Can Kruger Park open Additional Tourist Routes around Orpen?

[Richprins]

Looking at the latest Trip Reports...

The Orpen area really needs some more roads!

As Orpen, Tamboti and Marula camps get fuller and fuller, and OSV's are coming in more at Orpen Gate, and day visitor numbers have been increased, the traffic jams are getting worse?

Rabelais Dam has gone, which used to be a good reason to drive the sand road alternative to the H-7...

[H. erectus]

Even worse,..Tambotie tented camp now in competition
with tented hotels,.. heh e'he,...

[Richprins]

Ja, imagine when the Orpen Hotel starts...

[Toko]

The PDZ camps will be accessible only around lunchtime

[Richprins]

This is simply an issue of more tourist roads in that congested area...in fact there are many good tracks thereabouts! Have been on them!

Ironically, there should still be a very nice dam on the "Hans Hoheisen" side just north of Orpen, but outside "Kruger"..but fences down.

Why not a bit of reciprocation? The road is already there...a good sand road...

[Richprins]

This is not a commercialisation problem yet, but is fast becoming one as tourists spill up from the South of Kruger, and Satara fills up more too?

[Flutterby]

Have always thought this RP!! We love Orpen and Tamboti but the lack of roads in the area always makes us think twice about staying there!

[PJL]

I agree RP - some additional roads in that area would be beneficial... perhaps heading a bit north of the H7
We were fortunate in being there out of school holidays and the weekend so the traffic wasn't that bad. But I can see how it could get crazy at peak times

[Toko]

More roads won't reduce the traffic towards the gate before gate closure. Big part of the traffic jams are external game drive vehicles and non overnight guests.

Better change the park get closure tome for day visitors to one hour before camp gate closure.

A road north of the camp(s) would require a bridge or two and have a big impact.

[Richprins]

Here are Orpen, Marula and Tamboti in pink.

Red is an example of an existing service road that could be upgraded, for example?

One needs to google earth closer to see other tracks...