The Panorama Route is one of the most beautiful roads in South Africa. This 180 km long road runs from the Erasmus Pass to Sabie, along the village Graskop. It takes you through some breathtaking landscapes along many interesting stops, such as waterfalls and viewpoints. In this blogpost, we have listed all our favorite stops in the right order to help you decide where to stop along the scenic road.
Overview
Fly with Air Belgium
Did you know you can fly directly from Brussels to Johannesburg or Cape Town with Air Belgium? Not only did we enjoy the fact that we had a direct flight, we were also super satisfied with the service on board: super friendly staff, very tasty food and great comfort during the flight! We highly recommend Air Belgium if you fly from Brussels.
Outside of South Africa, they offer many other great destinations in Africa. So be sure to check out their website!
Tips
- At some stops you have to pay an entrance fee. This is not always possible with a card. You should therefor always have some cash with you.
- Make sure you start the panorama route with a full gas tank, so you don’t have to worry about this along the way.
- You can do the Panorama Route in one day if you start early. We took it easy and did it in two days. We recommend staying in Graskop. It is the perfect stopover or base for exploring this beautiful route.
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Three Rondavels
- 24° 34′ S, 30° 47′ E
The Three Rondavels are remarkable rock formations and an impressive first stop along the Panorama Route. These rocks look like traditional African huts, called Rondavels, and stand tall with their ancient beauty. Note that the weather must be clear to enjoy this beautiful view. Besides these impressive rugged cliffs, you also get an incredible view of the Blyde River Canyon here.
Practical
70 ZAR (€ 3,50) per person
You can pay by card if there is no loadshedding
Daily: 07:00 AM to 05:00 PM
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Bourke's Luck Potholes
- 24° 40′ S, 30° 48′ E
The second stop on the Panorama Route, is a remarkable natural site called Bourke’s Luck Potholes. These unique formations were created by the powerful force of water of the two rivers ‘Blyde’ and ‘Treur’, that come together here. They look like round holes and beautifully shaped rocks with different colors and patterns. People love visiting Bourke’s Luck Potholes because it’s like seeing nature’s own artwork.
Practical
130 ZAR (€ 6,40) per person
You can usually pay by card
Daily: 07:00 AM to 05:00 PM
Berlin falls
- 24° 50' S, 30° 50' E
One of the many beautiful waterfalls on the Panorama Route is the Berlin Falls. It takes its name from gold rush miners from Europe that named each waterfall in the region after their home towns or places. This 80 meter high waterfall is surrounded by lush plants and tall cliffs, creating a beautiful display.
Practical
16 ZAR (€ 0,80) per person
You can usually pay by card if there is no loadshedding
Daily: 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM
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Lisbon Falls
- 24° 51' S, 30° 50' E
The highest waterfall of the Panorama Route is the Lisbon falls. Just like the Berlin Falls, it got its name from the European gold rush miners. It is a 94 meter high waterfall, surrounded by lush greenery and towering cliffs. There used to be a path along which you could walk all the way down. Unfortunately this is no longer accesible at the moment, but you can still admire the beauty of the waterfall from various viewpoints at the top.
Practical
16 ZAR (€ 0,80) per person
You can usually pay by card if there is no loadshedding
Daily: 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM
God's window & rainforest
- 24° 52′ S, 30° 53′ E
God’s Window is a famous viewpoint, but not the most impressive in our opinion. What makes this stop worth a visit is the Rainforest. Here, you walk over through a peaceful green oasis, over wooden boardwalks, between towering trees and lush greens.
Practical
40 ZAR (€ 2,00) per person
You can only pay cash
Daily: 07:00 AM to 05:00 PM
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Mac Mac Falls
- 25° 00′ S, 30° 48′ E
Another stop, another beautiful waterfall: the Mac Mac Falls. This impressive waterfall plunges from a height of 65 meters into the valley. Nice to know is that this waterfall did not arise naturally. Hundreds of years ago, a river simply flowed here. After gold rush miners found gold in this river, they blew up this place and that’s how the valley and this beautiful waterfall came into being. The pity about this place is that they put a big cage around the viewpoint, which spoils the view a bit.
Practical
16 ZAR (€ 0,80) per person
You can only pay cash
Daily: 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM
Lone creek falls
- 25° 06' S, 30° 42' E
Finally, our personal favorite: the Lone Creek Falls. It is a 70 meter high waterfall, surrounded by green plants and rocks covered in moss. After walking along a short, winding path, you come to a small bridge from where you can admire the waterfall up close and really feel the power of the plunging water.
Practical
36 ZAR (€ 1,75) per person
You can usually pay by card
Daily: 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM
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- Last updated July 26, 2023
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