SANParks.org Forums

Has anyone driven the randspruit road (H5) lately? (Or ever?)
What is it like?
It is one of the roads in the south that I have never taken...

Only a small part of it ... used to end off the day with that road and stop by at Shirimantanga Waterhole ... Nice place to sit and watch .. saw Blue Wildebeest, Zebra, Baboon, Dwarf Mongoose, Grey Hornbill, LBR, Swainson's Spurfowl and the usual Yellow Hornbill.

That road is very quiet game wise, probably the quietest road in the whole south (along with parallel, Bume)- all Combretum woodland - low animal densities.

It runs along the old Selati rail route which is raised ridge running parallel to the road. If you like history, you can cast yourself back in time and picture that old train meandering through the Lowveld - think the train terminated its operations in 30's - I stand to be corrected.

Mpondo dam is near by and worth seeing. Nice quiet road that one.

w

I drove it at the beginning of June. The grass was quite high, so I didn't see many animals. But I had a nice cheetah sighting.
I also saw some lions there a few years ago.

If you follow the H4-2 from Croc Bridge towads L/Sabie you'll find the Randspruit road or H5 about 15km out from CB. The H5 then goes North-west all the way up to Renosterkoppies Dam (Shirimantanga) where it splits into the S112 (short road joining the H3, Skukuza-BergenDal road) and the S114 (joins the H1-1, Skukuza-P/kop road)

Like JB said, just a bit more detailed

Hope that helps

We took the H-5 only once, going from Skukuza back to LS. The veld was mostly burnt and the road very bumpy. Not the nicest road we've been on. But it is all a question of being on the correct place at the correct time (thanks WTM ) Will try it again when we are in that area.

We only did the last part from the S108 to the H4-2 this last trip and I must admit it was very corrugated altho my son drives very very slowly which does seem to emphasise them.
Also didn't see anything significent.
I remember meeting one irate gent in Feb who had driven the entire road without seeing a single animal.

Hi. the first time we did the H 5 was by mistake. We had spent some time watching a leopard on the S 21 and were on our way back to Malelane Gate down the S 114 and somehow managed to miss the turn where it intersects with the H 5. This happened to be a very fruitful mistake, for were encountered 5 wild dogs smack in the middle of the road. This was in July 2006. After that we have driven down this long road a number of times.

Among the sightings most memorable sightings along this stretch occurred in December 2007. having been informed by a friend who was sitting with three cheetahs on the old railroad, we got onto this road and as we drove in the light drizzle that was falling, we approached a side striped jackal running in front of us on the road. We followed it for about a kilometre after which it veered off into the bush.

Also in December, after visiting the Mpondo dam, we were driving towards Croc Bridge and had the excellent fortune to see two black rhinos in a territorial fight for about three quarters of an hour.

Mpomdo dam road just off the H5 produced an LIT also in December 2007 while Mpondo Dam in December 2006 delivered a herd of buffs in the water with others coming to join them and being chased by five lionesses who in turn were chased by the angry buffs. So, we cannot complain about sightings on this stretch of road.

Wonder if it could have been one of the pair that we saw on the S26 in October last year, as the 2 roads are not that far apart.
Great sightings wildchild.

Drove the H5 from where it intersects with the S102 on the 12/01.Never saw anything except some kudu although it must be said droven it at a very hot time of day.

Has anyone driven this road lately? I have never been on this road and would like to know if somebody has seen anything on the road up to mpodo dam? I know it all adds up to right time right place... Thinking of doing this road on my next trip!

The Road can be quiet but personally I like the drive as its a nice Riverine bush for the most part and I have seen Black Rhino on the road before

I have tended to find the road quiet, but I did have a rather lovely Black Rhino sighting and calf. That pretty much made my day. I have seen Lion at Mpondo dam and had a relatively car free viewing. It is not a very popular road, so if you do get sightings, you can enjoy them in peace.

If you are interested in history, a large section of the road takes you next to the old Selati rail, now disused.

Awesome! would love to be on a road that has less traffic! Makes it feel more 'untouched'. Black rhino is always very high on my list! as with all roads I suppose... timing is everything - only thing is timing cannot really be controlled

HI Guys!!!

I have not been on this forum for so long! I feel bad :(...I have a question regarding the road H5, is it any good for sightings? My family and I never go up this road anymore and I am assuming it’s because there has been nothing good to see on this road in the past. Can someone disagree with me on this?? If so, please share :)

Regards

Brogan Parsons