Our holiday to Sabie and Graskop in Mpumalanga

We had our May leave coming up and found out earlier in around February that Kim was pregnant, the original plan was to get Kim's mate, Nicole to come over and then head up to the Caprivi in Namibia on the banks of the Zambezi and do some tiger fishing and camp out, however plans had to change as this is a maleria area and we did not want to take the chance of getting Maleria, especially now that we knew that Kim was pregnant. So we decided on a safer alternative. The beautiful province of Mpumalanga. The area where we were going to is well known for its beautiful scenery and awesome waterfalls. As the Northern section of the Drakensberg Mountains runs along this area we were right on the top of the escarpment looking down onto the area where Kruger National Park is found.

Nicole flew in and we started our first few days of leave when Kim had her 40th on the 21st, great party! We organised plenty of wine, beer and other bits and peices and had half a sheep on the spit braai. Just fantastic! The next day we cleaned up, packed and hit the road.

Stopping for a spot of Padkos just outside of Dullstroom!

We stayed in a place called Havana Nights in Graskop, very simple but good enough for us! Graskop is a great little town with a couple of nice pubs and resturants and lots of curios. Also it is very close to God's window, a beautiful spot which you can look out from down the escarpment. No too much of a clear view as it is fire season now and there are a lot of fires in the grassland and forestery areas. So a bit hazy but still quite breathtaking.

Kim looking out at Gods Window.

After having a good look around and settling in for the first night after a huge portugese style dinner we got some breakfast and looked around, we found a couple of cool places with some interesting signs at the enterance. It was a bikers bar and the owner clearly had a sense of humour. People in Graskop also seem to be pancake crazed and there are at least 5 places that sell them.

After looking around we had headed out on a scenic drive in the panorama area and had a look at a couple more scenic spots, along the road you will find Lisbon falls, Mac Mac falls and Bridal Veil falls to name but a few, all very beautiful! We ended up finding another small spot on the side of the road, there was a small river and no buildings, all we saw was a sign saying bush kitchen and pub. So we headed in and found the most awesome little spot ever. Nicole and I asked for a beer, and were presented with a 2 quart bottles and some rather large enamel tin mugs! There is a huge boulder behind the spot and the guys running it have just made a make shift shelter out of some bamboo, stumps for chairs and very basic tables but very cool little spot! So cool I could have spent the whole day there!!! you can also braai there and the guys can do basic lunch. "Shisa Nyama!"

Nicole and me having a cold beer next to the river...what and awesome little place this was! Catering to the needs of the thirsty travelers.

After a relaxing beer we got back on the road and drove around to the bourke's luck potholes, also quite a natural phenomenon where the water has erroded the rock away forming beautiful potholes in the bedrock.

The area further up from the potholes is close to the Blyde River Canyon, the third largest canyon on the planet! The views are spectacular! We spent some time here and had a look at the 3 rondavels and also got to take in some of the views of the canyon.

The view of the 3 rondavels in the Blyde River Canyon is spectacular!

Kim living on the edge! Looking over the Dam in the Canyon, Awesome views!

We went beyond this point!



Kim at the base of Bridal veil falls just outside of Sabie! 



Bridal Veil falls, about 65m high

As we were on our way back home we went up long tom pass, we stopped in and had a look at the cannons based at the top of the pass that the brittish were using to shell the Boers with, very high up and very strategic advantage from up here as Sabie is down below the huge Drakensberg mountains. This was the highest point on the pass.