Piet Retief - Pongola?

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Thabogrobler
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Piet Retief - Pongola?

Post by Thabogrobler »

DON'T DO IT!!!

Just arrived in Pongola after a nerve wrecking 2:15 on this horrible piece of road.

Some places you drive next to the road in a twee-spoor paadjie.

The last 25km to Pongola was done in first gear!

Rather go over Vryheid - and good luck!
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Re: Piet Retief - Pongola?

Post by OOOOMS »

Wys jou nou net hoe moeilik dit is om vir jou s-oures te gaan kuier.... :lol:

Geniet die beskuit, en as jy van chilli sous hou gaan maak 'n draai by die slagter langs die Engen garage..... :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: en billies ook :wink2:
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Re: Piet Retief - Pongola?

Post by Thabogrobler »

Goeie verskoning, ne?

Ja, sy billies is ok, maar in donker P-town is daar 'n nicer plek...
'02 KZ 'Lux. Cooled. Chipped. Onca'd. Cherished!

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Re: Piet Retief - Pongola?

Post by Borntofish »

Was daai pad nie oorgebou gewees so 6 jaar terug nie?
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Re: Piet Retief - Pongola?

Post by Thabogrobler »

Borntofish wrote:Was daai pad nie oorgebou gewees so 6 jaar terug nie?
Man, jy onthou seker toe daar 6 jaar terug aan die pad gewerk is - en dit gaan vandag nog aan!

Roomer has it dat veral die eerste stuk buite PR aan 'n nuwe generasie kontrakteur gegee is en die het toe nie die regte resep vir die pad gevolg nie - toe gee die munisipaliteit hom weer die tender om sy gemors reg te maak!!

Welkom in Afrika!
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Re: Piet Retief - Pongola?

Post by Borntofish »

Ja ek het een jaar daar deurgery toe was daai pad fine. Al die potholes was weg. Nogal gedink dit was weer n tentrepeneur job.
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Re: Piet Retief - Pongola?

Post by Gunta »

So which is the quickest route to Kosi Bay then from Jhb?
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Re: Piet Retief - Pongola?

Post by Thabogrobler »

Gunta wrote:So which is the quickest route to Kosi Bay then from Jhb?
Via air!

I would rather go via Vryheid.

I went Witbank, Middelburg, Carolina, Amsterdam, PR, Pongola.

Just after Amsterdam there is also 3 road work stops but not too bad.
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Re: Piet Retief - Pongola?

Post by Gunta »

I went that way last year in June and the traffic to Pongola was crazy. It adds at least 2 hours to the trip. There must be a quicker way to Ponta Malongane. I am going again in June.
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Re: Piet Retief - Pongola?

Post by Thabogrobler »

Going from JHB/Pta to Maputo and then South to the Pontas might take you longer but should be waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy more fun! Maybe even go via Swaziland?
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Re: Piet Retief - Pongola?

Post by Gunta »

from Maputo to Malongane is terrible, takes about 5 hours. Never been through Swaziland. Need to see the map.
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Re: Piet Retief - Pongola?

Post by Thabogrobler »

Gunta wrote:from Maputo to Malongane is terrible, takes about 5 hours. Never been through Swaziland. Need to see the map.
Most likely to be terrible - at least you can start your holiday in 4x4?
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Re: Piet Retief - Pongola?

Post by Thabogrobler »

Spoke to a 3 car convoy that came past PR last night - a cool 3 hours from PR to Pongola!
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Re: Piet Retief - Pongola?

Post by TJV »

Also went to Kosi via PR and the trip was 10 hours, came back via Vryheid, New Castle then Volksrus and N3 took 11 hours but only one stop. Definately a better road.
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Re: Piet Retief - Pongola?

Post by Gunta »

Why 11 hours, that trip through Vryheid is only 20km longer to kosi bay from JHB.
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Re: Piet Retief - Pongola?

Post by warthog »

According to my bil who lives in Sodwana, the contractor on the road's money apparently ran out, so he simply upped and left just before the Easter weekend...

You can turn off just bfore Piet Retief to Swaziland, enter there, drive to Gollel borderpost, exit there, and join the main road about 15 kilo's after Pongola. Might be about the same time as taking the Piet Retief-Pongola road, and the borders are closed at night, but I'd rather be driving than waiting.

If coming from Pta, 2 other options: 1: take N4 to Wonderfontein, turn right to Carolina, enter Swaziland through Josefsdal border post (only 2 tollgates- about R 70),
or 2: Take N4 to Malelane, turn right after Malelane to Jeppes Reef, enter Swaziland through Jeppes Reef (4 toll gates- about R 150)

and drive through Swaziland to Gollel border, and enter SA about 15 km's other side of Pongola. The roads in Swaziland is fine, (some say better that ours) and there's no problems. Just keep to the speed limits, especially where reduced in village areas- spot fines are the order of the day (at least you get a receipt).
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Re: Piet Retief - Pongola?

Post by krazy_kameleon »

Just did Jhb to Kosi

12.5 hours down 15 hours back
Bhenga Nek was AMAZING but I don't think I will rush back until that road is sorted.
by nightfall taxis were jumping the stop and go and you would run into headon traffic when it was your turn to go!
damn scary especially with your WHOLE family on board

one HEAVILY loaded Musso waiting at a "stop and Go"
IMG-20110421-00263.jpg
the view behind us - the ytraffic actually stretches on past all the way around the bend and up the hill!
IMG-20110421-00264.jpg
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