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Has anyone had the experience of entering Punda Maria gate on a public holiday? Would it be best to enter as early as possible or rather wait until mid morning?
I know that the southern gates have long long queues on public holidays from early in the morning but are the northern gates the same?

New years day is not that busy Glen, Just before X-mas and after new year is the problem, although there are day visitors, the camp itself is good. But the main roads,

Thanks Scips. We are planning to head to Shingwedzi from the 2nd but I want to rather leave on the 1st and have an extra day. Do the midnight dash while all the dronkies are still partying and off the roads.

Drive safe, and watch the township areas.

Or go in a day early and camp somehwere.

I spent a new year at Punda a couple of years back and I was very surprised at how quiet it was. That was even before the alcohol ban.

It appears to me that pre gate opening traffic congestion is mostly caused by OSV operators and local residents both of which are relatively scarce around Punda gate .

My concern would be the road leading up to the gate may still have some revelers that have not made it home yet and I would be there early as I have witnessed busses of people going to Shingwedzi for the day visitor area going through the gate, especially on public holidays. They do not get there early, so if you are at the gate early, I think you should be ok.

Thanks for the responses.
RT we were there in Sept last year and on one day had three busses pull in so I guessed that new years might be the same.
I just dont want to sit for an hour at the gate while a huge group is being processed.
I think if we do leave on the 1st, I will aim to be there as early as possible, say around 6am.

You should be ok then I can't see the buses getting there before 8-30.

Will see you in Shingwedzi, I will be there from 27th Dec to 4th Jan.

Excellent!!
Do me a favour, take roll of red and white plastic and cordon off a nice shady campsite for me

Hope you have a lovely time!
We got there in September holidays - NOBODY except two HUGE elephant bulls resting within 20m of the gate! I am sure one was a named tusker. Will put him up for Aat to check out.
If anybody can't find place at Punda, try staying at Singa Safari Lodge 40 km from the northern gate -- something very special, and not far from Pafuri!
We will definitely go there again. (It is part of Kruger now, no fences between...)
God bless,

Friedrich von Hörsten
for a few pics of Singa, go here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set= ... 5268841413

We changed our orriginal booking as well and now it will be 21 to 29 Dec Punda and 29 to 3 Jan Shingwedzi

A Mini meet.