GOD'S WINDOW. and other Mpumalanga, South Africa Things to Do Tips

Leave a Comment

Pilgrim's Rest is an entire town lovingly preserved just as it was in the days of the old prospectors.
Its architecture, based on the principle of corrugated iron on wooden frames, is seen clearly in buildings like The Royal Hotel and Dredzen & Company general Store , which carries items and fittings from the late 1800's.

In 1986 the town was declared a National Monument.

Places to visit include, The Central Information Office on Main Street, which gives an essential overview of Pilgrim's Rest colourful past.

Alanglade the former residence of the General Manager of the mine.The Printing museum, the Dredzen Shop and House museum, Robbers Grave, Pilgrim's Hut and Diggings at the edge of the town.

Leave a Comment

Leave a Comment

The series of caverns called the Sudwala Caves are one of South Africa's major attractions. The caves are believed to be about 2 000 million years old and contain not only stalagmites and stalagtites, but also the fossilised remains of 'collenia' a form of algae that it is believed life on earth evolved from.

Prehistoric man used the Sudwala Caves for shelter and although there is a constant flow of fresh air in the caves, no one knows where it comes from. The caves were discovered in the early 19th century during a Swazi succession melodrama. The find was made by Somquba, son of Swazi king Sobhuza I, who, with his followers, fled here in fear of his brother Mswati. The dispute also involved substantial numbers of royal cattle.

Somquba and his people built a village next to the entrance to the caves, where they hid every time Mswati and his punitive parties arrived on the scene. Several times Mswati and his men vainly made huge fires in the entrance to smoke out his quarry. One day they struck unexpectedly and killed Somquba and many of his tribesmen. Those who survived stayed on under a headman or Induna by the name of Sudwala, hence the name - Sudwala Caves.

Leave a Comment

Where the Blyde River ("river of joy") and the Treur River ("river of sorrow") meet, water erosion has formed one of the most remarkable geological phenomena in the country, known as the Bourke's Luck Potholes. Over thousands of years, surreal cylindrical rock sculptures created by whirling water, have formed a series of dark pools which contrast artfully with the streaked white and yellow lichen covered rocks.

Leave a Comment

Few will ever forget their first glimpse of the spectacular gorge, the Blyde River Canyon. The gorge is the third largest in the world and one of South Africa's scenic wonders. The Blyde River Canyon is the kind of place where brochures and guide books run out of original adjectives to describe the fresh mountain scenery and magnificent panoramic views.

At the ‘Three Rondavels viewpoint’ (also called ‘The Three Sisters’) is an unforgettable view of three huge rock spirals rising out of the far wall of the Blyde River Canyon. Their tops appear to have a hut-like rounded roof. Where the Blyde River (‘river of joy’) and the Treur River (‘river of sorrow’) meet, water erosion has formed one of the most remarkable geological phenomena in the country, known as ‘Bourke’s Luck Potholes’. Over thousands of years, surreal cylindrical rock sculptures created by whirling water, have formed a series of dark pools which contrast artfully with the streaked white and yellow lichen covered rocks.

Following the road and the Treur River south, there are further viewpoints; Wonder View, God’s Window and the Pinnacle. Their names help to conjure up the indescribable enormity and vastness of the scenery, but nothing can take the place of the sheer wonderment you feel when seeing this kind of natural magnitude for yourself.

Leave a Comment

Nelspruit Mpumalanga South Africa
The turnoff to the Lowveld Botanical Gardens is situated on the R40 to White River, about three kilometres from the centre of Nelspruit. Set in spectacular scenery on the banks of the Crocodile River, this is one of Mpumalanga 's most magnificent botanical gardens featuring a waterfall and many rare lowveld species.

The huge diversity of plants includes South Africa's best collection of indigenous ferns, 500 tree species and the rare cycads for which the garden is famous. A number of trails meander through the garden, which is at its best in summer.

Leave a Comment