The R71 is a
provincial route
A state highway, state road, or state route (and the equivalent provincial highway, provincial road, or provincial route) is usually a road that is either numbered or maintained by a sub-national state or province. A road numbered by a state or ...
in
Limpopo
Limpopo () is the northernmost Provinces of South Africa, province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The term Limpopo is derived from Rivombo (Livombo/Lebombo), a ...
,
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
that connects
with the
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park () is a national park in South Africa covering an area of in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in the country's northeast. It extends from north to south and from east to west. The administrative headquarters are i ...
via
Tzaneen
Tzaneen () is a town situated in the Mopani district of the Limpopo Province in South Africa. It is situated in a high rainfall fertile region with tropical and subtropical agriculture taking place in a region. It is Limpopo's second largest to ...
and
Phalaborwa
Phalaborwa (translated to English as ''better than the south; phala'' means ''better than and borwa'' means ''south'') is a town in the Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa.
Name
The place was called "Phalaborwa" by the S ...
.
The R71 is used daily by people who work or reside in
Dalmada,
Mothiba,
Nobody
Nobody most often refers to:
* Nobody, an indefinite pronoun
Nobody may also refer to:
Fictional characters
* Nobody (''Kingdom Hearts''), a race of beings in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' video game series
*Nobody, a character in the Jim Jarmusch fi ...
,
Moria
Moria may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Moria (Middle-earth), fictional location in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien
* ''Moria: The Dwarven City'', a 1984 fantasy role-playing game supplement
* Moria (1978 video game), ''Moria'' (1978 video gam ...
,
Mankweng Mankweng
Mankweng, also called Turfloop, is a township in Capricorn District Municipality in the Limpopo province of South Africa, and home to the University of Limpopo. It is a university township. Mankweng or Turfloop is also the de facto name f ...
,
Turfloop and Boyne. The road is well known to touring bikers who frequently visit the province from all parts of the country, because of the scenic route through
Magoebaskloof
Magoebaskloof is a mountain pass in Limpopo Province, South Africa, between Tzaneen and Haenertsburg on the R71. It takes its name from Chief Makgoba and literally means "Makgoba's ravine".
It is a lush green mountainous area, covered by natu ...
.
Route
The R71 begins at a junction with the
R101 route in
Central (capital of
Limpopo
Limpopo () is the northernmost Provinces of South Africa, province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The term Limpopo is derived from Rivombo (Livombo/Lebombo), a ...
), just east of the R101's intersection with the
R37 route. As the R101 leaves the east–west road and becomes the road northwards, the R71 begins by taking over the two one-way-streets (Grobler Street eastwards from the R101 and Thabo Mbeki Street westwards to the R101).
Going eastwards, it meets the south-western terminus of the
R81 route and just after, the two one-way streets become one road (Grobler Street) north of the suburb of Fauna Park. North of Polokwane Extension 28, the R71 meets the
Polokwane Eastern Bypass (
N1 national route) before continuing eastwards to exit the city.
From the N1 Interchange in Polokwane, the R71 heads eastwards for 51 kilometres, bypassing the
University of Limpopo
The University of Limpopo () is a public university in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2005, by merger of the University of the North and the Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA). These previous institution ...
, through
Moria
Moria may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* Moria (Middle-earth), fictional location in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien
* ''Moria: The Dwarven City'', a 1984 fantasy role-playing game supplement
* Moria (1978 video game), ''Moria'' (1978 video gam ...
, to the town of
Haenertsburg
Haenertsburg is a village situated on the edge of the Great Escarpment in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, on the R71 road between Polokwane (formerly: ''Pietersburg'') and Tzaneen en route to the Kruger National Park.
Farming and tourism ...
, where it meets the western terminus of the
R528 route west of the
Ebenezer Dam
Ebenezer Dam is an earth-fill type dam on the Groot Letaba River, near Tzaneen, Limpopo, South Africa. The Broederstroom also flows into the dam. It was established in 1959 and its primary purpose is for municipal and industrial usage. The dam's ...
. The R528 is an alternative route as they both go north-east towards Tzaneen.
At the R528 junction in Haenertsburg, the R71 becomes the
Magoebaskloof Pass and continues north-east for 30 kilometres to reach a t-junction with the
R36 route. The R71 joins the R36 and they are one road southwards for 4 kilometres into the town of
Tzaneen
Tzaneen () is a town situated in the Mopani district of the Limpopo Province in South Africa. It is situated in a high rainfall fertile region with tropical and subtropical agriculture taking place in a region. It is Limpopo's second largest to ...
, crossing the
Groot Letaba River west of the
Tzaneen Dam
Tzaneen Dam is an earth-fill type dam located on the Groot Letaba River, near Tzaneen, Limpopo, South Africa. After Cyclone Eloise that emanated from the Mozambique side, the dam was certified 110% full by the Department of Water and Sanitation. ...
, up to the next off-ramp junction, where they meet the eastern terminus of the
R528 route.
As the R71 leaves the R36 road and meets the R528 for the second time, it becomes the road eastwards (Wolkberg Drive). It passes through Tzaneen Central to cross the Groot Letaba River again. It goes eastwards for 24 kilometres to meet the
R529 route from
Giyani
Giyani is a town situated in the north-eastern part of Limpopo Province, South Africa. It is the administrative capital of the Mopani District Municipality and a former capital of the defunct Gazankulu Bantustan. The city of Giyani is divided i ...
north of
Letsitele. The R529 and the R71 become one road for 1.7 kilometres, crossing the Groot Letaba River one more time before the R529 becomes its own road southwards while the R71 remains heading eastwards.
From Letsitele, the R71 goes eastwards for 25 kilometres to meet the north-western terminus of the
R526 route in
Gravelotte
Gravelotte (; ) is a commune in the Moselle department in Grand Est in north-eastern France, 11 km west of Metz. It is part of the functional area (''aire d'attraction'') of Metz. Its population is 827 (2019).
From 1871 until the end of ...
. The R71 becomes the road north-east and proceeds eastwards for 51 kilometres, bypassing
Murchison, following the
Ga-Selati River, to meet the northern terminus of the
R40 route and enter the town of
Phalaborwa
Phalaborwa (translated to English as ''better than the south; phala'' means ''better than and borwa'' means ''south'') is a town in the Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa.
Name
The place was called "Phalaborwa" by the S ...
. After being the main road through Phalaborwa, the R71 reaches the Phalaborwa Gate of the
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park () is a national park in South Africa covering an area of in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in the country's northeast. It extends from north to south and from east to west. The administrative headquarters are i ...
, marking its end.
References
External links
Routes Travel Info
{{DEFAULTSORT:R71 Road (South Africa)
71
Provincial routes in South Africa