The Panoramic Route is located in Mpumalanga Province and is one of South Africa’s most beautiful and scenic routes and is best known for its dramatic landscapes.
The picturesque route runs through the jagged northern Drakensberg mountain range and passes through the north-eastern part of the Great Escarpment. The inland plateau declines abruptly and opens onto spectacular views of the Lowveld plains below.
The quiet tranquillity of the area, its famous hospitality and the many breathtaking attractions along the Panoramic Route make it an ideal way to extend your stay in the Northern region of South Africa before or after your visit to the
Kruger National Park.
The Scenic Attractions
The most noteworthy attractions are the awesome panorama of The Blyde River Canyon, God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes, Mac Mac Falls, Pilgrim’s Rest and the Three Rondawels.
The Blyde River Canyon is the most spectacular stretch of the Panorama Route and is the third largest canyon in the world (after the Grand Canyon in the U.S. and Namibia's Fish Eagle Canyon). The Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve runs along the Canyon's winding path, which at every turn offers more and more impressive views over sheer edges dropping up to 2,600 feet (800metres) into the riverbed.
Along the route you will find God's Window which is a small part of a 250km long fortification of sheer cliffs and offers awesome views of the Lowveld. With its magnificent views, rock formations, canyons and waterfalls, God's Window is truly an area of breathtaking scenic grandeur and is so named for its beauty and the fact that it appears as if one can see ‘forever’!
Bourke's Luck Potholes are impressive rock formations that were shaped millions of years ago by erosion. They are one of South Africa’s most unusual geological phenomena. Over thousands of years, surreal cylindrical rock sculptures created by whirling water have formed a series of dark pools which contrast artfully with the streaked white and yellow lichen covered rocks. The Potholes are named after a miner, Tom Bourke, who struck it lucky at a mine he opened nearby.
Pilgrims Rest is the romantic gold-rush town along the Panorama Route. It is frozen in time and the entire village is an historical monument that has been preserved in the architectural style of the South African Gold Rush years between 1880 and1915. You can try your hand at gold panning at the national museum!
South of Pilgrim's Rest lies Mount Sheba Nature Reserve, a paradise of indigenous forest and river gorge wilderness. More than 100 species of indigenous trees can be found in the forest, including yellowood, white stinkwood, Cape chestnut and mountain cedar.
The ‘Three Rondavels' (also called the 'Three Sisters’), are three huge spirals of dolomite rock rising out of the far wall of the Blyde River Canyon and have been likened to rockets about to take off. From the 'Three Rondavels' you can see the widespread Swadini Dam in the far distance, which marks the end of the Blyde River Reserve.
The Mac Mac Falls are over 65 m high and tumble down a breathtaking rivene. A long stone step pathway leads from the curio stalls down to a viewpoint above the falls. Gold was discovered along the Mac-Mac River in 1873 and a frenzied gold rush ensued. The abundance of Scottish miners lead to the camp being named “Mac-Mac”.
The Panoramic Route in South Africa’s Mpumalanga Province has such awe-inspiring natural beauty that the need for other activities seems superfluous. However, the area has some great activities that can enhance your views and experience of the splendid panorama’s. Some activities that are offered in the area include white water rafting, mountain biking, walking trails, luxury 4x4 game drives, golf, tennis and abseiling or boat trips on the Blyde Dam. Hot Air Ballooning over the Panoramic Route and the Nature Reserves has to be the most spellbinding activity available.
