Get in

Either by car or motorbike. Getting to the Mpumalanga Escarpment by motorbike can be boring as the road is very uninteresting, but once you are off the N4 highway, you are definitely in bikers country.

Leave Gauteng around midday on Friday in order to avoid rush hour traffic.
[edit] From Johannesburg

Follow the N1 towards Pretoria. Make sure you stay on the left just after exit 112 (Brakfontein/Old Pretoria road) as the N1 and N14 will meet and you need to keep following the N1 through the Brakfontein Interchange.

For some unknown reason the speed limit between exit 128 (John Foster) and exit 136 (Rigel Ave) is 100km/h rather than the usual 120km/h. There are static cameras, so make sure you don't exceed the limit.

Continue following the N1 until it meets the N4 at the Proefplaas Interchange, shortly after exit 141 (M6 Lynwood Rd), keep to the left and follow the N4 Witbank signs. From here, follow the directions as from Pretoria.

[edit] From Pretoria

Take the N4 east towards Witbank. This is a toll road in very good condition and average driving time will be around 1 hour. Toll cost is R18 at the Diamond Hill toll gate (about halfway between Pretoria and Witbank). Keep an eye open for an impressive swallows nest construction (thousands of nest build from mud) covering the underside of one of the overpasses on this road.

You will reach the Middelburg toll gate shortly after passing through Witbank. Toll cost is R29.

Stay on the N4 and pass by Belfast on your way to Machadodorp. If you need to take a break from driving and stretch your legs, stop at Milly's just before Macahodorp. You will also notice that the speed limit is reduced as you enter Machadodorp, make sure you keep below the posted speeds as their are always speed traps.

Shortly after passing through Machadodorp you will reach the Machado toll gate. Toll cost is R43.

Be aware that you might encounter heavy fog between Witbank and Machadodorp during the winter months.

Within 2km from this toll gate there will be an exit to your left marked as R36 Lydenburg/(N4) Nelspruit via Schoemanskloof. Take this exit and follow the R36 for about 15km until you see the old Bambi Hotel on the right. This portion of the R36 has been newly rebuild and is in excellent condition.

At the Bambi Hotel you need to turn left onto the road marked as R36 Lydenburg and drive the last 50km to Lydenburg. The road condition on this portion of the R36 is not very good, slow down and watch out for potholes.

Total driving time from Johannesburg to Lydenburg will be around 3 hours.

If you booked accommodation in Sabie rather than Lydenburg, turn right onto the R37 Sabie in Lydenburg and continue over the Long Tom pass towards Sabie.

You are now in the Mpumalanga Escarpment, book yourself in, have a drink and relax. Tomorrow there will be some more driving to see all the sights on offer in this area.

If the establishment you are staying in can not serve breakfast nice and early, ask if they can to pack a take-away breakfast for you to use as padkos (road food) tomorrow; alternatively, plan to have a breakfast in Sabie.