Scenic drives |
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Barberton
> Bulembu > Badplaas > Barberton
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Disclaimer
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Described by the famous travel writer T.V. Bulpin as one of the most scenic routes in
Southern Africa the R40 Barberton Bulembu - Badplaas road is truly
magnificent in its splendour and the views are magnificent. Apart from
traversing the vast and scenic Barberton Mountainland, the traveller also
journeys back into time, as the Mountainland contains some of the best
preserved and oldest rock-formations on planet earth. This is an ancient
landscape dating back to at least 3.700 million years. The De Kaap valley and other valleys and the rocks
in them are host to the first life forms to appear on the planets surface
roughly 3.400 million years ago, and can rightly be described as the cradle of
life. |
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The fact that it is a gravel road, put many potential travellers off the experience
of a lifetime. The road can easily be traversed if care is taken and you are not
in a hurry. Although the round trip from Barberton to Bulembu to Badplaas is
roughly 160 km, it can take up to 4 hrs and more to complete. More so
because there are so many places to stop and view the magnificent landscape,
than anything else.
The road surface is in fairly good condition during the
winter months but can become quite slippery when its raining.
The preferred vehicle to travel in is a bakkie / pickup type or a similar
vehicle with a good suspension. However, if care is taken and you are prepared
to drive slowly (20-30 km/h) the road can be traversed with a normal
vehicle.
Extra care should be taken during the rainy season. |
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From Barberton you exit the town on Sheba Road and travel south on the R40 Bulembu/
Josephsdal Border road. The first 9 km are tarred and is very steep and
leads you across the Saddle Back Mountains. There are several lay-bys, which
gives you a chance to stop and view the magnificent De Kaap Valley floor and the
Barberton mountainland. +\- 5 Km up, turn down the sharp turn off to your right
(there is a lay-by to your left). Traverse the little cement edge and follow the
road to Sunset Point. This gives you a birds eye view of the valley and is an
ideal place to have a braai/picnic or a sundowner during sunset. |
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Continuing up the R40 tar you will notice scars in the mountainside left by earlier mining
exploits. Where the tar ends, the traveller in search of spectacular scenery can
travel onwards. The more wary can return back down the R40 to Barberton, for the
short drive up will already satisfy the eye in terms of the vistas and scenery
experienced. |
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Where the tar ends, its worth your while to turn left onto the Shiaylongubo Dam road
and travel 6,8 km down to Peglars bush. This magnificent natural forest in the
middle of the pine plantations is an experience not to be missed. The canopy
closes over the road in several places and extends for +\- 1 km along the route.
It is a short detour but worth it. |
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Back on the R40 south heading towards
Bulembu you encounter the Town Dam situated at
the Highlands Forestry offices. It supplies water via a tunnel through the
Saddle Back Mountains to the town. The dam is off limit, for it is located
amongst the SAPPI pine forests. About 7,5 km up from the dam, the Arial Cableway
between Barberton and Bulembu crosses the road. This is an excellent place to
get out and watch the cable cars traversing the mountainside. You can literally
grab onto them and catch a ride (not recommended). |
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Carrying on from there you will start noticing mountain streams, waterfalls tree ferns
and the odd eagle or two as they hunt the mountainland for prey. Most of the
roadside is covered with pine plantations, but every so often it clears to give
you some magnificent views over the Songimvelo game reserve to the west. You are
also likely to encounter some of the local wildlife like baboon vervet monkeys
and duiker. But most likely you will encounter the local cattle as the Swazi
people who keep them, traverse the mountainsides looking for grazing.
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Two kilometres from the Border post, you will encounter a signboard indicating so.
Take the turn off to your right and start descending the Msauli valley. This is
an exceptionally beautiful area with waterfalls, the Lomati River and the Komati
River meandering through it. This is a piece of heaven tucked away in the little
known corner of the province, against the Swaziland border. Roughly thirteen
kilometres from the R40 turn off you pass through the all but deserted mining
town of Msauli. It has a nine-hole golf course, school, club facilities and a
trading store. It is not in operation anymore and only skeleton staff, maintain
the infrastructure. |
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The road becomes much wider after the mine and you start entering the local
communities of Ekulindeni and Ekwalatini. You also pass the entrance to the
Songimvelo Game reserve and the Komati River Lodge. You are now traversing the
middleveld with beautiful examples of granite outcrops and kopies. Some of these
outcrops have precariously balanced boulders situated at the strangest angles,
as if some greater hand had placed them there. The road eventually becomes tar
again, and you just follow the road through the Badplaas district until where it
meets up with the R38 Badplaas Barberton road. Badplaas is only about
two kilometres of to you left and Barberton about 67 km to your right. |
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Disclaimer
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