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As I was going through my Kruger map last night and looking at the various road systems in place, it got me thinking about the origin and history of some of these dirt/sand roads.

I started noticing (probably old news to veterans) that the numbering of the roads are not in numerical order, so I made the assumption that how higher the number of the road the newer the road. For example the S145 would be newest and S1 one of the first etc. I have also read that some of these roads were once service roads or roads for staff camps etc.

I would love to learn more about the origins and history behind some of these roads. How old are some of them? Why and how were they put in place like they were?
What historic stories are behind these roads we travel so often on?

Very interesting topic .Dan
I have often wondered what the S and H stand for. S=secondary/service?
H=Hoofroete? Highway?
Regards

Indeed a vey interesting topic. I also put the same question In this forum a couple of months ago but received only a speculative reply. My question was, why did the old Parks Board and/or Sanparks close roads. On my 1990 map the S133 is shown running from the S47 to the H14. That road is now closed. Earlier, the S128 continued in a northerly direction to join the H1-2. That was before the H10 was built

There must have been a good reason from a conservation point of view why certain roads have been closed and new ones opened.

In Afrikaans:
S = most probably "sand" (sand)
H = "Hoof". (main)

Many of these roads were build by Stevenson-Hamilton using with the help of Mozambicans trekking through Kruger illegally. They were given the option of either going to jail or be fined or to work for him. Very few decided on option 1.

My guess would be that a lot of them were put in place to enable access to, for example, historic sites, dams etc. Others probably to take in some of the better scenery of Kruger.

All I know is that in peak season, which seems to be all the time these days, it is better to travel these roads, as the most people tend to stay clear of them.

Another question is why are there so little roads from Shingwedzi upwards.

If you look at the maps, there are vast areas that are unexplored.

If it has something to do with the amount of visitors, then it makes sense, but also contributes to the lesser amount as well.

I for one would not like to stay in a camp for a week and have to do the same roads over and over again.

Just to clarify my feelings.... I would hate to see the north turned into a zoo as well.

I would say that there are mainly two reasons:

1. The monotonous habitat.
2. And more importantly. The vast areas there would be difficult to patrol and if someone should get into car trouble it would be difficult to get help for that person.

These vast open areas do host a 4x4 trail and also hosts a breeding camp for roan.

Never Thought about that

The reason why the roads in the north are mostly on the east side and at the most some are in the centre is because the vast majority of the Ellie breeding herds are in the Northern region in sections like Shangoni (no tourist Roads and woodlands (only Bateleur, Silvervisdam, Rooibosranddam etc) It is too dangerous to have roads there in the west area as a section ranger once told me and we were heavily chased one week end delivering a puppy to the incumbant Shangoni ranger many years ago to back this up. My youngest son of 3 at that stage (now 22) is still terrified of ellies after experiencing that from the back of a bakkie with his mother

It would be interesting to get an up to date account of the elephants in the north. There used to be huge gatherings - and the literature that the Parfuri camp put out still describes them being seen in that area. But I suspect that this no longer happens - I certainly have not seen any evidence of it for many years despite always visiting the north extensively.

There are also several roads and areas in the north that I would love to see made more use of. The 4x4 trail from Babalala to Parfuri goes through a unique part of the Park, with several bird and plant species only seen there. And a good chance of seeing roan (though I of course failed to!!). It would be great if part of this could be opened to ordinary cars.

The nyala drive at Parfuri used to go much further west than it does now (before the flood of 2000). Why has this not been reopened?

And there are some beatiful areas around Punda off the Mahonie loop; but you can only get to them if you go on a drive or walk. Shame.

Still there are slow improvements. Crooks corner being one.

Richard

Many of the roads in KNP pre-dates the park by many many years. Many started as animal tracks. Those who have had the privilege to walk in the bush will know that you get "elephant highways". This is broad tracks, which is used by many animals to move from one area to the next.

Quite often the next stage was that the early human inhabitants started to use these tracks, turning them over time in to human "roads". When the first black people arrived they continued with this, followed by white hunters and traders.

Many of the modern roads in the KNP are just the successors of these roads. Where roads were changed it was sometimes done because the old route just did not fit the needs of the park, went through areas where flooding was a problem, or went through ecologically sensitive areas. Some were developed with the aim of providing better game viewing.

Then there were politics as well. In the time of the border wars, public access was diverted to keep visitors away from the borders.

Even today new roads are being made. This mainly happens in the concession areas, where roads are created to provide exclusive game viewing. (Maybe that eco-holiday is not that green?)

It is interesting to note that many management roads were created. This divided the bush in to 456 burning blocks, in the time when block burning was practised. Since 2000 many of these roads have been decommissioned, by combining three or four of these old blocks in to new burning units.

It is estimated that 1.5 % of Kruger is affected by direct road affect. This is the area including the road and twice its width to both sides. The main influence is on small animals, and also on plant growth due to changed run off of rainwater.

Many thanks for the information Imberbe..

Thank you, Imberbe, very interesting !

Another question -- when the roads were first tarred, were they changed in any way ? I seem to remember the old Phalaborwa / Letaba dirt road being a lot more twisty and turny than it is now. (Or maybe it just feels that way in reverse with a large ellie at your front bumper )

The average with of a dirt road in KNP is 6.5 m and that of a tarred road 12 meters. So, extensive work was done on the roads when they were tarred.

I do not know how many routes were changed at that time though. I can imagine that there must have been quite a few minor changes.