Punda Maria - Kruger

[Bruce Turner]

Hi All.

I was convinced last night to make a booking at Punda Maria in Kruger for a week during the upcoming school holidays. I was pretty much dreading it but thought I would be safe as there would be no campsites available anyway.

To my surprise there only seems to be a couple of campsites booked. This during holidays? So I phone central reservations and they confirmed that the place is almost empty for the first week in April.

We have not been there for about 10 years so is there anything I should be concerned about? Why has no one booked to go there especially during the school holidays?

Thank you,

Rgds

BruceT 

[Peter Levey]

Absolutely nothing wrong with Punda Maria or Kruger.  Great camping and the surrounding area is also very good.  The economy is still hitting people hard.  We're just back from a week in Kruger, but not at Punda, and I'd go tomorrow again.

Peter Levey

--
--
DO YOU WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Then send a blank email to:
overland-forum+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com
 
4x4's and other stuff for sale:
http://www.overland.co.za/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=2
---
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-forum+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

[Louis Markram]

Most people don't want to do the trek that far North and wrongly assume that there are not that much game there.......some of my best sightings have been there as long as you don't want to tick the big 5 off in one day. Campsites are good especially against the fence. Some people have complained about through traffic to Mozambique but they tend to stick to the tar roads in the mornings for their commute. If you are a bird watcher Pafuri area against the Levhubu river is a gem. Kloppersfontein dam and the Mahoni loops are good for game watching

[Bruce Turner]

Thank you for the replies. 

I would say Punda Maria up to Crooks is one of our favorite parts in Kruger also. I was just surprised that there was accommodation available during what I thought was peak season........not that I am complaining at all. I was only put off Kruger a little as we spent a bunch of time sitting in traffic within the park the last time we were there. (But that was in the south near Crocodile.)

What is the best route to get there? Louis Trichardt -> Thohoyando (excuse spelling if incorrect) to Punda Maria or alternatively Polokwani -> Moketsi to Punda Maria? 

Thank you.

Rgds

BruceT

[Mike Slater]

Quickest is via L Trichardt then to Tshipise turn off N1  before Messina.  Nicest is via Phalaborwa Gate but get in by 1200 or they won't let you in as not enough time at 50kph to get to Punda by closing time.

On Friday, 24 March 2017, Bruce Turner <bjtu...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Thank you for the replies. 
> I would say Punda Maria up to Crooks is one of our favorite parts in Kruger also. I was just surprised that there was accommodation available during what I thought was peak season........not that I am complaining at all. I was only put off Kruger a little as we spent a bunch of time sitting in traffic within the park the last time we were there. (But that was in the south near Crocodile.)
> What is the best route to get there? Louis Trichardt -> Thohoyando (excuse spelling if incorrect) to Punda Maria or alternatively Polokwani -> Moketsi to Punda Maria? 
> Thank you.
> Rgds
> BruceT
>
>
>
> On 24 March 2017 at 12:25, Louis Markram <lmar...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Most people don't want to do the trek that far North and wrongly assume that there are not that much game there.......some of my best sightings have been there as long as you don't want to tick the big 5 off in one day. Campsites are good especially against the fence. Some people have complained about through traffic to Mozambique but they tend to stick to the tar roads in the mornings for their commute. If you are a bird watcher Pafuri area against the Levhubu river is a gem. Kloppersfontein dam and the Mahoni loops are good for game watching
>>
>> On 24 Mar 2017 12:01, "Bruce Turner" <bjtu...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi All.
>>> I was convinced last night to make a booking at Punda Maria in Kruger for a week during the upcoming school holidays. I was pretty much dreading it but thought I would be safe as there would be no campsites available anyway.
>>> To my surprise there only seems to be a couple of campsites booked. This during holidays? So I phone central reservations and they confirmed that the place is almost empty for the first week in April.
>>> We have not been there for about 10 years so is there anything I should be concerned about? Why has no one booked to go there especially during the school holidays?
>>> Thank you,
>>> Rgds
>>> BruceT 
>>>
>>> --
>>> --
>>> DO YOU WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Then send a blank email to:

>>> overland-foru...@googlegroups.com

>>>  
>>> 4x4's and other stuff for sale:
>>> http://www.overland.co.za/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=2
>>> ---
>>> 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.

>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
>>
>> --
>> --
>> DO YOU WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Then send a blank email to:

>> overland-foru...@googlegroups.com

>>  
>> 4x4's and other stuff for sale:
>> http://www.overland.co.za/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=2
>> ---
>> 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.

