SANParks.org Forums

Hi Graham

It al depends on when you travel Friday/Sunday afternoon I would go via Machadodorp any other time via Belfast I did both in the last month Via Machadodorp - tollgate via Belfast 2 towns ??

Hi

We are planning to visit Kruger (Mopani) in June next year. We will be travelling from Groblersdal (not our home town) since we have an appointment there.

I do not want to scramble for time and since I do not know the area I would love if someone could give me the average travel time and best route from Groblersdal to Phalaborwa and from [b]Phalaborwa to Mopani. I will be towing a trailer.

I need to know if I will need to sleep over before entering Kruger.

At this stage it is still not clear how much time I will have between the towns.

Hi Terblans (and welcome to the forums if you haven't been welcomed before)

I don't know if it's the shortest/best route but it's one we've recently travelled...

From Groblersdal take the N11 to Marble Hall
From Marble Hall continue on the N11 to Polokwane(Pietersburg) although I think it says N11 Mokopane(Potgietersrus) in Marble Hall - this road will take you to a small town called Roedtan
Once you reach Roedtan turn off the N11 towards Zebediela (R519)
Go through Zebediela and continue on the R519 towards Polokwane
This road will bring you onto the old Pretoria-Polokwane road just before the Shell Ultra City.
Turn right towards Polokwane.
From here you continue on to Tzaneen and Phalaborwa along the normal route.

The general condition of the road is not too bad. It's fairly narrow (not a highway) and you have to keep checking the road signs to make sure you're still on the right route. There aren't many potholes (although keep your eyes open) except a hidden "dip" in the road about 8-10km past Roedtan on the R519 - please don't go fast through that section because you can't see the dip but you will certainly feel it - and if you're doing more than 100kph it could be dangerous.

PS: Also do not drive this route at night - some sections don't have fences and cattle and donkeys might be out on the road.

Hope that helps, drive safe

Sorry Terblans I forgot to say that this route is about 400kms from Groblersdal to Phalaborwa gate. From the gate to Mopani is another 80kms or so....

Your total traveling time would be around 5 hours outside the park and another 3 hours inside... so it will all depend on what time you get away at Groblersdal... however my guess would be that you would have to book something outside the park to overnight - that way you won't have any stress to get to the gate in time the following morning. Phalaborwa gate is very close to the town itself and if you stay in town you can be at the gates very early.

Hi,

I would rather continue to Mokopane (potgietersrus) after Roetan. You dont turn of anywhere and this will take you through Mokopane and on to the N1 and Polokwane, this road will be much more trailor friendly.Groblersdal-Marble hall-Roetan-Mokopane. By that time all the roadworks between Polokwane and Tzaneen hopefully would have cleared up and you can choose to either use Magoebaskloof or Modjajiskloof(better for trailors) to get to Tzaneen.
I agree with Nungu about the night driving, a big no-no!

Enjoy.

Hi All

We have our annual Kruger trip coming up and need some advice on road conditions between Durban and the Paul Kruger gate.

Our usual route is N2 - Swazi - N4 - R40 to Hazeyview and the year before we skipped Swazi and went up through Pongola via Badplass - Barberton and the Nelspruit.

This year Swazi is out of the question as our passports have expired. Our 2010 trip via Pongola/Badplass/Barberton was a nightmare with a huge amount of roadworks.

I have two questions. How is the route inland and then via Ladysmith, Newcastle - N11? There is also another option of taking the Melmoth road via Eshowe but I would expect the roads to be really bad on that route?

Any advice would be much appreciated as I am travelling with my three girls (Wife, two small daughters) so need to keep them as safe and comfortable as is possible. (I will also be pulling a trailer carrying evrything including the kitchen sink)

Many Thanks
Brent

On our last 2 visits we have travelled Durban-Ladysmith, Newcastle, Ermelo, Carolina, Badplaas, Barberton etc.
In Nov last year most of the roadworks are now finished on the N11, which is now a very good road.
There are stop and gos on the Badplaas-Carolina stretch, but we were not delayed for long.
However a lot could have happened since then, so I do not have up to date news.

I must also say, we always stay overnight in Ermelo, as it is a very long trip in one day!!

Good luck..........and have a wonderful trip.

