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 ...

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 ...

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

Polokwane Polokwane (, meaning "Sanctuary" in Northern SothoPolokwane - The Heart of the Limpopo Province ...

with the

Kruger National Park Kruger National Park is a South African National Park and one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in northeastern South Africa, and extends from north to south and from ea ...

via the major towns of

Tzaneen Tzaneen () is a large tropical garden town situated in the Mopani District Municipality 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. ...

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. It is located near the confluence of the Ga-Sela ...

. The R71 is used daily by people who work or reside in Dalmada, Mothiba,

Nobody Nobody may refer to: * Nobody, an indefinite pronoun Nobody may also refer to: Fictional characters *Nobody (Kingdom Hearts), Nobody (''Kingdom Hearts''), a race of beings in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' video game series *Nobody, a character in the ...

, Moria,

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. Mankweng also known as Turfloop (which is also the de facto name for the neighbourhood ...

Turfloop The University of Limpopo is a university in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2005, by the merger of the University of the North and the Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA). These previous institutions for ...

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 (Makgoba) Pass is situated in the Limpopo Province, on the R71, the road between Tzaneen and Polokwane, in South Africa. It is a lush green mountainous area, covered by natural evergreen subtropical forest. This is an area where ...

Route

The R71 begins at a junction with the R101 Route in

Polokwane Polokwane (, meaning "Sanctuary" in Northern SothoPolokwane - The Heart of the Limpopo Province ...

Central (capital of

), 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 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) 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 university in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2005, by the merger of the University of the North and the Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA). These previous institutions for ...

, through Moria, 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 h ...

. 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 Magoebaskloof (Makgoba) Pass is situated in the Limpopo Province, on the R71, the road between Tzaneen and Polokwane, in South Africa. It is a lush green mountainous area, covered by natural evergreen subtropical forest. This is an area where ...

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

, crossing the

Groot Letaba River The Groot Letaba River headwater streams originate in the Drakensberg Escarpment, descending in long runs with an occasional riffle or pool, mostly in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Tributaries At the higher level the Broederstroom 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 the cyclone Eloise that emanated from the Mozambique side, the dam was certified 110% full by the Department of Water and Sanitati ...

, 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

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 town of Giyani has seven s ...

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 (; german: 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 u ...

. The R71 becomes the road north-east and proceeds eastwards for 51 kilometres, following 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 ...

, to meet the northern terminus of the R40 Route and enter the town of

. After being the main road through Phalaborwa, the R71 reaches the Phalaborwa Gate of the

, marking its end.

References

External links

Routes Travel Info
{{DEFAULTSORT:R71 Road (South Africa) 71 Provincial routes in South Africa