Study Tour C: Swaziland and Kruger National Park (Pre-tour) 11 to 15 May 2016 Introduction This tour combines scenic routes in neighbouring country Swaziland with game watching in the Kruger National Park. The tour starts with a visit to the 115 m high Maguga Dam which has one of the largest labyrinth spillways in the world, as well as the Driekoppies Dam. This will be followed by two full days spent in the renowned Kruger National Park, where you will get a chance to spot the Big Five in one of Africa s premier game reserves. Bushmen Paintings and a Night Game Drive are just a few of the highlights to look forward to. This five day tour concludes with a visit to the recently completed 81 m high RCC De Hoop Dam, located in the Sekhukhuneland. Map (See Page 5 for detailed road map) 1
Special Note Delegates are advised to check Visa Requirements of South Africa (multiple-entry) and Swaziland and must be in the possession of a valid passport. Itinerary Day 1 Wednesday - 11 May 2016 09:00 Depart from Sandton Convention Centre. Tour participants will be advised of the pick-up arrangements via e-mail at a later stage. 13:00 Lunch at Milly s Trout Retreat. 14:30 Cross border into Swaziland and drive to Maguga Dam (115 m high) and Hydropower Station (19 MW) Maguga Dam forms part of Phase 1 of the development of the Komati River Basin under the authority of the Komati Basin Water Authority (KOBWA), a bi-national agency created by South Africa and Swaziland. The primary purpose of the scheme is to supply water for irrigation and domestic use in Swaziland and South Africa. A 115 m high rockfill embankment with a clay core was constructed. A labyrinth-type spillway enabled the full width of the spillway to be reduced from 460 m to 181 m, without increasing the freeboard required. A 100m wide concrete lined chute ends in a deflector bucket discharging into a 40 m deep plunge pool. The spillway was designed for a flood of 7 800 cubic metres per second, but can accommodate the probable maximum flood (PMF) of 15 000 cubic metres per second. The performance of the overflow crest and the spillway chute was model tested. 17:00 Check in at Protea Hotel Piggs Peak 19:00 Dinner Day 2 Thursday - 12 May 2016 07:30 Breakfast 09:00 Drive to Driekoppies Dam 11:30 Drive Visit the Driekoppies Dam, a 50 m high composite concrete and earthfill dam The structure or the Driekoppies Dam wall was dictated by the geological conditions. It consists of a zoned earthfill dam with a 150 m long uncontrolled gravity section. The dam is 50 m high and is mainly used for irrigation. 12:15 Lunch 14:30 Travel to Protea Hotel Kruger Gate via Kruger National Park 18:00 Arrive at Protea Hotel Kruger Gate 19:00 Guest lecture 2
20:00 Dinner at Protea Hotel Kruger Gate Day 3 Friday - 13 May 2016 07:00 Breakfast 08:00 Full day game viewing in Kruger National Park 18:00 Arrive at Protea Hotel Kruger Gate 19:00 Dinner at Protea Hotel Kruger Gate Day 4 Saturday - 14 May 2016 07:30 Breakfast 09:00 Travel from Kruger Park to De Hoop Dam 15:00 Visit De Hoop Dam, a 88 m high roller compacted concrete (RCC) dam The De Hoop Dam forms part of Phase 2A of the Olifants River Water Resources Development Project (ORWRDP). The dam is a bulk storage facility augmenting water supplies in South Africa's Limpopo Province. The dam is an 88 m high gravity structure with a crest length of 1 015 m and was constructed from Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) and conventional concrete (for the outlet works). The visit also includes a talk on the archaeological findings in the vicinity of the dam and relocated road. 16:30 Depart to Dullstroom 18:00 Arrive at Kloppenheim Country Estate Hotel 19:00 Dinner in Dullstroom Day 5 Sunday - 15 May 2016 07:80 Breakfast 08:30 Depart for Dullstroom 09:00 Visit town of Dullstroom Delegates will have the morning free in the town of Dullstroom. There are numerous places to visit, which includes art galleries, pottery, leatherwork, candles and ethnic art. 12:00 Depart for Johannesburg Lunch will be served en route to Johannesburg. 16:00 Arrive in Sandton 3
Maguga Dam, Swaziland Game drive in Kruger National Park De Hoop Dam Piggs Peak, Swaziland 4
Road Map 5