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The northern
section of the Drakensberg Mountains stretches through the province of
Mpumalanga. The road that joins the towns of Sabie and Graskop constitutes
the spectacular Panoramic Route through the Blyde River Canyon section of
the Drakensberg.
After the Grand
Canyon in the United States and the Fish River Canyon in Namibia, the 30
kilometer long Blyde River Canyon occupies third place on the world’s list
of canyons and is one of the most impressive natural phenomena in South
Africa. The canyon is dominated by three similarly shaped peaks (the Three
Rondavels) and by Mariepskop (the highest point of this section of the
Drakensberg Mountain Range). The road continues through a rugged landscape
where fruit, vegetables and tobacco are grown in reddish soil before
entering Pilgrim’s Rest.
The Pinnacle,
Jock’s View, God’s Window and Wonderview are some of the most famous scenic
lookouts where a stop is highly recommended. These stops offer lookouts over
sheer cliffs and unique geologic features over the expanse of the Lowveld.
Further north are Lisbon Falls and the Berlin Falls, just before reaching
Bourke’s Luck Potholes. Here, paths and footbridges take visitors to viewing
sites overlooking extraordinary samples of river erosion. Northwards, the
Blyde River has carved a magnificent gorge through the mountains.
Sabie Sands is
classified as one of the most luxurious private game sanctuaries in the
world. Bordering Kruger National Park and constituting part of the Greater
Kruger area (with no physical borders separating the reserve from Kruger
National Park), Sabie Sands covers 60,000 hectares. Its various private
lodges are famous for their African atmosphere and excellent service. Each
lodge has its own fleet of open 4x4 vehicles for the morning and afternoon
game drives, with professional rangers guiding all safari activities. The
area is well known for its great abundance of game.
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In 1873 an
adventurer found gold in Pilgrim's Creek and decided to stay on at Pilgrim's
Rest to seek his fortune. A wild gold rush followed and eventually a small
goldmine was established although it was exhausted in 1971 nearly a hundred
years later. The town was then sold to the government as a ready-made
historical village. At present in Pilgrim's Rest, one will find a town from
the turn of the century, houses, shops, a bank and a small museum, as well
as the authentically restored Royal Hotel. It is one of the few towns in
South Africa where a small-town ethos is still all pervading and life has
remained relaxed.
The romantic name of this town refers
to the view of the district where banana plantations dominate the landscape.
The village was started in 1959, and has become the centre of this important
banana-producing area. It is the gateway to the many private reserves that
form the western conservation extension to the Kruger National Park.
Hazyview is also the main departure point to Skukuza via the Kruger Gate.
Until the arrival
of “Westernised men” in the late 19th century, the area covered by the
Kruger Park probably looked much like it does now, vast and relatively
undisturbed. In the 19th century, farmers settled and white hunters brought
their formidable firepower to bear on the herds, taking a devastating toll
on the buffalo, wildebeest and other species. The situation worsened during
the Anglo-Boer war as the English hunted to supplement rations and the
hungry black population scoured the countryside for food. It was in May 1926
that this enormous slice of territory was formally proclaimed a National
Park and named in honour of Paul Kruger, who gave impetus to the creation of
wildlife sanctuaries in the 1890s.
Majestic in extent,
rich in game, grand in its scenic splendour, the Kruger National Park is now
the pride of South Africa. With an almost 2,000,000 hectare expanse of
savannah and bush, the Kruger Park is big game country. Lion, elephant,
buffalo, rhino and tens of thousands of antelope roam the sunlit plains.
Leopards stalk during the night; shy bushbuck hide in the riverine bush;
giraffe browse on the sweet-scented acacias and vultures wheel overhead,
alert for kills and carcass. The Park counts 137 mammal species, about 500
bird species and more than 100 reptile varieties.
The maximum speed
in the park is 50km/h on tar roads and 40 km/h on gravel roads. Please note
the hours of operation for entrance gates to Kruger: Summer hours (November
through February) 05h30 – 18h30, Winter hours (April through July) 06h00 –
17h30, March & October 05h30 – 18h00, August & September 06h00 – 18h00. All
rest camp gates close at the same time as the entrance gates to the park, so
please allow for travelling time in between. With the exception of the peak
summer months rest camp gates also open at the same times as the entrance
park entrance gates (November through January they open at 04h30).
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