Flavour of the Month - Nov/Dec 2019: S114

[Lisbeth]

That's what I thought

[Richprins]

The S114 is actually not all gravel. North of Renosterkoppies there is a stretch a few km long that was tarred many years ago as an experiment to see how it would last, and how feasible it would be regarding tourists. Needless to say it was a success!

(The end is a bit broken, and it seems that then gets covered in sand systematically. )

[Alf]

Drove this road once before

[Richprins]

This is the longest dirt road in the southern section. As Peej said, it was the old main road from Malelane to Skukuza, so large parts are just straight connections without much scenery or water. It passes through three major eco-zones -

The red-soiled Crocodile basin in the south:

A long dense stretch of Granitic mixed bushwillow in the middle:

And then it opens up again as one enters the rather more barren area of the Sabie river basin in the north, where acacias are more dominant.:

Big five and predator sightings are common all along this road, visibility permitting. It can also be quiet, even at peak times, as many prefer the parallel tar road H-3 for obvious reasons.

[Richprins]

Mlambane River crossing at James, looking south:

[Richprins]

Renosterkoppies, as its name implies, is popular with rhino of both species. A crazy black rhino encounter in 2015:





















viewtopic.php?f=46&t=6906&start=20

[Mel]

I don't think, I've ever seen of photo of yours with a cheetah in it, RP Awesome!

Blackie! Isn't it way more seldom than the whitie?

[Richprins]

Waaay more, Mello!

[Richprins]

In fact I saw my first ever one at the northern end as a schoolchild. Probably the best blackie road in the park:

1stblack.gif (224.33 KiB) Viewed 607 times

[PJL]

The S114 is actually not all gravel. North of Renosterkoppies there is a stretch a few km long that was tarred many years ago as an experiment to see how it would last, and how feasible it would be regarding tourists. Needless to say it was a success!

I remember seeing that section a few times and wondering why on earth a smallish section was tarred in the middle of nowhere