God's Window
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Situated on the Drakensberg escarpment in Mpumalanga is God’s Window. Just one look down and you will begin to understand why it is called "God's Window".

Did you know?
The View from God's Window has inspired and awed thousands of painters and photographers from all over the world.
With magnificent views, canyons, rock formations and waterfalls, God's Window is truly an area of breathtaking scenic splendour. It is no wonder that Mpumalanga is known as Paradise Country.

Gods Window is so called for the panoramic view of the Lowveld more than 900 m down into a lush Indigenous forest-clad ravine. The majestic cliffs plunge over 700 meters to the Lowveld and the private game reserves which have made the area one of South Africa's main wildlife destinations. God's Window is a small part of a 250km long earthwork of sheer cliffs and extravagant beauty. One can observe the hills and forests as far as the eye can see. It seems as if one can see forever!

Viewing sites are provided along the length of the spectacular Blyde River Canyon including God's Window, and there are numerous fantastic walks, hiking, horse and mountain bike trails. From the parking area, a very steep stepped footpath along the edge of the escarpment leads to the actual viewpoints.

For the best lookout points and exotic forest plants, steer away from the crowds and hike up into the clouds and the misty rainforest. Make sure you take a few refreshments along as it is very humid and an extremely steep and strenuous walk. God's Window and Graskop are perfect en-route stopping points for those visiting the Kruger National Park.

There are curio stalls and toilet facilities in the parking area. God’s Window is truly a popular sight and for good reason. One can spend hours here just admiring the unsurpassed scenery.

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Kaapsehoop
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Kaapsehoop, originally spelled Kaapsche Hoop, received its name from the Dutch they gave the town this name because of all the gold that was discovered within its boundaries. Due to the town being located very high above the De Kaap Valley (The Cape Valley). The town is between large natural clearings, which lie among large rock fields. The town is near the top of the surrounding escarpment overlooking the De Kaap Valley, 800 meters below. You can see for kilometres provided there is no mist in your way.

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Kruger National Park
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Kruger National Park, located in the northeastern region of South Africa, is a must-visit for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers. The park's expansive savanna landscape is home to the famous "Big Five" – lions, elephants, buffalo, leopards, and rhinos – as well as an incredible variety of other animal species. With its diverse ecosystems, thrilling safari experiences, and breathtaking vistas, Kruger National Park offers an unforgettable adventure for travellers seeking an authentic African wildlife experience. To complete your visit, here is a list of the best hotels in this remarkable region
(please click on the link below that is provided on this page).

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Graskop Gorge Adventure Centre
Panorama Route - Graskop - Mpumalanga
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Step into the heart of adventure at the Graskop Gorge Lift Company, strategically positioned along the iconic Panorama Route. Whether you're in search of a captivating final destination or a delightful pit stop on your way to the Kruger National Park and other regional gems, our location serves as the ultimate gateway to a world of excitement.
Embark on a journey of discovery with our diverse range of activities, inviting you to experience the breathtaking Viewing Lift and Forest Exploration, the pulse-pounding Big Swing, the exhilarating Zipline, and the picturesque Suspension Bridge. Each adventure promises a perfect blend of adrenaline and natural beauty, crafting memories that will linger in your heart for a lifetime.
Satisfy your culinary cravings at our two distinctive eateries, The Lift Café and the Swing Café. Take a moment to savour delectable delights in a charming atmosphere, complemented by panoramic views that enhance the overall dining experience.
Our commitment to accessibility shines through, with most areas designed to be wheelchair and pram-friendly. At the Graskop Gorge Lift Company, we invite you to immerse yourself in the thrill of the moment and the serenity of nature, creating a unique and unforgettable experience for all. Join us on this extraordinary adventure where every step is a memory waiting to be made.
Book Now!

The Lift
The Viewing Lift is a first for Africa. Climb aboard and travel 51 metres down the face of the Graskop gorge and into the Afromontane forest below.

There is nothing scary about the lift – it travels sedately up and down, with a one-way trip taking around one minute.

