Panorama Route South Africa - Guide for self-drivers!

Highlights on the Panorama Route in South Africa: Blyde River Canyon, Route, Views and Tips

If a visit to South Africa has long been on your bucket list, then the Panorama Route is not to be missed. It is one of the highlights of your trip and offers fantastic views and countless opportunities to explore. A particularly popular destination is one of Africa's most spectacular natural wonders: the Blyde River Canyon - with towering cliffs, gentle streams meandering through lush greenery and wildlife on its banks - it's guaranteed to blow your mind!

Destination Panorama Route Info

• Route on the R532: Start in the south at Sabie via Graskop to the Blyde River Canyon

• Region: Mpumalanga

• Distance: Sabie to Blyde River Canyon about 120 km

• Best time to travel: All year round; in winter (May to August) the waterfalls have more water.

The Panorama Route in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains in eastern South Africa is particularly famous for its beautiful views. Highlights include the Blyde River Canyon in the Blyde River Canyon Nation Reserve with the striking Three Rondavels. The view at God's Window, the eroded rock formations of Bourke's Luck Potholes and various waterfalls. The Blyde River Canyon, the third largest canyon in the world, is particularly spectacular.

The most beautiful section of the Panorama Route is between Graskop and the beautiful Three Rondavels View Point (World's End Lookout). These viewpoints as well as the other well-known highlight God's Window, various waterfalls and deep gorges on the edge of the Kruger National Park are located along the R532 on a stretch of about 40 km. Take your time, I will explain all the stops and highlights in the following article.

In Mpumalanga Province lies the Highveld with altitudes of more than 2,000 metres. The beautiful views of the lower-lying Lowveld on the edge of the Kruger National Park are created by the Drakensberg Escarpment. The rock slopes down and lies at an altitude of only 300 - 600 metres. Over millions of years, water has formed a unique landscape for South Africa along the Panorama Route and in the Blyde River Canyon Nation Reserve.

Here we have listed all the sights along the Panorama Route at the Blyde River Canyon in South Africa with a map.

Here you can find more reports about our South Africa travels:
→ To all South Africa reports in the blog

Where to start? Accommodation at the Blyde River Canyon

Ideal starting points for the Panorama Route are either Graskop, Hazyview or Sabie near the Blyde River Canyon (Blyde River Canyon Resort) in the north. Depending on where you want to go next, one or the other is a better starting point.

I have already driven the Panorama Route twice in South Africa. The following lodge is ideal accommodation and thus a great starting point:

Blyde River Canyon A Forever Resort directly at the Blyde River Canyon.

The Blyde River Canyon A Forever Resort I can recommend to everyone. The accommodation is a small hut with a double bed, small kitchen, bathroom and a barbecue for a braai. A bit gloomy like almost all accommodation in South Africa (remind me of the accommodation in SANPark rest camps). Nevertheless, unbeatable due to the location at the beautiful Blyde River Canyon and the beautiful Three Rondavels View Point (World's End Lookout).

The restaurant offers a breakfast buffet at an extra charge. You can have a hot meal here with a view of the Three Rondavels until evening. The food is okay. Alternatively, we made a real braai on our barbecue on the second evening. Tastes better in the long run.

As a guest of the resort you can visit the Upper and Lower Viewpoint to the Blyde River Canyon for free. Various hiking trails are available to all for a small surcharge.

On our first trip along the Panorama Route, we came from Sabi Sabi and chose Hazyview instead of Graskop. I don't remember why, because I wouldn't recommend Valley View Backpackers to anyone.

As an alternative I can recommend the Rustique (Graskop, cheap) and the Thaba Tsweni Lodge & Safaris (Graskop) as accommodation. These accommodations were mentioned to me several times by you - dear readers - as tips for staying overnight.

Distances from Blyde River Forever Resort to ...

• Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport: 390 km

• Bourke's Luck Pot Holes: 20 km

• Mac Mac Falls: 67 km

• God's Window: 50 km

• Pilgrim's Rest 71 km

• Berlin Falls: 40 km

• Paul Kruger Gate: 146 km

• Orpen Gate: 140 km

• Hoedspruit (Maruleng): 90 km (airport about 8 km further)

Our accommodation at Blyde River Canyon A Forever Resort Bedroom in the small "hut" of the Blyde River Canyon Forever Resort For us, the Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels are among the 21 most beautiful places in South Africa. How long to plan for the Panorama Route?

If you really want to see all the viewpoints and highlights, you should spend at least two days here. If you only stay one day, the weather (especially the fog) can quickly throw a spanner in the works. I myself travelled this route once for one night (one day including the journey from Sabi Sabi), on my second visit for two nights (and thus a complete day).

