Arnoud Quanjer Wildlife Photography

When you drive from Johannesburg to Nelspruit you'll pass a number of toll gates. The toll rates as of June 2007 are as follows:

Middelburg Plaza R31, Machado Plaza R46 and Nkomazi R34. If you go thru Pretoria to any of the southern gates except Malelane or Croc Bridge you will pay an additional R18 at Bronkhorstspruit. 

From O.R. Thambo airport route to gates in Southern Kruger

Coming out of the rental pick up area you will see a sign with three options. One says to the skystop one the R24 to JHB one the R21S to Boksburg. If you missed the R21/R24 split at the airport and have found yourself on the R24 to Johannesburg come off the Edenvale off ramp turn left to Bedfordview and just down the road you will see an on ramp for the N12E to Boksburg/Witbank.

Take the R21S to Boksburg. When you come to the N12 Split follow the signs to Witbank (to the left) when you come to Witbank you will join onto the N4E to Middelburg (This area is notorious for it's early morning fog and coal mine trucks). 1st Tollgate just before Middelburg. You now follow the N4E onto Belfast then Machadorp 2nd Tollgate. Now you have two options one to follow the N4E through Waterval Boven to Nelspruit (Not a nice route because of timbre trucks) or you follow the N4E via Schoemanskloof to Nelspruit (preferred route less traffic) this turn off is just after the tollgate. If you go via Schoemanskloof you will come to T-Junction turn left and this will join you up with the other road on to Nelspruit. From Nelspruit please use the directions provided below depending on the gate you'll be using.

To Kruger, Phabeni and Numbi gates

When you come into Nelspruit the first major intersection will be the one you are looking for it will be marked R40 to White river you will be turning left towards White River (be aware the speed limits yo-yo along this road until White River).
In White River look for the signs to Hazyview (R40) you will be turning left once again. Just outside White River you will find a turning to Numbi gate (R569) follw the signs to Numbi gate. If going to Kruger or Phabeni gate carry on with R40 all the way to Hazyview, you will come to a T-Junction left towards Hazyview right will take you back to Numbi. When you come to Hazyview you will see the signs to Kruger gate (R569) Phabeni gate is also on this road, you will be turning right.
Further along this road you will see a sign to the right for Phabeni and carrying on straight will take you straight into Kruger Gate.

To Malelane and Crocodile Bridge gates

Following the above route to Nelspruit you will carry on straight into Nelspruit (the road will do a Y) follow the road to the right towards Malelane/Komatipoort (this is still the N4) you will come to another Tollgate. Just past Malelane you will see the turn off to the left for Malelane gate. Carrying on with N4E now to Komatipoort follow the signs to Komatipoort croc bridge gate once again to the left.

From O.R. Thambo airport to Northern Kruger

Take the R21 towards Pretoria. Take the N1 North Pietersburg/Polokwane turnoff from it and carry on with the N1 to Pietersburg/Polokwane. Follow the N1 north to Louis Trichardt. In Louis Trichardt you will find a brand new shopping center right next to the N1 at a 4 way stop - do your shopping there. The turnoff to Punda Maria (road to Thohoyandou) is also at the shopping center.

From Johannesburg to Louis Trichardt is quick and easy - its a toll road all the way and in very good condition. That should take about 4-5 hours. From Louis Trichardt to Punda Maria gate is quite a bit slower. The road itelf is good but going through Thohoyandou is very slow - the speed limit is 60 kph and there are many many stop streets, traffic lights, pedestrians, taxis and animals. That section should take at least an hour. Give yourself about 6-7 hours to get to Punda Maria from Johannesburg including rest room stops and shopping.

Remember also, Punda Maria is within 10 km of the gate so you can arrange a late entry permit until 9 pm if you're running late.