Nature Reserves
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Waterval Boven Rocky Drift Nature Reserve lies in the valleys of the Waterval Boven area in Mpumalanga. The spectacular mountain terrain is a popular destination for rock climbing and hiking.
There is a fresh water stream which is nourished by the Joubert Spruit tributary of the Elands river. The nature reserve boasts a wide variety of wild life, including bush buck, baboon, klipspringer, duiker, steenbok, vaal reed buck, vervet monkeys, leopard, genet, rooikat, and rock pythons.
The slopes of the valley were once used by President Paul Kruger's commandos during their escape to exile in Maputo.
Things to do near
Waterval Boven
*Distances are shown as the crow flies and not necessarily the actual travelling
distance.
Hiking Trail
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Machadodorp (17.9 km from Waterval Boven) The spectacular Num-Num Hiking Trail offers seasoned hikers a self-guided three to five day hiking trail in Mpumalanga. The route takes walkers through a spectacular variety of Highveld Escarpment terrain including indigenous forest, sandstone labyrinths, grasslands and waterfalls. The scenic route delivers panoramic views of the Komati Gorge and the Skurweberg stretching all the way to Swaziland. There are plenty of opportunities to spot game and birds.
Five comfy and unique overnight camps provide equipped kitchens and hot showers. A slackpacking service is available – organizers transport your luggage to the camp so that you only need to walk with your daypack.
The climate is suitable all year around. Winter months are cold in the evenings but glorious and dry during the day. The summer months are warmer but there is a high chance of rain in the afternoons. Public holidays are popular so it is advisable to book well in advance.
Hikers need to be reasonably fit and agile; the trail is rated by Green Flag as moderate to difficult. Footpaths take visitors through landscapes that cannot be accessed by vehicles. Be prepared for plenty of swing bridges and ladders, steep hills and descents into stunning gorges. There are also sandstone formations that you clamber through and over.
View three Num-Num Hiking Trail camps:
Pongola Express
Candlewood Camp
Aloe Kaya
Animal Parks
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Dullstroom (34.2 km from Waterval Boven) Catch a flying display of birds of prey, guided by a professional falconer. A worthwhile visit for any bird enthusiast and photographer.
Displays start at 10:30 to 14:30.
Popular Attractions
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Dullstroom (42.1 km from Waterval Boven) Come and experience the thrill of seeing your clay disk explode into a puff of smoke. Here at Field and Stream, you can try out this exciting activity; clay pigeon shooting.
The range is open every Saturday, with additional days available upon prior arrangement.
Four By Four Trails
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Badplaas (43.8 km from Waterval Boven) Ebutsini 4x4 Trail is located 50 km from Badplaas; the exact GPS coordinates are unknown and have been placed in Badplaas, so please phone for further details. This is a round-trip trail of 30 km and takes at least one day to complete. The difficulty grading varies between 2 and 3. This self-drive route is suitable for 4x2 vehicles with diff lock and a low range gear is required, as well as a high clearance vehicle. Quad bikes are welcome. This trail was a service road in the 1980s.
Waterfall
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Kaapsehoop (48.1 km from Waterval Boven) Battery Creek Falls is a spectacular 30 metre high waterfall, only a 10 minutes walk from Kaapsehoop.
The waterfall sections are deep enough to swim in, but most people like to stand under the water and get a good massage.
Four By Four Trails
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Nelspruit (48.5 km from Waterval Boven) Do you have true grit? Don't mind dirtying your shiny urban 4x4? Test your driving skills through a series of extremely steep ascents and gripping descents on one of the leading 4x4 trails in South Africa.
The Riverwild 4x4 Off-road Recreation Experience offers several routes with a variety of challenging natural obstacles – try the River Rat Run, Croc Crossing and Shongololo, the ultimate long and winding bush tunnel.
Safety, vehicle care and enjoyment are the cornerstones around which the Riverwild 4x4 trails were developed. Cross-country drives and trips in the scenic surrounding forest are available for off-road vehicles without low range. A wide range of exciting adventure and recreation activities are also offered.
