When we woke up in the bungalow, in a very comfortable bed, but quite a cold room, we did not know it yet, but that day we were going to visit some of the most beautiful things in our lives.
Despite being a long trip, it is well worth it as it is an absolutely magnificent area and the perfect gateway before visiting the nature of Kruger Park safari.
Date of the visit: October 2019.
On the way to our first stop, on the left side of the road, we passed a farm, where there was a cafe with a terrace, as well as a stall. We decided to stop, and have breakfast. A coffee and a Vetkoek, an appetising typical Afrikaner recipe.
After an interesting talk about the country and its history with the family that ran the place, we took his advice for the upcoming visit, and we continued the excursion.
Blyde River Canyon / The Three Rondavels Viewpoint
Located about 100 km northeast of Lydenburg, it takes just over an hour to get there. We were lucky, and it was a sunny day with extraordinary visibility.
The name “three rondavels” refers to the typical African hut with a circular plan (usually built of stone) and a conical roof (made of straw). The sight of a rock formation reminiscent of three of these shapes is simply astonishing.
As if the view was not spectacular enough, the viewpoint contains the best place to see the Blyde River canyon. The traveller then experiences a sensation of impressive vastness.
Next to the car park, you can visit a typical South African market. One of the many that we could see on our trip.
Bourke’s Luck Potholes
Located 17 km south from the 3 rondavells viewpoint, it is a peculiar natural attraction created at the mouth of the Treur river in the Blyde river (yes, the same as before).
It is needed to walk 500 meters from the parking lot, and then you will discover an environment where nature created impressive natural pools, located at different heights (potholes), and including also a small waterfall.
There are walking routes departing this point, that could have been really interesting, however, we decided to keep going.
Mac Mac Falls
Passing through the town of Graskop, turning south, and 45 minutes away from our last stop, are the Mac Mac Falls. You must also walk 500 m to witness the impressive view, yes, in a small viewpoint where not many tourists fit. The views say it all.
It is a very relaxing feeling to hear the water fall, it is possible to stay there for hours. Despite being a little further away from the rest of the attractions on the route, it is worth a visit.
The Pinnacle
Only 3 km from Graskop, it is a rock that rises imposing in a thalweg with spectacular views of the horizon behind. It reminds, in a way, of the movie Avatar.
God’s Window
Really close to ‘The Pinnacle’, just 5 km to the north, there is a vantage point called “God’s Window”, in which is possible to see how the steep cliffs plunge more than 700 meters to the veld. The views are simply wonderful.
Furthermore, you can go up to another viewpoint, called “Rainforest”. It takes 10 minutes through a wooden path. In the end, the visitor can stare the vastness of the beautiful South African plain, with an endless horizon, towards the Kruger Park and the border with Mozambique.
Berlin Falls
Since we no longer had time (yes, the attractions close at 6pm) to see the two missing waterfalls (Berlin and Lisbon), we chose to visit the first ones. The sunset, with the canyon, and a waterfall of more than 80 meters make one of the most magnificent sunsets that I personally witnessed.
A great day should have a great dinner. Therefore, we drove, already with the sunlight disappearing on the horizon to the nearby town of Graskop.
There, we tried one of the most typical examples of South African cuisine, the so-called Potjie, which consists of a slow-cooked beef stew in a traditional metal bowl with garnish.
After dinner, and despite having the feeling to have visited the paradise, we still had the strength to drive two more hours, since we wanted to make the most of the time.
Our next stop was the Lapeng Lodge in the town of Acornhoek. The next day, the endless savanna in Kruger Park was waiting for us.
Did you know that…
… Blyde river canyon is one of the largest in the world?
… there are countless options for hiking in Panorama Route?
Related links
Mpumalanga Tourism Information
https://www.sa-venues.com/mpumalanga.htm
Graskop Tourism Information
https://www.graskop.co.za/seedo/
Restaurant Garden Shed in Graskop
https://garden-shed-restaurant-autumn-breeze-manor-lodge.business.site/
Useful Information
In order to maximize the time, the best way to visit Panorama route is renting a car.
It is also recommended to use mosquito repellent.
Map of locations
Credits
All photos taken with Motorola One Vision.
Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore
Andre Gide
