Swadini, A Forever Resort

R531 Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve, 1380 Hoedspruit, South Africa – Excellent location - show map

  • All photos (45)
  • 360° panorama (7)

Cleanliness

Value for money

This is a carousel with rotating slides. It displays featured reviews of the property. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate.

Everything in the 2 bedded chalet was spanking brand new. The cottages have been beautifully renovated and are great for a short stay, the resort is well maintained and we enjoyed a very pleasant weekend.

swadini day visit

The canyon the water falls the Drakensberg mountains the history of the area about kgoshi maripe mashile

Very clean, the staff was amazingly friendly. Ruan was top staff member and the gent at the bar was so friendly. We felt safe with the kids running around as the security was very alert.

Staff was friendly, environment was peaceful, a great experience all together

The food from the restaurant. Waking up to some Animals in the morning. Being able to take the boat cruise and swimming in the waterfall.

I like the views. Stayed in the tented camp and it was comfortable and cozy

Close proximity to the Blyde River dam cruise jetty. Lots of animals like baboon, Guinea fowl, Kudu and antelope in the property. Lots of space for leisure walk

swadini day visit

Everything was good and clean.... the mountains next to the resort ,liked them.

I have known Swadini for over 40 years, but it has been more than 20 years since my last visit. I was blown away by how fabulously it is maintained. The pools look remarkable, considering they are almost 50 years old. We only stayed one night, but will be back for a week! There are breathtaking mountain views, fabulous wildlife (you may even spot endangered African painted dogs!) and some of the most spectacular hiking trails on the planet. I went spotlighting at about 10pm and saw thick tailed mongoose, duiker, waterbuck, kudu, a wood owl and several bush babies. There are baboons, vervet monkeys, trumpeter hornbills, Guinea fowl and a myriad of other bird species. This place is paradise.

swadini day visit

The feeling of the most majestic mountains surrounding us.

Excellent location!

swadini day visit

Swadini, A Forever Resort Reserve now

Lock in a great price for Swadini, A Forever Resort - rated 8.6 by recent guests.

Enter dates to get started.

How guest reviews work

Each review score is between 1-10. To get the overall score that you see, we add up all the review scores we’ve received and divide that total by the number of review scores we’ve received. We are currently testing a weighted review system in Malta and Iceland (excluding hotel and vacation rental chains). For properties in these countries, the more recent the review, the bigger the impact on the total review score calculation. In addition, guests can give separate ‘subscores’ in crucial areas, such as location, cleanliness, staff, comfort, facilities, value for money and free Wi-Fi. Note that guests submit their subscores and their overall scores independently, so there’s no direct link between them.

You can review an Accommodation that you booked through our Platform if you stayed there or if you arrived at the property but didn’t actually stay there. To edit a review you’ve already submitted, please contact our Customer Service team.

We have people and automated systems that specialise in detecting fake reviews submitted to our Platform. If we find any, we delete them and, if necessary, take action against whoever is responsible.

Anyone else who spots something suspicious can always report it to our Customer Service team, so our Fraud team can investigate.

Ideally, we would publish every review we receive, whether positive or negative. However, we won’t display any review that includes or refers to (among other things):

  • Politically sensitive comments
  • Promotional content
  • Illegal activities
  • Personal or sensitive information (e.g. emails, phone numbers or credit card info)
  • Swear words, sexual references, hate speech, discriminatory remarks, threats, or references to violence
  • Spam and fake content
  • Animal cruelty
  • Impersonation (e.g. if the writer is claiming to be someone else)
  • Any violation of our review guidelines.

To make sure reviews are relevant, we may only accept reviews that are submitted within 3 months of checking out, and we may stop showing reviews once they’re 36 months old – or if the Accommodation has a change of ownership.

An Accommodation may choose to reply to a review.

When you see multiple reviews, the most recent ones will be at the top, subject to a few other factors (what language a review is in, whether it’s just a rating or contains comments as well, etc.). If you like, you can sort and/or filter them (by time of year, review score, etc.).

We sometimes show external review scores from other well-known travel websites. We make it clear when we’ve done this.

Guidelines and standards for Reviews

These guidelines and standards aim to keep the content on Booking.com relevant and family-friendly without limiting expression of strong opinions. They are also applicable regardless of the sentiment of the comment.

Contributions should be travel related. The most helpful contributions are detailed and help others make better decisions. Please don’t include personal, political, ethical, or religious commentary. Promotional content will be removed and issues concerning Booking.com’s services should be routed to our Customer Service or Accommodation Service teams.

Contributions should be appropriate for a global audience. Please avoid using profanity or attempts to approximate profanity with creative spelling, in any language. Comments and media that include 'hate speech', discriminatory remarks, threats, sexually explicit remarks, violence, and the promotion of illegal activity are not permitted.

All content should be genuine and unique to the guest. Reviews are most valuable when they are original and unbiased. Your contribution should be yours. Booking.com property partners should not post on behalf of guests or offer incentives in exchange for reviews. Attempts to bring down the rating of a competitor by submitting a negative review will not be tolerated.

Respect the privacy of others. Booking.com will make an effort to obscure email addresses, telephone numbers, website addresses, social media accounts, and similar details.

The opinions expressed in contributions are those of Booking.com customers and properties and not of Booking.com. Booking.com does not accept responsibility or liability for any reviews or responses. Booking.com is a distributor (without any obligation to verify) and not a publisher of these comments and responses.

By default, reviews are sorted based on the date of the review and on additional criteria to display the most relevant reviews, including but not limited to: your language, reviews with text, and non-anonymous reviews. Additional sorting options may be available (by type of traveller, by score, etc.).

Translations disclaimer

This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, express or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement.

Good: 7 – 9

Passable: 5 – 7

Poor: 3 – 5

Very poor: 1 – 3

Categories:

There was a problem loading the reviews. Try again

  • Families (172)
  • Couples (135)
  • Groups of friends (16)
  • Solo travellers (10)
  • Business travellers (12)
  • Superb: 9+ (205)
  • Good: 7 – 9 (120)
  • Passable: 5 – 7 (21)
  • Poor: 3 – 5 (11)
  • Very poor: 1 – 3 (2)

swadini day visit

You're eligible for a Genius discount at Swadini, A Forever Resort! To save at this property, all you have to do is sign in .

Swadini, A Forever Resort features an outdoor swimming pool, garden, a terrace and restaurant in Hoedspruit. 21 km from Kinyonga Reptile Centre and 38 km from Drakensig Golf Club, the property provides a bar and barbecue facilities. The resort offers mountain views and a children's playground. At the resort, the rooms come with a wardrobe. Every room is equipped with air conditioning, and certain rooms at Swadini, A Forever Resort have a patio. At the accommodation each room is equipped with bed linen and towels. You can play tennis at Swadini, A Forever Resort, and the area is popular for hiking and cycling. The nearest airport is Hoedspruit Eastgate Airport, 47 km from the resort.

Couples particularly like the location — they rated it 9.4 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

  • 3 swimming pools
  • Free parking
  • Facilities for disabled guests
  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Tea/coffee maker in all rooms

Property highlights

Top location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.3)

Free parking available on-site

Activities:

  • Tennis court
  • Children's playground

Saved to 1327 lists

Sign in, save money

Availability

Select dates to see this property's availability and prices

See what guests loved the most:

swadini day visit

Property surroundings

Restaurants 1 restaurant on site.

  • Cuisine Local
  • Open for Breakfast • Brunch • Lunch • Dinner
  • Ambiance Traditional
  • Dietary options Vegetarian

Resort facilities of Swadini, A Forever Resort Great facilities! Review score, 8.6

  • Toilet paper
  • Towels/sheets (extra fee)
  • Shared toilet
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Mountain view
  • Garden view
  • Picnic area
  • Outdoor furniture
  • BBQ facilities
  • Electric kettle
  • Refrigerator
  • Clothes rack
  • Tennis equipment Additional charge
  • Mini golf Additional charge
  • Children's playground
  • Seating Area
  • Tea/Coffee maker
  • Parking garage
  • Accessible parking
  • Daily housekeeping
  • ATM/cash machine on site
  • Fax/photocopying Additional charge
  • Ironing service Additional charge
  • Laundry Additional charge
  • Meeting/banquet facilities Additional charge
  • Invoice provided
  • Fire extinguishers
  • CCTV in common areas
  • 24-hour security
  • Safety deposit box
  • Minimarket on site
  • Designated smoking area
  • Air conditioning
  • Toilet with grab rails
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Entire unit located on ground floor
  • Opening times
  • Open all year
  • All ages welcome
  • Pool with view
  • Heated pool
  • Suitable for kids
  • Kids' pool
  • Water slide

Property practices

See availability house rules.

From 15:00 to 22:00

Guests are required to show a photo identification and credit card upon check-in

From 07:00 to 11:00

Cancellation/ prepayment

Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Please enter the dates of your stay and check the conditions of your required room.

