Blyde River Canyon
The Blyde River Canyon, is like a smaller version of the Grand Canyon. It is actually the third deepest canyon in the world. There are several spots to stop and take in the beautiful scenery. A few of the main ones are God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavals.
From Graskop you can reach the Panorama Route by the R532 roadway. This is a beautiful and popular travel destination in South Africa. It takes you through the mountain range of the northern Drakensberg. Also on the Panorama route is a 262 foot waterfall called Berlin Falls. They are just north of the town of Graskop not far from God’s window.
God’s Window
At God’s Window you will see a panoramic view of the Lowveld. In the far distance is Kruegar National Park and Mozambique almost 100 km’s away. We tried to see God’s Window the first day we were there, but as the locals say “the curtains were closed” We had quite a few misty and foggy days in this area. When we first tried to drive past it was so fogged in that we joked that the curtains were not only shut, the lights were out, and God was not home! We couldn’t see anything.
We were lucky enough to get a clear view the next day. Through a large opening you can look through the valley to see beautiful mountains and landscape. Sometimes it will be clear enough to see the mountains in the distance, but fog will be sitting in the bottom of the canyon creating a heaven like appearance.
Bourke’s Luck Potholes
Bourke’s Luck Potholes is an interesting sight where the Treur river plunges into the Blyde river. Over centuries of time the whirlpools of water with sand and rock sediment have carved out unusual looking potholes in the bedrock. There are several boardwalks and paths that allow you to explore the area.
Three Rondavels
The Three Rondavels are huge peaks of quartzite and shale that rise more than 700 meters out of the surrounding landscape. They are named after the South African round hut-like dwellings with thatched roofs called Rondavels. Beyond the Rondavels you can see an amazing view of the gorge and the Blydepoort dam.
The Pinnacle
The Pinnacle is a 30 meter tall rock of quartzite.
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