Author Topic: Pongola Piet Retief Road (Read 9499 times)

dodger · « **on:** September 25, 2011, 06:10:27 PM »

Pongola Piet Retief Road, what's it like at the moment?

:SBOKS:

REEFMAN · « **Reply #1 on:** September 25, 2011, 06:50:52 PM »

Last I heard it was still a shambles...

But hopefully RusticRainman will fill us in... he lives in the area.

Rory mundy · « **Reply #2 on:** September 26, 2011, 06:21:40 AM »

I came back the durban way after going down the newcastle vryheid way down not sure were you going but to st lucia was only 100km more but because of all the road works was a hour and half faster

L Hooker · « **Reply #3 on:** September 28, 2011, 09:10:25 AM »

I've just returned from Jozini this past weekend and the Pongola Piet Retief road works are almost complete, if i remember correctly there was only 4 stop and go's. The rd is much better and now quite pleasant.

REEFMAN · « **Reply #4 on:** September 28, 2011, 09:38:37 AM »

Quote from: L Hooker on September 28, 2011, 09:10:25 AM

I've just returned from Jozini this past weekend and the Pongola Piet Retief road works are almost complete, if i remember correctly there was only 4 stop and go's. The rd is much better and now quite pleasant.

Dinkum!? Is it worth travelling this route rather than going the long N3 route around? This is important for the guys going to Vidal, so if someone can give us up-to-date recommendations, it would help us enormously...!!

Homie · « **Reply #5 on:** September 28, 2011, 09:41:13 AM »

Maybe Willie can help !

L Hooker · « **Reply #6 on:** September 28, 2011, 09:57:46 AM »

Quote from: REEFMAN on September 28, 2011, 09:38:37 AM

Quote from: L Hooker on September 28, 2011, 09:10:25 AM
I've just returned from Jozini this past weekend and the Pongola Piet Retief road works are almost complete, if i remember correctly there was only 4 stop and go's. The rd is much better and now quite pleasant.

Dinkum!? Is it worth travelling this route rather than going the long N3 route around? This is important for the guys going to Vidal, so if someone can give us up-to-date recommendations, it would help us enormously...!!

Guys as just stated the road is 100% better than last year. I reguraly do that road to Ponta as well as too Jozini towing my boat! Those nasty stop and goes before Pongola are gone!!!!! There is only about 4 stop and go's left and i did not wait long. I would most definatly do the Pongola route if travelling to Vidal no doubt!!!

L Hooker · « **Reply #7 on:** September 28, 2011, 10:03:14 AM »

On my way down to Jozini i even drove through Swaziland to miss the Pongola road as the last time i did the Pongola rd towing my boat it took me about 8.5 hrs with all the stop and go's ,Sh** road's etc etc
Another group of friends of mine who where also towing a boat joined me at the Tiger comp and they had to do the Pongola Piet Retief rd due to the fact that one of the party did not have a passport. When they got there they told me how much better the road was! So instead of me travelling back through Swazi i took the Pongola - Piet Retief route instead, did it whilst towing a boat in 6hrs!!!!!!!!! Can't argue with that!!

REEFMAN · « **Reply #8 on:** September 28, 2011, 10:22:48 AM »

This is GREAT news! Thanks Sheldon! +cred

L Hooker · « **Reply #9 on:** September 28, 2011, 10:33:54 AM »

Quote from: REEFMAN on September 28, 2011, 10:22:48 AM

This is GREAT news! Thanks Sheldon! +cred

Cool no worries bud!

Searaider · « **Reply #10 on:** September 28, 2011, 05:55:44 PM »

Good news thanks L Hooker +cred. Did the route in Easter and it was a nightmare.

L Hooker · « **Reply #11 on:** September 29, 2011, 08:13:25 AM »

Quote from: Searaider on September 28, 2011, 05:55:44 PM

Good news thanks L Hooker +cred. Did the route in Easter and it was a nightmare.

Finally the road is almost complete, it used to be a nightmare... Searaider did you go to Ponta? If so how is the road before the Kosi border coming from Jozini? Have they fixed it yet?