Children and beds

Child policies

Children of any age are welcome.

To see correct prices and occupancy information, please add the number of children in your group and their ages to your search.

Cot and extra bed policies

Cots and extra beds are not available at this property.

Age restriction

The minimum age for check-in is 18

Pets are not allowed.

Accepted payment methods

Cash Swadini, A Forever Resort accepts these cards and reserves the right to temporarily hold an amount prior to arrival.

The fine print Need-to-know information for guests at this property

Guests are required to show a photo identification and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

Please inform Swadini, A Forever Resort in advance of your expected arrival time. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly with the contact details provided in your confirmation.

FAQs about Swadini, A Forever Resort

How far is swadini, a forever resort from the centre of hoedspruit.

Swadini, A Forever Resort is 13.7 miles from the centre of Hoedspruit. All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.

How much does it cost to stay at Swadini, A Forever Resort?

The prices at Swadini, A Forever Resort may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates you select, hotel's policy etc.). See the prices by entering your dates.

Is Swadini, A Forever Resort popular with families?

Yes, Swadini, A Forever Resort is popular with guests booking family stays.

What are the check-in and check-out times at Swadini, A Forever Resort?

Check-in at Swadini, A Forever Resort is from 15:00, and check-out is until 11:00.

What type of room can I book at Swadini, A Forever Resort?

Does swadini, a forever resort have a pool.

Yes, this hotel has a pool. Find out the details about the pool and other facilities on this page.

What is there to do at Swadini, A Forever Resort?

  • Swimming Pool
  • Tennis equipment

Does Swadini, A Forever Resort have a restaurant on site?

  • Restaurant #1

The best of Hoedspruit

  • Three Rondavels Viewpoint
  • Blyde River Canyon Viewpoint
  • Kinyonga Reptile Centre

Most popular cities

  • Kapama Private Game Reserve
  • Pilgrimʼs Rest
  • Karongwe Game Reserve

swadini day visit

Save time, save money!

Error: Please enter a valid email address

Error: Sorry. An error has occurred.

Thanks! We've sent you an email so you can complete your subscription

Personalised recommendations

We provide personalised recommendations based on your activity on our platform. If you prefer, you can opt-out of this option. Keep in mind, opting-out only affects your current device. You must therefore adjust this setting on each device as necessary to reflect your preference.

Verified reviews from real guests.

We have more than 70 million property reviews, and they're all from real, verified guests .

How does it work?

It starts with a booking.

The only way to leave a review is to first make a booking. That's how we know our reviews come from real guests who have stayed at the property.

Followed by a trip

When guests stay at the property they check out how quiet the room is, how friendly the staff are and more.

And finally, a review

After their trip, guests tell us about their stay. We check for naughty words and verify the authenticity of all guest reviews before adding them to our site.

If you booked through us and want to leave a review, please sign in first.

Check-in date

Check-out date

Save big in Hoedspruit

Get exclusive access to member-only deals by email.

For a limited time only

Hooray, you're now subscribed!

swadini day visit

Swadini, A Forever Resort

swadini day visit

View prices for your travel dates

Reviews we perform checks on reviews. tripadvisor’s approach to reviews before posting, each tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. if the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines , the review is not published. when the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines . learn more about our review moderation..

  • Excellent 293
  • Very Good 182
  • All languages ( 546 )
  • English ( 525 )
  • French ( 10 )
  • German ( 4 )

swadini day visit

" Day visitors take over "

swadini day visit

" Chalets are clean and have great mountainous views "

swadini day visit

" Shadey spots in campsite are VITAL!!! "

swadini day visit

" The free standing Chalets (nr 54) very quite. Higher numbers - close to the Youth Centre - they can be noisy. "

swadini day visit

" Chalets --far apart and very piecefull "

Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

SWADINI, A FOREVER RESORT (AU$68): 2024 Prices & Reviews (Hoedspruit, South Africa) - Photos of Resort - Tripadvisor

Swadini, A Forever Resort

swadini day visit

View prices for your travel dates

Reviews we perform checks on reviews. tripadvisor’s approach to reviews before posting, each tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. if the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines , the review is not published. when the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines . learn more about our review moderation..

  • Excellent 293
  • Very Good 182
  • All languages ( 546 )
  • English ( 525 )
  • French ( 10 )
  • German ( 4 )

swadini day visit

" Day visitors take over "

swadini day visit

" Chalets are clean and have great mountainous views "

swadini day visit

" Shadey spots in campsite are VITAL!!! "

swadini day visit

" The free standing Chalets (nr 54) very quite. Higher numbers - close to the Youth Centre - they can be noisy. "

swadini day visit

" Chalets --far apart and very piecefull "

Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

SWADINI, A FOREVER RESORT - Updated 2024 (South Africa/Hoedspruit)

Silver Surfer

Budget travels – a couple and a caravan

" "

Swadini – Magical, Mystical Place of the Swazi

16 – 19 october 2020.

Between our visits to Letaba Rest Camp and Satara Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park, we ventured west. We left the park through the Orpen Gate on the R531 to visit the area around the Blyde River Canyon. After much contemplation, we made a booking at Swadini, A Forever Resort, close to Klaserie. https://www.foreverswadini.co.za/

SO MUCH MORE THAN A CAMPSITE

To say that we were blown away by the setting of this resort, in a basin surrounded by mountains, is putting it lightly. The natural beauty of this campsite is unparalleled by anything that we have seen or experienced so far. We set up camp in a remote area of the campsite whilst the kudus were grazing around us.

swadini day visit

The biggest bargain of these inland resorts is that nearly each one of them has a warm water swimming pool. Nothing beats relaxing in the soothing warm water after a long drive and setting up camp. It is also the ideal place to meet new friends and get all the local news and insights about the tourist attractions in the area.

swadini day visit

Swadini offers so many activities and amenities to its guests – putt-putt, games rooms, a restaurant and pub, a small shop, walking trails of various lengths, as well as a cold swimming pool. The African-inspired ablution facilities are well-maintained and cleaned throughout the day. For a small fee, the ladies working there will even do your dishes and your laundry.

We returned to our camping spot all wrinkly after our marathon swim. What we saw, filled us with trepidation: Miss Daisy was surrounded by a sea of blue two-man tents and young people chatting, laughing, and having fun. We contemplated moving to another spot, but in the end, we really did not feel like setting up camp all over again. We are lazy campers and decided to rather give the youngsters the benefit of the doubt for one night. Whilst Andre made an awesome brinner (breakfast for dinner), we could see warthogs sniffing out food on the small slope just below the ablution facilities. Luckily, silence fell over the tented village around midnight. What a relief that we did not have to move our camp!

Our weekend was a sensory overload. This area has so much to offer the tourist.

swadini day visit

SWADINI WATERFALL – TARZAN’S PLAYGROUND

Swadini is landlocked by the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and entry to the reserve is free if you stay at Swadini. http://www.mpumalanga.com/our-provincial-parks/blyde-river-canyon-nature-reserve

A visit to the Swadini Waterfall inside the reserve is a must. We walked through indigenous forest that felt like Tarzan’s jungle, complete with “ropes” that you can imagine him swinging on from tree to tree. On our walk, we passed the remnants of the set of the Australian reality TV show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here , which had been filmed here for a few years before Covid-19 struck. Maybe it would be a good idea to remove these dilapidated structures now.

swadini day visit

It took us about fifteen minutes to reach the beautiful waterfall cascading down into a large pool. In the early morning, the water was still a bit too cold for a swim, but on a warm day, it would be lovely to cool down here. For the more adventurous and fitter hikers, the trail continues higher up to two more waterfalls, but we successfully resisted that temptation.

swadini day visit

RELAXING AT B LYDERIVIERPOORT DAM

If you have a high-clearance vehicle (or fancy a steep walk up a very bad, pretending to be tarred, approach road) you will be rewarded with incredible views over the Blyderivierpoort Dam from the lookout deck around the visitor’s centre. We enjoyed our coffee and rusks there. The visitor’s centre has informative displays on the history of the gravity-arch dam wall and the geology of the canyon. You can also relax on the lawns at the picnic site next to the parking area.

swadini day visit

The Blyde Canyon Adventure Centre has an office on the grounds of Swadini which offers various options for the adrenaline junkies. You can also make a booking online, but we purchased our tickets for a boat cruise on the Blyderievierpoort Dam from the helpful agent at the office. https://blydecanyon.co.za/ You cannot ask for a more relaxing way to spend an hour and a half than cruising around on this dam at the foot of the third largest canyon in the world.

