SANParks.org Forums

Hi Carolynn - for certain I will remind you. Enjoy every second of your visit. And drive safely!

Can anyone update me on the roadworks, etc, on this road.
And which is the best route to get to Phalaborwa.

Has no one travelled from Polokwane to Phalaborwa recently ?
What is the road via Duivelskloof like ?

Dear Forumites

We will be off to KNP this weekend, and though we have left the Park via Orpen gate on numerous occasions, this will be the first time that our first camp will be in the Central Regions of the park. (We always had our first night in the South ).

So, I am seeking advice and my question is: what will be the best route from Johannesburg to Tamboti?

It will all depend on what time you set off Dupacc.

I would rather spend as much time as possible in the park so would go N4 the whole way and in to the park via Malelane Gate and head north! The other options (again, all depending on your timing) would be Phabeni, Numbi, or Paul Kruger gates.

I'm SO jealous that you're going to Tamboti - I experienced it for the first time the week before last and can't wait to make another booking there - AWESOME place!

Thanks WendyA!!

We are really looking forward to staying in Tamboti

We can basically leave from JHB as early as we want to

Having read the thread entitled "Gate Problems" I was more thinking of advice on recent road conditions, which routes to avoid due to recent "Gate Problems" , favourite roads in KNP (e.g. is Numbi to Skukuza better than Phabeni to Skukuza) etc? Thanks in advance!

The reverse of the Orpen-JHB you take when you leave the park?

The N12/N4 to Belfast, then Dullstroom-Lydenburg-Ohrigstad-Strydom Tunnel-Orpen option and the N12/N4-Nelspruit-White River-Hazyview-Orpen options are equidistant, and will both probably take around 6 to 6.5 hours. I did the Belfast-Dullstroom-Lydenburg route in September 2012, leaving from Bedfordview at around 08:15, and I was in Orpen at 15:30, travelling at a leisurely pace.

Hi,
Just thinking about the flooding back in January... has this had any effect on the roads out side the park. We are intending to go from the airport (JoB) to Polokwane (stopping at pick n'Pay and Spur) then through Giyani via R81 to Punda Gate.
Or should we, as we've done before, carry on north from Polokwane on N1 to Pick n' Pay and Mikes Kitchen at Louis Trichart and head East from there?
What are the roads like?
Thanks

Hi WildThing
Would suggest that you take the road via George's Valley - slower and probability of heavy trucks but no road works. The Duiwelskloof road is full of stop/go's for a long distance.

Hi Mites. Have a good friend going down to Kruger next week and was wondering if the stop-and-goes are still being used on the Schoemanskloof section of the N4. Avoided them when I went down in April, but much prefer that route to Waterval Boven/Onder. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Horrace

Hi Horrace,

They are still using the stop and go's. When I drove there last week Tuesday they were in full swing, we waited at one for about 15 minutes.

There are also road works (but no stop and go's) on the N4 just after the Sabie/Sudwala Caves turn off up till where the highway splits for Nelspruit/Malelane.

Thanks for the update. Hope they finish soon as I miss this road, and will be traveling myself soon.

Horrace

I travelled that way at on the 31st December 2012 and it was a great road. The construction points on the R71 only began from the R528 turnoff if memory serves me correct, but I used the R528 instead of Magoebaskloof and it was just fine in my opinion. Im not sure if any other construction has since started.

HELP HELP HELP!
Hi to all the forumites,

We will be travelling from Cape Town to Kruger for the first time in I don’t know how many years.
(Use to fly... but no more MONEY!) We don’t have much time, only 2 days to Satara! One stopover!
My Moto: Will rather sleep in Kruger on the ground that on road in a hotel!

I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS:
1. Best road to take:
a. Cape Town – Bloem - Jo’burg (Pretoria)
b. Cape Town – Kimberly – Jo’burg (Pretoria)?
2. Does anyone have info on the roads through the eastern Freestate?
Winburg- Senekal- Bethlehem- Warden- Vrede Standerton- Ermelo- Baberton- N4
3. Could someone recommend a place to stay on the N12 or N4 close to Jo’burg on the Kruger side?
4. Best road from Jo’burg to Satara?
5. Best gate to enter?
Orpen, Crocodile Bridge, Phabeni or Numbi
Regards
Issi

Issi , we usually visit Kruger about twice a year and have driven all those routes suggested by you . Roadworks are off course the bane for any traveller , and can cause huge frustration .
Our last trip in October 2012 , for the UP part , we travelled VIA Kimberly , but at Wolmaransstad , veered off towards Rustenburg then onto Pretoria and northwards - overnighting at Klein Kariba outside Warmbaths . This way , we avoided traffic in JHB area .
We have found the roads thru the eastern Freestate deteriorating and has become as bad as the roads in Mpumalanga - potholes , potholes , and dangerous to travel
Coming back was over weekend , so we took advantage of light traffic thru JHB - then towards Bloem , etc .
We generally sleep over at least two nights -there are plenty B&B's all over , as well as Self-caterings . We do not make reservations for these , but try to stop the day's travel by around 5 pm - it can become dark very quickly after that , and it is easier to find suitable accom while it is still light .
In April last year , we travelled Cape Town - Matjiesfontein - Sutherland - Fraserburg - Carnarvon - Prieska-Douglas- Kimberley , etc which was a long , long dirt road , but absolutely quiet and no traffic , and a really delightful B&B at the end of a long day in Douglas .
You see , we consider the travelling as part of our holiday , so try to avoid stress, take it easy , and by the time we get to Kruger we are really in great mood to enjoy the park