The first part of the road goes through well organised agricultural fields with sugar cane the dominant crops. Many busses are also using this road and sections are under road work construction. From about half-way towards the border post we started passing through numerous settlements with the biggest and busiest Kamaqhekeza, or Naas for short. There is a big shopping complex with a Shell fuel station and all the well known retailers on the left - including a branch of Capitec Bank. On the right are informal businesses with countless street hawkers and Chinese shops. This also explained the large number of buses on the road.
Just before the border post is a road that leads to a memorial for Samora Machel, previous president of Mozambique, who died here in a plane crash in the 1980's.
Mananga is a very old border post but the buildings are well maintained and in good condition. The border post is used by locals and many tourists. It is also a convenient short cut for travellers to Kwazulu Natal. Tourists on their way to Mozambique can use this border post to avoid the very busy Lebombo border post.
Up to a 1,000 vehicles cross here per day during the 7:00 to 18:00 operational hours. A small number of trucks with commercial loads also make use of the border post.
Despite the relative busy operation, this is an efficient border post with a relaxed atmosphere.
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| Filling up half-way between Komatipoort and Mananga border post |
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| Approaching Mananga border post |