swadini day visit

From the boat, we had an excellent view of the dam wall. We cruised past Mariepskop (or Moholoholo – the great one), one of the highest mountain peaks in the northern Drakensberg. To my shame, I did not even realise that the Drakenberg stretches this far north. Mariepskop is named after the local Bapedi chief, Maripi Mashile, who won a famous victory against the Swazis.  Another interesting revelation was that fynbos grows on the top of Mariepskop. From the dam, we also had a unique view of the Three Rondawels. Erosion had formed these impressive quartzite and shale hills into the shape of three thatched huts. It is only fitting that they are named after the three wives of Chief Maripe: Magabolie, Magoladikwe and Maseroto.

swadini day visit

This green canyon is home to an abundance of wildlife and different plant species. We did not see any hippos, but our excellent guide, Simeon, showed us the bay where the hippo cows give birth and isolate their young bull calves to protect them from aggressive older males. We did see a large crocodile that swam by quite close to the boat. A rare sight was spotting a fish eagle with two nearly mature babies –they seldom succeed in raising more than one fledging to maturity.

swadini day visit

I was still searching for a leopard inside a big cave on the side of the mountain when we approached one of the major attractions of this boat cruise. You can see Kadishi, the second highest tufa waterfall in the world, from up close. As Simeon explained, a tufa waterfall is formed when water running over dolomite rock absorbs calcium, and deposits rock formations more rapidly than they erode the surrounding rock. The waterfall continues to flow behind these deposits. The Kadishi Tufa waterfall is hauntingly beautiful because it resembles a weeping human face.

swadini day visit

Thank you, Simeon, for an unforgettable experience!

swadini day visit

We enjoyed our boat cruise so much that we never ate our snacks that we packed. Andre found a secluded spot close to the bridge over the river where we could have an impromptu picnic.

swadini day visit

BLYDE RIVER CANYON VIEWPOINTS

For an unforgettable scenic day trip, you can hit the R531 towards Hoedspruit, driving through prime agricultural land covered with mangoes, citrus, avocados, and various nuts. The R527 linked us onto the scenic R532 which forms part of the Mpumalanga Panorama Route. http://www.mpumalanga.com/routes/panorama-route-rt102618

The beautiful vistas from the Abel Erasmus Pass was just a precursor for the breath-taking views over the Blyde River Canyon from the look-out point in the Blyde Canyon, A Forever Resort. https://www.foreverblydecanyon.co.za/

With his fear of heights, Andre was a bit spooked by the overhanging rocks from which you can look out over the dam below. He does not like being “in the air”. We drove through the resort to compare it with Swadini. Although both resorts have more or less the same amenities, the Blyde Canyon resort did not have a warm water pool. We decided that we made the right choice to camp at Swadini. It would also have been so much further to drive to the Blyde Canyon Resort with Miss Daisy.

swadini day visit

Our next stop was the look-out point at the Three Rondavels, which we could see from Blyde Canyon Resort. For the first time in our lives, we were judged to be pensioners! This was a bit of a blow to our egos, but at least we saved some money. It was quite busy there, but we had an incredible view over the aptly named three peaks, as well as the gorge and the dam below. No description could ever do justice to the incredible natural beauty of this area. I hope that our photos and video will give you a tiny glimpse of the sheer magic that we experienced here. This must surely be one of the most beautiful places in South Africa.

swadini day visit

SPECTACULAR POTHOLES

After all the bad roads that we drove in the northern part of our country, I could not believe that potholes could actually be spectacular. And I don’t mean spectacularly bad! Burke’s Luck Potholes blew us away – the destructive power of water could also create art. With his fear of heights, Andre walked over the bridges and walkways as fast as he could and missed many of the most impressive sights. But I was in awe! And luckily, I took many photos for him to see. We were also impressed by the world-class amenities which makes this natural wonder accessible to tourists.

" "

THE CHUBBY PIG

Our biggest surprise of the day was an off-beat little eatery just after we turned onto the R532 again from Burke’s Luck in the direction of Graskop. The Chubby Pig (with friendly owner Melody) specialises in anything pork-related – real honest pub food with a twist. We shared a superb vetkoek with pulled pork on it, washed down with a welcome beer after the heat of the day. Our background music was the laughter of the children swinging into the water. The Treur River Lodge also offers accommodation here on their farm on the banks of the Treur River. https://thechubbypigeaterygiftshopnursaryaccomodation.business.site/ or find them on Facebook.

swadini day visit

WONDERFUL VIEW S

Proceeding on the R532 after our late lunch, we enjoyed incredible vistas against the setting sun over grazing fields, forestry plantations and mountain ranges in the distance. Our last stop was at the Wonder View viewpoint, at 1 730m this is the highest viewpoint in the area. It offers a panoramic view of the Lowveld. Unfortunately, the view was hazy on this particular afternoon. (I suppose that is why the small town in the distance is called Hazyview.) We did not stop at God’s Window or Pinnacle Rock because it was getting late and we preferred not to drive in the dark.

swadini day visit

BUSHBUCKRIDGE – A NIGHTMARE IN SLOW MOTION

After a hair-raising drive down the pothole infested Kowyn’s Pass, it took us more than two hours to drive the 100 kilometres through the never-ending, sprawling township of Bushbuckridge flowing into Acornhoek. Huge palaces stood side by side with small zinc huts, all on big erven, all with outhouse ablution facilities. Once again cheated by the earlier sunset in the eastern part of the country, the last hour of our trip was a scary drive in the dark on strange, bad roads. We arrived at Swadini just after 7pm – so tired but filled with wonder at the beauty of our beloved country.

A SAD FAREWELL TO A LITTLE PIECE OF PARADISE

Our last night at Swadini was sweltering hot. We slept with the windows open – a rare occurrence otherwise the mozzies chow me for a midnight snack. Armed with Tabbard and Peaceful Sleep, it was almost supernatural to lie in bed watching the kudus graze silently around us.

Andre was up before sunrise and surprised me with a wonderful cup of coffee a short walk from the campsite next to the river. After we packed up, I had a quick last swim in the warm pool. It really was not easy to say goodbye to Swadini.

swadini day visit

ANDRE’S ADDENDUM :

Being a town planner by trade, I suppose I look at a town from a different angle than most people. Having never even heard of a place called Bushbuckridge, I could not believe the way this town was allowed to develop. Sprawling low density development is the arch enemy of cost-efficient housing. After our drive though this town, I looked on Google Earth to confirm my suspicion – in area, Bushbuckridge was the same size as the Cape Metropolitan area (Helderberg excluded). Just consider this for a moment: the area to be serviced with water, sewerage, electricity, and roadways is the same to accommodate 100 000 people as it is for 3 000 000 people. That is why all these basic services cannot be provided in such settlements.  Having a beautiful country is of no worth if we cannot afford to provide these basic services to all our citizens. Doing so can only be achieved by using all the knowledge that already exists to its fullest. Education, education, education. If that is not the mantra, what else will be?

Related Posts

" "

Mbombela Beauty and Sudwala Caves Magic

" "

Yzerfontein – the Gateway to the West Coast

swadini day visit

Experiencing great heights, cold beer, and warm water

Dis amper asof ek weer met julle in die warm water gesels… so bly julle het dit geniet. Mooi jaar vorentoe! En daardie Mapungubwe moet julle eendag gaan bekyk. Regtig pragtig…

Dis heerlik om saam met julle te toer, Sarina & Andre! Die klein juweeltjies wat julle uitsnuffel en die sinvolle kommentaar wat julle lewer – Andre se addendum – laat mens dink.

…..weereens welgedaan Sarina en André ek het die omswerminge opnuut saam met julle kon deurleef en kon terugdink aan ons v roeëre besoek toe julle nog pikkies was.Dit is darem ‘n besondere mooi deel van ons land

Comments are closed.

Swadini, A Forever Resort

swadini day visit

View prices for your travel dates

  • Excellent 293
  • Very Good 182
  • All languages ( 546 )
  • English ( 525 )
  • French ( 10 )
  • German ( 4 )

swadini day visit

" Day visitors take over "

swadini day visit

" Chalets are clean and have great mountainous views "

swadini day visit

" Shadey spots in campsite are VITAL!!! "

swadini day visit

" The free standing Chalets (nr 54) very quite. Higher numbers - close to the Youth Centre - they can be noisy. "

swadini day visit

" Chalets --far apart and very piecefull "

Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

SWADINI, A FOREVER RESORT - Reviews & Price Comparison (Hoedspruit, South Africa) - Tripadvisor

3 Star

GIVE US A CALL: +27 (0)15-795 5141

GIVE US A CALL: +27 (0)63 256 3750

GIVE US A CALL: +27 (0)72 481 3614

Accommodation at SWADINI , A FOREVER RESORT

Hike among Trails that twist and turn through breathtaking scenery , soak in the sun next to the heated or cold-water Swimming Pools, take in nature with Game Viewing on horse-back or experience the rush of river-rafting. And what is better than a braai under African skies in the Bush Lapa or a delicious meal at the Restaurant to round off an idyllic day? For Family Fun, Adventure Tourism or a Conference with a winning edge, Swadini is simply unbeatable.

