A white background with a few lines on it
Sable Tours | logo

Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve Photos

Matthew Diederichs • Mar 20, 2024

The Blyde River Canyon is famous for being the largest green canyon in the world. Find out about the mountain and view its landscapes here.

a lake surrounded by mountains and trees on a sunny day

A Short History of Blyde River Canyon


Blyde River canyon is thought to have been formed some 240 million years ago through violent volcanic eruptions and vast rivers of lava, a mite or two younger than the 350 million year old Fish River Canyon in Namibia, and has had a human presence for up to 100 thousand years. Local tribes have regarded the mountain with spiritual reverence for generations as well as early pioneers, this is represented heavily through the names of its features.

a panoramic view of a river surrounded by mountains and trees .

In 1864 a famous battle took place betweeen Chief Maripe Mashile and King Mswati II's swazi raiding party. Chief Maripe won the battle through cunning planning and thus the main mountain Mariepskop is derived from his name as well as the Klaserie River which is an Afrikaans distortion of Motlasedi meaning 'where the battle occurred'.

a river flowing through a canyon surrounded by rocks and water .

Named after the man Tom Bourke who found signs of gold in these Giant's Kettles. Unfortunately for Bourke he misjudged the distances and never struck a vein but men afterwards following his story struck it rich a little further south.


Rich with plants, animals and history, Blyde River Canyon is a place worth visiting.

a view of a river surrounded by mountains on a cloudy day
an aerial view of a river surrounded by mountains
a lake with mountains in the background and trees on the shore .

Blyderivierspoort Dam


Blyde Dam was completed in 1974, is 71m high, 22m deep and was built for industrial and agricultural irrigation covering an area of 23,521 hectares. Nowadays with the energy requirements and water patterns of the lowveld the dam is used less often than it once was although it often overflows from the summer rains and feeds into a tributary of the Ohrigstad River.


Today there are some beautiful boat cruises guests can go on to discover more of the river, and hikes around the dam are also possible.


If you're in any guided tours of the are be sure to click the button below.
Blyderivierspoort Tours
a view of a mountain range with a river in the middle of it .
an aerial view of a lush green mountain range with a blue sky in the background .
a view of a mountain range with a rock in the foreground
a view of a canyon with mountains in the background

Where and What is God's Window


God's Window is located on the southeastern escarpment of the Klein Drakensburg mountain range. It one of the last (or first depending on how you begin) stops of the Panorama Route (along with Bourke's Luck Potholes and Lisbon Falls) and is a major tourist attraction in Mpumalanga.


It was named as such for it's amazing panoramic views. Stories full of strange phenomenon, visions and hallucinations revolve around this place. The view goes on for well over a 100km almost bending light around the mountain faces. Go on a clear day and you may just be able to see the sparkle of the Indian Ocean teasing your eyes.


Try our Panorama Route Tour to see all of the majestic sights the mountain range has to offer.
Panorama Route Tour
a view of a valley from the top of a mountain .

A Map of the Panorama ROute

Above you'll find the Panorama Route Map with most of the major locations listed. Pilgrims Rest is also a stopping point where with us you can authentically look for gold and get a certificate for it should you find any (of course you can keep it prospector!). Treur Falls is also a beautiful stop along the way which got it's name from Hendrik Potgieter's companions that thought their men who were scouting had perished ('treur' meaning 'mourning' in Dutch). It so happens that they met the thought-to-be-dead party at a second river which they named 'Blyde' meaning 'happy'.


We at Sable Tours are experts on what this land has to offer and are only too glad to share it. Please let us know what we can do for you in the contact form below.

Let us know what interests you

Follow Us

Our Tours

Share The Content

Mariepskop Mountain

By Matthew Diederichs • 25 Apr, 2024
Mariepskop Mountain is one of the most spectacular aspects of Hoedspruit and its surrounds. Here you can find out more about the Mount Olympus of the Lowveld.
A jeep is parked on a dirt road in the woods.

The Ultimate Guide to Activities in Hoedspruit

By Matthew Diederichs • 27 Mar, 2024
Hoedspruit is regarded for its extraordinary wildlife. Most people howevr focus so much on the animals that they miss the opportunities the land itself has to offer. Here at Sable Tours we've put together a breakdown of just about everything you can do in Hoedspruit and its surrounding areas.
A view of a mountain range with a rock in the foreground

Everything You Need to Know About the Three Rondavels

By Matthew Diederichs • 25 Mar, 2024
The three rondavels are major icons of the famous blyde river canyon. Here We'll explain how they came to be and their significance in south african culture.
a hot air balloon is being loaded with people

Go On An African Adventure With Sable Tours

By Matthew Diederichs • 29 Feb, 2024
Everyone wants to explore the mysterious continent of Africa but Africa is HUGE and where to begin? Start with us. Start here in the Lowveld and the Greater Kruger area where the sand is red with the blood of its history and the locals are as much a part of the wilderness as the animals. Here you can learn all the necessary skills, tricks and tips to venture beyond and explore the land which was once so long ago our ancestral home.

Here Are 5 Must Do Tours For Travellers

By Matthew Diederichs • 21 Feb, 2024
With so much to choose from in the Hoedspruit area, just listing 5 can be a challenge. But we have put our best people on it, and this is our list of 5 must do tours for travellers making their way through! Our 5 Must do List Exploring the Mariepskop summit Going on a game drive through Kruger Park Panning for gold in Pilgrims Rest A visit to Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre The Blyde River Canyon boat cruise Of course there are dozens of other things to do but these five can be fit into a 4 day period, potentially even 3 if you happen to have the energy levels of a teenager! Each trip is one that will leave you with memories for a lifetime and will surely bring you back for another round at your soonest convenience.
a view of a mountain range with trees and rocks

How Mariepskop Bridges Kruger Park and the Panorama Route

By Matthew Diederichs • 20 Feb, 2024
Mariepskop mountain is the stepping stone by which one rises from the gently rolling hills and rivers Kruger Park, and indeed the Greater Kruger, lay upon. To the ancient sentinels that provide the mighty fortress of the lowveld. This land is dripping with history, culture, riches, blood and unlikely friendships. This is the land that made South Africa into what it is known for today in the most profound of subtleties. A journey through all of it is a crucial piece of the rainbow puzzle that is South Africa. We will be focusing on Mariepskop and the Panorama Route in this article if you want to know more about Kruger Park click here to find what you're looking for.
More Posts
Share by: