Kruger Advice

[vinkie]

Last time we visited Kruger we arrived on a Thursday in July, we entered the Park at Orpen Gate and had no waiting time at all, we arrived at 12.30.

This year we will be arriving on a Saturday, we think it will be busier than on a Thursday is this true?

Should we enter at Orpen Gate as planned or should we avoid the detour between Orpen and Satara and enter at one of the following Gates: Paul Kruger Gate, Phabeni, Numbi Gate instead and enjoy more time in the Park…we are staying at Satara?

We will be traveling from Krugersdorp to Satara

Thanks for your help

[RobertT]

If the reason was to miss the detour, you would be doing a bigger detour to miss the detour if that makes sense. In which case I would just go in Orpen.

The other option from Krugersdorp is straight up n1 to Polokwane, Tzaneen onto Phalaborwa. Takes me about 5 hours from Fourways. There are stop and go's by Magoebaskloof/Haenertsburg, which could add 30 mins.

[vinkie]

Thank you RoberT for your response.

The reason isn't to miss the detour....I have always entered the park by Orpen Gate(because it's a quick route to Satara) but Apex Predator(my wife) would like to enter the park at one of the three gates mentioned earlier, because we will be able to spend more time in the park instead of driving the bad roads from White River to Orpen.

If we would take another gate instead of Orpen which one would be recommended?

We will be driving from Krugersdorp-Nelspruit(N4) -Whiteriver-Hazyview(R40) and up to one of the gates....we are planning to leave Krugersdorp at 06.00H or is this too late...

[Amoli]

Vinkie, this is a woman's view...

I travel to Lydenburg, via Dullstroom - leaving home soon after 12 midday. (Jhb area)
I sleep over in the Rondawels in the Caravan Park in Lydenburg town at a very reasonable price (? R240 / 5 beds and a basin)
Then I leave at 5 in the morning for Orpen. You can do all the other gates you mentioned and Phalaborwa from this starting point and still reach the park at about 7-8 o'clock. I feel I am rested and ready for a slooooooow drive -O -O

[Sprocky]

One thing to keep in mind vinkie is that there are two stop and goes between White River and Hazyview.

[vinkie]

One thing to keep in mind vinkie is that there are two stop and goes between White River and Hazyview.

Do you mean roadblocks?

[Sprocky]

Not roadblocks but road maintenance. There is only one lane open and you wait for the cars coming from in front and then you can go. You can wait up to 20 minutes at each one.

[vinkie]

Not roadblocks but road maintenance. There is only one lane open and you wait for the cars coming from in front and then you can go. You can wait up to 20 minutes at each one.

hmmm we where planning to leave at 06.00 should we leave earlier?

[Richprins]

If you leave at 6 you should be in Nelspruit before 10, and Numbi Gate before 11....this is the most "direct" route to get into the Park ASAP, and leaves plenty of time to get to Satara, depending how you go inside the park. At that time of day you should reach Satara at about 3pm?

[vinkie]

If you leave at 6 you should be in Nelspruit before 10, and Numbi Gate before 11....this is the most "direct" route to get into the Park ASAP, and leaves plenty of time to get to Satara, depending how you go inside the park. At that time of day you should reach Satara at about 3pm?

Thank you

Looking forward going to Kruger, in two weeks time we will have done our first morning drive