THE PANORAMA ROUTE.

SABIE.

Sabie is perfectly situated geographically for Visitors to be able to make it their base for a number of days, whilst they explore this entire region of great natural beauty. As Sabie is central to most of the area’s attractions, Guests can spend a number of days travelling around in all directions, without having to uproot themselves daily, in search of new accommodation!

As well as all the local scenic beauty,there are a number of attractions right on our own doorstep. THE FORESTRY MUSEUM, situated in the middle of town , is the only one of its kind in the whole of South Africa. Near F N B is a “Jock of the Bushveld” memorial plaque, and opposite , on the external walls of The Post Office are some pictorial Tiles, dating back to the 1930,s.

Sabie is the Mountain Bike and adventure Capital of South Africa, and the active and adventurous can hire Mountain Bikes, as well as undertake the following activities: Tubing/Geckoing, Canyoning/Kloofing, Abseil Waterfalls, White Water Rafting and Caving by Candlelight. KESTELL ADVENTURES will look after you, should you feel energetic. Call Kestell on 072 351 5553.

The Long Tom Pass starts immediately one leaves Sabie on the R37, and is a 56 km scenic and historic trip , rising to a height of 2250 kms at The Mauchsberg, has Misty Mountain and Hops Hollow Brewery en-route, as well as The Long Tom Replica Boer War Cannon, before culminating in the Administrative Town of Lydenburg.

WATERFALLS.

There are many beautiful Waterfalls within the region. Some are in very easy reach of Wayfarers itself! Turn left out of our Gates, and drive for 700 metres, cross the main road, and continue for about 9 kms, until you reach LONE CREEK FALLS. It is literally the end of the road, and also the start of the Sabie River. Lone Creek is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the entire area, with a drop of some 70 metres, over a rock face which has been dated at some 3.6 billion years. The rocks are Stromatalites, which only form on the sea bed. There is a short walk through a small forest, and the Falls are viewed from a very close distance, by standing on a new , wooden bridge. This is a permanent Water Fall, unlike BRIDAL VEIL, which can be viewed about half way to Lone Creek on the right hand side, half way up the hillside. Just before Lone Creek Falls, on the left, is a dirt road which leads one to HORSE SHOE FALLS.

Upon returning to the Main Road, turn left onto the R532, Graskop Road, and immediately turn left, over the road bridge, into Williams Memorial Park. Under the bridge can be found Sabie Falls, and a view back along the Sabie River and Gorge.

Exit the Park, and turn left, and continue on the R532 towards Graskop. After about 11kms, turn right onto the short road leading to MAC MAC POOLS, where there is a small waterfall, pools formed by the clear mountain stream, where one can safely swim, and The Secretary Bird Trail for those energetic guests who like to Hike. There are also Braai (barbecue) facilities here for those who fancy a PicNic.

Next door to Mac Mac Pools are the MAC MAC FALLS, and a very good permanent Curio Market.

Continue on your journey towards Graskop, and you will cross the old, defunct railway line. On the left can be found MARIA SHIRES FALLS, next to the road, and on the right is a Car Park, where one can park, and embark on a beautiful 7 km round trip to FOREST FALLS, one of the rare horizontal water features in the area.

After 26 kms the traveller reaches a Y shaped intersection, left to PILGRIMS REST, and right to GRASKOP. Pilgrims Rest is now a National Monument, and of great historical interest, being the first recorded site where Gold was found in South Africa, in the 1870’s. It is a “One Horse Town” full of reminders of the past, and a Living Museum, as building is forbidden, and everything remains as it was more than a Century ago!

Graskop is a lively little Tourist and Forestry town, with many Restaurants , Curio Shops and Guest Houses, famous for its Pancakes. Just up the road, on the right, is a loop, which takes you to THE PINNACLE and the World Famous GODS WINDOW, where on a clear day, one can see for ever!

On the left hand side, near Gods Window, are LISBON and BERLIN FALLS, both picturesque, in their own different ways!

THE BLYDE RIVER CANYON.

Continue North on the R532, and enter THE BLYDE RIVER CANYON, the Largest green or living Canyon on this Planet. Must see places are BOURKES LUCK POTHOLES about 65 kms from Wayfarers, where the Treur and Blyde Rivers have woven mystical shapes into the rocks, over millions of years, and some ten minutes further up the road, THE THREE RONDAVELS and BLYDEPOORT DAM, where the scenery and landscape is absolutely breathtaking.

At all the major attractions are very good, permanent Curio Markets, where negotiating for a better price, is the accepted order of the day! If there is still time, continue North, through the J G Strijdom Tunnel, and visit THE ECHO CAVES.

Feeling peckish, and need a wonderful Lunch, al fresco, then return towards Graskop, and some 8 kms South of Bourkes Luck Potholes, on the left is THE POTLUCK BOSKOMBUIS RESTAURANT, situated right on the banks of The Treur River. Treur means Sad, but this Resaurant is nothing but a very Joyful experience. Take cash, as there are no Credit Card facilities.

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK.

Just 56 kms from Wayfarers Guest House, is the Mpumalanga Jewel in the South African Tourist Industry Crown, THE KRUGER NATIONAL PARK. A day trip into “The Park” is a must for those Guests staying a few days with ourselves. Phabeni Gate is the place to enter , 12 kms on the other side of Hazyview. Stay on the S1, Doispane Road, which is often very productive, and call in at Nyamundwa Dam on the right, and Lake Panic Bird Hide, which is just 8km before Skukuza. Follow the Sabie River down to Lower Sabie, and Sunset Dam.

Keep an eye on the time, as it passes very quickly when you are game viewing, and there are plenty of animal and bird species to keep you very occupied!

OTHER ATTRACTIONS

In the Lowveld region there are just too many different wonderful places to be able to do them all justice here. However to name but a few, there are The Botanical Gardens in Nelspruit, Elephant Whispers in Hazyview, Casterbridge, with its Shops , Restaurants and Motor Museum, just outside White River and The Sudwala Caves , en route for the N4, and Chimp Eden on the way to Barberton. All are within an hour of Wayfarers.

And for more information about our beautiful area, just talk to Chris and Merle!