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• S50

S50

(Gravel road)

A large male lion scans the surroundings near Nshawu 3 waterhole on the S50.

The S50 gravel road is nearly 100km long and we've therefore divided it into south, central and north on this page.

S50 south (in the vicinity of Mopani)

I love this southern section of the S50! It runs all the way along the Nshawu River, forming a big open plain in the dense mopaneveld, which attracts a lot of animals. The road has four waterholes in quick succession: Nshawu 1-4 as well as Nshawu Dam. Look for reedbuck in the tall grass.

Lions have been spotted here in the early morning, but you might have to work really hard to find the king of the jungle in this habitat (or be really lucky). You do often find elephant bulls in this area, especially at the waterholes where they like to take mud baths, and  you also stand a chance to see white rhino here.

This stretch is also the place to look for  tsessebe and the black coucal. Tsessebes occur in small herds along the river in the open areas, while your best bet for black coucal is Nshawu Dam in the early morning (but only in summer). Also look for dusky lark around the Nshawu waterholes. Other birds on this part of the S50 include Kittlitz's plover, Montagu's harrier, shikra, black-chested snake-eagle and peregrine falcon.

The Nshawu Dam.	The open areas around the Nshawu River.

A black coucal at Nshawu Dam.	An elephant enjoys a mud bath on the S50.

One of the most beautiful and unusual scenes I have ever come across in the park was the huge number of spider webs along the Nshawu River in the early summer morning. On a misty morning it is even more spectacular!

Early morning splendour on the S50.

Central S50

In the central region of the S50 you will find the Shibavantsengele lookout point. The view there is rather disappointing, however, and this central section of the S50 is also long, straight and very quiet in terms of game viewing.

Shibavantsengele lookout point on the S50.	A kudu bull crosses the S50.

The Grootvlei Waterhole and Nyawutsi Hide are two highlights along this stretch. Grootvlei is a large pan in a stunning open area, which is not often visited because it's not that close to either  Mopani or Shingwedzi. Nyawutsi Hide overlooks a small natural pool in a rocky riverbed surrounded by lala palms and other large trees. The scenery is stunning, but I have not seen any game here. I could, however, imagine a leopard using this area…

Grootvlei Waterhole is very scenic!	Nyawutsi Hide overlooks an area that is great for leopards.

S50 north (in the vicinity of Shingwedzi)

It would be hard to decide which part of the S50 is better: north or south? They each offer a unique experience. Where the S50 south is characterised by open plains, the S50 north has dense and diverse riverine vegetation on the banks of the Shingwedzi River. Huge sycamore figs and fever trees stand out among countless other giants, while bushbuck and nyalas feed in the thickets. Baboons are plentiful and leopards are often seen here! You can also expect to find elephants, waterbuck and hippos along the river. One year I also found a lioness with cubs near Kanniedood Dam.

Nyalas are seen on the S50 near Shingwedzi.	A sycamore fig catches the last rays of sun in the late afternoon.

The S50 north is very dense and diverse, providing excellent habitat for leopards and baboons.

Not far from Shingwedzi you will find the Kanniedood Dam. The S50 runs on the bank of the river, giving you incredible views over the dam and the rest of the river. You can also stop at the hide next to the dam and search for a great variety of waterbirds. Unfortunately, there are no ablution facilities here.

The Kanniedood Dam in the Shingwedzi River.

Suggestion:

Only drive the whole length of the S50 if you are moving from one camp to the other and are looking for an alternative to the main H1-6 tar road. If you only want to go for a game drive, just drive out and back on the S50. From Mopani, drive south on the H1-6 and get onto the S50 just south of the Confluence lookout. From here, drive past Nshawu Dam before turning off onto the S143 Tropic of Capricorn Loop.

If  you're staying at Shingwedzi, drive only the first 15-20km of the S50 north, before turning around and driving back. Drive this section very slowly and look for leopards that may be resting in the treetops.

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