Interestingly, 240 tons of concrete went into the lift foundation and 88 tons of steel in the shaft.

EXPLORE
The Forest
A 600-metre circular elevated walkway, with some stairs and two small suspension bridges, allows visitors to explore the forest. We have created an informative interpretation trail that takes you on a journey through the indigenous forest, to the waterfall's base, across the river and back to the lift.

The delightful interpretation exhibits introduce visitors to the forest and its inhabitants - which include a diverse range of plants, insects and birds. The endangered Samango Monkey has become a regular visitor to our forest.

EXPLORE
Big Swing
The Big Swing is a must for adrenaline junkies. Freefall for 70 metres (equivalent to 20 storeys) and reach 140km/h speeds in under three seconds!

Unlike bungee jumping, participants are strapped in an upright position in a full safety harness, allowing them to see the spectacular scenery of the gorge, waterfall and forest. If you cannot keep your eyes open as you plunge towards the bottom of the gorge, fear not because you can choose to purchase a video of your jump.

EXPLORE
Zipline
Visitors to the centre who still want to get their hearts racing but who think the Big Swing is too extreme for them can choose to fly across the gorge on a high-wire Zipline.

The course starts from the top of a 5m tower, with 360° views. Participants ride a 120m-long zipline to the northern side of the gorge before walking a short distance along a scenic platform and zipping back along a second zipline of equal length.

EXPLORE
Suspension Bridge
The 52-metre-long Suspension Bridge links the northern and southern sides of the gorge.

The Suspension Bridge sways slightly when other people are on it but offers a relatively sedate experience, allowing visitors to enjoy the magnificent views of mountains, rugged cliff faces, forests and the Motitsi Waterfall.

EXPLORE
The Lift Café
The Lift Café is perched on the edge of the gorge and offers breathtaking views. When the mist rolls in, the gorge is shrouded in a quiet blanket of white and on clear days, the Lowveld stretches out beyond the tree-filled gorge.

Guests can choose to sit on the deck or, in colder weather, gather inside around a log fire.

An extensive wine list, craft beers on tap and speciality cold and hot drinks complement a menu that caters for all tastes, from delicious curry to wood-fired pizzas.

The Lift Café is a full-service sit-down restaurant.

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The Swing Café
The Swing Café is a laid-back chill zone that invites you to Get Delicious, Real Quick! On the menu is flame-grilled chicken and a choice of sides, plus an array of beverages.

Spend a couple of hours enjoying one of the best views in the Lowveld, while watching the Big Swing and Zipline action.

The Swing Café has a choice of seating, from a gorge-edge counter to traditional tables and chairs and inviting couches. Indoor seating is available too.

The Swing Café is a counter-service restaurant.

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Relax & Play
Unleash your child's inner adventurer at Graskop Gorge Lift Company's epic play area! Imagine squeals of delight as they navigate the mini obstacle course, complete with a soft sandpit and climbing structures. Watch their confidence soar as they conquer the challenges, fuelled by endless imagination.

Meanwhile, parents can take a well-deserved breather in the dedicated seating area. Relax under the shade netting on comfortable chairs or loungers, keeping an eye on your little explorers while enjoying a refreshing beverage from the Swing Café.

But relaxation doesn't mean missing out on the thrills! Your vantage point offers a front-row seat to the action. Witness the exhilarating rush of daredevils ziplining across the gorge, their shrieks of joy blending with the cascading Motitsi Waterfall. Feel the adrenaline vicariously as courageous souls take the plunge on the Big Swing, their screams echoing through the air.

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The Gorge Shop
Expect to find international brands that embody South African flair at reasonable prices. T-shirts, jackets, shorts, footwear, flasks and awesome accessories allow international visitors and local tourists to take a piece of our beautiful country home with them. Plus, there are loads of local and Graskop Gorge-inspired products.

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Re-Freshed @ The Gorge
Discover exquisite hand-crafted pottery and unique mementoes at our shop, catering to both domestic and international tourists.