Self-Catering Chalets

4-sleeper chalet. 2 bedrooms (1 double bed & 2 single beds) (scd4).

BOOK NOW DOWNLOAD RATES

Maximum four People. Two Bedrooms. One Bedroom with a double bed and one Bedroom with two single beds. Linen and bath towels are provided. Bathroom with bath & shower with a separate toilet. Fully equipped Kitchen with cutlery, crockery, cooking utensils, large fridge, four-plate electrical stove and a microwave oven. Lounge, television set, air conditioning, carport, outdoor "Braai" Facilities.

Swadini, A Forever Resort: 4-Sleeper Chalet. 2 bedrooms (1 double bed & 2 single beds)

5-Sleeper Chalet. 3 bedrooms (1 double bed & 3 single beds) (SCD5)

Maximum five People. Three Bedrooms. One Bedroom with a double bed. One Bedroom with two single beds. One Bedroom with a single bed. Linen and bath towels are provided. Bathroom with bath, shower and a separate toilet. Fully equipped Kitchen with cutlery, crockery, cooking utensils, large fridge, four-plate electric stove and a microwave oven. Lounge, television set, air conditioning, carport, outdoor "Braai" Facilities.

Swadini, A Forever Resort: 5-Sleeper Chalet. 3 bedrooms (1 double bed & 3 single beds)

6-Sleeper Chalet. 2 bedrooms (1 double bed & 4 single beds) (SCD6)

Maximum six People. Two Bedrooms. One Bedroom with a double bed. One Bedroom with four single beds. Linen and bath towels are provided. Bathroom with bath, shower and a separate toilet. Fully equipped Kitchen with cutlery, crockery, cooking utensils, large fridge, four-plate electric stove and a microwave oven. Lounge, television set, air conditioning, carport, outdoor "Braai" Facilities.

Swadini, A Forever Resort: 6-Sleeper Chalet. 2 bedrooms (1 double bed & 4 single beds)

4-Sleeper Guest House. 2 bedrooms (1 double bed & 2 single beds) (GHD4)

Maximum four people. Two Bedroom Guesthouse with shower and bath. One Bedroom with a double bed and one bedroom with two single beds. Linen and bath towels are provided. Bathroom with bath and basin, separate shower and a separate toilet. Fully equipped Kitchen with cutlery, crockery, cooking utensils, large fridge, four-plate electrical stove and a microwave oven. Lounge, television set, air conditioning, carport, outdoor "Braai" Facilities.

Swadini, A Forever Resort: 4-Sleeper Guest House. 2 bedrooms (1 double bed & 2 single beds)

  • All long weekends and high season are for minimum three night's stay unless it is specified otherwise.
  • Weekends Min 2 nights (Friday and Saturday).
  • Pensioners discount is applicable outside peak-season, subject to availability and depending on season. Please contact the Property directly. Proof may be required.
  • One Vehicle per Chalet (Extra Vehicles R60.00 per vehicle per night).
  • Full amount payable within 72 hours on all Accommodation.
  • No pets allowed.
  • Check-in time: 15:00
  • Check-out time: 11:00
  • No cheques accepted. Cash and credit card only.
  • Wear your ID wristband at all times.

Caravan & Camping Sites

Camping site with electricity (ps).

220 Caravan Sites with electricity are serviced by six ablution facilities, and 4 Paraplegic Caravan Sites serviced by 2 ablution facilities.

Swadini, A Forever Resort: Camping Site With Electricity

Long-Stay Camping Site With Electricity (PS)

  • One vehicle per Camp Site (Extra Vehicles R60.00 per vehicle per night).
  • 220 Caravan sites with electricity are serviced by 6 ablution facilities.
  • 4 Paraplegic Caravan sites with electricity are serviced by 2 ablution facilities.
  • Rates INCLUDE Nature Conservation Levy of R6.00 per Person per night.
  • Long-stay rate includes two Persons.
  • Full amount payable within 72 hours (of making reservation) on all Accommodation.

2-Sleeper Double Tent. 1 Bedroom (1 double bed) (LTD2)

Maximum two people. Self-catering. One air conditioned bedroom with a double bed and linen. Wardrobe, minibar fridge and kettle. "Braai" facilities and camping chairs.

Swadini, A Forever Resort: 2-Sleeper Double Tent. 1 Bedroom (1 double bed)

Swadini, A Forever Resort

swadini day visit

View prices for your travel dates

  • Excellent 293
  • Very Good 182
  • All languages ( 546 )
  • English ( 525 )
  • French ( 10 )
  • German ( 4 )

swadini day visit

" Day visitors take over "

swadini day visit

" Chalets are clean and have great mountainous views "

swadini day visit

" Shadey spots in campsite are VITAL!!! "

swadini day visit

" The free standing Chalets (nr 54) very quite. Higher numbers - close to the Youth Centre - they can be noisy. "

swadini day visit

" Chalets --far apart and very piecefull "

Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

SWADINI, A FOREVER RESORT - UPDATED 2024 Reviews & Price Comparison (Hoedspruit, South Africa) - Tripadvisor

Swadini A Forever Resort

Rooms & rates.

  • Map / The Area
  • Make a Booking
  • Property Type Resort
  • Rooms/Units 78

Select your check-in and check-out dates to view availability and the rates applicable.

Rates shown are per room/unit per night based on two (2) persons sharing. Hover over the rate to view alternate occupancies.

Four Sleeper Chalets

Four Sleeper Chalets

This chalet has two bedrooms. The first room has a double bed, the second room has two single beds. The bathroom has a bath and shower with a separate toilet. The kitchen is fully equipped.

  • Bathroom (separate)  
  • Bathroom towels supplied  
  • Bed linen supplied  
  • Complimentary toiletries  
  • Kitchen (fully equipped)  
  • Patio / verandah / balcony  
  • Smoking: not allowed  
  • Tea and coffee facilities  
  • Television (with M-Net)

Qty: 18 Sleeps: 4 guests (max 4 adults) Children: are allowed in this room type

Five Sleeper Chalets

Five Sleeper Chalets

This chalet has three bedrooms. The first room has a double bed, the second room has two single beds and the third has one single bed. The bathroom has a bath and shower with a separate toilet. The kitchen is fully equipped.

Qty: 24 Sleeps: 5 guests (max 5 adults) Children: are allowed in this room type

Six Sleeper Chalets

Six Sleeper Chalets

This chalet has two bedrooms. The first room has a double bed, the second room has four single beds. The bathroom has a bath and shower with a separate toilet. The kitchen is fully equipped.

Qty: 36 Sleeps: 6 guests (max 6 adults) Children: are allowed in this room type

Please Note

Rates displayed above are only a guide. Rates vary depending on number of guests, meals included (basis), season and length of stay and will be confirmed by Swadini A Forever Resort on receipt of your quote request.

Rates shown are based on two (2) persons sharing the room/unit per night. Hover over the rate to view alternate occupancies.

Rates are quoted in South African Rand (ZAR). Subject to change without notice.

Pertinent Policies

Travelling with children? Children of all ages are welcome.

How to confirm? Deposits are required to confirm a booking, usually 50% but sometimes as high as 100% depending on season and time till check-in.

Cancellation policy Penalties may apply in the event of cancellation. The property's cancellation policy will be provided on your quote and sent with your booking confirmation.

  • tonight from
  • per room per night based on 2 persons
  • Your card is safe with us; strictest card verification in the industry and we don't store card numbers.
  • No service fees; you save!
  • Multiple payment methods: credit card, SID instant EFT, bank transfer.
  • See our Payment Protection Guarantee . Now covering travel restrictions due to lockdown regulations.
  • All establishment owners / managers are verified (our experience protects you from online fraud)
  • We care. Service with integrity.
  • Secure your booking
  • Für Deutsche Reisende
  • Auf Deutsch
  • South African Rand
  • Information
  • Introduction to South Africa
  • Tourist Attractions
  • Maps / Atlas
  • South Africa Travel Blog First-hand accounts, tips and experiences in our beautiful country
  • By Province
  • Western Cape
  • Garden Route
  • Eastern Cape
  • KwaZulu Natal
  • Northern Cape
  • South Africa Hotels
  • Guest Houses
  • Bed and Breakfast
  • Self Catering
  • Game Lodges / Safaris
  • Search By Map
  • Interests & Special Needs Pet- and wheelchair-friendly, guest farms, golf lodges, safaris, hot tubs, birding, etc
  • Special Offers
  • Johannesburg
  • Port Elizabeth
  • Kruger Park
  • Cape Winelands
  • Drakensberg
  • Western Cape Hotels
  • Eastern Cape Hotels
  • KwaZulu Natal Hotels
  • Gauteng Hotels
  • Mpumalanga Hotels
  • Limpopo Hotels
  • North West Hotels
  • Free State Hotels
  • Northern Cape Hotels
  • Popular Searches
  • Cape Town Hotels
  • Garden Route Hotels
  • Durban Hotels
  • Johannesburg Hotels
  • Proudly South African
  • Adventures & Outdoor Activities
  • Game Reserves
  • Things To Do
  • Restaurants in South Africa
  • Hiking Trails
  • Health Resorts & Spas
  • Golf Courses
  • Wine Estates
  • Botanical Gardens
  • World Heritage Sites
  • Made in South Africa
  • Languages & Culture
  • Conferences
  • I want to go to ...
  • Check-in and check-out
  • Contact SA-V
  • Privacy Policy
  • Copyright / Legal
  • Terms of Use
  • Establishment Login

Why book with us?

