Africa Wild

When we entered Hluhluwe at Memorial Gate on 31st August, there was a sign up saying the roads were being worked on....pity I didn't take a pic as that surely would have had the contractor's name!

We asked the gate guards how the roads were and they said they were much better!! Maybe that's true in the Hluhluwe side, but the iMfolozi roads are shocking!!

I'm there for 1 night on the 11th of Oct Flutts, so I will take a pic of the sign

Nothing new under the sun

Game reserve road repair finally underway

FRUSTRATED animal viewers will be relieved to know that work starts this week to repair the pothole-riddled roads in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park.

The announcement by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife CEO, Dr Bandile Mkhize in July last year that R26-million had been budgeted for the road renovation has until now, yielded no results, even after the contractor was appointed in February this year.

But it’s now all systems go, with the immediate goal to make the roads ‘driveable, without causing damage to vehicles’.

According to Contracts Manager, Stephen Lauwrens of Merlcon Construction, site establishment has been completed and the temporary repairs will be the priority.

‘In the short-term, we need to ensure firstly that the roads are friendly to our clients, Ezemvelo and the visitors.

‘After filling the potholes we will accelerate the rehabilitation process so that we are still on track for completion in mid-January, weather permitting.

‘Roads will stay open at all times.’Two teams will undertake the 60km tarring and rehabilitation project, starting at the Memorial Gate and at Mpila, and moving inwards.

‘The use of local labour from Hluhluwe and uMfolozi is written into the contract and will also entail substantial skills transfer,’ said Lauwrens.

At last, some possible action

Just heard that many low water bridges are flooding at the moment. There must have been some serious storms up river

Any further updates on the condition of the roads? I'm thinking of booking a trip there in the next few weeks, but I'm a bit worried if my Ford Figo will be able to handle it

Looks ok looking at some recent travel tales, brucebru!