Page 339 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa
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viewed from the road that
overlooks the canyon – the
other two are World’s End and
Lowveld View.
Bourke’s Luck Potholes
Open 7am–5pm daily. & -
Grit and stones carried by the
swirling waters at the conflu
ence of the Blyde (“joyful”)
and Treur (“sad”) rivers have
carved these extraordinary
holes. The name “Bourke’s
Luck” comes from Tom Bourke,
a prospector who worked a
claim here in the vain hope
that he would find gold.
The Three Rondavels in Blyde River Canyon The visitor centre includes
an exhibition outlining the
6 Blyde River views of the escarpment and its geological history of the area.
Canyon soaring cliffs. It also passes the
scenic Panorama Gorge, with its
Road map F2. On R534. } feathery waterfall.
The fastflowing Blyde River
has, over the centuries, carved Forever Resorts Swadini
its way through 700 m (2,300 ft) On R531. Tel 015 795 5141.
of shale and quartz ite to create Open daily. ∑ foreverswadini.co.za
a scenic jumble of cliffs, islands, This resort, set deep in the
plateaus and bushcovered canyon on the shores of Blyde
slopes that form a 20km poort, offers accommodation, a
(12mile) canyon. At the heart restaurant and a base for
of this canyon lies the boating trips on the dam. The
Blydepoort Dam. visitors centre and lowlevel
Blyde means “river of joy”, and view site have information on
the river was named after the dam and the Kadishi Falls,
Voortrekker Hendrik Potgieter the world’s largest active tufa
and his party returned safely (calcium carbonate) formation.
from an expedition to Delagoa The Pinnacle, seen from one of the
Bay (Mozambique) in 1844. The Three Rondavels viewpoints on the Panorama Route
abundant flora in the canyon Resembling the traditional
ranges from lichens and mosses cylindrical huts of the Xhosa or Panorama Route
to montane forest, orchids and Zulu, these three hills were The 18km (11mile) stretch of
other flowering plants. shaped by the erosion of soft the R534 that loops along the top
rock beneath a harder rock “cap” of the cliff, right at the very edge
Exploring the Blyde River that eroded more slowly. The of the escarpment, is a scenic
Canyon Nature Reserve capping of Black Reef quartzite marvel. Wonder view and God’s
A 300km (186mile) circular supports a growth of evergreen Window may sound like purely
drive from Graskop via Bos bush. The Three Rondavels is fanciful names until one explores
bokrand, Klaserie, Swadini one of three sites that can be the sites and stands in silent awe
and Bourke’s Luck affords at the breathtaking scenery.
panoramic vistas of the
escarp ment rising above the The Pinnacle
plains, the Blydepoort Dam This impressive column of rock,
and the breathtaking view also on the Panorama Route,
deep into the canyon itself. appears to rise sheer from a base
There are several overnight of evergreen foliage. An optical
trails and short walks, and illusion seems to place it almost
accommoda tion is available within reach. Exposed layers of
at the resorts of Swadini and sandstone show the rock’s
Blyde Canyon. sedimentary origins. It becomes
clear that, even at this lofty
Kowyn’s Pass height above present sea level,
The tarred R533 between Gras Bourke’s Luck Potholes, formed the top of the escarpment was
kop and the Lowveld provides by unusual patterns of erosion once covered by a primordial sea.
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