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GO
SEE
If The Graskop Hotel doesn’t satisfy your art fix, the Sunlight Gallery next door might. Owned by artist Griet van der Meulen (whose work also features in the hotel), this gallery exhibits local, and often untrained, artists. You’ll also find jewellery, sculptures and woodcarvings.
more serious hikers, the Fanie Botha Hiking Trail, which winds around Graskop and the surrounding areas, is regarded as one of the best hikes in the country. There are five trail options, ranging from 17.5km to 72km over two to five days. Pop in at Tours & Tickets in Louis Trichard Street for more information.
VISIT
Get out of town and explore the beauty of the Lowveld by self-driving the Panorama Route. From Graskop, the Panorama Route starts on the R532 at the top of Louis Trichardt Ave., signposted Ohrigstad, which goes directly to the Blyde River Canyon. The R534 route, a 15.4km loop along the escarpment, branches off to the right at 2.2km and rejoins the R532 at a point 8.1km from Graskop.
Pinnacle Rock: A tall column of weathered quartzite among the aloes. It rises 30m above the indigenous forest in the surrounding Driekop gorge. God’s Window: At an altitude of 1 730m, the views are magnificent. The nature reserve surrounding it includes a beautiful rain forest walk and aloe gardens. Lisbon Falls: A 95m-treble cascade tumbling into pools far below. Berlin Falls: The 45m-high falls are named for the farm they’re on. There are some excellent vantage points revealing the entire drop. Bourke’s Luck Potholes: At the confluence of the Treur and Blyde rivers, these are remarkable geological phenomena. Through millennia, the swirling whirlpools at the confluence have caused water borne sand and rocks to grind deep cylindrical potholes into the bedrock of the rivers. Blyde River Canyon: A 57km belt, which runs north from Graskop along the escarpment in the 27 000h
PLAY
Conquer your fear of heights with a single or tandem jump at The Big Swing: a 68m-free fall at 180 km/h in under three seconds. It’s nauseatingly scary at first but once you take the step off, you’ll feel as free and weightless as a bird. Pay a little extra to get a DVD of yourself doing the deed. If you’re not up for a jump, try the high-wire foefie slide 135m above the lush gorge. Afterwards have a celebratory drink at The Edge Bar on the other side of the gorge.
Hikers and ramblers are spoilt for choice on the many excellent walks in the area. Try the Jock of the Bushveld Trail, an 8km circular trail leaving from the municipal campsite. For
One lucky reader stands the chance to win a jump courtesy of The Big Swing. Email your contact details to info@lowveldlivingmagazine.com and put ‘Swing’ in the subject box. Closing date is March 31, 2015. Ts & Cs apply.
44 | LOWVELD LIVING