Preffered route - Pretoria to Shingwedzi: advice needed please. - Forum Topic
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Forums / 6. Road Conditions / Preffered route - Pretoria to Shingwedzi: advice needed please.
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15 Dec 2016 @ 11:46:23 am
Preferred route – Pretoria to Shingwedzi: Advice needed please.
I will be travelling (from Pretoria) to Shingwedzi (KNP) eight days before Easter 2017.
I will be towing a Palma caravan.
I am considering two route options: (distances & travel time roughly estimated from Garmin)
Option 1: Pretoria to Polokwane (N1) ±260 km; ±3 hrs Polokwane to Phalaborwa (R71 Tzaneen) ± 200 km; ±2,5 hrs Phalaborwa to Shingwedzi ±135 km; ± 4 hrs Total km’s = ±595 km; Total time = 9,5 hrs
Option 2: Pretoria to Makhado (Louis Trichardt) (N1) ±370 km; ±4,5 hrs Makhado to Punda Maria (R81 Thohoyandou) ± 140 km; ±1,5 hrs Punda M to Shingwedzi ±72 km; ± 2 hrs Total km’s = ±582 km; Total time = 8,0 hrs
Difference in distance is negligible. Difference in time = 1,5 hrs and then obviously road conditions (ie R71 vs. R81?) etc will impact on decision?? Your value adding opinions will be appreciated, thanks!!
15 Dec 2016 @ 12:25:20 pm
We did your option 2 in May 2015 with a trailer. From L.T. to Punda is a bit slow due to taxi traffic, animals & sometimes quite narrow sections. However our destination was Punda for a couple of nights & then on to Shingwedzi.
We'll be doing Option 1 in February to Letaba.
15 Dec 2016 @ 12:36:13 pm
If your first destination is Punda Maria - the road via Makhado will be certainly be the best. But as said above, the 140 km to Punda Maria gate will surely take you longer than 1.5 hours - rather 2.5 hours (or even longer) because of all the little villages (and Thohoyandou) with lots of 60kph zones. The road from Polokwane to Tzaneen (actually to Gravelotte) is a very nice road. The last part to Phalaborwa is also quite acceptable.
15 Dec 2016 @ 13:53:07 pm
Elu....there is just one road and it is N1 north via Polokwane, via Duiwelskloof via Tzaneen
via Gravelotte via Phalaborwa.....we always stay over at Phalaborwa....and then to Shingwedzi. This is the best route to avoid traffic, potholes, animals and animals.
15 Dec 2016 @ 14:01:04 pm
My apologies forgot to mention the second best route is.....N4 to Nelspruit via the Malelane
gate then travel via KNP to Shingwedzi.....if you are at the gate when they open you can easily travel to Shingwedzi at 45 to 50 km/h ....only stop when it is really necessary.
15 Dec 2016 @ 16:45:27 pm
Egbert, Dis my wêreld waarvan jy praat. Ek sal nie die Thohoyando-roete ry nie. Dis deur die ou Venda. Ek is nie bang vir persoonlike gevaar nie, maar dit pad is smal, met baie draaie, baie voertuie en baie hell drivers. Die Phalaborwa-roete is baie beter en sluit ook die natuurskoon Magoebaskloof in.
As jy bietjie meer avontuurvol wil wees, is daar ook 'n derde roete: Met die N1 verby Louis Trichardt en dan draai jy af na Tsipise en gaan Kruger by die heel nooordelike Pafuri-hek binne. Dit is 'n veiliger pad as die ook Thohoyando alhoewel ietwat langer. Die deel oor die Soutpansbers is baie mooi en daarna ry jy deur die kremetartwêreld wat self iets heel besonder is. 'n Mens kan moontlik 'n nag by Tsipise oorbly- die oord is heel gesellig met baie warm water. Jy ry dan ook deur die heel noordelike deel van die wildtuin waar besoekers nie gewoonlik kom nie. Die hele pad is goeie teer.
Om by Pafuri in te gaan en by Phalaborwa uit, is myns insiens 'n goeie idee. Ek het Magoebaskloof baiemaal met 'n 2.1 Kombi en 'n Sprite Sport uitgesleep, so jou Pajero sal nie probleme hê nie- wel ek glo nie- tensy hy nie kan doen wat 'n Kombi kan nie!
16 Dec 2016 @ 13:56:25 pm
Ou boesman ek stem saam jou die roete
19 Dec 2016 @ 08:39:11 am
Baie dankie aan almal vir die advies, waardeer.
Malelane - Shingwedzi is a definite no-no to me. 333 km and recommended travel time = 13 hours!! Even at 45km/hr and no stops, that is 7,5 hrs travel!! Defeats the purpose of going to KNP, strenuous and I feel dangerous at times as well!
I will go the Phalaborwa route, sleep over at Phalaborwa and into KNP early the next morning!!
19 Dec 2016 @ 11:29:01 am
Watter roete jy ookal vat, jy sal die besoek geniet. Shingwedzi is ons eerste keuse. Daar is baie wild te sien, veral olifante, baie grondpaaie om te ry- wat min ander motors beteken, en 'n hele aantal piekniekplekke binne bereik. Ontbyt by the plekke is een van die beste ervarings in die park.
29 Mar 2017 @ 13:03:00 pm
Dankie vir al die inligting aan Egbert verskaf. Dis ook die roete wat ek gaan ry oor 6 weke. Ek oornag ook in Phala voor ons Kruger ingaan.
Kan nie meer wag nie. Voor die jaar 2000 laas in Kruger gekamp maar wel net buite die wildtuin in chalets/B&B gebly en as dagbesoeker ingegaan.