SANParks.org Forums

dear gents
what a nice coincidence that I find this thread, it comes in very handy for our trip to RSA with main feature KTP> next week !!!
Could I please ask your advise in followup:
- we visit WCNP first, from there we plan to ride by Porterville-Beaverlac (and hope they allow us in) to Citrusdal - will the blasting at N7 be an obstacle to us?

Being strangers in the area we prefer to drive in daylight and it would be very helpful to know:
how long do you estimate the driving time for Citrusdal to Upington by R27? some website says 8.5 hrs but elsewhere over 12 hrs - which would require a very early rise, what would be your estimate?

- do you recommend that we take the dirt road Kenhardt to Louisvale that BB mentions, what does it offer compared to the R27? Is it easy to find? Is it drivable in a 2x4 eg Hyundai Tucson?
How long is it as a detour timewise?

warm greetings from a chilly Holland, Mona

Citrusdal to Upington, 8 hours max. The R27 is a very good road and you can do 120 for long stretches.

Any news regading the road leading to Augrabies N. P.?
Are there still any road closures or closed bridges due to flooding?
We will depart tomorrow evening, so it would be great to know if we still need to make a detour.
Nina

Hi Nina
No need for detours,N14 from Upington and then R359 to the park is open.

AG,
Thank you!
That's great news.
We can't wait for Sunday to come.
Nina

Hi, we want to drive from Nossob to Upington in May 2011 - is it possible in one day and how are the conditions on the road? We will spend two nights in Nossob before we start towards Upington.

Yes, it's easily possible. You will have to keep an eye on the time though. As far as I know the direct route to Twee Rivieren is not open yet, so you'll meet some hurdles like very good sightings at the waterholes.
Aim for leaving the park at 3ish, so you'll arrive at a nice time in Upington.

@Doberan,

Welcome to the forum.

As DQ mentioned it is possible to get to Upington from Twee Rivieren in one day. Even with the road from Kij Kij to Leeudril closed I would suggest that you drive from Nossob then take the upper dune road towards the Aoub River and then down to Twee Rivieren. This route is about 15/20 Km shorter than the lower dune road.

KG

Doberan,

If you lucky the Kij-Kij to TR road might be open, but if not the road will not be more the 16 km along the upper dune road from Dikbaardskolk to Kamqua.

You should be able to reach Upington around 1 pm. I've done this trip a couple of times in one day from Nossob to Pretoria or Secunda (Mpumalanga) getting home quite late at night. We are usually lunch time in Upington.

Your timing will depend on the sightings of the day and can take an hour or two longer to Twee Rivieren, but from TR to Upington should not take you more than 2,5 hours, even 2 hours are possible.

I use to do Cape Town to TR in around 9 hours. will be doing it again in June.

What would a good estimate be now with the roadworks and detours?

Am concidering doing the strech from Kenhardt to Louisvale - is the raod not in bad condition after the additional traffic it had to carry during the floods? Will it shorten the time between Kenhardt and Upington?

hi Gerrit
We drove Kenhard to Louisvale 2 weeks ago and it was in excellent condition.

Delay at Piekenierskloof was almost half an hour on a thursday at 15.15, after it having been closed from 14.00 to 15.00 we were almost at the front of the line so it had already been open norrhbound but we waited a long time for lots of southbound traffic. Returning on sunday there was no delay at all, both lanes open.

Cannot verify your estimate as we are slow (110 tops) drivers, but 9 hrs seems very fast - we needed 2.5 hrs for Upington-2R alone!

grtzz Mona

Thanks Mona.

ligt55 is on the money lirritma!

We will be travelling to Ktp next week for the first time since 1999. I used the N14 to Kuruman and then via Van Zylsrus to 2 Rivieren. I see that the AA lists the N14 as being very bad and under construction with delays. Has anybody travelled this route recently who can give me a road report update or suggest an alternative route. I am travelling in a Ford Ranger bakkie.
From 21 Apr 2nights Twee Rivieren, 4 nights Nossob and then 2 nights Twee rivieren before we return home.
I am looking forward to see KTP green as it was when we were there in 1999.
Kenpick.

Kenpick - Welcome to the forum and have a great trip to KTP

I will be watching this thread as we will be travailing the same route shortly.

Anybody who has recently travelled this route recently please advise.