>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
>
> --
> --
> DO YOU WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Then send a blank email to:

> overland-foru...@googlegroups.com

>  
> 4x4's and other stuff for sale:
> http://www.overland.co.za/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=2
> ---
> 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.

> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
>

--

kúnóógwa kwáshákuúlya kúmáííka ukáálya

"Two parallel universes diverged in a wood and I... I took the middle one... and that has really altered my reality."

Best wishes

 
Mike Slater www.mozguide.com

[Louis Markram]

Probably a toss of the coin. I always take the Mooketsi road but only because I live in Tzaneen. From Mooketsi it is all villages, cattle and speed traps all the way to the gate. LTT-Thohoyandou is a bit further but probably quicker

[Heiber...@columbus.co.za]

Nothing wrong with Punda but its lekka quiet there, after a few days there in the north it feels like Heathrow airport when you get to Satara


when I was there in Dec 2014


Anton Heiberg 

Hot Mill - Process Control Engineer
T: +27 13 247 2090 | F: +27 13 247 2751  |   M: +27 82 461 1827 |  heiber...@columbus.co.za
Columbus Stainless Pty Ltd | Hendrina road,  Middelburg, South Africa, 1050

--
--
DO YOU WANT TO UNSUBSCRIBE ? Then send a blank email to:

overland-foru...@googlegroups.com

4x4's and other stuff for sale:

http://www.overland.co.za/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=2

---
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.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.

---

This e-mail is subject to the Columbus Stainless [Pty] Ltd Email Legal Notices available at: http://www.columbus.co.za/EmailLegalNotice.htm.

---

This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared by MailMarshal

---

[Louis Markram]

Via Tsipise?.......that seems a moer of a loop.... LTT to Punda via Tsipise is probably 5 to 6 hours and will add an extra bunch of kilometers

[Bruce Turner]

Ok I have booked and paid.  

Does anyone know what the trails cost to do for example the Northern Plains trail?

Thank you

Rgds

BruceT

[Michael Spencer-Wilson]

[Mike Slater]

I have driven all routes a number of times, and via Tshipise not shortest, but quickest to Pafuri Gate, and then a nice drive south to Punda.  Then again I always stay a night at Pafuri River Camp www.pafuri.co.za (not the Return Africa Pafuri Camp https://www.returnafrica.com/activities/pafuri-camp/ - worth looking at a night or two in their trails camp).  Both fantastic places in very different ways.

So yes, if the local community at Malamulele are not barricading roads , then via Polokwane,  Giyani to Punda Gate will be quickest, but I would go via Magoebaskloof and Tzaneen R71, rather than R81 to Mooketsi, as far more scenic, better road and less livestock and pedestrians on the road.

kúnóógwa kwáshákuúlya kúmáííka ukáálya

"Two parallel universes diverged in a wood and I... I took the middle one... and that has really altered my reality."

Best wishes

 
Mike Slater www.mozguide.com

[Bruce Turner]

Just been looking at the map and think we will just go via Louis Trichardt as it seems the easiest. We will leave very early on Saturday morning and probably stop somewhere for breakfast, so Im sure we may miss most of the traffic etc......hopefully anyway.

Perhaps we should take our passports and come back via Mapai and Giriyondo (if conditions are permitting) but think I may get into trouble with swambo if we do that. :) 

Rgds

BruceT

[Jean Struweg]

Hi Bruce
 

I have not done the Mapai/Giriyondo route, but if the road from Giriyondo to Massingir dam is anything to go by, I personally would not make the effort.

My 2c worth.

Cheers

[Bruce Turner]

Jean the Pafuri -  Mapai - Giriyondo route is much nicer than the Giriyondo - Massingir route. 

Rgds

BruceT 

[Jean Struweg]

Ok thanks Bruce, I may give it a shot some time after all!

Cheers

[Bruce Turner]

Just dont do it in the rainy season. Pafuri to Mapai (around 80kms) took us about 3 days once due to rains. Have a look for my trip report on Overland.

Rgds

BruceT

[Piet Visser]

Crooks Corner

[Kevin Smith]

Last year we stayed at Shingwedzi and wanted to do the Northern Plains trail but were told that this could only be booked at Punda Maria. The web site says bookings can be done either at Shingwedzi or Punda but the authorities had other ideas. Seemed a bit of the left hand not knowing what the right was doing.

Cheers
Kevin

overland-foru...@googlegroups.com

 
4x4's and other stuff for sale:
http://www.overland.co.za/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=2
---
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.

[William Solomon]

As far as I know, the Northern Plains Trail has been closed for years.