Blyde River Canyon provides some of South Africa’s most breathtaking scenery and is the third largest gorge in the world, after the Grand Canyon (USA) and Fish River Canyon (Namibia). The 29,000-hectare (71,662-acre) reserve is home to a rich variety of wildlife including rare birds and lichens. At the heart of the nature reserve is the Blyde Dam, which provides a natural habitat for hippo and crocodile, whilst further afield, in the Lowveld plain at the entrance to the canyon, blue wildebeest, waterbuck and zebra can be seen. Popular activities in the reserve include fishing and hiking to beauty spots such as God’s Window, which offers unparalleled views across the canyon and the Lowveld. The town of Pilgrim’s Rest is of particular interest as a former gold-mining town between 1873 and 1972.

For more information on Blyde River Canyon, contact the South African Tourism Board (see Tourist Information above).

Air: Johannesburg International Airport. Rail: Train: Johannesburg Park Station or Pretoria Station. Road: Car: N4 (from Pretoria); N12, then R36, then R532 (from Johannesburg).

South Africa