All You Need to Know About the Panorama Route in South Africa
The Panorama Route, a long stretch of road that’ll take you along the twists and turns of the Drakensberg in Mpumalanga, past small towns, a myriad of waterfalls, strange and unusual rock formations, and a canyon, is one of South Africa’s best kept secrets.
For an attraction that is so interesting and beautiful, few tourists travel this far east, unless they are travelling to the Kruger National Park.
Since the Panorama Route is a very short drive from the park, seeing both of these attractions during a single trip is one way to have the most exciting holiday.
If you’re soon to be travelling to South Africa, to see the famous Kruger, you should think about extending your trip to include the Panorama Route, and this is why:
Why Is the Panorama Route Famous?
The Panorama Route has earned its reputation as one of the most scenic drives in Africa, and once you have stood at a viewpoint watching clouds drift through a forest-clad gorge 800 metres below you, it is not difficult to understand why.
The route follows the northeastern section of the Great Escarpment through the Mpumalanga Highlands, where the plateau drops sharply into the Lowveld in a series of staggering cliffs, waterfalls, and canyon landscapes.
It is centred around the Blyde River Canyon, the third largest canyon on Earth and the only green canyon in the world, thanks to its dense subtropical vegetation.
The route is also steeped in gold rush history, it has a colonial heritage, and it is home to plenty of geological wonders that have been millions of years in the making.
What Attractions Do You See on the Panorama Route?
The highlights come thick and fast on this route, and every stop is well worth visiting. These are the most popular attractions worth seeing:
- God’s Window, which is a 900-metre-high viewpoint where, on a clear day, you can see the Lowveld stretching all the way to the Mozambique border over 200 km away.
- Bourke’s Luck Potholes, which are a series of extraordinary cylindrical formations carved into the bedrock by centuries of swirling river water, and they are both photogenic and fascinating to look at.
- The Three Rondavels, which are three remarkable rock formations rising from the canyon like enormous traditional huts, with the Blyde River Canyon behind them.
- Lisbon Falls, which, at 94 metres, is Mpumalanga’s tallest waterfall.
Does Kurt Safari Offer the Panorama Route as a Tour?
Yes, and it is one of the most popular additions to any Kurt Safari itinerary.
Kurt Safari’s Full Day Panorama Tour covers the route’s signature attractions including God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the Blyde River Canyon and the Three Rondavels viewpoint, with an expert guide bringing the history and geology of the region to life along the way.
The tour is conducted in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle, departs from Hazyview and wraps up by 16:00, leaving guests with a relaxed evening ahead.
For those looking to combine the Panorama Route with a Kruger safari, Kurt Safari also offers 4 and 5-day packages that include both, making it easy to see the best of Mpumalanga without any of the logistics.
Is the Panorama Route Something Different from a Typical Safari?
Very much so, and that is precisely what makes it a great choice.
Where a Kruger safari is more of a bush experience, where your days are spent looking for wildlife, the Panorama Route is more of a scenic and cultural trip.
Instead of looking out for wildlife, while on a Panorama Route tour, you’ll have canyon viewpoints, cascading waterfalls, forested escarpments, and gold rush.
The two experiences complement each other beautifully, by giving you entirely different moods and memories. Many guests find that a Panorama day trip adds a much welcomed bit of variety and depth to an otherwise safari-focused trip, turning a wildlife holiday into something much more interesting.
Is the Panorama Route Suited to Families of All Ages?
It is wonderfully well suited to families, and one of the reasons why it works so well is that it asks very little of its visitors, physically.
Most of the major attractions, including God’s Window and Bourke’s Luck Potholes, have short, well-maintained walking paths and scenic viewpoints that are accessible to all ages and fitness levels.
Most tours are conducted in comfortable, air-conditioned vehicles, making it an easy and enjoyable day out for younger children and older travellers alike.
Book a Tour to See the Panorama Route
A few of Kurt Safari’s tour packages include a full day spent travelling through the Panorama Route. It is the kind of day that will leave you wide eyed in wonder, and with a very full camera memory card, regardless of how old you are.