  • Strictest card verification in the industry. Your card is safe with us.
  • We don't store credit card details so they can't be compromised.
  • Responsible travellers buy local. We're proudly South African!
  • Protection from online fraud: all property owners are verified.
  • Your privacy guaranteed. We won't share your contact details. Ever.
  • We don't charge airy-fairy service fees; so you save!
  • Want more reasons?

Let us inspire you

SA-Venues.com® has been assisting travellers with their South Africa travel plans since 1999, and is the largest, independent online travel guide for South Africa available in both English and German.

SA-Venues.com © 1999-2024. All Rights Reserved. Find and book hotels and accommodation in South Africa. Sitemap

Journey Beyond the Horizon

A journey to Blyde River Canyon, South Africa – the most spectacular canyon in Africa

The southern part of Africa presents a lot of fantastic landscapes, formed by mountains, gorges, savannas, deserts, forests, lakes, and rivers. Among all of them, a magnificent mountain range attracts travelers and explorers, called the Drakensberg. A river called Blyde starts its journey from the Great Escarpment- the “mother range” of Drakensberg. This river curves through the mountainous region and forms the most spectacular canyon in Africa- the Blyde River Canyon. Let’s go to explore and get the best impression of it!

Table of Contents

Basic facts about Blyde River Canyon

Let’s open the physical map of South Africa. As you can see, most of the country consists of highlands, and most of these highlands are plateaus. But there are some more rugged areas, with mountains and valleys. One of these areas is located in the northeastern part of the country, and north of eSwatini (former Swaziland).

Many rivers cut the mountains here, curving on beautiful valleys. Blyde River (called also Motlatse or Umdhlazi) is one of them, and curves on its valley too. But from a certain point, its valley suddenly changes into something more spectacular.

Natural facts

This is the Blyde River Canyon – a 26 km section of the Blyde River valley that forms one of the largest canyons in the world , the second largest in Africa. Its maximal depth is about 1400 m, between the highest point near the river- Mt. Mariepskop (1947 m), and the bottom of the canyon at 570 m.

Yes, with these parameters, Blyde River Canyon doesn’t look so large (there are canyons about 3000-4000 m, deeper, and much longer), but its terrain is much more “canyon-like” than many other deep valleys in the world. And unlike other canyons of this type that are arid and treeless, this one is covered by lush subtropical forests.

Drakensberg landscape

Blyde River

Everything starts from a mountain, called Mount Moodie (2062 m). Tiny streams descend on its northern slope and at about 1500 m altitude merge into a small mountain creek that gradually grows into a river.

It flows in the northern direction. And when it reaches 1110 m altitude, its valley suddenly changes- the slopes of the valley become steeper and the river cuts the mountains, forming spectacular bends. There is a dam lake in the lower section of the canyon, called Blyderivierpoort, and finally, near the village of Swadini, the river goes out of the canyon.

Then, Blyde River proceeds further north on a much softer terrain until it merges with Elephants River. The Elephants River joins the Limpopo River, and finally, the waters of all these rivers reach the Indian Ocean at the southernmost end of Mozambique.

History and local culture

The area around the Blyde River Canyon has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Various people have lived here, many of whom are still here today. Among them, we can mention Swazi, Pedi, Ndebele, Zulu, and Mapulana.

Before the coming of the Europeans, the local people have already created agrarian societies. And when the Dutch-speaking Boers came, they established colonial rule. As a result, there were a lot of revolts and wars between them, and the local people- in other words, the 19th and 20th centuries were a time of suffering.

The Republic of South Africa was established, and in 1948- the system of Apartheid. Many black locals were deported from the area of Blyde River Canyon. But when the Apartheid was over (in 1994), the locals back and took their lands.

Today, the whole country of South Africa has developed a unique society with its pros and cons, and the lands around the Blyde River are not an exception. But at least, the area around the canyon is peaceful, people are friendly, and despite the tourism development, you can still feel the authentic culture, combined with the stunning landscapes around you.

Rondavels- traditional houses in South Africa

Include a travel insurance as a part of your trip preparation by pressing the button below:

How to explore Blyde River Canyon

First, if you want to explore the Blyde River Canyon, you have to think about it as a part of something larger. This larger thing is called Blyde River Canyon Natural Reserve, and it includes not only the canyon itself but also the best natural phenomena, located south of the canyon- the best of the Drakensberg Escarpment.

The Escarpment has a specific terrain that features highlands (some like plateaus, some like sharp mountains) that end in edges and cliffs below them, descending to the lowlands. And the Blyde River Canyon is just a part of this. So, the best way to explore the canyon is to include it in a larger itinerary focused on the whole Blyde River Canyon Natural Reserve.

Blyde River Canyon Natural Reserve

The natural reserve is about 50 km long and just several km wide. It is prolonged from Graskop in the so to Swadini in the north and is divided into two parts. The southern part follows the edge of the escarpment and the Treur River, and the northern part follows the canyon itself.

There are a lot of great points of interest, located in different places in the natural reserve. So, to draw the itinerary, we have to identify these spots and connect them by a route. Fortunately, there is a good road (road No. R532) that connects Graskop with the northern exit of the natural reserve, called the Panorama Route.

When it reaches the canyon, the road follows it along its western edges. However, this road doesn’t have a connection to Swadini and the eastern slopes of the canyon- for this area, you have to follow other routes.

If you start from Graskop in the south when you reach the canyon, you don’t need to walk on its bottom, and in fact, there is no road or even a hiking trail that follows the river on the bottom. Of course, if you are well-prepared and enough adventurous, you can still do it, but the best views of the Blyde River Canyon can be seen only from above, not from the bottom.

Blyde River Canyon view

Attractive points

Let’s follow the length of the whole Blyde River Canyon Natural Reserve (not only the canyon itself) and identify the best points of interest in it. We can divide it into four sections.

Graskop is a small town at the southernmost end of the Blyde River Canyon Natural Reserve, and it is the main starting point for exploring the whole area. As you can expect, it is a touristy place, with hotels, restaurants, souvenir shops, and other attributes of tourism. And here, only within a 10-15 min walk from the center, you can visit the first point of interest.

Graskop Gorge Lift Co

The town of Graskop is established at the edge of a plateau. Around the southern end of the town, the edge is “cut” by a gorge that leads you to another world. From the plain agricultural landscape around the town, you suddenly “drop” to a lush jungle with a waterfall. The waterfall is called Motitsi Falls, and it descends into the jungle forming a “creating of the world” type of paradise.

There is a lift station, established on the edge of the plateau. From here, you can descend by a lift to the jungle, then take a walk on the wooden trails that guide you to the best views around this site. Besides the lift, you can enjoy other attractions like a big swing and a zipline. For more information see here . 

Entrance fee: for adults- R60; for children 4-16 years old- R30, under 4 years old- free.

Lift and forest experience: for adults- R240; for children 4-16 years old- R155; Big swing and zipline: zipline- R250; big swing- R650; combo ticket- R750

Mac Mac Falls

If you like Motitsi Falls and fall in love with them, you can also visit two more waterfalls near Graskop (but already out of the natural reserve): Forest Falls, about 3 km southwest of Graskop, and Mac Mac Falls- further south, about 7 km from Graskop.

The Pinnacle Rock

About 5 km northeast of Graskop, the edge of the Drakensberg Plateau is cut again. This time, there is another attraction- a 30 m tall quartzite rock rising like a tower on the steep slope of the gorge between the local plates of the plateau. In addition, there is another waterfall here too. Its waters come from the fields of the plateau and fall to the bottom of the gorge, covered by lush subtropical rainforest.

The Pinnacle Rock is located on Road R534. There is small parking beside the road. From there, you can walk on a short trail, established around the Pinnacle Rock and the waterfall, enjoying more fantastic views.

Entrance fee: R20 for adults; R15 for children

God’s Window

Follow Road R534 further north, and soon you will reach one of the most emblematic points in the Blyde River Canyon Natural Reserve. This is God’s Window. Why is it called this way? Because this is probably the best place where you can feel “the dawn of creation”- one of the most beautiful landscapes created by God.

