TRAVELLING BACK FROM GRAHAMSTOWN

Caroline Smart gives travel report back to Durban from the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.

We decided to return to Durban yesterday (July 7) via a different route – ie through Queenstown and Dordrecht, eventually joining up with the road to Matatiele.

This is a much longer way than the chaotic Survive-The-Lunatic-Drivers-And-Potholes route through Mthatha. It’s also longer than the route we took going down, where we turned off at Elliot to come south through Ngcobo, Tsomo and Butterworth, etc.

However, the Queenstown option is worth it from the point of view that it is less battering to the vehicle. The roads are excellent and, barring a few hectic potholes between Maclear and Kokstad, trouble-free. The scenery is simply spectacular.

From about 14h45, the sky was beginning to fill with dark clouds and by 15h00, I was driving with the headlights on. It was nearly dark by 16h00 and we were very happy that the threatening sky was behind us rather than in front of us!

A good point to note is that most of the major petrol stations along the way have pay toilets (usually R2) which means that they are kept in good condition. Fuel points should be Queenstown and Kokstad – these are also the best places to grab takeaways.

Here’s the route –it took us 12 hours but then four hours were spent travelling in the dark so I couldn’t keep up speed:

Grahamstown – follow signs to Fort Beaufort then to Queenstown. At Queenstown follow signs to Dordrecht which takes you through Indwe, Elliot, Ugie, Maclear, Mount Fletcher and Matatiele to Kokstad. Just before Kokstad, turn right* and follow signs towards Port Shepstone. There will be a further turn-off to the right about 10/15 minutes later – don’t overshoot it.

Beware also the Marburg area where the road is under construction as are the first 50 or so kilometres on the N2 out of Port Shepstone.

*There’s a great craft/gift shop at the comfort station (think it’s Engen) just off the intersection of the main road and the turn off to Port Shepstone. Well worth visiting if you need to take gifts to your festival hosts or bring back for family and friends. - Caroline Smart