The Panorama Route is Mpumalanga’s crown jewel

TThe Panorama Route – a scenic drive in Mpumalanga Province along the escarpment, where the Drakensberg mountains separate the Highveld from the Lowveld – is a landscape that has been sculpted by time. It is a masterpiece of nature's artistry – sprinkled by spectacular viewpoints, studded with a number of waterfalls, adorned with geological features, and dominated by a breathtaking canyon. If you’re doing a self-drive to the Kruger National Park, a journey along The Panorama Route should be obligatory.

Nature’s wonder at the Blyde River Canyon

The Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world, and the second largest in Africa after Namibia’s Fish River Canyon. However, it’s the largest 'green canyon' in the world due to it luscious subtropical vegetation and rich biodiversity.

The Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve extends along the canyon's winding path that measures 26 kilometres in length with precipitous cliffs some 800-metre tall. It offers stunning views at every bend of the river that can be appreciated during a two-hour boat cruise, where you can spot resident hippos and crocodiles while bird watching. If you’ve packed your hiking gear, you can also marvel at the landscape up close during a day-long, 5km hiking trail. But, a road trip along the Panorama Route is perhaps the most popular way to explore the countless natural wonders along the way.

The Bourke's Luck Potholes are a series of circular holes that have been carved into the bedrock by the swirling river over the ages – a mesmerising display of nature's erosive power. It’s mandatory to get a photograph of the Three Rondavels in the background. The distinctive shapes of these three rock formations resemble traditional African huts standing side-by-side. Then there’s Pinnacle Rock, a 30-metre quartzite rock, and God's Window, a scenic viewpoint overlooking the rolling hills of the Lowveld below with the mountains in the distance. The name is no exaggeration as this panoramic view truly is otherworldly. Lisbon Falls, Mac-Mac Pools, and the former gold mining town of Pilgrim’s Rest are also worthwhile stops.

Don’t miss the Graskop Gorge Lift Company, where a variety of activities allow you to experience the Panorama Route face on. The viewing lift descends 51 metres into Graskop Gorge. Here you can take a leisurely walk along a 600-metre-long, elevated boardwalk through the Afromontane forest. Adrenaline junkies can do the Big Swing, which freefalls for 70 metres reaching speeds of 140km/hour, or two 120-metre-long ziplines over the gorge mouth. Finally, there’s a 52-metre long suspension bridge overlooking Motitsi Waterfall.