This place has become famous for one more reason. Have you watched the movie “The Gods Must Be Crazy”? At the end of this movie, Bushman Xi came here, reached the edge of Drakensberg at this spot, and threw the Coca-Cola bottle from above, in the hope of “returning it to the gods”.

And why is it a “window”? Because when you arrive here, you have to walk through a rainforest that grows at the edge. Then, while you walk, the rainforest suddenly opens like a window, and a fantastic view reveals in front of your eyes.

God's Window

There is a parking lot at the spot with souvenir shops and stalls. From here, you take a walk on the short trails through the rainforest to the Window.

Entrance fee: R20 for adults; R15 for children.

Wonder View

Only about a kilometer and a half further is the next panoramic point, called Wonder View. Again, it is located at the edge, providing the same spectacular views from the edge of Drakensberg. It is not as famous as God’s Window, but it is still worth visiting and taking photos there, and it is the highest viewpoint of Drakensberg at 1730 m altitude. Again, there is a small parking lot.

Entrance fee: Free

Lisbon Falls

A small river starts flowing near the edge of the escarpment to the west. It is called the Lisbon River. And soon after it crosses Road R532, it reaches a spectacular canyon that looks like a crack in the plateau. Here it falls from 92 m, forming the highest and one of the most beautiful waterfalls around Graskop- Lisbon Falls.

Lisbon Falls are located on the left side of Road R532, and there is about a 2 km side road (well-paved), leading to the site. There is a parking lot with souvenir shops and stalls. And the waterfall is right beside the parking lot.

Entrance fee: R15 per person.

Lisbon Falls

Berlin Falls

A few kilometers further north, another small river comes from the edge of the Drakensberg, called Sabine River. Like Lisbon River, it flows on the plateau, and suddenly drops… however, this time not in a crack-like canyon but into something like a semi-circle bowl with a pool on the bottom. Thus, it creates a different picture, with different beauty.

Again, like Lisbon Falls, there is a parking lot with souvenir shops and stalls, with a short trail leading to the waterfall.

Berlin Falls

Treur River

Further north, the Panorama Route leaves the area around Graskop and reaches the valley of the small Treur River. For the next 20-25 km, the road follows this river. In fact, this is the section that connects Graskop with the beginning of the Blyde River Canyon.

Treur River Waterfalls

On its course, in two spots the Treur River drops as waterfalls. They are not as spectacular as the Graskop waterfalls, but if you have time, they are still worth visiting. At least, they are not developed as tourist sites like the sites around Graskop, so, you wouldn’t face tourist crowds.

They are Amber Treur , and Treur Falls . There is a dirt road that starts from the right side of R532 and descends to the river. From here, there are trails following the river to the waterfalls- one upstream to Amber Falls, and one downstream to Treur Falls.

Blyde River Canyon on the west

Finally, the Panorama Route reaches the spot where the Treur River joins the Blyde River. This is the beginning of the Blyde River Canyon. And it starts with a fantastic site- Bourke’s Luck Potholes.

Bourke’s Luck Potholes

At this point, the Blyde River flows in an amazing crack with cylindrical holes, formed by the whirlpools of the river waters. Here the crack is more like a slot canyon.

The name of this phenomenon comes from Tom Bourke- a gold digger who searched for gold in this area. Although he didn’t find anything, he correctly predicted that there must be gold deposits nearby, which were indeed found later.

Today, this is one of the most spectacular points in the Blyde River Canyon Natural Reserve. The site is located just on the right side of the road, near the village of Moremela. It is a well-developed tourist attraction with a small museum-informative center, presenting natural and historical facts about the area. From there, a well-arranged 700 m long trail leads you to the Potholes, crossing the canyon twice on two bridges.

Entrance fee: R65 for adults; R25 for children.

Bourke's Luck Potholes

Belvedere Day Hike and Digi Falls

This is an extra activity to the Bourke’s Luck Potholes. A 10-km trail starts from the Potholes and curves at the eastern side of the canyon. It leads you to Digi Falls- they are not so high, but combined with the canyon terrain around, the landscape with the falls is fantastic.

To try this activity, you must get a permit from Graskop Tourist Information Center, pay the entrance fee at the Potholes, and go hiking. And you must start the hike no later than 11:00 am.

Lowveld View

Proceed further north on Road R532. About 9 km from the Bourke’s Luck Potholes you will reach another panoramic viewpoint- one of the best in the whole natural reserve- Lowveld View. It is located on the right side of the road, and there is a short trail from the parking lot, leading you to some of the most fantastic views of the canyon, including the Blyderivierpoort Dam.

Entrance fee: Free.

Three Rondavels Viewpoint

This is the next amazing point of interest- a panoramic view of another emblematic phenomenon- the Three Rondavels. The rondavels are a typical local type of houses that are traditional for this region. They are round, with conical roofs. And from this viewpoint, you can see three spectacular quartzite peaks that look like rondavels. Each of them has its own name- Magabolle, Mogoladikwe, and Maseroto, named after the three of chief Maripi Mashale’s wives.

The Three Rondavels are located on the other side of the canyon. So, you can’t reach them from here, but you can observe and enjoy them. Here you can make some of the best photos of the Blyde River Canyon because these formations are probably its best-known symbol.

To reach the Three Rondavels Viewpoint, you have to travel about 4,5 km from the Lowveld View, then turn right on a side road to the parking lot. From there, you just follow a well-established trail that leads you to the best panoramic points.

Entrance fee: R35 for adults, R20 for children (the ticket can be used for A Forever Resort)

Three Rondavels

Blyde River Canyon- A Forever Resort

This is the last point on the western side of the Blyde River Canyon. Before Road R532 turns westward and leaves the canyon, it reaches one of the best places with panoramic views in the area. It is located around a left tributary of the Blyde River- Kadisi River that digs the ground deeper and deeper until it reaches the bottom of the canyon.

There is a resort established here- Blyde River Canyon A Forever Resort. Here you can spend a longer time and enjoy the stunning views of the area. And if you do it, don’t skip the two main activities here- the hike to the Upper and Lower viewpoints, and the Kadisi Tufa Waterfall.

Upper and Lower viewpoints hike

This hike is on a well-established network of trails that starts from one point and ends at another point. The main trails here are Leopard Trail, Guinea-fowl Trail, and Tula Trail. They lead you up and down on the Kadisi Valley slopes through rainforests and rock formations, including the Upper Lookout and Lower Viewpoint- the best spots for observing the Blyde River Canyon. The whole hike normally requires a full day.

Kadisi Tufa Waterfall

One of the main attractions here is Kadisi Tufa Waterfall. It can be reached by a small detouring trail through a dense jungle. The trail leads you to the second-highest tufa waterfall in the world- Kadisi (Kadishi) Falls. It falls from about 200 m into a hidden pool in the forest, forming a fairy-tale picture.

Kadisi Tufa Waterfall

A Forever Resort is located about 5 km from the Three Rondavels View Point. You have to turn right on a side road to the resort, and there is a checkpoint at the beginning.

Entrance fee: R35 for adults, R20 for children (the tickets can be used for Three Rondavels View Point)

That’s all from the Panorama Route- Road R532. But there are more places to see around the Blyde River Canyon, however, you have to access them from other roads. They are located on the eastern side of the canyon.

More of the Blyde River Canyon

From A Forever Resort, the only way to reach the eastern side of the Blyde River Canyon, you have to make a big round tour on roads R532, R36, and R527, around the northern end of the canyon and its surrounding mountains. That’s about an 80-100 km drive- about an hour and a half. But it is worth traveling, and also you can see some interesting spots on the way. The best of them is Echo Caves.

This is a really interesting site- one of the oldest caves in the world. They are a system of caverns with stalactites and stalagmites, organized in tunnels and chambers with a total length of more than 40 km. The caves were discovered in 1959 and made a tourist attraction, but centuries before that they were used by ancient people (Pedi people among them) as a shelter- we can see their traces in Samson Chamber.

Echo Caves are located about 27 km west of A Forever Resort, on Road R532, and shortly on R36, then from a detouring road to the ending point. Today, there is a small resort (with accommodation) established here, as well as some souvenir shops and a restaurant.

When you arrive, you have to buy an entrance ticket and join a tour. The tours are 45 min long and you walk 2 km inside the caves.

Working hours: 8:30 to 16:30

Entrance fee: R80 for adults; R60 for pensioners; R50 for children from 13 to 18 years old; R30 for children from 5 to 12 years old; free for children under 5.

