New gate into Mkuze Game Reserve open!

While traveling from Sodwana Bay to the N2, I was able to transit the Mkuze Game reserve via a new gate, the Ophansi Gate, which opened in May 2007, from the east via a paved road! Neither the local road maps nor Google Earth showed this new route and it saves you from having to return south to Hluhluwe Town or travel rough gravel roads via Phinda or to Jozini.
The new route leaves the R22 just north of where it crosses the Mkuze River (GPS S27.652528 E32.421320, there’s a sign) and heads Northwest to a junction (at S27.591819 E32.314205) and then goes Southwest across the Mukuze River to the Ophansi Gate (at S27.59918 E32.29926). Normal gate entry fees (R60 pp) are required, even if you are just transiting through to the N2.
Within Mkhuze, I found the waterhole bird-hide at Kumasinga to be excellent. The hide is built right in the middle of the waterhole (the only water for Kms around in the dry season – I was there in August) so when the animals come down to the water’s edge, they are only about 15 meters away! Morning light was best.