Safest road, WC to Durbs

[Sardine]

Hi Dogs,

I'm driving (in a Citi Golf) to Ballito next week. Looking for the safest route.
A must is that I go to Agulhas. So basically, what are the safest and shortest options from Mossel Bay to Ballito?

My original plan to travel the N2 all the way, but I have been advised that the road is shocking from East London.

Trip will be done over 2 days.

Thanks!

[Manic]

N2 is not bad, drove it 3 weeks ago from Durbs to PE, in a car with very low profile tyres.
All good 



You can use it, nothing to worry about genuine.

Few stop and go's but else chap  

[Vintage_Mania]

Ek sien jy moet 'n motor deur vat en moet iewers spesifiek stop. Anders was my raad 'n vliegtuig kaartjie 

[ZooDog]

R56

[aardvark]

East London to mthatha is not too bad.
Butterworth and mthatha can take a bit of time to get through some days.
Mthatha to kokstad can be challenging if the roads are busy.
Expect the unexpected at all times cos the road rules mean absolutely nothing in that part of the country.

[2StrokeDan]

Like Manic says, roads are OK, try not to drive after dark though, or then VERY cautiously.

[Sardine]

R56

From Kokstad?

Flying would be ideal, but alas, I have too much to pack.

Won't drive at night. I'd rather take an extra day and find somewhere to sleep than drive on unfamiliar roads at night.

Thanks for all the input so far!

[pwt]

R56

From Kokstad?

Flying would be ideal, but alas, I have too much to pack.

Won't drive at night. I'd rather take an extra day and find somewhere to sleep than drive on unfamiliar roads at night.

Thanks for all the input so far!

The last time I travelled that road was in May and there were some serious roadworks between Kokstad and Port Shepstone, I then opted to travel from Kokstad via  Umzimkulu, Ixopo and Richmond on my return to Durban, and enjoyed that section so much that it is now my route of choice, good condition and very scenic with lovely twisties, especially when you're on 2 wheels

[Wooly Bugger]

you bringing my guitar?

[Casting from Turd]

Or you could take the inland route through Queenstown, Elliot and come out at Matat.
From Kokstad you goto Franklin then Underberg through Bulwer and Boston then onto the N3

Thats a lekker route

[Gerrard]

Or you could take the inland route through Queenstown, Elliot and come out at Matat.
From Kokstad you goto Franklin then Underberg through Bulwer and Boston then onto the N3

Thats a lekker route

 

[Sardine]

you bringing my guitar?

Are you going to pay R700 for it?

I will have a look at the other two routes mentioned.
Are there only tolls on the N2?

[Donaldbr]

Or you could take the inland route through Queenstown, Elliot and come out at Matat.
From Kokstad you goto Franklin then Underberg through Bulwer and Boston then onto the N3

Thats a lekker route

Agreed, grahamstown to Queenstown ...

Might be a little longer, but traffic between el and kokstad will slow you down a lot, let alone that road is rated as the most dangerous in the country

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk

[ZooDog]

Or you could take the inland route through Queenstown, Elliot and come out at Matat.
From Kokstad you goto Franklin then Underberg through Bulwer and Boston then onto the N3

Thats the route I was talking about coast way is a night mare I live in matat we dont do the coast route its dangerous

[Sardine]

Or you could take the inland route through Queenstown, Elliot and come out at Matat.
From Kokstad you goto Franklin then Underberg through Bulwer and Boston then onto the N3

Thats the route I was talking about coast way is a night mare I live in matat we dont do the coast route its dangerous

 

Looks like I have my route.

Thanks all 

[Weedkiller - Adie]

Hi,

ek het so 2 tot 3 maande terug van Slaapstad tot Nelspruit gery (met motorfiets) voorheen ook gereeld die N2 gery en meer probleme met bokke en beeste gehad.

In my opinie is die 'gevarlikste' deel rondom PE.  Die res van die pad is ek op my gemak.

Hou op die N2 en as jy bekommerd voel 'mik' om naby iemand anders wat ook daai rigting ry te bly.  Die meeste probleme kom as niemand jou sien nie of jy moet stop. (Robot ens)

Ek het die volgende voorwaardes hier by my. Alles draai om oplettendheid.
1. Pak die motor dat niks van waarde sigbaar is. (ek gooi 'n ou gordyn en dan 'n broek of wat oor die goed in die SUV.
2. Sluit die deure as jy inklim. (hulle het al twee keer hier in Kaapstad 'saam met my vrou probeer ry')
3. As jy moet stop (verkeerslig ens) stop so dat jy kan wegry as dit nodig is (effe na links of regs en ten minste 2 motor lengtes terug)
4. Geen selfoon, beursie of wat ook al sigbaar van buite.
5. As jy brandstof ingooi moet nie dat hulle jou beursie sien.  Maak hom in elkgeval so leeg as moontlik met sommer jou ouma se vervalde bankkaart.
6.  as jy iets verdag in die pd sien (klippe ens) kyk onmiddelik rond vir die booswigte en moet nie onkant gevang word!!

