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South Africa’s finest waterfalls |
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 Mpumalanga – ‘place of the rising sun’ – could also be called ‘place of many waterfalls’. The circular Panorama Route that starts and ends in the town of Sabie and takes in all the natural attractions of the area, it also includes an unofficial Waterfall Route.
This area of eastern Mpumalanga has more waterfalls than any other area of South Africa – some small cascades and others dramatic curtains of water. While some of the waterfalls can only be seen by hikers, many of the most spectacular ones are actually very close to main roads.
• The Bridal Veil Falls are aptly named and long and narrow, tumbling from a great height to appear as a misty veil.
• Lone Creek Falls are just 10 kilometres west of Sabie on the Lydenburg road. A 200-metre walk through crisp, misty indigenous forest will get you to the base of the falls which tumble from 68m above. [Lone Creek Falls are a national monument and a small entrance fee is charged to see them]
• Mac Mac Falls are 13km from Sabie towards Graskop. Named after Mac Mac village, the site of the 1873 gold rush, this is one of the most unusual waterfalls in the area. To see the falls from above, take a steep walk along a stepped, cement pathway to the viewing platform, from where there’s a spectacular view down onto the double falls. Further downstream are the Mac Mac pools, a series of rocky basins filled with water – and a romantic place to swim. The 65m high Mac Mac Falls have been declared a national monument and a small entrance fee is charged to see them.
• A cascading curtain of water in many tiers, the Forest Falls can only be viewed by following the four-kilometre Forest Falls Nature Walk. Because they require a little effort to see, these falls are not as well visited as most of the others (so there’s a good chance you could enjoy them all on your own).
• Near Sudwala Caves along the Crocodile River are the Montrose Falls. There are actually multiple falls to be seen here – one above and one below the main cascade.
• The Elands River Falls are also a national monument and are actually three separate falls that tumble onto rocks below and then on into a deep cool pool. The falls are just off the N4, between Waterval Boven and Nelspruit.
• The Berlin Falls are just north of the town of Graskop and close to popular God’s Window. One of the most spectacular waterfalls in Mpumalanga, a special observation platform has been built to view these falls from up close – as they plunge 48m into a deep green pool below.
• The Lisbon Falls are just 3km south of the Berlin Falls. At 92-metres high, this is the highest waterfall in the area – and is a magnificent twin fall plunging over a semicircular rockface. A 100-metre walk along a footpath will get you from the parking lot to the base of the falls – and an awesome vantage point.
• Not surprising, the Horseshoe Falls have a circular appearance, and although not very high, are very unusual in appearance. They have also been declared a national monument and are a must see along the route.
• The area also hosts the lesser known Panorama Falls and Maria Shires Falls, which are also worth visiting.
Other Notable Waterfalls in South Africa
• KwaZulu Natal has a series of beautiful waterfalls. Perhaps the most impressive is the Thukela Waterfall – at 948 metres. The Howick Falls are also well-known (where the Umgeni River plunges close to 100m into the gorge below). The Karkloof Falls are also pretty impressive and a great place to picnic.
• The Drakensberg region is known for its waterfalls of all shapes and sizes, and therefore is a favourite spot for hikers. Look out for the Bingine Falls, Ribbon Falls, Sterkspruit Falls, Van Damm’s Cascade, Neptune’s Pool and many others.
• Limpopo province, with its forests and valleys, also has a number of glorious waterfalls on offer. The Debengeni Falls in the Magoebaskloof Mountains are definitely worth a visit.
• The Augrabies Falls National Park in the Northern Province is a nature lover’s paradise. The magnificent 56-metre Augrabies Watefall was called ‘The Place of Great Noise’ by the Khoi people – and they weren’t wrong! This thundering and rather formidable waterfall is complimented by its rocky surroundings and lunar landscapes.
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