) have been removed from the Schoemanskloof Road - HOWEVER BE AWARE - there are now Speed Limit signs - 100 KM Per hour - I can confirm three traps on the road on last Friday 14th Dec and three yesterday Monday the 17th.

The R40 from White River is still good although there is now some deterioration on the sides and on the main section of the road - caused probably by the coal trucks.

The road from Hazyview to Phabeni is good - also beware of speed traps - this road varies from 60 KMPH to 80 in some sections.

S3 In Kruger from Doispane Road to Paul Kruger side is OK - there are some patches which can if there is rain be quite slippery but the road is OK - we had an incident with a grumpy Male Elephant on Saturday - seems like he is in the area at the moment - we also had a herd of Elephants (about 100 strong) on the road - lots ob babies so please be careful.

Enjoy Kruger this December and please act responsibly - still to many people speeding

KR

KC

Kicker Cat,

Thanks for the info.
I will be travelling this route from Jhb to Melalane on Sunday.

In the Nelspruit area is it easy to pick up the new bypass?
Are you automatically on it? Or do you have to look out for it?