The N4 traverses the entire width of South Africa , from the Botswana border in the west to the border of Mozambique in the east, with Pretoria as its focal point.

A 460 to 480km journey from Johannesburg brings you to one of two entry points of the wilderness where an enormous variety of enormous mammals still roam freely – the Kruger National Park . Without deviation from the N4 east, you will reach Komatipoort, close to the Mozambique border, and the Crocodile Bridge entry gate to the Park or, if you travel north along the R538 from Nelspruit to Hazyview, you will reach Skukuza Camp via the Paul Kruger entry gate.

Travel north of Johannesburg on the N1 through Midrand – a convention and conference centre - to join the N4 in Pretoria, a city dominated by the elegant Union Buildings, startling jacaranda trees (in bloom October/November), graceful historic monuments and an ambience of understated sophistication. The Zoo is genuinely worth a visit, as is the Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary. ( See Route 12 for the Tswaing Crater detour)

Pretoria 's major township, Mamelodi, is a haven of endemic music genres music like African jazz, kwaito and umbhaqanga in its numerous taverns and shebeens – book a tour for the best sounds. 50km east of the capital, Bronkhorstspruit offers two cultural highlights – the Sizanani Ndebele Village and Fo Kuang Shan's Ran Hua Temple , a Buddhist spiritual retreat.

The eastern Highveld plains lead to the coal mining centre of Witbank, the first major town in Mpumalanga province, with its dominant ‘white ridge' and casino. Middelburg follows soon and is part of ‘The Cultural Heartland' route which encompasses not only the Ndebele culture but also facets of the Anglo-Boer War. Popular for trout fishing, the ‘Highlands Meander' town of Belfast is filled with daffodil and tulip bloom in September. High up on the eastern escarpment, along the R540 just 35km north of Belfast, is the quaint sub-alpine village of Dullstroom which is nothing but dull! Reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands, it is a mecca for fly-fishermen and raptor fundis.

Back on the N4 , the scenery surrounding Machadodorp will remind you of the movie ‘A River Runs Through It' – the Elands River is filled with trout and baths have been built around the radioactive sulphur springs. Close by and still part of the Highlands Meander are the ‘waterfall' towns of Waterval-Boven (or ‘Boven) and Waterval-Onder where you can view the remarkable old stone Five Arches Bridge and ZASM Railway Tunnel. Drive past slowly rather than stopping or take the steam train trip for the best vantage points. From here the descent into the Lowveld begins, and traders dot the verges of the road with seasonal tropical fruits and nuts. Look out for the turn-off to the Sudwala Caves with their life-size dinosaur display. This road ( R539 ) continues to Sabie, Pilgrim's Rest and Graskop.

Nelspruit is perfectly situated as a base for visiting the Kruger National Park , Pilgrim's Rest (a living gold rush museum village), Graskop (Big Swing gorge swing), Kaapschehoop (horse trails), Barberton (ancient rock formations and Jock of the Bushveld) , Sabie (forests, waterfalls and streams) and Maputo (Mozambique).

If you choose to continue along the N4 you pass the village of Kaapmuiden, with the Kruger National Park to the north, before reaching Malelane which is also an entry point into the Park. You are now just 45km from Komatipoort which in turn is 95km from Maputo in Mozambique.

If you choose to travel the 120km north from Nelspruit to Skukuza Camp in the Park, take the R538 to the Lowveld Botanic Gardens (a little gem) and White River where the Casterbridge Shopping Centre has an animal petting farm to amuse children while the adults stock up on dried mango, strips of preserved guava and delicious preserves. Some 27km north is the Numbi gate to the Park, followed by the village of Hazyview 16km further along, and the Phabeni gate to the Park. Game lodges abound in the area – the Sabi Sands Private Game Reserve abuts the Kruger National Park and is home to camps like the exclusive Londolozi, Mala Mala and Sabi Sabi. Shangaan traditions can be experienced at the Shangana Cultural Village on the Graskop road and awesome views of the Drakensberg await you at the aptly-named God's Window.

Suggested stop or stretch towns on the N4, R538 & R539: Middelburg, Dullstroom 35km off N4, Machadodorp, Waterval-Boven, Sabie, Pilgrim's Rest, Graskop, Nelspruit, Kaapschehoop, Barberton, White River, Hazyview, Sabi Sands, Malelane and Komatipoort.

More Routes:

JOHANNESBURG - BLOEMFONTEIN - COLESBERG ON N1

COLESBERG - BEAUFORT WEST - CAPE TOWN ON N1

BLOEMFONTEIN - EAST LONDON ON N6

BLOEMFONTEIN – LESOTHO ON N8

JOHANNESBURG - KIMBERLEY - BEAUFORT WEST ON N12

CAPE TOWN - PORT ELIZABETH ON N2 : THE GARDEN ROUTE

PORT ELIZABETH – CRADOCK – COLESBERG ON N10 : THE KAROO

PORT ELIZABETH - EAST LONDON - WILD COAST - DURBAN ON N2

CAPE TOWN – SPRINGBOK ON N7: THE WEST COAST

JOHANNESBURG – DRAKENSBERG - DURBAN ON N3

JOHANNESBURG – SWAZILAND – NORTH COAST ON N17/N2

JOHANNESBURG – KRUGER NATIONAL PARK – MOZAMBIQUE ON N4

JOHANNESBURG – MESSINA - ZIMBABWE ON N1

JOHANNESBURG/PRETORIA – MAGALIESBURG - BOTSWANA ON N4

JOHANNESBURG – UPINGTON – SPRINGBOK ON N14