You can drive the Panorama Route with a rental car. Only in a few places are there (sometimes very deep) potholes. Especially along the R36 (shortest route from Johannesburg to the Blyde River Canyon, but not the most beautiful), which is currently being completely rebuilt.

The main viewpoints are all along the R532. Long Tom Pass to Sabie, alternatively via Robber's Pass and the gold mining town of Pilgrim's Rest. Continue via Graskop up to the Blyde River Canyon (or vice versa).

Most of the viewpoints charge entrance fees (quite cheap), open at 7am and close around 5pm for sunset.

Map of the Panorama Route with all sights

Here is a map of the Panorama Route and for South Africa, with the sights. Select the route "Panorama Route" to see the hihglights between from Graskop to the Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels View Point.

Panorama Route: Sights & Viewpoints

Here you will find all the viewpoints and sights along the Panorama Route and the Blyde River Canyon. Theoretically, you can do all the sights in one day, weather permitting. Plan a second day to be on the safe side.

Take breaks and use the time for walking. There are great walks around the Blyde River Canyon (Forever A Resort) .

Here is the list of places we visited with opening hours and current entrance fees).

Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels

The Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon and greenest canyon in the world. For me, it is the most beautiful and impressive stop along the Panorama Route in the Mpumalanga region.

The viewpoints of the Three Rondavels, Blyde Poort Dam with the canyon are - when there is no fog - gigantically beautiful. There are four viewpoints in total: two at the Blyde River A Forever Resort and two outside. That's why this resort is the ideal accommodation for us.

Lookout at A Forever Resort

As we are staying at the Blyde River A Forever Resort, the free lookouts on the premises are ideal for us. Without having to leave the grounds early, we have time for short walks.

Note: Drones are prohibited here. However, only on the area of the resort, at the other points of the canyon drones and at the Panorama Route are still allowed (watch out for the signs with possible flight prohibitions).

The viewpoint is beautiful and marked on the resort's map as World's End Upper Viewpoint and Upper Lookout A.

You can get the Blyde River A Forever Resort map at the entrance. However, I don't know if you only get it as an overnight guest. We slept here for two nights.

The second viewpoint "Lower Viewpoint B" is - as the name suggests - lower. The view here is mostly blocked by branches.

Sunset with a view into the Blyde River Canyon at the Upper Lookout at the Blyde River A Forever Resort. Shortly before the rain started and before sunset at the Upper View Point to the Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels.

You can do the following walks for a small supplement (if your accommodation is outside):

The Guinea Fowl Trail (approx. 3 hours ) and Loerie Trail (approx. 35 hours) start at the viewpoint of Forever A Resort. If we had had time for a hike in general and it hadn't rained, we would have hiked along the Leopard Trail (approx. 4 hours), which is about five kilometres long. This trail starts at Viewpoint A.

• Here you can see the description of the Hiking Trails (PDF download) that we received. Unfortunately, the duration varies on the description and the map.

• Entrance fee to World's End Lookout: 50 Rand per person (free if you stay at my recommended accommodation Blyde River Canyon A Forever Resort).

Blyde River Canyon: World's End Lookout

Another 6 km or so further on is the official World's End Lookout. From the car park it is only a few metres to the viewpoints. Automatically, (almost) every tourist heads straight for the lookout.

The more beautiful view (because the field of vision is wider and more beautiful in our eyes) is from the viewpoint on the left. If you are early in the morning, as we were, you will avoid the buses with tourists. They usually start in Graskop.

The whole area is fenced off, by the way, because the cliff edge here is quite steep. From the viewpoint on the left, I think you have the best view of the Three Rondavels, the Blyde River and the reservoir.

View at World's End of the Blyde River Canyon with dam and the Three Rondavels. Blyde River Canyon and Dam in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa The view from World's End Lookout down into the Blyde River Canyon and Dam is really beautiful.

Lowveld Viewpoint

We almost missed the entrance or exit to the viewpoint, as the sign coming from the Blyde River Canyon in the direction of Graskop is hardly recognisable.

The viewpoint is free of charge and in my opinion not really worth it. You get a much better view of the Blyde River Canyon and Lowveld from World's End and the other two viewpoints outside the resort.

Bourke's Luck Potholes

The Bourke's Luck Potholes are an unusual geological formation and well worth a visit. For me, apart from the Blyde River Canyon and World's End, one of the highlights. Even in bad weather and fog, we had great views here on both visits.

These gigantic strude holes at the confluence of the Blyde and Treur Rivers mark the beginning of the Blyde River Canyon.