Omdat jy 'n vroumens is kan jy 'n breerand hoed kry om 'soos 'n man te lyk' 

Aan die einde van die dag kan jy nie beheer wat gaan gebeur maar jy kan die kanse daarop verminder met:

OPLETTENDHEID!!!!

Ek weet nie hoeveel probleme by padblokades self voorkom nie omdat daar nie veel 'wegkomkans' is. 

Sterkte

Adie
Laat ons Stof Maak

rockfox.co.za

[Sardine]

Hi,

ek het so 2 tot 3 maande terug van Slaapstad tot Nelspruit gery (met motorfiets) voorheen ook gereeld die N2 gery en meer probleme met bokke en beeste gehad.

In my opinie is die 'gevarlikste' deel rondom PE.  Die res van die pad is ek op my gemak.

Hou op die N2 en as jy bekommerd voel 'mik' om naby iemand anders wat ook daai rigting ry te bly.  Die meeste probleme kom as niemand jou sien nie of jy moet stop. (Robot ens)

Ek het die volgende voorwaardes hier by my. Alles draai om oplettendheid.
1. Pak die motor dat niks van waarde sigbaar is. (ek gooi 'n ou gordyn en dan 'n broek of wat oor die goed in die SUV.
2. Sluit die deure as jy inklim. (hulle het al twee keer hier in Kaapstad 'saam met my vrou probeer ry')
3. As jy moet stop (verkeerslig ens) stop so dat jy kan wegry as dit nodig is (effe na links of regs en ten minste 2 motor lengtes terug)
4. Geen selfoon, beursie of wat ook al sigbaar van buite.
5. As jy brandstof ingooi moet nie dat hulle jou beursie sien.  Maak hom in elkgeval so leeg as moontlik met sommer jou ouma se vervalde bankkaart.
6.  as jy iets verdag in die pd sien (klippe ens) kyk onmiddelik rond vir die booswigte en moet nie onkant gevang word!!

Omdat jy 'n vroumens is kan jy 'n breerand hoed kry om 'soos 'n man te lyk' 

Aan die einde van die dag kan jy nie beheer wat gaan gebeur maar jy kan die kanse daarop verminder met:

OPLETTENDHEID!!!!

Ek weet nie hoeveel probleme by padblokades self voorkom nie omdat daar nie veel 'wegkomkans' is. 

Sterkte

Adie
Laat ons Stof Maak

rockfox.co.za

Hi Adie,

Many thanks for the advice. You have listed pretty much everything I already do on a daily basis.

Biggest concern was the condition of the roads, and type of traffic. Driving from Pretoria to Cape Town 2 years ago, I was about 2hrs out of Gauteng when the car in front of me missed being hit by a truck by about a foot, when trying to follow behind another truck that was overtaking a third truck. I hated the N1 because of all the trucks.

But I will take it easy and be very careful.

[EssBee]

The Elliot/ Queenstown route 

Then from Kokstad I'd go straight to the coast at Port Shepstone.

[Sardine]

The Elliot/ Queenstown route 

Then from Kokstad I'd go straight to the coast at Port Shepstone.

Awesome stuff.

Thanks for all the help!
I'll try report back on the route once I get to Durbs.
 

[K-9]

I do that route often.  Most already said, so won’t repeat.  But need to add a few things.

•   Between PSJ and Umtata- stay away due to major roadwork’s for the next few years, unless on a dual bike.  Lots and lots of detours and animals.
•   Elliot my route of choice.  A nice ride or drive in the country.  150kms longer 2 hours shorter.   Best for bikes.  Plenty animals.
•   Umtata route now ok.  Except for a few stop and goes.  And speed traps.
•   Major road works near port Shepstone.  Depending on your timing bypass this section due to traffic.  There is a nice gravel road along the river and past the sugar mill.  Ds bikes only that misses most of the road works.

WHAT HAS NOT BEEN SAID IS.............

•   WATCH OUT FOR NEW HIGH-TEC SPEED TRAPS, bikes don’t stand a chance any more.  and it traps several bikes at a time.

•   SCHOOL KIDS ON THE WAY TO AND FROM SCHOOL.  as said, I go that way often, this can turn a good trip into a nightmare, try plan your trip, so you miss the school kids.