The R37 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 ...
in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
that connects
with
Nelspruit
Mbombela (also known as Nelspruit) is a city in northeastern South Africa. It is the capital of the Mpumalanga province. Located on the Crocodile River (Mpumalanga), Crocodile River, Mbombela lies about by road west of the Mozambique border, ea ...
(Mbombela) via
Burgersfort and
Lydenburg
Lydenburg, officially known as Mashishing, is a town in Thaba Chweu Local Municipality, on the Mpumalanga highveld, South Africa. It is situated on the Sterkspruit/Dorps River tributary of the Lepelle River at the summit of the Long Tom Pass. ...
.
Route
The R37 begins in
Central (Capital of
Limpopo
Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The capital and largest city in the province is Polokwane, while the provincial legislature is ...
), at a junction with the two one-way streets that form the
R101 Route (Grober Street & Thabo Mbeki Street), just west of the R101's intersection with the
R71 Route. It begins by going southwards as Kerk Street to form a junction with the
Polokwane Eastern Bypass
The Polokwane Ring Road, also known as The Polokwane Eastern Ring Road is a halfway ring road that circles the city of Polokwane, South Africa. It is part of the N1 National Route.
Route
The ring road was opened in late 2020 and cost an esti ...
(
N1 National Route) and become the western border of the
Polokwane Game Reserve
Polokwane Game Reserve, is situated near Polokwane in the Limpopo, province of South Africa, and is one of the largest municipal Game Reserves in the country.
See also
* Protected areas of South Africa References
{{reflist
Nature reserve ...
.
The R37 heads southwards for 30 kilometres as the
Chuniespoort Pass to meet the northern terminus of the
R579 Road. At this junction, it turns to the south-east and proceeds for 7 kilometres to meet the eastern terminus of the
R518 Road north of
Lebowakgomo
Lebowakgomo is the seat of the Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality and was the capital of the former Bantustan of Lebowa. Lebowakgomo lies 45 km southeast of the Limpopo capital of Polokwane. The majority of Lebowakgomo's inhabitants speak Se ...
. At this junction, the R37 turns to the east and becomes the first section of the
Orrie Baragwanath Pass
Orrie Baragwanath Pass is situated in the Limpopo Province on the unnumbered road between Ofcolaco and Lebowakgomo (South Africa). The pass has a steep paved ascent from the east up the slopes of the far northern Drakensberg
The Drakensberg ( ...
. It goes eastwards for 25 kilometres to reach a junction south of Ga-Makgoba, where the Orrie Baragwanath Pass becomes the road to the north-east while the R37 remains as the easterly road. Just after, the R37 crosses the
Olifants River.
From the Olifants River crossing, the R37 heads south-east for 77 kilometres to enter the town of
Burgersfort, after crossing the
Steelpoort River
The Steelpoort River, iNdubazi or Tubatse ( af, Steelpoortrivier) is a river in Limpopo Province, South Africa. It flows northeastwards and is a right hand tributary of the Olifants River, joining it at the lower end of its basin. Its source is ...
, and reach a junction with the
R555 Road. The R555 and the R37 form
one road
''One Road'' is the debut album by first-season New Zealand Idol winner Ben Lummis, released in New Zealand on 16 June 2004.
Chart and single information
Chart
''One Road'' debuted on the official New Zealand albums chart at number 1 and held ...
south-east for almost 2 km up to the junction after Burgersfort Mall, where the R555 becomes its own road north-east while the R37 remains the road heading south-south-east. The R37 heads south for 58 kilometres through farm orchards, leaving the
Limpopo
Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. It is named after the Limpopo River, which forms the province's western and northern borders. The capital and largest city in the province is Polokwane, while the provincial legislature is ...
Province and entering the
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga () is a province of South Africa. The name means "East", or literally "The Place Where the Sun Rises" in the Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu languages. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, bordering Eswatini and Mozambique. It ...
Province, to the city of
Lydenburg
Lydenburg, officially known as Mashishing, is a town in Thaba Chweu Local Municipality, on the Mpumalanga highveld, South Africa. It is situated on the Sterkspruit/Dorps River tributary of the Lepelle River at the summit of the Long Tom Pass. ...
(Mashishing).
![R37-Long Tom Pass-001](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/R37-Long_Tom_Pass-001.jpg)
In Lydenburg's northern suburbs, the R37 meets the
R36 Road and the two routes form one road southwards into the city centre as De Clerq Street, then east as 1st Street, before the R36 becomes its own road southwards towards
Machadodorp
Machadodorp, also known by its official name eNtokozweni, is a small town situated on the N4 road, near the edge of the escarpment in the Mpumalanga province, South Africa. The Elands River runs through the town. There is a natural radioactive sp ...
at the Viljoen Street junction. The R37 continues eastwards as Voortrekker Street before heading up the
Long Tom Pass
Long Tom Pass is a mountain pass on the Great Escarpment situated in the Mpumalanga province, on the R37 regional route between Lydenburg and Sabie (South Africa). It is named after the Long Tom cannon.
Route
The route up Long Tom Pass st ...
. As the Long Tom Pass, it goes eastwards for 46 kilometres, as the pass zig-zags, to meet the southern terminus of the
R532 Road just south of the town of
Sabie
Sabie is a forestry town situated on the banks of the Sabie River in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The name Sabie is derived from the siSwati word "Ulusaba" which means "fearful river" because the river was once teeming with dangerous Nile crocodile. ...
. The R532 to Sabie takes over as the Long Tom Pass.
From the R532 junction south of Sabie, the R37 goes south-south-east for 47 kilometres, meeting the eastern terminus of the
R539 Road, to reach the city of
Nelspruit
Mbombela (also known as Nelspruit) is a city in northeastern South Africa. It is the capital of the Mpumalanga province. Located on the Crocodile River (Mpumalanga), Crocodile River, Mbombela lies about by road west of the Mozambique border, ea ...
(Mbombela; Capital of
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga () is a province of South Africa. The name means "East", or literally "The Place Where the Sun Rises" in the Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu languages. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, bordering Eswatini and Mozambique. It ...
). It first reaches an intersection with the Mbombela Northern Bypass (
N4 National Route;
Maputo Corridor The Maputo Corridor is a major trade corridor which connects the Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa with Maputo, which is a port and the capital of Mozambique.
The corridor comprises roads - including the N4 toll road (from ...
) before entering the suburb of Riverside and proceeding to reach its terminus at a junction with the
R40 Road (Madiba Drive), just next to the R40's
Crocodile River crossing.
References
External links
Routes Travel Info
{{DEFAULTSORT:R37 Road (South Africa)
37
37
Provincial routes in South Africa