Top 5 Experiences on the Panorama Route

One bucket list item not to be missed in Mpumalanga is a journey through the Panorama Route. Boasting remarkable natural landscapes, scattered with stunning waterfalls and lush greenery, the Panorama Route is arguable one of the most beautiful places in South Africa. We’ve done the hard work for you and put together some of the best sight-seeing experiences found along the Panorama Route in our blog below.

The stunning waterfalls along the Panorama Route

There are three famous waterfalls on the Panorama Route – these are Lisbon Falls, Berlin Falls and Mac Mac Falls – all quite close to each other. At 92m, Lisbon Falls is the highest waterfall in the area. The nearby Berlin Falls is 45m high. The Mac Mac Falls is roughly 65m high and after gold miners tried to divert the river with blasting, what was once just a single stream falls became a double stream. Mpumalanga Helicopters offer scenic flights over the legendary waterfalls.

Entrance fee: from R10 per person
Inquiries: Mpumalanga Tourism +27 (0)13 759 5300 / info@mtpa.co.za

Burke’s Luck Potholes

Burke’s Luck Potholes are a series of geological features that mark the start of the Blyde River Canyon. The ornate circular carvings were formed over millennia by swirling whirlpools where the Treur River plunges into the canyon below. The huge potholes were named after a gold digger, Tom Burke who staked a gold claim nearby. The Potholes are located 35km north of Graskop town on the R532.

Entrance Fees: R55 per adult, R20 per child under 12 years and pensioners
Contact: +27 (0)13 753 3115

Blyde River Canyon and Three Rondavels

Further north from Burke’s Luck Potholes along the R532 road, is the turnoff for the Three Rondavels. The word ‘rondavel’ is a South African word that describes a round, hut-type dwelling, usually with a pointed thatch roof. The three famous peaks resemble 700m-tall ‘rondavels’ towering over the surrounding landscape. The three peaks are named after the most troublesome wives of Chief Maripi Mashile – Magabolle, Mogoladikwe and Maseroto from left to right. There is also the option to take a helicopter flight over the canyon.

Entrance Fee: R25 per adult, R15 per child or pensioner (includes Blyde River Canyon viewpoint)
Contact: Mpumalanga Tourism +27 (0)13 759 5300 / info@mtpa.co.za

God’s Window

God’s Window is a famous natural landmark within Blyde River Canyon offering unbelievable views across the third largest canyon in the world. Here, the cliffs fall an astonishing 700-900m and on a clear day you can see all the way to parts of Kruger National Park near the Mozambique border.

Entrance fee: Adults R15, Children under 12yrs and Pensioners R10
Contact: Mpumalanga Tourism  +27 (0)82 8793 945

7km hike to Forest Falls

Forest Falls can be found 17km from Graskop on the R532 road towards Sabie, just before the railroad crossing. The Falls are only accessible on foot and the circular walk from the parking area is roughly 7km long. The route takes you through lovely pine forests to the falls – the only one in the area that is wider than it is tall.

Entrance fee: R50 per person from the guard at the picnic spot

A two or three night stay is the ideal amount of time to see the best of the Panorama Route. Other fantastic stops include the historic town of Pilgrim’s rest, the San rock engravings at Echo Caves and the Mohololo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. Visiting between May and September is the best time to visit the Lowveld for game-viewing, but the Panorama Route can really be visited at any time of year. For more information about any of the experiences mentioned above, please don’t hesitate to contact us at reservations@casterbridgehollow.co.za. We can help to arrange your transfers, tours and other activities along the Panorama Route.

Image credits:
Flickr/Time Ellis
South African Tourism
Flickr/heyadam
Melanie van Zyl @melaniejanevz