The Panorama Route is one of South Africa's most breathtaking self-drive adventures, traversing the Mpumalanga highlands and the dramatic Great Escarpment of the Drakensberg. This route offers spectacular views of the Lowveld's expansive grasslands as the plateau drops sharply into the valley below.
Key highlights along the R532 stretch include the stunning Sabie Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Mac Mac Falls, culminating at the panoramic God's Window. The route also features the impressive Blyde River Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes, and the iconic Three Rondavels.
Photos - The Guys
The Barberton Makhonjwa Geotrail showcases the world's oldest and most well-preserved volcanic and sedimentary rock formations, dating back 3.2 billion years. This fascinating trail includes 11 marked viewpoints, such as the Lebombo Viewpoint, which offers stunning vistas and is ideal for a picnic. Although some areas of the trail lacks amenities like toilets and cellular reception, visitors with passports can cross into Swaziland to explore the nearby mining museum, which provides essential facilities and dining options.
Photos - The Guys
Located on a 1,000-hectare game reserve, Chimpanzee Eden is South Africa's premier sanctuary for chimpanzees displaced from their natural habitats. Managed by the renowned Jane Goodall Institute, this unique sanctuary offers a close encounter with chimpanzees through educational tours and modern conservation efforts. Situated just 15 km from Nelspruit, the reserve provides an opportunity to witness these primates in a natural bush setting, alongside indigenous game species.
Photos - Chimp Eden
The Lowveld National Botanical Garden, located just outside Mbombela, is distinguished by its scenic river landscapes. The Crocodile River carves through a dramatic rock gorge, while the Nels River cascades down a waterfall, merging into a serene pool. Covering 159 hectares, the garden features over 600 native plant species and an additional 2,000 introduced varieties, set against a backdrop of rugged, rocky terrain.
Photos - The Guys
The historic village of Kaapsehoop, located about 25 km from Nelspruit, is renowned for its picturesque landscapes, including waterfalls, indigenous forests, and rugged hills. The area is home to up to 200 free-roaming feral horses, predominantly Boerperd breed, which are protected by local communities. The horses form small bachelor groups or larger herds, enhancing the charm of this scenic region.
Photos - The Guys
The Sudwala Caves, situated in the Malmani Dolomite Ridge near Nelspruit, are among the oldest caves in the world, formed around 240 million years ago. These solutional caves, created by groundwater dissolving dolomite rock, feature impressive speleothem formations such as the "Lowveld Rocket" and "Samson's Pillar." The caves also contain ancient microbial fossils, including cyanobacteria from 2 billion years ago.
Photos - The Guys
The Samora Machel Monument and Museum, located in Mbuzini in the Lebombo Mountains, honours the late President Samora Machel of Mozambique. Erected near the site of the tragic 1986 plane crash that claimed President Machel and his entourage, the monument serves as a poignant tribute and a historical landmark.
Photos - South African National Society
Photos - The Guys
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