What's up guys! We're doing the Panorama Route here in South Africa,
and in this video, we're going to show you all of the highlights that you can't
miss as well as things you should know before you go. So hope you enjoy it!
The Panorama Route is a breathtaking scenic drive located in the northeastern part of South Africa.
The journey begins at the foot of Long Tom Pass and ends at the stunning Echo Caves,
passing many deep valleys, flowing rivers, cascading waterfalls, natural rock formations,
and spectacular viewpoints. In this video, we show the 10 best stops along the Panorama Route,
moving from the south to the north. a At the end, we also share some travel
tips. Now let's dive in!
We are Zac and Ine. We make help videos about
destinations around the world so you can easily plan your own adventures.
Situated on the beautiful Long Tom Pass, Misty Mountain is an adventure destination with a
variety of activities. The most popular one is the toboggan, an alpine coaster that winds around the
mountain for 1.7 km at a speed of around 45 km per hour. It's a thrilling and beautiful ride.
Other than that, you can also go hiking, mountain biking, or quad biking. We joined
a 1-hour guided quad bike tour, which took us along forestry roads and remote mountain paths.
Surrounded by lush green vegetation, the Mac Mac Falls cascade down a series of rock formations,
creating a picture-perfect scene. A short walkway leads you to the lookout over the falls,
which plummet for about 70 m to the rock pool below. Unfortunately, you have to view these
falls from behind a tall fence for safety reasons. But the view is still incredible.
The Graskop Gorge Lift is another unique experience along the Panorama Route,
offering a range of activities. Whether you want to walk on a suspension bridge,
ride a thrilling zipline, take in views from the lift, go on a relaxing forest walk,
or try an adrenaline-filled rope swing, this place has it all. Each adventure promises a mix of
excitement and natural beauty, and at the center of it all, there's also a spectacular waterfall.
The Pinnacle is a freestanding rock monolith set amidst the dense bush. Two viewpoints provide
unique perspectives of this natural wonder, revealing its various features. They're both
close to each other and only take 5 to 10 minutes to walk to from the parking lot. While you'll
also hear a rushing waterfall, it remains largely hidden from sight at the viewpoint.
One of the most popular viewpoints along the Panorama Route is God's Window. Located on the
edge of the escarpment, this overlook offers intimate views of the Lowveld
below. On a clear day, you can even see all the way to Krueger National Park in
the distance. From the parking lot, it's a short trail up to the first viewpoint.
So if you're at the God's Window Viewpoint, you can actually keep going a little bit
further up into the rainforest and at the top you get an even more expansive view.
The most beautiful waterfall along the Panorama Route in our opinion is the Lisbon Falls. At 94 m,
it's also the highest waterfall in the province. Right next to the parking lot,
you can also find easily accessible viewing platforms at the top of the waterfall. This
provides an impressive perspective of water plummeting down the rocky face to the pool below.
A few years ago, we actually were allowed to swim below the Lisbon Falls,
but it's not allowed anymore. So now you have to drive up the roads out of
the gate and then you can find just a river where you can take a swim.
Situated close to the Lisbon Falls, the Berlin Falls are another stunning
sight to behold. The falls can again be viewed from a platform where you can see
them flow in their full glory. These falls are named after European cities,
because of the European miners that settled in the region during the Gold Rush in the late 1800s.
Bourke's Luck Potholes are a series of strange rock formations which were formed over centuries
by the swirling waters of the rivers. During the Gold Rush era, numerous miners were hoping to find
gold in these potholes, including Mr Tom Bourke, who is the person that these formations were named
after. To visit the potholes, you can take a short walk on the bridges that overlook the rocks below.
The most spectacular site along the Panorama Route is undoubtedly the Blyde River Canyon,
known as the third-largest canyon in the world. The best viewing spot is from the
Three Rondavels site. From the parking lot, if you take the path on the right,
you'll have a great view of the Three Rondavels themselves. These are unique rock formations that
look like traditional African round huts. If you take the path that splits off to the left,
then you'll be able to get a stunning overlook of the Blyde River, as it snakes across the canyon
floor. At an elevation of over 1,200 m, both of these viewpoints make for the best pictures on
the entire Panorama Route. It's also possible to visit the canyon from below and enjoy a scenic
boat cruise, but it does require an additional 1.5 hours of driving from the viewpoint.
The Echo Caves are known to be some of the oldest caves in the world. Guided
tours run daily, offering a glimpse into the fascinating history of these caverns and the
unique formations within them. A 45-minute journey takes you through 2 km of tunnels,
where you'll discover the natural Madonna statue, interesting archaeological finds,
and towering chambers reaching 60 m high. This cave attracts fewer crowds compared to
others in South Africa and it is worth a visit if you have some extra time.
As we promised at the beginning of the video, we'll now share a few travel tips for the Panorama
Route. First, you should take your time. Although it's possible to get a quick overview of the area
in one day, we recommend you plan for at least 2 days on the route so that you can fully enjoy all
the sites and attractions without rushing. Second, we recommend basing yourself in Graskop. It's the
most central location along the Panorama Route and also close to a lot of the highlights. This small
town has many great accommodation options as well as restaurants and other tourist facilities. We
left a link to the place that we stayed at in the description below the video. Third,
you should bring cash with you to the attractions. Every single stop charges an entrance fee,
even the smaller viewpoints like the Pinnacle. Fees vary from 20 Rand to 150 Rand per person.
The more popular sites, like the Bourke's Luck Potholes, are the most expensive ones.
And not all of the stops except credit cards, so having cash with you is essential. Finally,
you should explore beyond the main sights if you have the time. We highlighted some
of the top attractions, but there are also lesser-known ones that are worth a visit,
such as the Forest Falls, Graskop Community Run, Sudwala caves, and Bridal Veil Falls.
Combining the Panorama Route with Kruger National Park is a popular itinerary option if you're doing
a South Africa road trip. We have another full video on our channel about this majestic wildlife
park in case you're interested in learning more about it. And if you're planning your
South Africa trip, we recommend keeping things organized with our interactive travel planner.
Find a discount code in the description below the video. We also included important links
that you'll need for your Panorama Route excursion in the description, such as a
full travel guide with a map of where to stay and eat. We'll catch you on the next adventure!