The R40 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 the
Eswatini
Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...
border at
Bulembu
Bulembu is a small town located in northwestern Hhohho, Eswatini, 10 km west of the town of Piggs Peak and close to the border with South Africa. Located above the Komati Valley in Eswatini's Highveld, Bulembu is named after the siSwati wo ...
via
Barberton,
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 ...
and
Hoedspruit
Hoedspruit (Afrikaans for ''Hat Creek'') is a town situated at the foot of the Klein Drakensberg (Afrikaans for "Small Dragon Mountains" range), in the Limpopo province of South Africa, on the railway line from Tzaneen to Kaapmuiden.
Economy
The ...
with
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. It is located near the confluence of the Ga-Sela ...
. The route spans two provinces and passes through several private game reserves.
Route
Mpumalanga
The R40 has its southern terminus on the
Eswatini
Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...
border at the Bulembu Border Post, with the town of
Bulembu
Bulembu is a small town located in northwestern Hhohho, Eswatini, 10 km west of the town of Piggs Peak and close to the border with South Africa. Located above the Komati Valley in Eswatini's Highveld, Bulembu is named after the siSwati wo ...
on the other side of the border. It begins by heading north through the eastern part of the
Songimvelo Game Reserve
Songimvelo Game Reserve is a provincial park managed by the Mpumalanga Parks Board in Mpumalanga, South Africa. ''Songimvelo'' is a plural word that means 'we are conserving nature' in the siSwati language.
This park forms part of the Songimvelo ...
before entering the
Mountainlands Nature Reserve, where it turns to the north-west.
The R40 enters the northern outskirts of
Barberton, where it reaches a junction with the
R38 Road
The R38 is a provincial route in South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic ...
and Sheba Road north of the Barberton CBD. The R38 joins the R40 and they are
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 ...
west-north-west for 7 km as Dikbas Avenue. After crossing the Queen's River north-west of Barberton, the R38 splits at a t-junction and becomes its own road south-west while the R40 turns northwards to bypass the
Barberton Airport
Barberton Airport is an airport serving Barberton and surrounding areas in Mpumalanga province in South Africa.
The airport elevation is above mean sea level. Runway: 17/35 grass surface measuring 1,000 by 15 metres (3,300 × 49 ft). Ru ...
and skirt the eastern boundary of the Barberton Nature Reserve.
The R40 proceeds as the
Hilltop Pass
Hilltop Pass is situated in the Mpumalanga province, on the R40 road between Nelspruit and Barberton (South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It ...
to enter
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 ...
) as Madiba Drive. It reaches a junction with the main east–west street of Mbombela (
R104 Road; Samora Machel Drive) west of the CBD before crossing over the
Crocodile River. Immediately after crossing the Crocodile River, the R40 meets the southern terminus of the
R37 Road before passing under the Mbombela Northern Bypass (
N4 National Route) and leaving Mbombela towards the north-east.
As it enters
White River in a north-easterly direction, it is intersected from the left (north) by the
R537 Road. The R40 continues through the town eastwards as its main road (Chief Mgiyeni Khumalo Drive). Midway through the town centre, the R40 meets the
R538 and turns north to be co-signed with it through the Kingsview suburb as Theo Kleynhans Street. North of the town, it passes through a large roundabout, where the R538 becomes its own road eastwards while the R40 continues north.
It passes on its winding northward journey, first passing the
Klipkopjes Dam
Klipkopjes Dam is an earth-fill type dam located on the White River, near the town of White River, Mpumalanga, South Africa. It was established in 1960 and its primary purpose is to serve for irrigation. The hazard potential of the dam has been ...
to the west and later the
Da Gama Dam
Da Gama Dam, is an earthfill/gravity-type dam on the Witwaters River, near White River, Mpumalanga, South Africa. It was established in 1971 and its main purpose is for irrigation. Its hazard potential has been ranked to be high.
See also
*Li ...
to its east, where the road takes a north-easterly direction and eventually t-junctions with the R538 again. At this intersection, the R40 turns north and enters the town of
Hazyview
Hazyview is a sub-tropical farming town in Mpumalanga, South Africa, renowned for its large banana and macadamia nut industries, contributing about 20% of South Africa's bananas and 30% of macadamia output. Bordering the Kruger National Park, the ...
, where it meets the
R536 Road before crossing the
Sabie River
The Sabie River is a river in South Africa that forms part of the Komati River System. The catchment area of the Sabie-Sand system is 6,320 km2 in extent. The Sabie is one of the most biologically diverse rivers in South Africa, with general ...
. Just after crossing the Sabie River, it meets the
R535 Road. Leaving Hazyview, it crosses the Marite River. On its northward journey it passes between the
Injaka Dam to the west and the
Bosbokrand Nature Reserve to the east. It continues northwards passing an area of many small villages and hamlets, including
Bushbuckridge
Bushbuckridge (also known as Mapulaneng) is the main town in Bushbuckridge Local Municipality, Ehlanzeni District Municipality, Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga, South Africa. It grew around a trading store that opened in 1884, and is named after t ...
and
Rooiboklaagte
Rooiboklaagte is a town in Ehlanzeni District Municipality in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to t ...
. It crosses into 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 at
Acornhoek
Acornhoek, commonly known as Khenhuk, is a semi-rural town situated in the north eastern areas of Bushbuckridge in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa.
Established in the late 1950s, the town is located about 38 km south-east of Hoedspru ...
.
Limpopo
Crossing into Limpopo Province it crosses the
Klaserie River
The Klaserie River is a river in Limpopo Province, South Africa. It flows northeastwards and is a tributary of the Olifants River, joining it at 90° in the west of the Kruger National Park.
Dam
* Jan Wassenaar Dam
See also
* List of rivers of ...
and intersects with the
R531 where it turns north passing through private game reserves and eventually enters
Hoedspruit
Hoedspruit (Afrikaans for ''Hat Creek'') is a town situated at the foot of the Klein Drakensberg (Afrikaans for "Small Dragon Mountains" range), in the Limpopo province of South Africa, on the railway line from Tzaneen to Kaapmuiden.
Economy
The ...
from the south (where it meets the
R527 Road next to the
Air Force Base Hoedspruit
Air Force Base Hoedspruit is an airbase of the South African Air Force. It is located adjacent to the Kruger National Park. In the late 1990s an unused portion of the base was converted into a civilian airport known as Eastgate Airport. It was ...
). Passing through Hoedspruit, it leaves in a north-westerly direction passing through more private game reserves before crossing the
Olifants River and shortly thereafter intersecting the
R526 at Mica. Changing direction to the north-east, it eventually crosses the
Ga-Selati River
The Ga-Selati River or Selati River ( af, Selatirivier) is a river in Limpopo, South Africa.
Course
It rises on the rugged western slopes of the Wolkberg Mountains, part of the Drakensberg Mountain chain, about 20 km SE of Tzaneen. From its ...
and after a short distance, the R40's northern terminus is a t-junction with the
R71 Road, 5 kilometres west 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. It is located near the confluence of the Ga-Sela ...
.
References
External links
Routes Travel Info
{{DEFAULTSORT:R40 Road (South Africa)
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Provincial routes in South Africa