new member

[auriga1000]

Hi there. glad to be here. looking for some advice on travelling through swaziland from komatipoort to kzn, shortest route with a softroader. corolla cross.

thanks

[AlexP]

From Komatipoort you will drive along the R571 and go through the border post at Mananga.
Follow the main road towards Mhlume and the Hlane game reserve. This road is the MR3.
After the Hlane game reserve, turn towards Siteki.
Before Siteki, you will turn onto the MR16.
Head towards the Van Eck dam, and Big Bend. This road is the MR8.
You will stay on the MR8 all the way to the border post at Lavumisa. Beautiful countryside. Agriculture and game reserves.

Before you go through the border post at Lavumisa, fill up at the petrol station in Swaziland. The fuel in Eswatini is cheaper than the fuel in South Africa.

When you get to the main road on the South African side, you will turn left. This is the N2 freeway.
Jozini dam will be on your left. It is massive.
Watch out for coal trucks heading to Richards Bay. Idiots on the road try overtake in both directions, past 5 trucks and more, blind rises ect.
Hluhluwe will be the first big town that you can go into, but about 5km's past the Hluhluwe turnoff there is a petrol station with a Steers, clean bathrooms, a decent shop ect.

From Hluhluwe to Richards Bay is about a 100km's, and Durban another 150km's further on.

The roads in Swaziland are in better condition than in South Africa. Also no litter on the Eswatini side.
And the locals are friendly folk.

[auriga1000]

From Komatipoort you will drive along the R571 and go through the border post at Mananga.
Follow the main road towards Mhlume and the Hlane game reserve. This road is the MR3.
After the Hlane game reserve, turn towards Siteki.
Before Siteki, you will turn onto the MR16.
Head towards the Van Eck dam, and Big Bend. This road is the MR8.
You will stay on the MR8 all the way to the border post at Lavumisa. Beautiful countryside. Agriculture and game reserves.

Before you go through the border post at Lavumisa, fill up at the petrol station in Swaziland. The fuel in Eswatini is cheaper than the fuel in South Africa.

When you get to the main road on the South African side, you will turn left. This is the N2 freeway.
Jozini dam will be on your left. It is massive.
Watch out for coal trucks heading to Richards Bay. Idiots on the road try overtake in both directions, past 5 trucks and more, blind rises ect.
Hluhluwe will be the first big town that you can go into, but about 5km's past the Hluhluwe turnoff there is a petrol station with a Steers, clean bathrooms, a decent shop ect.

From Hluhluwe to Richards Bay is about a 100km's, and Durban another 150km's further on.

The roads in Swaziland are in better condition than in South Africa. Also no litter on the Eswatini side.
And the locals are friendly folk.

much appreciated for the detailed info. Might i ask how long ago you did this trip and do you know of the time the border closes at lavumisa?

[AlexP]

much appreciated for the detailed info. Might i ask how long ago you did this trip and do you know of the time the border closes at lavumisa?

November 2023.
Border post opens at 7am. Closes 10pm.