Brent
We have often travelled up via Eshowe-melmoth -vryheid -Paulpietersburg-Piet Retief-Amsterdam-badplaas- Barbeton-Nelspruit- malelane
nothing worng with those roads and quiet a scenic trip too.
leave very early in the morning and you should be there mid afternoon. We travelled in a Venture that didn't know the meaning of speed and we managed just fine.
Kms are Durban to Paulpietersburg= 374-approx 4 hours 54 minutes
Paulpietersburg to Badplaas =219-approxa 3hours 5 minutes
Badplaas to Malelane=140 approx 2hours 2 minutes

Long journey but very doable.

Hi Brent,and others. I can tell u with 100% certaonty that there ARE roadworks between ladysmith and Newcastl (N11). two stop&Go's of approximately 20mins each. Also between newcastle and Volksrust there were roadworks, not sure if that is over yet. ther Ermerlo roadworks are over i believe. Other than the roadworks, the road are ok, and there is a way of avoiding the roadworks between ladysmith and newcastle, I jus don't know how to explain it to u.

This year we decided to travel back home from Kruger via the Golden Gate Highlands NP. I have checked out the available information on possible routes, but there are some sections of the route that I cannot find any road information on.
We plan to leave via Croc Bridge quite early, and then travel via Baberton-Badplaas-Carolina (some roadworks here apparently)-Ermelo. From Ermelo I thought to go via Standerton-Vrede-Warden (then maybe N3 -Harrismith-Phutaditjaba-Golden Gate NP).

Anybody out there that can advise on the route (particularly from Ermelo onwards)?

Albert,

My advice is to cut out southern Mpumalanga. There is defnitely roadworks between Carolina and Badplaas, Just outside Badplaas to Barberton.

Also don't try the Middelburg - Hendrina section past the power station.

The last time I took the Vrede road is was not in a good condition and coming from Volksrust to Standerton you will find roadworks.

Unless you get a reliable source the best might travel towards Heidelburg and then take the N3.

There are indeed roadworks from Badplaas to Carolina......but how many SA roads haven't got them these days.

Things may well have changed by now, but we travelled from Croc Bridge to Ermelo last November.
Croc Bridge-Barberton:We found no problems. The road was fairly quiet, and in not too bad a condition.
Barberton-Badplaas:Mostly very good road, occasional roadworks.
Badplaas-Carilina:Some roadworks, but quite a good road in between.
Carolina-Ermelo:If you take the minor road down to Crissesmeer and then join the N17 to Ermelo this avoids all the heavy traffic on the R33.
We all have our ideas which routes are best, but this is the one we find perfectly ok, although there are some roadworks.
Can't help after Ermelo sorry.

Let us know how you get on at GGate..........on my list of places to go.

Hi Albert,

Just to add the Warden - Harrismith-Phutaditjaba-Golden Gate NP road will be fine alternative Warden Bethlehem.

My home town is Secunda and through the 20 year I am here the Vrede road always had bad sections, so I would recommend to avoid that part although I have travelled it 2 years ago. From Ermelo travel along the N17 via Bethal - Trichardt - Leandra and turn off towards Nigel and then connect the N3 at Heidelberg.

I will travel from Secunda to Sasolburg next week and will let you know if there is any roadworks on the R42.

The stop and goes can be a pain but the reason for avoiding Vrede is not roadworks but rather the lack of roadworks.

Machadodorp - Carolina - Hendrina - Bethal is also fine to take and thereby missing the detour to Ermelo. We did this section in May so unless new roadworks it should be OK.

Some advice please?
We're leaving from Potchefstroom (via Johannesburg/Pretoria normally) for Olifants in about six weeks time.

Should we take the N1 to Polokwane/Pietersburg and from there the R71 via Tzaneen to enter at Phalaborwa? I've heard about roadworks and stop and go on the R71, but would prefer this highway route if this was not an issue. This is 638km.

Or should we rather take the N12 to Witbank, the N4 to Belfast and from there go Lydenburg, Hoedspruit and then Phalaborwa? The concern here is potholes I've heard about and the single lane most of the way. This is 622km.

The third option is driving to on to Nelspruit, and then going Hazyview (although I dislike the part between Nelspruit and White River a lot) and then going through Klaserie, Hoedspruit and then Phalaborwa. This is probably longer than the other two routes? Not sure about the kms though.

Any help would be appreciated!

Mel, go to Nelspruit, Hazyview, Klaserie, Orpen Gate, Lovely road now, even through Bushbuckridge.