Route from the Cape to Kruger.

[Elsa]

Dreamer, nice to see you popping in again.

Until someone can give any more up to date info have a read through the topic Route from Cape to Kruger there is some fairly new posts in there.
Good luck and enjoy the trip.

[Hugh]

We will travel that route in May Buthave to stop over in JHB ( family ) but onthe way back we will travel via golden gate and then Karoo National Both have camp sites .. You can do that in the opposite diretion but add an extra night just before you enter the park . you can stay at one of the resorts at Blyde river or surrounds .. Its quite a long trippie .. when do you hope to go ?

[okie]

Dreamer ....for many years we drove to Kruger at least twice per year .
Our preference is to drive the N1 to Beaufort West, then at 3 Sisters veer off to Kimberley .
This is a much much quieter road than going via Colesburg/Bloemfontein .
After Kimberley, at Wolmaransstad we turn off to Ottosdal, via Ventersdorp towards Rustenburg .
We then take the N4 eastwards and north of Pretoria, again join the N1 towards Polokwane , and from there to Punda .
Sleepovers are at Kambro Cottages about 25 km north of Britstown -- really a fantastic Karoo farm stay -- they have cottages as well as camping space .
Just south of Kimberley , another great stay is at Little Farm Lodge -- cottages as well as camping .
Just east of Rustenburg , there are many B&B's and camping grounds -.
Otherwise, carry on to Bela Bela and ATKV Klein Kariba is really magic -- cottages and camping .
From Bela Bela it an easy trip to Punda -- or anywhere else in Kruger for that matter .
If you use a diesel vehicle, go to the truck-stops -- much cheaper than normal highway stops such as shell, or Engen, etc .
We fill up at one of the truck-stops at Beaufort West, then just south of Kimberly , then at Bela Bela .
Oh and of course, we prefer Punda and Shingwedzi

[Dreamer]

Elsa, Hugh and Oki
Thanks for the welcome back....it has been a very long time since I've been here
Thankyou for you replies, always helpful getting info from those who have done this trip before

We are leving on 30 July and I'm already getting exvited for this trip.
Saying you obviously enjoy Punda more than Shingwedsi I'm sure is a private little bit of banter

[arks]

Hello Dreamer! Long time .....

Just a thought, that RichardJ, who lives (I think) in Riebeck West, is currently in KNP. I think they camp with a caravan. Anyway, you might want to send him a PM?

Enjoy your trip!

[okie]

Dreamer - I think you misread me ?

Saying you obviously enjoy Punda more than Shingwedsi I'm sure is a private little bit of banter

--

Dreamer ...
Oh , and of course , we prefer Punda and Shingwedzi

I meant that those two camps are our favourites above any other camps in Kruger
So much more relaxing than the busy camps down south ......

[PNF]

So much more relaxing than the busy camps down south ......

Fully agree with you Okie!!

It also helps that Punda is only about 400kms from where I live!

Dreamer - When you get to Polokwane (Pietersburg) take the R81 to Giyani and Malumelele about 30kms north of Malumelele, you join the R524 about 35kms from Punda Gate.
Traffic permitting - it is an easy 6 to 7 hour drive from Bela Bela towing a van. The road was in a good condition - but that was before lockdown! I will be travelling (towing normal caravan) part of that road end of April and will try to let you know what the condition is like at the moment.

[Dreamer]

Thank you for these helpful repies.
Arks...hello, yes it has been ages , hope you're doing well. thankyou, I sure will send RichardJ a message and will post the replies here.
Oki, ...ooops my bad, I did misread your comment. We are really looking forward to this new adventure to the Kruger.
PNF....have a fabulous trip and I'll keep an eye open for some advice. I'll remind you

Take Care

[okie]

Dreamer
As PNF said , the road through Giyani and Malumulele is the easiest --- ( except for when residents burn tyres etc , then it becomes quite dodgy -- we had to do that a few years ago )
In that case , the alternative would be to go via Makhado ( Louis Trichardt ) and Thohoyandou .
Or , maybe longer around , straight north through Makhado towards Musina , then via the R525 very scenic road , and enter the park at Pafuri gate , and a lunch/tea at Pafuri Picnic spot for added magic , before going to Punda camp

Oh my goodness ....how I wish I could be there right now

[RichardJ]

Hi Dreamer, long time.....

Yes, as arks mentioned, we are in Kruger for a long stay, currently at Satara.
Our route up was via N1, reasonably quiet, long haul but first night in Bloem (Reynecke Park) and next day to just short of Nelspruit (Hippo River Side) and early in at Malelane where we were to spent 1st night if we arrived late, didn't need to so straight to Berg-en-Dal.
(I prefer the N1 due to services enroute and towing at 100 - 110km/ph you move at similar speed to trucks. But the route suggested bypassing Joburg and Pretoria on the North West side has merits.)

Punda, great camp, has a limited number of power points. So late arrivals first have to find an available point then have to roll out long cables...... Getting there early a serious recommendation, ie 8am.

I have seen recommendations to avoid the direct route due to speed bumps, speed limits, congestion and protests. The alternative, spending your 3rd night as close to the Park and or Punda as you can. During our "retirement tour end of 2019" we stayed at Tshipise, entering at Pafuri gate at opening time. Road was good with occasional pothole. Cheap good wood enroute. Or sleep over at Phalaborwa gate (Safari Park) but then have a longish trek inside the park up to Punda (consider a night at Shingwedzi)

You did not mention when you were travelling.

Enjoy the trip, great birding up there

[Albert]

Right now the R81 (at least close to the R524) is in a terrible condition.
We travelled from Punda towards Polokwane on the R81 on the 26th of Feb and turned around after about 10km, more pothole than road.
I think the recent heavy rains and floods severely damaged a lot of roads in that area.

[PNF]

Right now the R81 (at least close to the R524) is in a terrible condition.

Thanks for that update Albert and yes.............the recent rains have badly affected some of the roads especially those on the Eastern side of Limpopo. I will be travelling the R81 from Polokwane to Mooketsi and then the R36 through to Tzaneen where I will join the R71 to Gravelotte and Phalaborwa. I would rather do a slow slalom around potholes than take a chance on there not being any mist on the R71 at Magoebaskloof! - especially when towing a caravan!
Dreamer - I would suggest that perhaps you should phone either Punda Camp or Punda Gate a few days before you leave and get an update on the condition of the R524/R81 as far as Mooketsi.

[okie]

Then , of course , you can carry on with the N1 , and about 65 km north of Polokwane , turn right on the Elim road -- it is tarred and in was good condition last time we took that road . Then , follow that right through Elim , through farmland Levhuvhu area , right up to the R524 about 30 km before Punda. Its all tarred , quiet with not much traffic .

[RichardJ]

Per the latest "Announcement" Punda gate is closed.

Perhaps @Kallis can provide info on route. He lives near Punda gate.

[TawnyEagle]

Hi Dreamer, agree with Okie about the fuel if you use Diesel. In September 2019 I drove back from Cape Town towing my Jurgens Classique on the N1 all the way to Winburg and then on back home to Howick. NEVER, NEVER again. It was a nightmare with all the trucks going both ways. If you choose to get to Bloem, a nice overnight stop is "'River of Joy". Personally I would stay off the N1 as much as possible. I am sure Okie's suggestions are great. Oh how much we would like to be in Kruger again.