Swadini and around- wildlife centers

From Echo Caves, you can proceed further on Road R36, then on Road R527 until you arrive at the resort town of Swadini, located at the lower end of the Blyde River Canyon. Swadini is just a nice tourist place, and while you are there, you can visit several wildlife sanctuaries nearby:

  • Khamai Reptile Park (called also Hoetspruit or Kinyonga Reptile Center ). A haven for various reptiles, including the deadliest snakes in Africa and the world. Entrance fee: R110 for adults; R55 for children. For more information see here . 
  • Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Center . An ecological project for helping animals in need, presenting their natural habitat in this place. Here you can join various tours for educational purposes (each tour has its own tariffs- for more information see here.
  • Hoedspruit Endangered Species Center. This is another ecological project, a wildlife farm, specially designed for the protection of endangered species like cheetahs, leopards, sable antelope, and more. Again, here you can join an educational 2-hour long tour. Price: R600 for adults, R500 for pensioners, R300 for children (6-12 years old), and free for children under 6. For more information see here . 

A cheetah

Blyderivierpoort Dam

Let’s back to the Blyde River Canyon again, this time from its lower end, from Swadini. There is another resort with the name A Forever here. And from this resort, there is a road that enters the canyon, following the river to the Blyderivierpoort Dam.

Blyderivierpoort Dam is a reservoir, established inside the canyon. Yes, it is artificial, but the result is a beautiful lake that creates fantastic landscapes in combination with the canyon landform.

The road ends in a “peninsula” with a parking lot. Here is the Visitor Center. You can just walk around and relax, but also you can join an activity: a boat trip, a quad bike adventure, paintball, or even a helicopter ride. For more information, take a look here .

Blyderivierpoort Dam

About 3 km from the Visitor center, you can go on a short hike to a beautiful waterfall with a pool (follow the trail with the sign “Waterfall Trail”). And a little further downstream is the starting point for another exciting hiking trail- Hippo Trail.

Hippo Trail

This is an exciting trail that curves at the eastern coast of the Blyderivierpoort Dam. It reaches the bottom of the canyon under the Three Rondavels View Point, and it is about 13,5 km long. But if you want to try this hike, you have to get a permit from A Forever Resort in Swadini and start early morning, because you have to go and back within the same day.

Mount Mariepskop

Finally, something more adventurous. Again, you have to back from the dam reservoir to Swadini, then proceed to the southeastern side of Mount Mariepskop. Here is the town of Brooklyn . A narrow road, about 30 km long starts from Brooklyn to the west. It gradually ascends with endless curves to the mountains of Drakensberg.

The first 20 km is a dirt road, not proper for “weak” cars, but great for 4×4 vehicles and mountain bikes. And at the 20th km, you reach a left detouring dirt road that leads you to the eastern bank of the Blyde River, to a place called Picnic Point – it is wild, non-touristy, and great for relaxing after adventures.

If you proceed further, at the 23rd km you will reach another side road, this time on the right. It leads you to a series of small waterfalls, called Claserie Falls – a wild, off-the-beaten place.

From here, the road is paved (but very narrow). It proceeds to ascend until finally, it reaches the highest point of the Drakensberg and the Blyde River Canyon Natural Reserve- Mount Mariepskop (1947 m) . The panoramic views that you can enjoy from here are fantastic and breathtaking!

The highest peaks of Drakensberg

By visiting all of these points of interest described above, you can make a complete and in-detail exploration of the Blyde River Canyon.

How to get to Blyde River Canyon

Blyde River Canyon Natural Reserve is located northeast of the nearest large city- Johannesburg. And, as mentioned above, the best way to explore it is to start from the town of Graskop. So, how to reach Graskop?

Transport for independent travelers

The best way to travel to Blyde River Canyon is by car (but have in mind that in South Africa traffic is on the left, like in the UK!). You can rent a car from Johannesburg, or travel by bus to one of the towns on the road- Mbombela or Hazyview, and rent a car from there. There are buses once daily from Johannesburg to Mbombela, and then to Hazyview- for about 5 hours and a half.

From Hazyview, you can explore Blyde River Canyon by car, making a full circle through Graskop, along the western side of the canyon, Echo Caves, to Swadini and Brooklyn, and finally back to Hazyview. And of course, you can combine it in a longer tour that includes the nearby famous Kruger National Park.

Check for transport to Hazyview on 12Go!

Blyde River Canyon itineraries

How many days would you need to enjoy the Blyde River Canyon in full, visiting and exploring all of its points of interest, by driving from Hazyview to Hazyview? I would say at least a week! There are several hiking trails that require at least a whole day each. And, to enjoy it fully, don’t rush it, travel slowly, and take some time to relax at the best spots!

But, if you don’t have enough time, skip some hiking trails. Or, focus on Road R532 only. And if you are really in hurry (yes, many people just try to include as many as possible destinations within the limited and short time of their vacation), you still can get some impressions within a single day. Just drive on the Road R532, visit the most notorious spots: God’s Window, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, and Three Rondavels View Point, and if you have time- one or two more spots.

There are a lot of accommodation options. They include resorts, hotels in the towns, and lodges- from splurge to budget, as well as some Airbnb properties (mainly in Swadini). And there are even camping opportunities, but only within the resorts. The independent campsites near Graskop are beyond the boundaries of the natural reserve. 

Check for accommodations in Blyde River Canyon on Booking!

Check for accommodations in Blyde River Canyon on Agoda!

Check for accommodations in Blyde River Canyon on Airbnb!

Blyde River Canyon tours

This is the easiest way to explore Blyde River Canyon, for those who are in a hurry and don’t want to drive (or cannot drive). There are many tours to the natural reserve, and most of them start and end from Hazyview. They are 1 day long (5 to 10 hours). Let’s see some of them:

  • From Hazyview: Full Day Panorama Tour . This is a 7-hour tour that is focused on the main points of interest in the national park- God’s Window, Lourke’s Luck Potholes, Three Rondavels View Point, as well as the two waterfalls Berlin and Lisbon. In addition, you will also visit Pilgrim’s Rest (an old settlement related to the Gold Rush from the beginning of the 19th century, today outside of the natural reserve).
  • From Hazyview: Blyde River Canyon Highlight & Boat Cruise . This is an 8-hour tour. It will guide you basically to the same spots as the first tour, but without Pilgrim’s Rest. Instead, it will proceed to Swadini and Blyderivierpoort Dam, where you can enjoy a boat cruise. Finally, from there, it takes you back to Hazyview.
  • Hazyview: Blyde River Boat & Reptile Park Tour . This is a different tour, focused only on the Blyderiverpoort Dam, and Khamai (Kinyonga) Reptile Park. It is 8 hours long. You will visit fewer spots but will enjoy the ones you visit for a longer time.
  • From Hazyview: Full-Day Panorama Route & Gorge Lift Tour . This is like the first tour, but one hour longer. And you don’t visit Pilgrim’s Rest, but instead, you will enjoy the Gorge Lift for a longer time.
  • Hoedspruit: Panorama Route Private Day Tour to Blyde River Canyon . This tour starts and ends from Hoedspruit. It is 10 hours long and takes you to the Panorama Route with its best points of interest.

Longer tours

For those that want to combine Blyde River Canyon with Kruger National Park, there is a Pretoria: 3-days Kruger Park and Graskop Luxury Tour . It starts and ends from Pretoria, and includes 2 days around Hazyview and Kruger National Park, and one day in the Blyde River Canyon.

And for those who are more adventurous and have a longer time, there are two good options to try:

  • South Africa Walking Adventures . This is a 10-day cycling tour in the northeastern part of South Africa. Besides the Blyde River Canyon, the route includes various famous destinations like Kruger National Park, Mapungubwe National Park, National Park, Letsitele, and more. Traveling by bicycle is an exciting way to sense the local nature, culture, and the air in this part of the Earth, combined with stunning views everywhere.
  • South Africa Walking Adventures . This is a 14-day tour around the same region, including one more country- eSwatini (Swaziland). Basically, it focuses on the same destinations, including Blyde River Canyon. The trip consists of many hikes on the route, and moving by private vehicle to their starting and ending points, from trail to trail.

The best time to visit Blyde River Canyon is the transition seasons between summer and winter- from March to June, and from August to November. During these periods, the weather is nice, not too hot, and with less rain.

Winter (June to August) is cool, especially in the high-altitude areas on the Drakensberg plateau. And when it rains, the rain is cold, which is not so pleasant.

Summer (December to March) is hot and wet. It is the rainiest season, especially in January. Yes, the whole landscape is very fresh and green at that time, but you have to be ready for rain.

This is the Blyde River Canyon. It is not just one of the largest canyons in the world, but a harmonious combination of landforms, greenery, local culture, wildlife, and atmosphere, united in a fairy-tale kingdom. It is one of the symbols of Africa, and planning a journey to this place will give you a life-changing impression.

Take a look at this video for more impressions from Blyde River Canyon

Check some travel books about South Africa:

swadini day visit

Disclaimer: Journey Beyond the Horizon is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites at no additional cost to you.

Like it? Pin it here⇓! Follow us on  Facebook ,  Twitter  and  Instagram !