• Entrance fee Bourke's Luck Potholes: 65 Rand per person

• Opening hours: 7 am to 5 pm

Bourke's Luck Potholes, another sight along the Panorama Route. Ok a "hipster" picture frame is now also along the Panorama Route, ... well. There are smaller waterfalls at the Burkes Luck Potholes.

Berlin Falls

The Berlin Falls plunge more than 80 metres. Depending on the season, there is sometimes more and sometimes less water flowing down. It is particularly impressive how fast the water in the Sabie River must flow. If you look closely, you will discover the narrow river shooting much more powerfully into the depths.

The months of May - August/September are the dry season. This means that the waterfall usually has little water. If you stand at one of the waterfalls after a rainfall, like we did, you will see the water flowing down the red rock much more spectacularly.

• Entrance fee to Berlin Falls: 15 Rand per person.

Berlin Falls on the Panorama Route.

God's Window

God's Window and Wonder View offer a view over the Lowveld to the Kruger National Park in good weather. There are a total of three viewpoints here. If there wasn't always dense fog. On my first visit, visibility was already less than five metres on the approach. On our second visit we had a short view before the dense fog blocked everything.

I particularly like the rainforest that leads all the way up to the highest viewpoint. You don't get the view, but you do get the mystical light between the trees.

• Entrance fee to God's Window: 20 Rand per person (varies depending on travel time)

• Opening hours: 7 am to 5 pm

God's Window on the Panorama Route.

Lisbon Falls

When we reach Lisbon Falls there is no one there. No tourists, no guards. Just us. At 92 m, these waterfalls are the highest along the Panorama Route.

If the weather is nice, you can hike down and admire the waterfalls from below. With us it started to rain again and again. It also got dark.

• Admission: 15 Rand per person

• Opening hours: 8 am to 5 pm

Lisbon Falls on the Panorama Route.

The Pinnacle Rock

The free-standing Pinnacle Rock is a 30 m high rock made of quartzite. It stands freestanding in a gorge. Behind it you have a wonderful view of the Lowvfeld, similar to the view at God's Window. It was always foggy here, so there was no view. So we did not stop here.

Graskop

Graskop marks the southern entrance of the official Panorama Route. The town is quite touristy and has grown quite a bit since my first visit in 2014. If you are hungry, you should definitely stop at Harry's Pancakes. The shop has become so popular that it's many times bigger than when I first visited. It's amazing, even coaches stop here now.

I, too, contribute to the fact that the shop is sometimes overrun. There are now imitators, but I prefer to go to the original. Everything tastes good here: from warm pancakes to milkshakes and desserts.

What else is there in Graskop? Oh yes, a petrol station (important) and SPAR supermarket. The nature is much nicer here, so we don't stay in Graskop any longer than necessary.

To the website of Harry's Pancakes

Pilgrim's Rest

Pligrim's Rest is a former gold rush settlement. Following in the footsteps of the gold rush of 873, you can try your luck at panning for gold. When we arrived, everything was deserted, except for a few baboons jumping around curiously.

No reason for us to stay longer and not very spectacular (in our eyes). The drive from Graskop to Pilgrim's Rest takes about 30 minutes.

Pilgrim's Rest A house in Pilgrim's Rest. Apart from a few baboons, there was nothing going on here. On the way to Pilgrim's Rest it rained harder. On the way back it got warmer, the rain stopped and mist rose everywhere. Beautiful!

Mac Mac Falls & Mac Mac Pools

The Mac Mac Pools and the waterfalls of Mac Mac Falls are just after Sabie. We didn't have time to get here on either of the Panorama Route visits.

If you don't stop at either Lisbon Falls or Berlin Falls, you should stop here at Sabie.

Long Tom Pass

The Long Tom Pass is the second highest pass in South Africa. The road along the pass is really beautiful. The R37 winds its way up to an altitude of 2150 m for more than 20 km. As it descends towards Sabie, it drops again to around 1000 metres.

Here you feel like you're in the Black Forest one second, in Ireland the next and then somehow back in South Africa. Super beautiful!

Best time to visit Blyde River Canyon and the Panorama Route in South Africa

The rainy season is between October and March. Generally, in the last few years, the rain always came in December. As a rule, however, it never rains for a whole day, but often briefly and heavily.

I was here once in December and once in March. In December we were very unlucky and it was very foggy. Visibility even on the road of less than 5 metres at times. View at God's Window, the Blyde River Canyon: zero. Only at the waterfalls and the potholes we could see something.

In February and March the weather is much better, the nature much greener. Great views except for God's Window. There is often dense fog there. For me, this is the ideal time to travel in South Africa.

