Spectacular
peaks, deep ravines, sheer cliffs, towering mountains,
plunging waterfalls, fast-flowing streams and a diversity of
plants and animals.
Where is the canyon?
The Blyde River Canyon (the third largest canyon in the world) is in the north-eastern
part of South Africa, in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces (formerly Eastern
Transvaal).
Its spectacular peaks and ravines mark the drop from the great Highveld
plateau to the Lowveld. At the centre of the canyon are the fast-flowing Blyde
River (pronounced blay-duh) and various smaller tributaries.
The Blyde rises
near the town of Graskop and runs northward to where it joins the Olifants River
at Mica. The famous Kruger National Park lies immediately to the east of the
area.
How did it get its name?
In 1844 a group of pioneers who had trekked from the Cape of Good
Hope by ox-wagon set up a camp at a then unnamed river.
The leader,
Hendrik Potgieter, and some of the men left the group for a visit
to the then Lourenco Marques. The day of their expected return came
and went without any sign of them.
The pioneers waited several more
weeks before accepting that the delegation must have died on the perilous
journey.
They named the river where they were camping the Treur River
("river of sorrow") before moving westward in the direction of an established
settlement.
A few days later, on the banks of another river, they met Potgieter
and his men, who had merely been delayed in Lourenco Marques.
This waterway was
promptly named the Blyde River ("river of joy") to commemorate the joyous
reunion.
What are the main geographical features?
The most notable features of the canyon include deep sandstone ravines, high
cliffs, spectacular rock formations, wooded valleys and fast-flowing streams
and rivers.
In many parts the skyline is dominated by towering mountaintops that
are often shrouded in mist in the mornings.
The canyon is home to a diversity of plants and many animal species, including
the Big Five, antelopes, giraffes and hippos. A number of plant species is endemic
to the area, some only occurring on a single mountaintop.
The climate is pleasant, with hot summers and warm, frost-free winters.
What are the most notable natural tourist attractions?
God's Window:
A lookout providing a superb view of the Lowveld. Here the drop is so sheer that
a few steps forward (not recommended!) would take one directly from the central
plateau to near sea level. At the top of the walk is a lush natural rain forest
with beautiful indigenous trees, ferns and flowers.
The Pinnacle:
A gigantic monolith rising 30 m (100 ft) above the ground in indigenous forest.
Bourke's Luck Potholes:
A series of bizarre, multicoloured rock formations created by millennia of erosion.
The Three Rondavels and tufa waterfall:
Both the impressive peaks - shaped, as the name indicates, like rondavels - and
the waterfall can be seen from the Blydepoort Dam. The rare type of waterfall
- which is characterised by a build-up of rock rather than erosion - is one of
the largest tufa falls in the world.
Waterfalls:
Impressive falls include the Berlin, Bridal Veil, Horseshoe, Lone Creek and Panorama
Falls. The best-known waterfall in the area is the Mac Mac Falls, which is 56m
(about 170 ft) tall.
Should medical precautions be taken by visitors?
The Canyon itself is considered a low-risk area for malaria, but visitors who
are planning overnight stays in the Kruger National Park in summer or autumn
are advised to take anti-malarial medicine as a precautionary measure.
Some countries require citizens to receive vaccinations before visiting Africa.
Please consult the relevant authorities in your country in this regard when you
are planning a visit.
See our other pages for information on self-drive
tours. |
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