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Flavour of the Month September 2015 :S47 - Mingerhout Loop
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 7:55 pm
by RogerFraser
S47 or the Mingerhout Loop
We drove this road a few times while staying at Letaba some years ago .It is a very scenic drive following the Letaba River.
Our Favorite sighting was :
Re: Flavour of the Month September 2015 :S47 - Mingerhout Lo
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 8:05 pm
by Alf
We drove this road during December. Stunning road along the river
Re: Flavour of the Month September 2015 :S47 - Mingerhout Lo
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 8:14 pm
by RobertT
Not had much luck on this road, but love just driving it.
Re: Flavour of the Month September 2015 :S47 - Mingerhout Lo
Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 8:23 pm
by nan
well done... have to search
the Verreaux is magnificent
Re: Flavour of the Month September 2015 :S47 - Mingerhout Lo
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 8:42 pm
by Richprins
Excellent, Roger!
Have some experiences there!
The dam has a long history!
Re: Flavour of the Month September 2015 :S47 - Mingerhout Lo
Posted: Tue Sep 01, 2015 8:58 pm
by RogerFraser
The Mingerhout is the Afrikaans name of a tree found in the area .The English name of the tree is Matumi tree .
From the page
http://www.krugerpark.co.za/krugerpark- ... 19353.html
The protected matumi tree of South Africa grows along the banks of permanent rivers and close to streams, ponds and other bodies of water. The evergreen tree can grow up to 30m and is adorned by a canopy of glossy green leaves. The species grows fast but does not germinate well, especially in dry or in permanently drenched conditions.
Matumi seedlings choose the unlikeliest spots to germinate, unfurling their leaves happily while rooted in cracks in bare rock. The tenacious nature of the matumi made it an ideal subject for scientists trying to use the environment to measure how sedimentation was affecting the Sabie River in the Kruger National Park (KNP). The decreasing amount of water and increasing amount of sediment entering the park through the Sabie River is of concern to park management, as it can have implications for the biodiversity of the plants that grow in and alongside the river. Some, like the matumi tree, need rocks to thrive, while others prefer more sedi
Re: Flavour of the Month September 2015 :S47 - Mingerhout Lo
Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2015 5:57 pm
by Richprins
Interesting info there, Roger!
Here is the lookout at Mingerhout Dam wall...a bit confusing, as one could drive further west along the dam in the old days...dunno why that changed?
Re: Flavour of the Month September 2015 :S47 - Mingerhout Lo
Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2015 7:24 pm
by Alf
Stunning views over the river
Sightings rather quiet but really lovely road.
Will post some pictures tomorrow
Re: Flavour of the Month September 2015 :S47 - Mingerhout Lo
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 6:04 pm
by Richprins
That bit south from the dam back to the tar road must be one of the most quiet and isolated roads in Kruger before you hit the far north!
It is long and narrow...and largely without water...most people only do it once!
Imagine what goes on there that is not reported?
My "once" was years ago...saw rangers on bicycles, and a lot of stroppy ellies not used to traffic!
Re: Flavour of the Month September 2015 :S47 - Mingerhout Lo
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 6:08 pm
by Alf
Saw a nice tusker on that part of the road in December