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Graskop The magnificent red sandstone Blyde River Canyon in Mpumalanga forms the northern part of the Drakensberg escarpment. There’s so much to do in Mpumalanga but most visitors come here just to sight-see, especially along the striking Panorama Route. This scenic meander includes the Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes, the Three Rondawels, Swadini Dam, God's Window and many beautiful waterfalls and spectacular vistas.Covered with lush subtropical foliage, the Blyde River Canyon is the largest 'green canyon' and has some of the deepest precipitious cliffs of any canyon on the globe. The canyon is 26 kilometres (16 miles) in length and is around 800 metres deep. The highest point of the canyon, Mariepskop, is 1 944 metres above sea level whilst its lowest point where the river leaves the canyon is slightly less than 560 metres above sea level. This means that by some measure the Canyon is over 1 400 metres deep!
Popular Attractions
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Graskop The Three Rondawels are also known as 'The Chief and his Three Wives'. The flat-topped peak to the right is named Mapjaneng - the 'Chief', whilst the three wives are named Maseroto, Mogoladikwe, and Magabolle.
Towering in isolated and massive splendour behind them is the 1944 m high peak named Mareiepskop, which forms the southern portal of the canyon mouth. To the north of Magabolle is the magnificent, almost arrogant, jutting profile of the Swandini Buttress, which forms the northern portal of the canyon mouth. It offers a superb example of the powerful effect of wind and water on raw rock interspersed with layers of shale.
Pointing roughly northeasterly and virtually surrounded by the lake is the mountain named Thabaneng (the mountain with the shadow that moves) by the locals and the Sundial.
Things to do near
Graskop
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.
Popular Attractions
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Blyde River Canyon (1.5 km from Graskop) This is the spot where everyone takes their shots. Serious shutterbugs will be reaching for their polarising filters and best wide angle lens. Choose a clear day and you can see all the way to the Kruger National Park and Mozambique. Glance towards the east and you’ll see the Three Sisters, also known as the Three Rondawels. Just two kilometres north is Wonder View, the highest viewpoint in the region.Spend some time here and soak up the spectacular panoramic Lowveld landscape from God's Window in the lush Blyde River Canyon. The largest vegetated canyon in the world, Blyde is third in size only to the Grand Canyon and the Fish River Canyon.This beautifully green paradise has numerous plant and animal species and is a major core of endemism. And it's also the place where Africa split from Madagascar and Antarctica during the break-up of the Gondwanaland millions of years ago.
Waterfall
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Mpumalanga (10.3 km from Graskop) Berlin Falls is located in the Blyde River Canyon area on the Panorama route in Mpumalanga. Shaped in the form of a huge white candle, the falls flow down for 80 m into a deep dark green hole surrounded by red cliffs.
The waterfall's name comes from European miners who came to try their luck in the days of the gold rush, and named individual falls after towns and places in their home countries.
Visitors can enjoy a swim and a picnic around the falls, and explore the surrounding areas.
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---Not Specified--- (10.9 km from Graskop) Pan for real gold in the Pilgrim’s Creek just like the diggers did in the 1870’s. An exciting activity and great fun for one and all! Keep what you find.
Popular Attractions
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Sabie (20.3 km from Graskop) For the avid fishermen out there this is an ideal place to go and practice the art of trout fishing. Facilities are available to make the whole family comfortable including braai areas; a tuck shop and a kiddie play area.
Popular Attractions
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Sabie (20.3 km from Graskop) Sir Herbert Baker designed this quaint little church situated in the heart of Sabie. The building began in 1913 and was carried out by Mr. Gemignani and his team of Italian stonemasons. Beautifully designed, this is well worth a visit for any history fanatic.
Galleries and Museums
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Sabie (20.3 km from Graskop) Sabie is surrounded by one of the largest man-made forests in the world. Forestry first began in the area in 1876 with plantings of commercial eucalyptus and wattle trees. The museum documents the history of the industry and also showcases new techniques that are being utilized.
