From the Highveld to the Lowveld—A Road Trip Along South Africa’s Panorama Route

From the

Make the most of your time in South Africa by combining a Kruger National Park Safari with a road trip from Johannesburg to Hazyview in the Lowveld. But, keep in mind some essential tips before hitting the road. Drive on the left and give way, even across the yellow line, to allow speeding drivers to overtake. When someone lets you pass, flash the emergency lights to say, “Thank you!” Do not ignore a pitstop. Situated at petrol stations, they are few and far between. Keep small change in your car for tipping and the tollgate machines not accepting your credit card.

Victorian splendor in the mining town of Pilgrim’s Rest

We set our GPS for Pilgrims Rest in Mpumalanga. The GPS may indicate Witbank, but the signboard on the road reads eMahlaleni since many places in the ‘New’ South Africa have two names. After 140 miles, we hit a winding country road with alluring dams and green forests. We stopped in DullstroomEmnothweni, a popular flyfishing destination, and joined the South Africans for tea and koeksusters at Rose Cottage.

The landscape soon changed to mountainous terrain, and at the top of a crest, we turned into the defunct mining town of Pilgrim’s Rest. After a stroll through its one street, we booked into the historic Royal Hotel, restored to its Victorian glory. We sat down to the renowned dinner buffet, enjoying chili bites, samoosas, and whole snoek baked in lemon and black pepper as starters, and melktert as dessert. We washed down the gold roast pork main course with copious glasses of Pinotage, South Africa’s signature red wine.

Early the next morning, we stopped at The Three Rondavels (hills resembling grass huts), also known as The Three Sisters, located at the start

Highveld to the Lowveld:

A Road Trip to Kruger Park along the Panorama Route in South Africa

By Elsa Dixon

of the magnificent Panorama Route. 16-mile long

We could see far into the Lowveld and even beyond to the mountains in Mozambique. The 2625-feet-deep Blyde River Canyon is the third-largest in the world and ranks number one as a verdant gorge.

The phenomenon of Bourkes Potholes

As we parked the car at Bourkes Potholes, we burst out laughing as monkeys ran across the parking bay. Walking across the bridges spanning the deep ravines, we marveled at this geographical phenomenon. During the ages, gushing water, whirlpools, sand, and grinding stones carved out unusual shapes and colors in the rocks.

As with all the viewpoints along the route, visitors pay a small conservation and parking fee at the entrance. There is a path accessible for wheelchairs.

God’s Window, Pinnacle Rock, and Graskop

From God’s Window, we had magnificent views of indigenous forests plunging more than 3000 feet down the ravines. Before leaving, I bought a beautifully crafted African heads statuette at a very reasonable price at the local craft market at the entrance. Scarcely a mile further, we gasped at the sight of a herd of wild horses in the veld. Before reaching Graskop, our final stop was Pinnacle Rock, rising like a giant finger, about a thousand feet up from the surrounding green canyon floor.

As the sunset that evening, we booked into the Graskop Hotel (grassy hill), described by Greenwood Guides as ‘An art gallery you can sleep in.’ We sampled South Africa’s iconic biltong (dried, cured meat strips) while exploring the excellent eateries and curio shops within walking distance.

Down the Blyde River Gorge in an elevator

Early morning, we held our breath as we descended in a glass elevator down the 67-feet-deep

Blyde River gorge past ochre cliffs and the tall Motsitsi waterfall. Inhaling the earthy smells, we followed a 2000-feet informational loop while watching visitors enjoying the Big Swing, zipline, and bungee jumping overhead.

Hazyview, the gateway to the Kruger National Park

Finally, we booked four nights at the Numbi Hotel and Suites in Hazyview, in the lush subtropical Lowveld. We had an exhilarating day meeting pachyderms up close at Elephant Whispers. Then we quad biked along the crocodile-infected Sabie River at Induna Adventures, ending with a mouthwatering South African braai on the farm. Unlike the American barbecue, a braai offers various meats, like lamb chops, boerewors, and sosaties. That night, we enjoyed local fare with the chief at Shangana Cultural Village and stomped with the traditional dancers.

Hazyview is a main gateway to the worldfamous Kruger National Park. We made exciting daily excursions into the Reserve through the Phabeni Gate. There is that element of pleasant surprise, whether you spot one of the Big Five or any one of the many smaller species.

We finally dropped off the rental car at Skukuza airport, from where we took a flight back to Johannesburg, and unforgettable memories back home.

Photos (Top): Giraffe at Kruger National Park; 12 Elephant at Elephant

Whispers in Hazyview, Mpumalanga, South Africa; Baboon at Bourkes

Potholes in Blyde River Canyon, on the Panorama Route, Mpumalanga,

South Africa; (Bottom)Quadbiking at Induna Adventures Hazyview,

Mpumalanga, South Africa; Graskop Gorge Lift ; Wood-carved African figure 54 curio at Blyde River Canyon