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Webmaster's Note
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Pilgrim's
Rest is located in close proximity to Nature's most
breathtaking scenic wonders on the Panorama Route.
Here, on the Escarpment of the Drakensberg Mountains, you can relax
in peace and in tranquility.
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Sightseeing in the Surrounding Area
 
Robbers Pass
Wild Horses
God's Window & Wonder View
The Pinnacle Rock
Lisbon Falls
Berlin Falls
Bourke's Luck Potholes
Lowveld View
Three Rondawels
Blyde River Canyon
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Cross over the Joubert Bridge in Downtown Pilgrim's and follow the R533
road to the top of Robbers Pass (12 km from Pilgrim's). This road, now
an easy-going tarred highway, follows the same route that the stage coaches and
transport wagons traveled to and from Pilgrim's Rest. Not only does
the road to Robbers Pass offer some breathtaking views, it is also steeped in
history.
In 1899 two masked and armed highwaymen held
up the stage coach and robbed it of £10,000 worth of gold. They were
never brought to justice. The second robbery (in the exact same spot)
happened 13 years later (1912). The number 13 must have been an
unlucky one for the robber (Tommy Dennison), for not only was his horse
recognised, he also paid off his debts in town with the looted silver.
Tommy was arrested and sentenced to jail for five years. He returned
to Pilgrim's Rest as a local celebrity to start the Highwayman's
Garage.
 Be on the
lookout for the "Jock of the Bushveld" way mark on the pass.
It testifies to the fact that transport riders like Percy Fitzpatrick and
his now famous dog "Jock", used this route.
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As you drive up Robbers Pass,
keep an eye open for a herd of wild horses on the right-hand side of the
road on the Morgenzon plantation. If you do spot them consider
yourself very fortunate, as they are seldom seen.
These horses originated from breeding studs near
Dullstroom where horses were bred for the stage coaches that
serviced Pilgrim's Rest and Natal from Pretoria. During the Anglo-Boer War
these horses were rounded up one day and used by the Boer forces, under
Commandant Muller, in a night stampede on the 1st Liverpool
Regiment of the British army. After the stampede the scattered horses, over time, migrated to Kaapsehoop (a village
near Nelspruit), and to the Morgenzon area above Pilgrims Rest.
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 God's
Window - so called for the panoramic view of the Lowveld (and in the
distance the Kruger National Park and Mozambique) more than 900 m below
- is 9.2 km north of Graskop on the R534 road. From the parking area a
steep footpath along the edge of the escarpment leads to the actual view
site where there is a Wild Nature Reserve.
Wonder View is about 2 km north of God's Window. At an altitude of
1,730 m this is the highest viewpoint in the area. No walking necessary as
the viewpoint is right next to the road. Choose a clear day to best
enjoy the views from both God's Window and Wonder View.
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 The
Pinnacle Rock, a tower-like freestanding quartzite buttress which rises 30 m
above the dense indigenous forest, is 6 km north of Graskop on the R534 road
(a scenic loop off the R532 road). To the right of the Pinnacle Rock is the
first of eight small waterfalls in the Ngwaritsane stream.
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North of Graskop, where the R534 rejoins the R532 road, you turn left (back
towards Graskop) for 800 m and then right onto a gravel road. The
falls is a further 2.2 km. At 92 m the Lisbon Falls is the
highest waterfall in the area.
There is no entry fee to visit this waterfall.
Caution: Stay well clear of the
edge, as the rocks are extremely slippery, especially when wet!
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 From
Lisbon Falls you drive back to the tar road (R532) and turn left (north).
Drive for 2 km (past the R534 turnoff) and then turn off left.  Drive
past the Berlin Sawmill and at 2 km from the main road, turn left and park
at the parking area. A short walk takes you to a vantage point
overlooking the 45 m high Berlin Falls.
Lisbon Falls is a declared National monument and there is no entry fee to
visit this waterfall.
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 This
natural water feature marks the beginning of the Blyde River Canyon.
Through countless eons the swirling whirlpools which occur as the Treur
River plunges into the Blyde River, caused waterborne sand and rock to grind
huge, cylindrical potholes into the bedrock of the river.
The Potholes were named after a gold digger, Tom Bourke, who staked a
claim nearby. Although his claim did not produce a single ounce of
gold, he correctly predicted that large gold deposits would be found in the
area.
The Potholes is located 35km north of Graskop town on the R532 road. The
informative visitors centre details some of the interesting natural and
socio-historic features and is the starting point of the 700m walk to the
potholes. Picnic facilities available.
Entry Fees: (valid until October 2009)
R25/adult
R15/kid under 12 years
R10/learner (group bookings in advance)
Plus: R5/car, R30/combi, R50/bus
Contact: 073 774-3617
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 This
viewpoint, between Bourke's Luck Potholes and the Three Rondawels on the
R532 north of Graskop, offers stunning views of the Blyde River Canyon, the
Blyde Dam and the Lowveld beyond.
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Webmaster's Note
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"Rondawel"
is a South African word that refers to a round hut-like dwelling (usually
with a thatched roof).
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 Further
north along the R532 road, the turnoff to the Three Rondawels viewpoint is
4.6 km from the Lowveld View turnoff (41 km north of Graskop) and the
parking area another 2.8 km further. The three well known gigantic peaks of
quartzite and shale with their sheer rock walls tower more than 700 m
above the surrounding landscape. These peaks are named after the three
most troublesome wives of Chief Maripi Mashile - they are (from left to
right) Magabolle, Mogoladikwe and Maseroto.
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 The
25 km long Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world
and was formed by rivers cutting deep into the escarpment and eroding
millions of tons of rock which were carried to the Lowveld and beyond to the
Indian Ocean. More than 700 m below the 370 ha Blyde River
Dam is visible towards the lower end of the canyon at the confluence of the
Blyde and Ohrigstad Rivers.
One of the best viewpoints of the Blyde River
Canyon is from the parking lot behind the chalets at the Aventura Blydepoort
Nature Reserve Resort, 51 km north of Graskop on the R532 road.
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More
Sightseeing ...
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Pilgrim's
Rest is located close to a number of other towns and tourist
hot spots, as well as the Kruger National Park.
For even more things to see and do,
visit the Sabie
and Graskop
websites.
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"You are never too late for the Gold Rush!"
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