THE PANORAMA ROUTE

The North-eastern escarpment of the Mpumalanga Lowveld, steeped in stories of the early days. Amidst the natural wonder and beauty of the Blyde River Canyon, we visit the first beginnings of the gold digging days at Pilgrims Rest.

This is a full day excursion from Nelspruit. Along the route we will stop to view and talk about certain highlights of the area, which contribute to this being a most interesting day out. Listed below are some of the places to share with you, however this may change on the day, depending on the weather and our flexible timing for stop-overs and comfort breaks.

• Long Tom Pass was a treacherous pass in the days of the transport riders.
• Long Tom gun, we see one of four guns used in the Boer war.
• A farmer and businessman who traded in gold started the quaint forestry town of Sabie. The first commercial trees were planted to supply firewood and mine props.
• Stop at the memorial to the Transport Riders.
• Pilgrims Rest is named after a group of men (Pilgrims) who dug for gold at the nearby Mac Mac field, “the Pilgrim had found his rest”. This became the first profitable goldfield in South Africa. Time is spent wandering around the village, which in 1986 was declared a National Monument.
• Kaspers Nek Pass to the Blyde River Canyon. Kasper Kruger was President Paul Kruger’s father. This route is subject to weather and road conditions.
• Bourkes Luck Potholes. The north flowing Treur River joining at right angles with the east flowing Blyde River causes the pothole rock formations. The whirlpool swirling action carved these potholes out of the quartzite millions of years ago.
• Three Rondavels, the best scenic spot to view these huge, round rocks, thought to be reminiscent of the houses or huts of the indigenous people, known as rondavels.
• Swatini is the place of the Swazi. There was a great tribal war in this area between the Swazis and the Pedis, who lived below the escarpment.
• Bridal veil falls resemble a bridal veil and at 70 m wide are a spectacular sight.
• Lisbon falls at a height of 92 metre are the highest in the area and were named after the Portuguese capital.
• Berlin falls This 45 m high national monument was formed when the softer rock was slowly worn away by the relentless flow of the river.
• Graskop is a small forestry town perched on the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment. Stop here for a pancake lunch and wander through the curio shops.
• Blyde River Canyon is a 33 km long gorge is the third largest canyon in the world, after the Grand Canyon in the United States and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia, unquestionably being the largest 'green canyon' due to its lush subtropical foliage, and it has some of the deepest precipitious cliffs of any canyon on the planet and is known as one of the great wonders of nature on the continent.
• God's Window, from here you will enjoy a wonderful view over the Lowveld.
• The Pinnacle Rock is 32m high.