REEFMAN · « **Reply #12 on:** September 29, 2011, 08:31:23 AM »

Hooker, if you're going up to Moz/Kosi, I found a fantastic road...
Miss Jozini turnoff, Go through to Hluhluwe and then follow the road to Sodwana and up to Kosi. It's a brand new double lane tarred road... fantastic! It comes out a few kms short of Manguzi... no potholes, perfect road!

L Hooker · « **Reply #13 on:** September 29, 2011, 08:42:39 AM »

Quote from: REEFMAN on September 29, 2011, 08:31:23 AM

Hooker, if you're going up to Moz/Kosi, I found a fantastic road...
Miss Jozini turnoff, Go through to Hluhluwe and then follow the road to Sodwana and up to Kosi. It's a brand new double lane tarred road... fantastic! It comes out a few kms short of Manguzi... no potholes, perfect road!

Hi Reefman, yes i did this road last year awesome road, however adds about 2hrs to the overall trip if coming from Pongola. Got caught out by one of the speed bumps, i almost had the boat and trailer in my lap

But thanks for the heads up..

REEFMAN · « **Reply #14 on:** September 29, 2011, 12:42:58 PM »

Quote from: L Hooker on September 29, 2011, 08:42:39 AM

Quote from: REEFMAN on September 29, 2011, 08:31:23 AM
Hooker, if you're going up to Moz/Kosi, I found a fantastic road...
Miss Jozini turnoff, Go through to Hluhluwe and then follow the road to Sodwana and up to Kosi. It's a brand new double lane tarred road... fantastic! It comes out a few kms short of Manguzi... no potholes, perfect road!
Hi Reefman, yes i did this road last year awesome road, however adds about 2hrs to the overall trip if coming from Pongola. Got caught out by one of the speed bumps, i almost had the boat and trailer in my lap But thanks for the heads up..

Extra 2 hours? Strange? I thought it was slightly quicker when I did it, 'cos you can go much faster... no potholes at all to worry about

Anyhow here's the info from Google Maps...

L Hooker · « **Reply #15 on:** September 29, 2011, 01:30:20 PM »

Damn Reefman not as proficient with google maps as you

however, Pongola to Kosi Border via Jozini +- 199km . And Pongola to hluhluwe is 121 km + Hluhluwe to Kosi border is 167km so 288 km's. Extra 176 km's for overall trip (There and back that is). Taking into consideration the slow down sections, etc etc it makes the trip quite a bit longer. But yes defiantly better road in general. I lost a tyre on the trailer due to the bad roads via Jozini to Kosi.. On the way back i saw they were busy fixing the road i'm just hoping it's completed?

Happy Dog · « **Reply #16 on:** September 29, 2011, 01:44:20 PM »

Hi did the trip in easter and xmas last year. The best way to go is the new road via hluhluwe and sodawana. good tar and comfortable to tow on. It also save a lot on fuel and hassles. Be careful of the odd cow. Not as bad as the old road but they are there. If you go early the road is very quiet.

REEFMAN · « **Reply #17 on:** September 29, 2011, 03:28:20 PM »

Hooker... according to Google maps, from Pongola to Hluhluwe is 121kms along the N2
From Hluhluwe to Manguzi is 149kms along the R22 (The new road) - total of 270kms...

L Hooker · « **Reply #18 on:** September 29, 2011, 03:40:42 PM »

Cool Reefs i measured the distance to the border post not Manguzi! Anyhow point is Hluhluwe route takes longer!!! Looking forward to the Jozini route to be repaired and that's what my initial question was. Has the road via Jozini been repaired or is it still nasty? If anybody has done that route lately please give us an update as too the state of the road. Peace out boys, need to get out the office , catcha later...

Searaider · « **Reply #19 on:** September 29, 2011, 05:30:07 PM »

Quote from: L Hooker on September 29, 2011, 08:13:25 AM

Quote from: Searaider on September 28, 2011, 05:55:44 PM
Good news thanks L Hooker +cred. Did the route in Easter and it was a nightmare.
Finally the road is almost complete, it used to be a nightmare... Searaider did you go to Ponta? If so how is the road before the Kosi border coming from Jozini? Have they fixed it yet?

I did go to Moz,they have fixed one of the roads which I remember was the worst but the rest is fairly potholed but the you can still do good time. You speed up for a few hundred metres then you have to slow down again.