Visiting Kruger NP and Sani Pass

[reggie3cl]

OK, have booked flights and bike for another trip to SA Jan next, but have a couple of Qs:

We plan to stay in/around Hazyview for the first couple of nights and then visit Kruger for a further two nights- I realise I'll have to leave the bike- but will need transport to whichever camp/reserve we stay in. Anyone out there done this? The camp websites seem not very clear on how to get there without a car.

Also, I'd love to ride the Sani Pass but the last photos I saw of it made it look like it's in really bad shape in places. Anyone been up there recently and if so, is it do-able two up on a GS? And if I get up there, is there gas between SaniTop and Clarens?

Sorry if this is too many questions in one post...

Cheers

Reggie

[quastdog]

About a year ago, I was in Hazy View and interested in seeing the park. So I called the BMW dealer in Nelspruit, scheduled some service with them (ABS brake fluid change, oil change), had a cheap rental car dropped off at the same time.

So, bike was safely 'parked' a couple days and I had personal transport for all my gear into Kruger Park where I camped (arranged 'potluck' at the entrance gate, but you might want to schedule/reserve your overnights in a place of your choosing). I got to drive around where I wanted, on my schedule. In just over 24 hours in the park, I had seen representatives of the big 5.

I'm glad I did it. It was also cheap compared to similar opportunities up in Tanzania and Kenya. Car price was a bit high for me; I exceeded my daily miles allowance cruising around the park, and charged for drop off/pick up service, as well as this was when oil was $140 pb. I think there was something like a $25 park entry fee, and another $20 or so for camping. But camping 'compounds' had large camp stores, restaurants, everything you need once they lock you in at night, and prices were reasonable.

[freeflyd]

If you rent a car through holiday autos car hire international you are not restricted by mileage, even though you eventually get the same car from the same place who will charge you more and charge for mileage. Bizarre concept, but even though I live in South Africa, I always book my cars online!

Kruger is very cheap, but you really do want your own transport. There are some lodges outside the park who offer day visits, but they are often as expensive per person as hiring your own car. If you book your bike in for a service in Nelspruit, you can hire a car fromt here, which will probably be a little cheaper. There is a new international airport called Kruger Mpumalanga with car rental companies.

Sani Pass is not that hard to navigate and I can't see much problems for you. The whole pass in 8km of steep uphill, and if needs be, someone could always walk part of the way. I can only see this happening when it is very wet though! The border on the South African side closes one hour earlier thanthe border at the top. I seem to recall 16:00. At the top is a place called "Sani Top Challets". It is the highest pub in Africa and apart from challets, they also have a backpackers dorm which is really cheap, and I seem to remember that camping is free. Be aware that you can get snow there in the middle of summer. It is almost 10 000ft above sea level! I took this pic on New years day from about 100m from the hotel's bar: dawie’s african landscape images

The road through Leshoto past Katse Dam towards Calrens is one big mountian pass. It is awesomely beautiful and should not be rushed. There is one place where you have to cross a river on a low water bridge. I have been there many times and only once did the water flow over the bridge. The people at Sani Top will be able to advise. You would need to stay over at Katse Dam as you will not make Clarens in one day! Fuel at Thaba Tseka and Katse. I'd think you'd need a range of aorund 400km.

If you want to ride around Leshoto to Clarens, there are plenty of places to get fuel and stay over. Royal Natal National Park is incredible! Golden Gate National park right by Clarens also has cheap camping as it is also National Parks Board.

[reggie3cl]

Thanks for the info! Looks as though it'll be a hire car in Hazyview.

Dunno if a GS1150 will stretch to 400km- my 1100 gives me about 320km before I'm looking hard for gas, so might have to go round Lesotho.

Cheers

Reggie

[Jabez Clegg]

We were there earlier this year and the Sani pass is doable on a GS, we saw a couple 2 up on a GS, the last part of it is very steep and I would rather do it solo, the locals even do it in 2 wheel drive minibuses, as far as petrol is concerned in Lesotho, you can get petrol from a chinese shop by the litre(yes they even had them there)IN MOST VILLAGES so do check out Lesotho, there is a national park Guest house thats just amazing and very cheap, the trail riding in the mountains is awsome, wide and graded, GS terrirtory for sure, we were on a couple of XT 600,s I,ll try to come back with the name of the guest house, HAVE FUN, Pete and Brucella

[freeflyd]

OK, Let me give you accurate distances:

Himeville to Thaba Tseka is 181km (About 5 hours)
Thaba Tseka to Katse Dam 68km (About 2.5 hours)
Katse Dam to Fouriesburg 154km (about 4 hours)

It's all very steep and mountainous, which is why I doubled the distance for possible range. These distances is between recognised fuel stations in towns with reliable fuel.

Tracks4Africa - Mapping Africa, one day at a time will have very detailed GPs maps which will help in your planning.

[reggie3cl]

Ah, this is solid gold info. I guess if her indoors needs to walk for a few yards we'll make it up even on a barge like the 1150!

I got great mileage earlier this year on a 1200 trundling along at 50 to 80kmh in SA and Namibia, made Tulbagh via Ceres to Calvinia on one tank as I remember. Might have to take a 'Lucky litre' (like tools, never needed as long as you've got it) along just in case though :-)

Cheers

Reggie