Blyde River Canyon
Blyde River Canyon - Scenic Drive & Natural Wonder South Africa
The Blyde River Canyon, without room for doubt, is one of if not the biggest natural wonder in Africa. At a four and a half hour’s drive from Johannesburg, the Blyde River creates a deep gash in the countryside, which is 25 kilometres long and up to 800 meters wide.
There are many lookouts from which you will have a spectacular view of the canyon, the Blyde River and the surrounding mountains. The mountains are the foothills of the Drakens Mountains, a more than one thousand kilometres long mountain range with the highest mountains in South Africa.
One of the best panoramic vantage points is the “Three Rondavels”: Three hilltops that look like African round-huts, which are called rondavels. On nice days you can see the sparkling river deep down in the gorge and you will experience the breathtaking silence that hangs over the unique landscape.
The canyon and the surrounding environment are under strict wildlife protection. The Blyde River nature reserve has a surface of more than 26.000 square kilometres and is a paradise for hikers and nature enthusiasts.
There are countless hiking-trails navigating the breathtaking nature around the canyon. The most popular hike is surely the Blyderiverspoort Hiking Trail which takes about five days and runs the length of the canyon.
The Blyde River Canyon marks the transition of the Highveld plateau, where Johannesburg is located, into the 800 meter deeper Lowveld, where you can find the Kruger National Park.
The plateau drops rapidly down to the Lowveld and offers many spectacular views, especially at the popular viewing-point “Gods Window”.
The roads have been designed to connect the natural attractions and scenic highlights and it is not without reason that they are called South Africa’s Panorama-Route.
The canyon begins at the juncture of the Treuer and the Blyde River, where the river created a fascinating natural wonder: The Bourke’s Luck Potholes. The holes were discovered by the gold seeker Tom Bourke in 1870 and are named after him.
The end of the canyon is the Blydepoort Dam. The Blyde River and the Ohrigstadt are dammed here. The dam is an ideal starting point for hikes into the canyon.
If you are driving to the Krueger Park, you should plan on spending two nights in the region. It will be worth it!
Nearby you will find the old gold-digging town "Pilgrim´s Rest" where you can not only visit the gold-mines but also spend some time gold fossicking yourself.
The region is also well-known for its countless spectacular waterfalls which are really worth a visit. The nice, little towns Hazyview, Sabie or White River are close to all of the attractions and to the Krueger Park and offer very nice accommodations. Talk to us and we will plan your personalised holiday of a lifetime.
