Blyde River Canyon

The second weekend in October Ron and I drove five hours east then north to explore the northeastern Mpumalanga Drakensberg escarpment and Blyde River Canyon (the world's third largest gorge) in an area termed the panorama route. This mountain range drops dramatically down to the lowveld African savannah which includes the southern half of Kruger National Park.

Arising near Blyde River within the canyon we admired the cliff walls surrounding us with accompanying lake behind the Blydespoort Dam. Driving to the rim of the canyon we looked down onto water at which we had previously stood. Behind me in the distant blue haze is the flat lowveld. Across the valley we viewed the striking peaks named the Three Rondavels.





Indigenous trees and bushes blanket the escarpment. Bumped up to them are vast pine forests as far as the eye can see in any direction, all planted by hand in neat rows. These plantations represent a healthy industry which is decades old. The trees range in size from a couple of feet in diameter to recently planted saplings in harvested areas. The pine forests thrive on mists created when cloud banks from the Indian Ocean settle along the ridgelines.


This view of Pinnacle Rock is one of many scenic stops which highlight landforms and waterfalls.