Road Conditions - R540, R37, R532

16 views
Skip to first unread message

Bruce Turner

unread,
Feb 10, 2025, 2:05:17 AMFeb 10
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
Hi All,

Has anyone travelled the R540 to Dullstroom, then to Lydenberg, R37 down Longtom pass to Sabie and then onto Graskop lately please?

If yes how are the roads? Im trying to decide on routes and wont be in a 4x4.

Thank you

Rgds
BruceT
-- 

Hennie Rautenbach

unread,
Feb 10, 2025, 5:21:29 AMFeb 10
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
Bruce I drove the road in the opposite direction last year at the end of August. The worst section is between Lydenburg and Dullstroom (including Lydemnburg itself). If you drive carefully and keep a lookout or the pothles you will do just fine. Biggest challenge is not avoiding the potholes, but rather the oncoming traffic that swerves into your lane... I won't hesitate to take that route again given the massive alternative detour.

--
--
DO YOU WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Then send a blank email to:
overland-foru...@googlegroups.com
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "overland-forum" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to overland-foru...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/overland-forum/DU0P195MB152168F621088FCFE885F465AEF22%40DU0P195MB1521.EURP195.PROD.OUTLOOK.COM.

Bruce Turner

unread,
Feb 10, 2025, 5:58:30 AMFeb 10
to overlan...@googlegroups.com

Jean Struweg

unread,
Feb 10, 2025, 7:13:58 AMFeb 10
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
Hi Hennie

My BIL lives in Lydenburg and travels that road fairly often, so I gave him a call to get his input. 

The road between Belfast and Dullstroom has a few potholes here and there, not nearly as bad as the Dullstroom/Lydenburg stretch. Regarding the Dullstroom/Lydenburg stretch his feedback is very similar to Hennie's, including the warning about veering oncoming traffic. He says numerous head-on collisions have taken place in the last months. Some of the potholes have degenerated into real craters. 

The Lydenburg/Sabie road is in good nick and caution is required through the Long Tom pass, as with any pass with sharp bends.

The Sabie/Graskop stretch is mostly in good nick and the road has a fairly wide shoulder.

HTH

Cheers

Jean

Bruce Turner

unread,
Feb 10, 2025, 7:29:10 AMFeb 10
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
Thanks very much Jean. Appreciate that. 

We staying near Tzaneen/Agatha Forest reserve but want to drive some passes hence the question about doing that route. 
 
So I think we will go N4 all the way to Ngodwana/sappi, then Sabie, Graskop, Blyderiver pass then R36 to Tzaneen/Agatha forest reserve.  

Rgds
BruceT



-- 

Geoff Hill

unread,
Feb 10, 2025, 8:08:03 AMFeb 10
to overlan...@googlegroups.com

Rather go the N4 through Old Joes (Schoemans Kloof) and miss Ngodwana/Sappi, the split is shortly after the toll gate at Machadodorp.  The turnoff to Sabie is the turnoff to Sudwalla caves.

Geoffth

Michelle Bainbridge

unread,
Feb 10, 2025, 8:10:49 AMFeb 10
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
Drove the Nelspruit, Sabie, Graskop, Pilgrims Rest, Lydenberg, Dullstroom, Belfast, Nelspruit road yesterday.  I can confirm it's still very bad between Dullstroom and Lydenburg.  To the point that you need to almost stop to work your way across some of the ditches / potholes that cross the entire road.

Michelle
------------
My opinions might have changed, but not the fact that I am right


Bruce Turner

unread,
Feb 11, 2025, 3:38:44 AMFeb 11
to overlan...@googlegroups.com
Thank you Geoff and Michelle.

Rgds
BruceT

-- 

Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages