Satara to Dullstroom

[jcgoosen]

Good day
Any suggestions for the best route to take from Satara Rest Camp to Dullstroom?
Orpen Gate looks closest but some roads thereafter I have heard are not good. Or should I play it safe and drive to Kruger Gate and then Hazyview, Sabie, Lyndenburg and Dullstroom.

I am unfamiliar with this region. We are packing up our campsite in the morning, and will probably only leave Satara at 10h00. I have 3 small children so packing takes a bit longer.
Thank you in advance.

[Rorya1]

I would play it much safer and go out south via Crocodile bridge or Malalane. Road via Lydenburg is terrible.

[Gungets Tuft]

We did it the other way around, Dullstroom down to eMalhazeni on the R540, N4 to Mbombela and White River, then the R40 to Hazview, Phabeni Gate, Skukuza and up to Satara. There are trucks on the R540 to eMakhazeni, but not too bad. I'm told the R540 north from Dullstroom is not great, hence our detour via eMakhazeni.

[Kortgat]

I’d exit Paul Kruger or Phabeni gate and then via Hazyview, Sabie down Long Tom Pass and on to Dullstroom. Yes that stretch from Lydenburg to Dullstroom is potholed, but this is a 4x4 forum and just take it easy and all is fine.

I drive that road to Lydenburg frequently.

[AfricainHD]

I would play it much safer and go out south via Crocodile bridge or Malalane. Road via Lydenburg is terrible.

I'm sorry, that is ridiculous.

[AfricainHD]

I drive all these roads on a weekly basis.
Your quickest route is open gate to lydenburg to dulllstroom.

On every other route to dullstroom there are potholes as well.

Just drive knowing there will be potholes on both sides of Lydenburg and sporadically all the way until dullstroom. This is South Africa, where can you drive where there aren't potholes?

Edit to add: I reiterate this all, with 3 Youngs kids I would want to be off the road as early as possible, orpen, lydenburg, dullstroom you will be off the road between 3-4pm, all others, you're getting there from closer to 5pm amd later.

[Colin2232]

Route suggested by Kortgat best. Have done it a few times.

[jcgoosen]

AfricainHD, Orpen to Lydenburg via Bosbokrand or Ohrigstad?
Thanks

[jcgoosen]

Kortgat, thank you.

[Tom13]

AfricainHD, Orpen to Lydenburg via Bosbokrand or Ohrigstad?
Thanks

Ohrigstad, Bosbokrand is dodgy.

[FatPlant]

Drove the Lydenburg to Dullstroom stretch on Monday.

It's terrible, but the thing that is worse is the other cars on that road and their selfishness and impatience. At one point I pulled off to the side and rather let the string of cars pass me instead of seeing some idiots repeatedly pass us all on blind corners. (I wasn't the one in the front causing the holdup, I was smack bang in the middle of a queue of 20 cars)

You will be fine if you drive cautiously.

Switch on Waze, it indicates most of the potholes, at which point it is really important to slow waay down. Some of them will eat your suspension if you hit it at 120km/h.

Drive safe.

[jcgoosen]

With all your helpfull advice, I must point out that I am on a 5 week camping trip. My Transporter is heavily loaded with no trailer. I have 3 small children (6,4,2) so I don't want to take any chances.
Our aim is Bloemfontein on the second day on our way to Morgan's Bay. Dullstroom is not a must so any other suggestions will be welcomed.
Thank you again

[LandyLove]

Orpen, ohrigstad, lydenburg, dullstroom. You get to drive past mariepskop, and through the strydom tunnel which is scenic. Take it slow on the pass and soak up the scenery. All roads around lydenburg are crap.

I drove bosbokrand frequently and you need to know how to read the road and conditions.

[FatPlant]

With all your helpfull advice, I must point out that I am on a 5 week camping trip. My Transporter is heavily loaded with no trailer. I have 3 small children (6,4,2) so I don't want to take any chances.
Our aim is Bloemfontein on the second day on our way to Morgan's Bay. Dullstroom is not a must so any other suggestions will be welcomed.
Thank you again

Much "cleaner" road surface option:
Go out at either Orpen or Phalaborwa, drive via Tzaneen, through Magoebaskloof(overnight option) and Haenertsburg(like Dullstroom, just smaller, overnight option 2).

Similar distance then to Pretoria from there compared to your Dullstroom overnight option.

My 2c

[jcgoosen]

Once again this forum delivers. We will take the scenic route suggested by LandyLove. Thank you everyone for your input and advice. You guys are champions.
Dankie

[jcgoosen]

Just to give feedback. We left Satara at 8h30 and arrived in Dullstroom at 14h00, with a quick stop at Orighstad. Roads to and from Lydenburg was a #### show, not to mention in Lydenburg. But I was going 80 - 100 km/h the whole way. Very nice scenic route and will do it again.
Thanks again.
Baie dankie

[LandyLove]

You did it in good time. I dont know when Lydenburg will have the roads fixed. Its been a disaster for years. Town is struggling. Glad you enjoyed the scenery.

[Emmie L]

The road to Lydenburg has had potholes for as far back as I can remember. I won't hold my breath that it will be resolved soon.

[jcgoosen]

At least someone had the brain wave to go and paint the potholes white. That helped a lot.