Hiking Trail
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Kaapsehoop (50.7 km from Waterval Boven) Hike through a maze of unusual rock formations for 20 minutes from Kaapsehoop and you will find yourself at the edge of the escarpment with jaw dropping views. Here the landscape plunges 1000 metres into the Barberton Valley. At night the twinkling lights of Nelspruit and Barberton are visible. Early birds can watch the sunrise over the Swazi mountains.
Popular Attractions
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Kaapsehoop (50.7 km from Waterval Boven) This hour-long tour takes in the sites and amazing history of the Kaapsehoop, an unassuming little village that was pivotal in making South Africa the African powerhouse it is today. Hear stories from the early wild days of gold prospecting to political intrigue, murder, mayhem, mystery and Kruger’s millions.
Popular Attractions
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Kaapsehoop (50.7 km from Waterval Boven) Kaapsehoop History Tours cover anything from geology to African culture, and the local history of Kaapsehoop, the Adams Calendar or the history of Boer War entrenchments. Tours can be anything from 1 to 5 hours.
Popular Attractions
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Sudwala Valley (50.9 km from Waterval Boven) The Sudwala Caves are an incredibly deep system of caverns lying in the Mpumalanga region of the Drakensberg escarpment. Considered the oldest known caves in the world, this astonishing unplumbed complex of passages and giant chambers extend into the mysterious Mankelexele massif.
The caves are situated in the Precambrian dolomite rocks of the Malmani Group, formed over a period of some 3 000 million years, capturing in stone an era when this place was a shallow inland sea.
The very earliest known life forms are preserved in fossil form in these rocks. In the cave are fossils of the first oxygen producing plants on the earth called collenia – fossilised bacterial colonies that date back 2.2 billion years! And there's a Dinosaur Park too. Kids will love the life-size monsters guarding the cave entrance.
Keen for adventure? Time your visit on the last Saturday of the month and join one of the popular Crystal Tours inside the deeper chambers. You will be required to crawl through some sections be prepared to get wet. It lasts for six hours and bookings are essential.
+27 (0) 13 733 4152
www.sudwalacaves.co.za
Hiking Trail
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Carolina (52.9 km from Waterval Boven) The El Dorian hiking trail is located between Carolina and Badplaas in Mpumalanga. It is a two-day circular trail covering 15 km the first day and 12 km the second day.
The trail goes past grass fields, indigenous forests, rock pools, fountains and mountains with ravines. Hikers can camp at the forestry house which serves as the base camp. There are bunk beds and braai facilities available.
Popular Attractions
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Carolina (52.9 km from Waterval Boven) The El Dorian trail is situated on the Mpumalanga escarpment between Carolina and Badplaas. The horse trail covers 20 000 hectares of mountain and is ideal for beginners as well as advanced riders.
There is a waterfall on the trail, rivers and natural rock pools. Riders will also see a variety of wildlife and bird life.
Four By Four Trails
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Nelspruit (58.9 km from Waterval Boven) The Alkmaar 4x4 Trail is a medium challenging course where one can do some birdwatching and game viewing. Participants can partake in the obstacle course before heading out on the 7 km trail. After the obstacle course is completed, drivers receive a certificate – great techniques are learned.
The 7 km trail takes approximately 2 to 3 hours and is graded between 2 and 3. This self-drive trail requires a 4x4, high clearance, low range vehicle. The route is open all year round.
For accommodation and bookings contact Alkmaar Farmstay.
Sports Stadiums Clubs
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Nelspruit (59.5 km from Waterval Boven) Alkmaar Raceway is a world class Motocross venue hosting national and international events. The 2008 World Motocross Grand Prix took place here.
Nature Reserves
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Lydenburg (61.2 km from Waterval Boven) The Sterkspruit Nature Reserve is situated just outside of Lydenburg in Mpumalanga. The reserve's escarpment incorporates highveld grassland, forested kloofs, wooded stream banks, and quartzite cliffs. The natural habitat is perfect for fly fishing, bird watching, and hiking.
The reserve is home to a variety of mammals, including porcupine, aardwolf and the Cape clawless otter. There are over a hundred and fifty bird species, such as the ground woodpecker, bush blackcap, and blackwinged plover. The hiking trails offer stunning views of the majestic hills surrounding the reserve, and the Sterkspruit River is filled with rainbow trout for the enthusiastic fisherman.