This is an ultimate guide about the Blyde River Canyon in South Africa- one of the largest canyons in the world.

Hi, we are Krasen and Ying Ying. Krasen is from Bulgaria, and Ying Ying is from China. We are passionate about geography and history, and we believe that the best way to experience it is by exploring the Earth in reality, not in a school, and not virtually.

So, we created this blog Journey Beyond the Horizon, where we share geographical knowledge, travel guides and tips how to experience it when you explore our planet, and a lot of inspiration.

And we wish you a happy journey, not just virtually, but most of all- in reality.

You may also like

Your Perfect South Africa Trip: Which Places To Visit?

South Africa was called a “Rainbow Nation” by archbishop Desmond Tutu who tried to describe…

A journey to Colca Canyon, Peru – one of the deepest canyons in South America

The Andes is the longest continental mountain range on Earth, stretching along the whole length…

The 10 largest canyons in the world, and how to explore them

There are so many different forms of the Earth's surface. From flat plains to sharp…

Related Posts

Diving in the Red Sea in Egypt and beyond- information and tips about exploring the underwater world

Diving in the Red Sea in Egypt and beyond- information and tips about exploring the underwater world

Diving in Seychelles- information and tips about exploring the underwater world

Diving in Seychelles- information and tips for exploring the underwater world

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

VIDEO

  1. Lodi Spring Carnival

COMMENTS

  1. Swadini, A Forever Resort

    SWADINI, A FOREVER RESORT. Swadini is landlocked by the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and nestled amongst the Drakensberg peaks, on the banks of the Blyde River. Enjoy exclusive Boat Trips on the Blyde Dam, spot Hippo and Crocodile, and visit the "Tufa" Waterfall. You will also enjoy visiting Bourke's Luck Potholes, The Pinnacle, Mac-Mac Falls and God's Window.

  2. Swadini, A Forever Resort

    Swadini is landlocked by the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and nestled amongst the Drakensberg peaks, on the banks of the Blyde River. Enjoy exclusive Boat Trips on the Blyde Dam, spot Hippo and Crocodile, and visit the "Tufa" Waterfall. You will also enjoy visiting Bourke's Luck Potholes, The Pinnacle, Mac-Mac Falls and God's Window.

  3. Day visitors spoil the experience

    Swadini, A Forever Resort: Day visitors spoil the experience - See 546 traveler reviews, 212 candid photos, and great deals for Swadini, A Forever Resort at Tripadvisor.

  4. Swadini, A Forever Resort, Hoedspruit

    At Swadini, A Forever Resort each room is equipped with bed linen and towels. You can play tennis at the accommodation, and the area is popular for hiking and cycling. The nearest airport is Air Force Base Hoedspruit Airport, 29 miles from Swadini, A Forever Resort. Couples in particular like the location - they rated it 9.4 for a two-person ...

  5. SWADINI, A FOREVER RESORT

    Swadini is a good resort to visit with enough amenities to make the stay enjoyable without distracting from the environment. It is fairly central to several tourist attractions in the Lowveld, and a good base for a day visit to the Escarpment. The views are stunning.

  6. Swadini, A Forever Resort, Hoedspruit

    Swadini, A Forever Resort. R531 Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve, 1380 Hoedspruit, South Africa - Excellent location - show map. All photos (45) 360° panorama (7) 8.6. Fabulous. 360 reviews. Everything in the 2 bedded chalet was spanking brand new. The cottages have been beautifully renovated and are great for a short stay, the ….

  7. Swadini, A Forever Resort

    From AU$61 per night on Tripadvisor: Swadini, A Forever Resort, Hoedspruit. See 528 traveller reviews, 199 photos, and cheap rates for Swadini, A Forever Resort, ranked #1 of 14 hotels in Hoedspruit and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor.

  8. Swadini, A Forever Resort

    Swadini is landlocked by the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and nestled amongst the Drakensberg peaks, on the banks of the Blyde River. Enjoy exclusive Boat Trips on the Blyde Dam, spot Hippo and Crocodile, and visit the "Tufa" Waterfall. You will also enjoy visiting Bourke's Luck Potholes, The Pinnacle, Mac-Mac Falls and God's Window.

  9. Swadini, A Forever Resort

    From AU$65 per night on Tripadvisor: Swadini, A Forever Resort, Hoedspruit. See 503 traveller reviews, 199 photos, and cheap rates for Swadini, A Forever Resort, ranked #1 of 13 hotels in Hoedspruit and rated 4.5 of 5 at Tripadvisor.

  10. Swadini, A Forever Resort

    Swadini is a good resort to visit with enough amenities to make the stay enjoyable without distracting from the environment. It is fairly central to several tourist attractions in the Lowveld, and a good base for a day visit to the Escarpment. The views are stunning.

  11. Swadini, A Forever Resort

    Swadini is a good resort to visit with enough amenities to make the stay enjoyable without distracting from the environment. It is fairly central to several tourist attractions in the Lowveld, and a good base for a day visit to the Escarpment. The views are stunning.

  12. SWADINI, A FOREVER RESORT

    Swadini is landlocked by the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and nestled amongst the Drakensberg peaks, on the banks of the Blyde River. Enjoy exclusive Boat Trips on the Blyde Dam, spot Hippo and Crocodile, and visit the "Tufa" Waterfall. You will also enjoy visiting Bourke's Luck Potholes, The Pinnacle, Mac-Mac Falls and God's Window.

  13. Swadini A Forever Resort in Blyde River Canyon, Mpumalanga

    Property TypeResort; Guests408; Rooms/Units78; Swadini A Forever Resort is a highly recommended property for self catering in Blyde River Canyon for tourists visiting the Panorama Route region.. About Swadini A Forever Resort. Landlocked by the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and the Drakensberg Peaks, Swadini, A Forever Resort is situated only 35kms from Hoedspruit and 75kms from the Orpen ...

  14. Swadini Forever Resorts

    Description. Swadini is landlocked by the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and nestled amongst the Drakensberg peaks, on the banks of the Blyde River. The resort is 4km from the Blyde dam, in the heart of the Blyde Canyon. Enjoy exclusive Boat Trips on the Blyde Dam, spot Hippo and Crocodile, and visit the "Tufa" Waterfall.

  15. Swadini

    A visit to the Swadini Waterfall inside the reserve is a must. We walked through indigenous forest that felt like Tarzan's jungle, complete with "ropes" that you can imagine him swinging on from tree to tree. ... For an unforgettable scenic day trip, you can hit the R531 towards Hoedspruit, driving through prime agricultural land covered ...

  16. Swadini, A Forever Resort

    Book Swadini, A Forever Resort, Hoedspruit on Tripadvisor: See 546 traveller reviews, 212 candid photos, and great deals for Swadini, A Forever Resort, ranked #2 of 13 hotels in Hoedspruit and rated 4 of 5 at Tripadvisor.

  17. Special offers: Swadini, A Forever Resort

    Spoil your dad with a fun-filled getaway this Father's Day and get 20% Discount on your Chalet! View attachment. Terms & conditions may apply | Offer valid 01 May 2024 - 31 ... Give your matrics a magnificent send-off with an unforgettable event at Swadini, A Forever Resort. View attachment. Terms & conditions may apply | Offer valid 01 Jan ...

  18. Accommodation: Swadini, A Forever Resort

    Accommodation at SWADINI, A FOREVER RESORT. Hike among Trails that twist and turn through breathtaking scenery, soak in the sun next to the heated or cold-water Swimming Pools, take in nature with Game Viewing on horse-back or experience the rush of river-rafting.And what is better than a braai under African skies in the Bush Lapa or a delicious meal at the Restaurant to round off an idyllic day?

  19. Swadini, A Forever Resort

    Book Swadini, A Forever Resort, Hoedspruit on Tripadvisor: See 546 traveler reviews, 212 candid photos, and great deals for Swadini, A Forever Resort, ranked #2 of 13 hotels in Hoedspruit and rated 4 of 5 at Tripadvisor.

  20. Swadini, A Forever Resort

    Swadini, A Forever Resort, Hoedspruit. 97,130 likes · 772 talking about this · 35,716 were here. Swadini, A Forever Resort is landlocked by the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and nestled amongst...

  21. Swadini A Forever Resort

    Rates displayed above are only a guide. Rates vary depending on number of guests, meals included (basis), season and length of stay and will be confirmed by Swadini A Forever Resort on receipt of your quote request. Rates shown are based on two (2) persons sharing the room/unit per night. Hover over the rate to view alternate occupancies.

  22. A journey to Blyde River Canyon, South Africa

    Swadini is just a nice tourist place, and while you are there, you can visit several wildlife sanctuaries nearby: Khamai Reptile Park ... you still can get some impressions within a single day. Just drive on the Road R532, visit the most notorious spots: God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes, and Three Rondavels View Point, and if you have ...