The R71 corridor runs east toward Phalaborwa, making the town and its Kruger entrance a natural end point for the via71 journey. By this stage, the landscape has shifted away from the higher, greener escarpment and into the warmer Lowveld.
Plan the arrival, not only the drive
A successful scenic route still has to respect the operational realities of a national park. Gate schedules and visitor requirements can change, so the intended arrival should be checked against current SANParks information before setting out.
Build margin into the day
A route with attractive stops invites delay. That is part of its appeal, but it is also why travellers should avoid planning the final approach too tightly. The goal is to arrive at the gate with time in hand rather than turning the last section of a scenic journey into a race.
Kruger starts here
At Phalaborwa Gate, the road trip becomes a Kruger journey. By then, the mountains, greener country and Lowveld approach have already given the holiday a story before the first park road begins.