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Sabie (20.3 km from Graskop) For the more adventurous, Sabie offers a number of exciting activities. The Sabie River provides the ideal place for white water rafting with 20 rapids grades 2-3. Rafting trips are ideal and fun for novices.
Popular Attractions
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Sabie (20.3 km from Graskop) For the adrenaline junkies out there, the upper Sabie River provides the ideal place for White Water Tubing. Each person is kitted out with a specially designed tube to bomb down the rapids with.
Waterfall
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Sabie (20.6 km from Graskop) The Bridal Veil Falls is approximately 6 km from the tranquil and attractive town of Sabie. The waterfall resembles a bridal veil and roars down from a spectacular height of 70 m.
There is a challenging 750 m walk through a luscious indigenous forest before one can see the waterfall. The scenic walk has many streams and is covered with wild flowers and ferns.
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Hazyview (23.2 km from Graskop) Sabie Valley Coffee has been producing Arabica coffee for over 25 years. The farm grows and produces coffee as well as provides coffee tours, showing the complete method of manufacturing coffee, including the roasting process and allowing a chance to taste the finished product at the Espresso Bar.
The Gift shop has the Sabie Valley Coffee for sale so that guests may purchase this great taste to take home with them.
Waterfall
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Mpumalanga (23.4 km from Graskop) Lone Creek Falls is a well-known spot and is part of the waterfall route in the area of Sabie, Mpumalanga.
A short 200 m walk from the parking will take you to the foot of the waterfall. If you'd like to experience the falls in solitude and away from the crowd there is a path from the parking leading to the top of the falls. The walk is not too difficult and the viewpoint will not disappoint you.
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Hazyview (26.8 km from Graskop) At the core of Shangana Cultural Village is a busy African market where local craftspeople work and trade their crafts.
Trained guides take guests on informative and interactive trips to villages during the daytime as well as midday tours with lunch and the famous Evening Festival in the Chief's Kraal.
Shangana was created and built by the local Shangaan people and is a source of great pride. The village preserves their rich heritage and is an example of South Africa's great cultural diversity.
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Blyde River Canyon (29.1 km from Graskop) The impressive rock features of Bourke’s Luck Potholes marks the start of the extraordinarily scenic Blyde River Canyon and is one of the tick-offs on the well-beaten path of the Panorama Route.The giant potholes have been carved over centuries by pebbles swirling around in poolswhere the Treur River plunges into the Blyde River. Bourke’s Luck had nothing to do with the potholes but rather a lucky strike in this gold-rich area.Not far off is the main tourist viewpoint, God’s Window. Graskop is the closest town to the canyon if you are planning to stop over and spend quality time rather than grabbing fleeting glimpses through a tour bus window of this stunning region.
Animal Parks
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Hazyview (29.5 km from Graskop) Meet the Elephant Sanctuary’s gentle giants. During the “Trunk in Hand” programme, an experienced guide introduces visitors to the elephants. Guests are able to touch, feel, feed, interact and walk trunk-in-hand with the elephants.
After the interaction visitors can opt for a short elephant ride – a privilege historically reserved for kings! It is a truly awesome experience to ride these magnificent animals.
This amazing sanctuary provides a halfway house for young African elephants in need of a temporary home. The sanctuary’s vision is to release all their elephants into an environment where they can be more independent when they are mature.
The Elephant Sanctuary is conveniently situated 5 km from Hazyview and 10 km from Kruger National Park’s Phobeni Gate. Facilities include elevated wooden walkways, beautifully constructed decks overlooking the river and a curio shop. View www.elephantsanctuary.co.za for bookings and details of various experiences.
Four By Four Trails
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Hazyview (31.8 km from Graskop) White Waters is known as a great 4x4 trail, which ramps up difficulty at varying degrees. The grading can be said to be between 2 and 5. There is plenty of fun to be had. The trail is well maintained and well marked. A really good experience if you're in the area. The exact GPS coordinates are unknown so please call beforehand.