Blyde River Canyon

The Blyde River Canyon (recently renamed the Motlatse) is the third deepest canyon in the world (after the Grand Canyon in the western U.S. and Namibia's Fish Eagle Canyon). It ranks as one of the most spectacular sights in Africa.

The Blyde River Canyon is a significant natural feature of South Africa, located in Mpumalanga, and forming the northern part of the Drakensberg escarpment. While it is difficult to compare canyons world-wide, Blyde River Canyon is one of the largest canyons on Earth, and it may be the largest ´green canyon´ due to its lush subtropical foliage.

Beneath the Canyon the Blyde River yields the unique and critically threatened Lowveld Riparian Forest, which now covers only 100 hectares in extent.

Sudwala Caves

The Sudwala Caves are the oldest known caves in the world, and as such, are a `must-see' on the itinerary of any visitor to Mpumalanga. These incredible caverns lie in the Drakensberg escarpment which separates the Highveld from the lowlands of Mpumalanga. The caves are situated in Pre-cumbrian dolomite rocks of the Malmani Group, formed over a period of some 3000 million years, capturing in stone a time when the area was covered by warm shallow in-land seas. These are amongst the second oldest known sedimentary rocks on the earth, and represented in the cave are fossils of the first oxygen producing plants on the earth, Collenia. One can clearly see in the different layers and textures in the rock a reflection of the result of the different weather patterns taking place in the building of an ancient seabed. Besides the awesome rock displays the caverns also boast an array of calcium formations, aged but active, anciently and patiently still growing.

Pilgrims Rest

Mining in this region of Mpumalanga dates back many centuries, when unknown miners worked quartz reefs in the area for gold. Proof of these diggings can still be found in this area.

The history of this small delightful village dates back to 1873 when a miner, Alex Patterson, discovered alluvial gold on the farm named Ponieskrantz.

What he had found in this beautiful valley drew optimistic gold panners and prospectors from all over the country and the World (news of gold strikes of this magnitude travel fast !).

Lowveld Botanical Garden

The Lowveld National Botanical Garden occupies an outstandingly beautiful site in the subtropical heart of Mpumalanga Province. Situated on the picturesque banks of the Crocodile River, it boasts spectacular scenery, wonderful picnic spots and peace and tranquillity as only nature can provide.

It is the only Botanical Garden in this province and is within easy reach of other well-known tourist attractions such as the Kruger National Park, God’s Window, Pilgrim’s Rest, The Pinnacle and Blyde River Canyon, to name but a few.