10 DAYS IN SOUTH AFRICA TRAVEL ITINERARY
April 3, 2024
Here is our itinerary of 10 days in South Africa to discover this country from the south of Cape Town to safaris in the north at the Kruger National Park!
In the hinterland of South Africa lies the Mpumalanga region, a unique place where you can find canyons, waterfalls, mountains and rock formations that seem to belong to another planet!
In this article we will tell you about this area of South Africa, which is still little known to mass tourism, despite the fact that there are some unique places.
Visiting Mpumalanga is an option that all tourists travelling to South Africa should consider. There are beautiful places to visit in Mpumalanga and in this article we provide you with our list of 7 great places to visit in Mpumalanga!
South Africa is famous for the Kruger National Park and beautiful Cape Town, but there are many other places to visit in South Africa and in particular the hidden gems in the Mpumalanga region of the country that are well worth a visit.
During our trip to the Kruger National Park, we spent a few days exploring the area in the north-east of South Africa and discovered some incredible places that are not to be missed.
The hinterland of South Africa hides mountains covered in vegetation and large gorges with cascading waterfalls, creating a truly incredible landscape. In this article we will tell you about some of the places in South Africa’s hinterland that are less known to tourists, but incredibly beautiful. The Mpumalanga region is definitely one of them and in this article we bring you our list of the 7 most beautiful places to visit in Mpumalanga!
Here are 7 places in Mpumalanga, South Africa that are definitely worth a visit!
One of the great places to visit in Mpumalanga and, in particular, in the Blyde River Canyon in South Africa, and which will give you an incredible view of the Blyde River Canyon nature reserve and the surrounding mountains and nature is definitely God’s Window.
The viewpoint known as God’s Window is located along the R534 road, with a large car park adjacent. Near the car park, you will find a viewpoint from which you can enjoy spectacular views of the Blyde River and the canyon. In addition, a short footpath runs through the Rain Forest, a rainforest, for about ten minutes, leading to a second viewpoint that offers a beautiful view of the Blyde River Canyon valley.
If visiting Mpumalanga on your trip to South Africa is your choice, there is one place you cannot miss: if you want to see something really special, the Three Rondavels must be on your list of places to visit in Mpumalanga.
The Three Rondavels are a triplet of circular mountains in the Blyde River Nature Reserve, a waterway in the northern region of South Africa. Over thousands of years, the river has carved its way through the mountains, creating one of the world’s most impressive gorges, the Blyde River Canyon.
The term ‘Rondavels’ comes from Afrikaans and means ‘hut’ and indeed the shape of these three mountains is reminiscent of the typical structure of an African hut.
It is possible to admire this mountain complex overlooking the canyon from several viewpoints along the R532 road. The main viewpoint can be reached via a road that crosses the R532 just after the village of Leroro. The entrance fee for this viewpoint is around 4 euros.
Visiting Mpumalanga: Three Rondavels
Not far from the Blyde River Canyon, in the town of Hazyview, is a place that is definitely worth a visit. We are talking about Elephant Whispers, where you can come into close contact with the gentle giants of South Africa. We highly recommend a visit to this place which is a sanctuary dedicated to the rehabilitation of abused elephants.
The standard visit is divided into two parts: the first part tells you about the important history of the place and gives you valuable information about the recovery process of these ‘gentle giants’; the second part gives you the opportunity to interact with the animals, feed them and cuddle them.
Alternatively, more specialised experiences such as elephant walks are also available. We recommend that you book in advance for the experience of your choice, as the number of participants is limited and the time available is tight. We suggest you visit the official website at this link where you can buy tickets and book your visit online.
Here is our itinerary of 10 days in South Africa to discover this country from the south of Cape Town to safaris in the north at the Kruger National Park!
On your list of places to visit in Mpumalanga, South Africa, be sure to include Pinnacle Rock, a massive quartzite rock formation that rises some 30 metres above the Blyde River Canyon and the Ngwaritsana River.
This imposing rock is a few minutes’ drive from God’s Window, also on the R534, with a nearby car park providing access to viewpoints from which to admire this spectacular formation.
The Lisbon Falls are located a short distance from the centre of Graskop and are the highest waterfalls in the Mpumalanga region.
To reach the vantage point that offers a view of these falls, you can take a side road off the R532, ending at a large car park, where you can leave your car and walk a short distance to the viewpoint. The cost of access is about 1 €.
The Berlin Falls are another beautiful waterfall located in the vicinity of the Lisbon Falls, about a 10-minute drive from the latter.
Similarly, if you follow the road, you will reach the car park from where you can access the viewpoints over the falls, all at a cost of about €1.
Great places to visit in Mpumalanga: Elephant Whispers
Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve Waterfalls: Berlin Falls
Lisbon Falls
Bourke’s Luck Potholes is definitely one of the best places to visit in Mpumalanga. The site is extraordinary, with sandstone cliffs carved over millennia by the Blyde and Treur rivers.
The formation of Bourke’s Luck Potholes occurs mainly at the point where the Treur River flows into the Blyde River, creating eddies of water that have formed circular cavities (potholes) in the rocks, which display a variety of colourful hues. The name Bourke’s Luck Potholes comes from prospector Tom Bourke, who explored the area in the late 19th century.
To reach the site, leave your car at the car park on the R532 and walk up a path to the potholes.
The path winds its way through the rocky outcrops, offering spectacular photo opportunities from the footbridges. Admission to Bourke’s Luck Potholes is approximately €8.
Bourke's Luck Potholes
As you may have read, there are many beautiful places to visit in Mpumalanga and in addition to those we have indicated there are many more! We hope that our article and photos have aroused your curiosity and desire to spend some time exploring this area of South Africa, still little visited by tourists but rich in unique views. Keep following us through the newsletter and our social channels and, above all… trip to try!
© Trip To Try - This website idea comes from Barbara and Riccardo and their love for travel to bring home new amazing experience from other cultures and beautiful places around the world. We hope you enjoy our site and our style!
Feel free to Contact Us to share with us your opinion and suggestion!
Privacy - Sitemap