On our second visit we were lucky and could enjoy the view for a short time. The ideal months are actually February and March. You still have to expect torrential rain.

A few minutes later the sun came back. Patience sometimes pays off.

In summer, the days are hot and often humid. In winter (German summer) there can even be frost at night and snow in the higher regions towards the Drakensberg.

→ See my detailed article on the best time to travel in South Africa here.

Video with impressions of the Panorama Route

On our first longer road trip in South Africa, we also visited the Panorama Route. You can see a few impressions here in the video (South Africa Trip 2014):

More travel tips

Getting to the Blyde River Canyon and the Panorama Route

Coming from Johannesburg, take the N12 towards eMalahleni and on to Nelspruit (Mbombela). Depending on the location of your accommodation, you then have several options. We took the shortest route to the Blyde River Canyon A Forever Resort via the R36. This road is currently being completely renovated. The old part has deep potholes.

Therefore, turn off onto the R37 to drive over the Long Tom Pass, which is really worth seeing. This route is much nicer and does not take much longer. After that, you automatically join the R532 where most of the viewpoints and sights of the Panorama Route are located.

On our first visit we came directly from Sabi Sabi to Hazyview to drive the Panorama Route from there.

Food and Drink

We think these places are great and stop again every time we visit:

• Harries Pancakes (Graskop. Pancakes, now very touristy and not quite as good as a few years ago. Still worth it, good food is rare along the Panorama Route)

• The Wild Fig Tree (Sabie, African also for vegetarians)

• Pancakes at The Stables (Pilgrim's Rest)

• Garden Shed Restaurant (Graskop, great atmosphere in the evening, African, BBQ)

• Tanks Bush Pub (Hazyview, BBQ, bar to sit outside)

Conclusion on the Panorama Route

The Panorama Route offers a great contrast to Johannesburg, Cape Town and the Kruger National Park. Especially the Blyde River Canyon, the Burke's Luck Potholes and the rainforest at God's Window are breathtakingly beautiful. It is definitely worth going here.

Some places are less spectacular than you might think from the pictures. A waterfall is still a waterfall. Nevertheless, I stopped at Berlin Falls again on my second visit (to name just one example). If you plan to visit the Kruger Park, make sure you visit this beautiful region before or after!

Beautiful views and sunsets along the Panorama Route. Frequently asked questions about the Panorama Route

So that I don't have to answer every question several times by email, here are the most frequently asked questions and my answers and opinions:

How long does it take to drive from Johannesburg to the Panorama Route?

From OR Tambo Airport to Sabie you need at least 3.5 hours. In my experience, more. Allow 4 to 5 hours driving time to Sabie, Graskop or Hazyview. The actual route is 80 - 100 km long, depending on which route you choose. Theoretically, you can do the tour in one day. I recommend 2 to 3 days to do things and activities on the spot.

Is the Panorama Route and the Blyde River Canyon worth it?

Definitely, I have been here twice. The Blyde River Canyon and the Panorama Route are for me among the sights and most beautiful places in South Africa. There are also breathtaking views at the Blyde River Canyon, stunning vistas and great places to hike.

Is the Panorama Route in South Africa malaria-free?

If you only want to drive along the Panorama Route, you don't have to worry about malaria. If you are going further into the Kruger National Park, you should at least seek medical advice. I don't take any tablets against malaria in South Africa. But it's up to each person to decide.

Which place is a good starting point for the Panorama Route?

I can recommend Graskop, Hazyview and the Blyde River Canyon (resort). However, it depends on whether you go to the Kruger National Park afterwards and if so, which gate you want to use.

Is the Panorama Route in South Africa safe?

The Panorama Route is safe and you should have no problems. However, watch out for the deep potholes and avoid them. The locals and South Africans generally tend to drive too fast on the route. Don't feel compelled to do the same, then nothing can go wrong.

Which national park is closest to the Panorama Route?

Kruger Park is the closest national park. Take a mini road trip on the Panorama Route on your way out of Johannesburg and continue to Kruger National Park. The north-east of South Africa is known as the largest and most famous Big Five game reserve in the world, located on the country's border with Mozambique.

Are you planning your South Africa holiday right now? Here are some more tips:

• The in-depth safari guide to Kruger National Park.

Travelogue of my first South Africa round trip

• Sights in Johannesburg

All tips for your South Africa holiday at a glance

• Travelogue Garden Route with map & route

• Cape of Good Hope & Cape Peninsula in one day

• South Africa Tips: Everything you need to know before your South Africa holiday

• The most beautiful travel routes and round trips (individual)