Explore a treasure trove of distinctive pottery and weaving, along with a variety of South African delights such as coffee from Sabie Valley, local beef, game biltong, and sweets sourced from Cape Town.

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Community Craft Centre
This extensive craft market allows for leisurely browsing, with a variety of vendors selling hand-made curios and crafts.

The Community Craft Centre specialises in African art, African wire and wood sculptures, woven baskets, pottery, crafts and curios.

EXPLORE
The Gallery
Step into The Gallery at Graskop Gorge Lift Co., where Mpumalanga's artistic spirit bursts onto the scene. Vibrant paintings, intricate sculptures, and handcrafted treasures fill the space, each piece a vibrant thread in the region's rich cultural tapestry.

Take home a piece of its magic and make your visit to Graskop Gorge Lift Co. unforgettable.

EXPLORE
Graskop Gorge Lift Company

Contact Details
Phone
+27 (0)13 767 1144
Mobile
+27 (0)66 305 1572/3
Mail
info@gglc.co.za

Business Hours
Monday to Sunday: 08:30 - 17:00

(Last Lift Experience, Big Swing and Zipline tickets are sold at 17:00, weather permitting).

Last food orders for both the Lift Café and Swing Café are at 16:30 and drinks until 17:00.

🔴 IMPORTANT NOTICE 🔴
The Graskop Gorge Lift Company is a CASHLESS facility.

Where to find us:
Situated just outside of Graskop on the R533 towards Hazyview (on the opposite side of the gorge to the Big Swing).

GPS
24°56'45.0"S 30°50'30.4"E

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*Nelspruit Golf Club*
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For golf enthusiasts, the 18-hole Nelspruit Golf Club is 7 km from the property.

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Chimp Eden
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Situated within the beautiful 1,000 hectare Umhloti Nature Reserve, 15 kilometres outside Nelspruit, the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) South Africa Chimpanzee Sanctuary is home to chimps that have been misplaced from their natural habitats in Africa.

Chimp Eden was established in 2006 and is the first and only chimpanzee sanctuary in South Africa. This JGI chimpanzee sanctuary brings the world of chimpanzees closer to humanity through education end eco-tourism.

The chimpanzee (Pan Troglodytes) is considered to be the closest relative to humans and is “Endangered’ under a strict application of the IUCN Red List Criteria (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and is listed in Appendix 1 of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Chimpanzees in the wild may be extinct within the next 10 - 20 years if current trends cannot be reversed.

The goal of the chimpanzee sanctuary is to rescue chimpanzees that have survived the bush meat trade, been orphaned, traded in the illegal pet market, or rescued from being traumatised for entertainment in circuses, beach resorts and night clubs.

The chimpanzees at Chimp Eden are the lucky ones, living out their lives in a risk free environment and being provided with the necessary attention to recover from the trauma they have experienced. The chimpanzees spend their days in semi-wild enclosures, and show normal social interaction and behavioural patterns as group members.

There are currently three different chimp groups and enclosures at the South African sanctuary. There are viewpoints overlooking the forest and “foraging areas’ from which visitors and volunteers can observe and study the chimpanzees.

Founded in 1977, the Jane Goodall Institute continues Dr Goodall's pioneering research on chimpanzee behaviour. This research transformed scientific perceptions of the relationship between humans and animals. The South African chimpanzee sanctuary is proud to be part of the Jane Goodall Institute, which is a global leader in the effort to conserve and preserve endangered species and habitats, and in particular chimpanzees.

The JGI is also widely recognised for establishing innovative community-centred conservation and development programmes in Africa. Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, the Institute's global environmental and humanitarian youth programme, is active at all ages in more than 50 countries. In the past decades Roots & Shoots has impacted the lives of young people in more than 100 countries.

Public Opening Hours 08:00- 16:00 Mondays – Sundays

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Lowveld National Botanical Garden
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Entrance fees
Adult: R40
Student: R27
Pensioner: Free entry on Tuesdays
Child: R15

Operational Hours
Mon-Sun
Sep-Mar: 09:00-18:00
Apr-Aug: 09:00-17:00

The character of the Garden is shaped by the two main rivers that cut across it, namely the Crocodile and Nels Rivers. Before these two rivers converge in the Garden, they form spectacular waterfalls which can be viewed at the Cascades and the Nels viewpoints. When the Crocodile River is low, interesting geological formations are visible.

