It goes east for 69 kilometres to meet the southern terminus of the R561 at the village of Marken and turn southwards.

[1] The R518 continues south, then south-east (partially as the Kloof Pass), for 103 kilometres to meet the N11 national route at Masehlaneng and enter the town of Mokopane.

In the city centre of Mokopane, the R518 and the N11 meet the R101 and all three routes are co-signed on the road southwards (Thabo Mbeki Drive).

[1] At the 2nd junction afterwards, by Mokopane Mall, the R518 leaves Thabo Mbeki Drive (which remains designated as the R101 & N11) and becomes its own road south-east.

[1] On 28 March 2024, a passenger bus heading from Molepolole, Botswana to Moria crashed approximately 5 kilometres west of the village of Mmamatlakala on the section of the R518 between Marken and Mokopane (Kloof Pass).