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Hi there!

We were wondering.. What routes near Skukuza can you recommend to drive? And what kind of animals can be encountered there?

We've read about the hyena den on the H11 and near Lake Panic. The H4-1 should be great, but when we drove that road 4 years ago, we didn't even see an impala..

We would like to hear your advice!

Thanks!

Kind regards,
Ralph and Lenny

I'm assuming you mean drives that will take most or all of the day, so here goes:

up the S83 to Mantimahle dam, then up the S36 to Nhlanguleni and on. Take a left onto the S145 and really start looking for sable. It becomes the S140, and connects to the H7. Have coffee at Orpen and drive the H7 to Satara. There you can have drinks while checking the webcam.
Then pop down the H1-3, and do a right onto Sweni road (S126). At Muzandzeni you can have a drink again, then further and onto N'waswitsonto road (S125).
Down the tar to Tshokwane (drinks again ), Olifantsdrinkgat and Skuks.

That however is a hell of a drive, so you may want to leave out the Sweni - N'waswitsonto loop. Which is a pity as those roads are gorgeous.
Actually, you may want to skip or keep short the stopping for drinks. And leave as the gates open....

Also leaving at gate opening, take the H11 to the S1 or carry on and do the S3 river road, then the S1.
The S65 is also one of my favourites,
In the other direction, go over the low level bridges and take the Maroela Loop, drive very slowly, often very productive but essentially any of the road around Skukuza can produce very good sightings at any time.
We also love driving the loops off the H4-1

Hi Ralph and Lenny, I recommend a trip to Transport Dam via the H1-1.
Instead of travelling the entire length of the H4-1, which I find too busy vehicle wise, you can turn onto the Salitjie Road (S30) and then you can get onto the H10 (via a short drive on the S29). You can stop at the Nkumbe look out point and enjoy the spectacular view. The H10 in my humble opinion is one of the best tar roads in the Park. The H10 will join up with the H1-2 and you can turn left back to Skukuza.
Another route which I enjoy is the dirt road to Malelane (S114). You can travel quite far down the S114 or you can take a early turn left onto the S21 (Nwatimhiri Road) which will meet up with the H4-1.
As you see can the one advantage of staying at Skukuza is that you have many alternatives! Decisions, decisions..........
Whichever route you choose I am sure you will enjoy.
As far as what animals you will see depends on the old Kruger Park adage: right place, right time.
Early morning drives and I mean early (when the gates open) you stand a good chance of seeing Lion and or Leopard. I have seen Cheetah a number of times in the Transport Dam vicinity. White Rhinos are seen on all the routes mentioned and of course Elephant are on all routes mentioned as well.

Hi Ralph and Lenny

The roads to the West towards Pretoriuskop is cheetah country The S1 especially good for them

Instead of the H4-1 you can give Salitjie road a go! the s30! Then up the H10 to Tsokwane and back on the H1-2. The H10 is also a good cheetah road

All the road around Skuks give you a fair chance of seeing lions, and near Skuks very early in the morn and late afternoon keep your eyes peeled for leopard

Thanks very much for your info!
Counting down: 8 weeks to go. It's very nice to do some research in advance!
Hope to meet some of you guys! We'll be there whole September.

All the options mentioned here are great! one of my favourites is the S114, down towards the S21 and across to near nkhulu and back to skuks for a full days driving