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Have only recently (last 3 years) found out about this road.

Had a big herd of tsessebe while searching unsuccessfully for the roan.

The Tropic of Capricorn loop (S143) is one of my favourite roads in the KNP.
Especially the eastern half (from the S50 turnoff to Tihongonyeni waterhole is stunning.
This is the part of KNP that reminds me most of the Serengeti - open grassland with very few trees and bushes. In this open habitat large birds like ostrich and Kori bustard are often seen.
For the mammals:
Zebra and Wildebeest are regularly seen and the area around Tihongonyeni is a hotspot for Tsessebe.
Rare antelopes like Eland and Roan can sometimes also be seen there.
It may not be the best predator road but lion and cheetah are to be found on this road as well.
In summary:
Beautiful scenery, very little traffic and a good chance to see some less common animals .

We just discovered this road and kicked ourselves for never using it before.

Up to 6 Kori Bustards in one go, there may have been more. 2 Secretary Birds.
A huge elephant bull with tusks to match that is being watched and may be named an upcoming tusker soon. Roan, Tsessebe.
A ton of general game.

Talked to others that go there regularly from Phalaborwa and they agree that's where you go if you want to up your chance of finding big antelope, lion and cheetah.

One of my favourite roads in the park with some of the best viewing of rarer antelope at the waterholes. We have seen Eland, Roan, Tsessebe and a lone Hartebeest on the loop!

That's for sure..and cheetah....but watch out for the grumpy ellies by the dozen!!

What is the best time to drive this road? I see most of the wonderful pics of the rare antelope looks to have been taken around midday or so, or would a morning drive from Letaba be good as well?

I would highly recommend a morning drive from Letaba as you will then reach Tihongonyeni at the best time to normally see a lot

I did the S143 twice a couple of weeks ago - afternoon is best.
Saw roan, Tsessebe, Lichtenstein's Hartebeest as well as all the usual.
Head to the waterhole - it's never failed me.
Some scrub before that is a bit dire at times but I could sit at the waterhole for hours!

One of THE roads in the Park......a must for anyone in the area. Rare antelope, grassland bird species a plenty, huge Buff herds and the biggest and best male Jumbo's around......

Here is a short clip of what we saw 2010 on the road - the tsessebes were so close to the car Tne S143 is a road i would always do again...

I agree that this is a great road but I can not help to wonder how the closure of the Tihongonyeni waterhole will affect sightings in the area.

This is one of the waterholes that will be closed according to the water management plan of KNP.

They have found the man made waterholes to have a negative effect on some rare antelope and other struggling species.
So they want to close them down. I could be wrong?

saw that in April



my first Cheetah in Kruger

Unfortunately I don't know when they will be closed but it forms part of a process so not all the identified waterholes would be closed off at once.

If you have a new visitors guide you will see that some waterholes are indicated with a red giraffe and others with blue ones.
All those in red will be closed.

I believe, that the man made waterholes have caused lots of ecological damage.
The elephants love them.
And that is why their numbers are critically high.
Breeding conditions are made more than ideal by having water on tap everywhere.