When in bloom the clivias at the Garden’s main entrance are a beautiful and welcoming sight.

Walking through the enchanting African Rain Forest enables one to cross the Crocodile River across the famous suspended bridge, where the cascading waterfall can also be viewed.

The South African Forest contains fascinating vegetation from the Coastal Belt as well as the Limpopo Province.

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Sudwala Caves
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The Sudwala Caves are the oldest known caves in the World and lie in the Drakensberg Escarpment, which separates the Highveld from the lowlands of Mpumalanga.

The renowned as the discovery site of some of the first pieces of evidence of human habitation in the South Africa, we explore the History of oldest known Caves to man, the Mpumalanga Sudwala Caves. Home to stone age utensils dating as far back as the early Stone Age era from around 2,5 million Years ago spanning until the late Stone Age era up to a few thousand Years BC, Sudwala Caves boast an impressive collection of Artefacts and Historic relics that tell a wondrous story about the History of humankind.

240 million years ago:
Birth of the Sudwala Caves
The Caves themselves were formed about 240 million years ago, and in geo-morphological terms they have Karst topography, that is to say that they are shaped by the dissolution of soluble bedrock, especially carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite.
Karst systems are typically ancient, defined and moulded by aeons of natural environmental processes. A note for the ecologically minded is that Karst systems are fragile, and even slight changes in groundwater chemistry, while not immediately and dramatically evident, may become so over a long period.

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The Mac Mac Falls
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the 1870s Scottish immigrants came to Mpumalanga to pan for gold. Many of them, had surnames that began with Mac. When President Thomas Burger visited the area, he thought this quite amusing and named the area Mac-Mac.

Falling 70m the double streams of water spray rainbows across the scene. The river falls to a deep, dramatic pool. This is what waterfalls are supposed to look like.

The Mac Mac Falls is 13 km from Sabie on the R532 road towards Graskop. The turnoff and parking area is at the curio stalls and a nominal entrance fee of R30 is charged. A long steep walk on a cement pathway takes you to the viewing platform above the falls.

This waterfall was originally a single river, but gold miners diverted the river in an attempt to work the rich gold-bearing reef over which the river plunges.

The 70 m high Mac Mac Falls is declared National Monument.

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Ilanga Ice Rink
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Telephone: 013 742 2128
Email: ilanga@theicerink.co.za

Location: Ilanga Shopping Centre
Cnr Bitterbessie & Flamboyant Road
Nelspruit
Postal Address: P.O. Box 2174
Cresta
2118

Entrance Fee: R75.00
Skate Hire: R40.00
Group Rate *: 10+ R85.00
Cheap Skate Card **: R600.00
Cheap Skate and Hire Card ***: R850.00
Skate Sharpening: R40.00
Sunday Night Madness: R65.00 (includes skate hire

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Pilgrim's Rest
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Located in the Mpumalanga region of South Africa, Pilgrim’s Rest is a small town with a very colorful and exciting history. In 1873 the town and surrounding area was densely populated with prospectors all hoping to make their fortunes in the second of the Transvaal gold fields. It was estimated that in the beginning of 1874 there were some 1500 prospectors working around 4000 claims. As so often happens when an influx of potential customers increases the population of a town, no matter how temporarily, businesses appear overnight to take advantage of the boom, charging outrageous prices that the many hopefuls will pay in order to get the items they need to keep working their claims and survive another week or two.

The 1870 gold rush was not the first time the area had been the site of digging. Evidence of mining of the quartz reefs in ancient times were revealed during the most recent efforts to retrieve the gold buried within the soil of the town and surrounding area, as well as other parts of South Africa. Though who the ancient miners were is unknown it has been established that the region of Mpumalanga was part of a transit corridor that moved gold from South Africa to Arabia, India and Phoenicia.

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