Blyde River
Along the Panorama Route, the landscape opens up at Blyde River Nature Reserve. From the canyon rim, you look across layered rock walls, the Three Rondavels and the Lowveld plain.
Discover everything about this location.
This is where the Panorama Route opens up.
Blyde River Nature Reserve lies against the slopes of the Greater Drakensberg. From the canyon rim, the view stretches east across layered rock walls, the Three Rondavels and the Lowveld plain.
This is the third-largest canyon in the world. Around 200 million years ago, the former supercontinent Gondwanaland broke apart here, separating Madagascar and Antarctica from Africa.
The reserve is easy to reach from Graskop. The roads are paved, so the different viewpoints can be linked comfortably as part of your route.
From the Three Rondavels to God’s Window.
The canyon is only part of what shapes this route. Other stops include the potholes of Bourke, the Three Rondavels, Pinnacle Rock and God’s Window.
The reserve covers 29,000 hectares and stretches for 60 kilometres. Within that area grows a wide variety of plant life. According to the source, the last remaining grasslands in Mpumalanga province can also be found here.
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On foot, by bike or from the water.
Several hiking trails wind through the reserve and cater for different levels. Horse riding and cycling are also possible.
You can take a boat trip on the Blyde Dam. For a more active day, the area also offers white-water rafting and abseiling.
What you can do in and around Blyde River Nature Reserve:
- Visit the Three Rondavels
- Visit Pinnacle Rock
- Visit Blyde Dam
- Hiking
- Horse riding
- Cycling
- Boat trip on Blyde Dam
- White-water rafting
- Abseiling
Self-drive trips in the region
South Africa, eSwatini and Mozambique Beach & Safari
West Cape and Namaqualand hiking & 4x4
