maps!
 

anybody have any suggestions on getting GOOD maps for Johannesburg, Swaziland, and to help us drive between the two? I have ordered several different maps, but none have great detail in Swaziland at all, and the map I have of J'burg is not as good as I'd like.

Thanks!
Joel

It takes about 6-7 hours to drive to Swaziland from Jo'berg. Using search engine --www.aardvark.co.za search maps and locations. You should find what you need. Also, if you think that the detail is not good enough, they just don't have the transportation infrastructure that we have or for that matter South Africa. To pickup a good map, go to a bookstore in Joberg, maybe even the airport and get the MapStudio Atlas when you arrive.

The CNA stores in the airport or any shopping center in Johannesburg will have good maps. The ones I like best are in book form. Look for Map Studio brand. I don't know if they're available in the US.

I agree with Celia. The Map Studio range would sort you out. My Jo'burg book is 300+ pages in A4 format and it is a street level map so you can't get more detailed than that. They also produce higher scale road maps for longer distances. These books are for sale at the CNAs at the airports as Celia has mentioned.

http://www.mapstudio.co.za/

thanks for the advice on the maps--

can someone also confirm that N17 is the road to take all the way? we're staying at the Mountain Inn, south of Mbabane from what I understand.

RE N17. That is correct although the designation will change once you get into Swaziland. You could take a shortcut which routes through Breyten and bypasses Ermelo which would mean that you'd leave the N17 and then hook up with the N17 again further on, but you'll figure it out once you get your hands on a map.

hey, nice name!

i hear you can find used maps on ebay or amazon.com.
your public library also might have books and maps that might be useful.

lynne

Visit http://www.mintour.gov.sz/royalexperience/

Look for the Itineraries by Road section.

thanks for all the input everybody. i've got several versions of maps now and i'll probably pick up something else at the airport in Joberg. i'm getting mixed suggestions on routes to take, however.

Looking at a map, my first guess was to take the N17 all the way.

Province noted that i "could take a shortcut which routes through Breyten and bypasses Ermelo". i'm just curious about the reason. is Ermelo a pain to get through? I've also heard that going the northern route through Middelburg and Carolina is the way to go. is either way fine? we'll be trying to move quickly, yet at the same time we're shooting a documentary and we might want to get a little B-roll footage on the way too though if there are items of interest.