Good day All

In September we did a two week trip from Centurion - KNP(Skukuza) - Badplaas(Forever Resort) - Drakensberg(Mountain Splendour) - Centurion.

Road conditions:

Centurion - KNP (Kruger Gate) : N4/R538/R40/R536 - mostly toll highway, very good condition. Entered at Kruger Gate and exited via Phabeni gate. Suggest enter and exit via Phabeni less local traffic, taxis and other obstacles.

KNP - Badplaas: R536/R40/R38  - very good roads. Mpumalanga is well known for bad roads and major potholes (MP) so these roads were a pleasant surprise - but that was not for long!

Badplaas - Mountain Splendour : R38/R36/N11/R600 - In general when there was road to travel on it was good. Avoid R36 between Carolina and Ermelo as it is no longer a "road" but an off-road track as a detour with lots of stop and goes, flying stones, dust and trucks travelling at high speed. Average speed was less than 60kph - even with our gravel-roader. On the positive side they are now rebuilding this road completely so it will be very good once complete.

Mountain Splendour - Centurion : R600/N3/N1 - Good toll road. Personally I prefer the stress free towing on toll roads to some secondary roads.

Caravan Parks:

KNP Skukuza: I dont think the KNP management have a clue as to what campers really need and want. Most of their caravan parks are totally neglected and a shambles. The camping areas are being reduced in size for their tented accommodation. To think campers arrived first and helped establish the camps in the KNP and now they are the most neglected visitors - poor of the KNP management (they need to go to Forever Resorts to see what campers want). Generally the staff are friendly and helpful - campsites are reasonably priced. A Wimpy or more reasonably priced resturant would also be nice - the present resturant, take-away and shop all cater for the "upper-market" and international visitor (iow expensive for locals). We put up with the poor conditions because we enjoy the pleasure of being in the bush amoungst the wildlife.

Badplaas Forever Resort: Very nice, clean and well run resort. Reasonably priced. The B section was closed and seems to be in disrepair. Good security. Avoid weekends as they allow 300+ day visitors per day, who overcrowd all the amenities - try go in midweek for a quiet enjoyable time.

Drakensberg - Mountain Splendour: Very scenic and central location in the Central Drakensberg. We have been to this resort many times but this may be the last - these days they tender more for mountain bikers - this is one of the most expensive resort we have visited in 32 years of camping! (Low season: R630 per day for 4 with private bathroom- mid season: R832 per day for 4). The tariff is per person per day so it can be expensive for big families. This resort has limited security with night patrols only. Scouted the area and would recommend Dragons Peaks Mountain Resort and ATKV Drakensville as more reasonable priced alternatives with very scenic locations.

Will also fill in the resort feedback.

Safe and enjoyable camping, beste groete

Here are some photos

Good feedback and photos. Thanks.

Dis welkom eke nie meet Badplaas toe gaan nie

Sorry het ń nuwe foon gekry en altyd net wat hy wil

Gaan ook nie meer Badplaas toe nie vir die selfde rede

Dankie vir die terugvoering

Dankie vir die terugvoering .

Relaxed Camper wrote:

Ek wil ook al geruime tyd Badplaas toe gaan...maar ook al gehoor daai dagbesoekers maak dit onaangenaam😢

Jy kan maar gaan, bly net uit die groot warm swembad (foto 5) gedurende die dag.

Dagbesoekers pla nie by staanplekke nie en ook nie in koue swembaddens nie.