Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve
Encyclopedia
Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve (or Motlatse Canyon Provincial Nature Reserve) is situated in the Drakensberg
escarpment region of eastern Mpumalanga
, South Africa
. The reserve protects the Blyde River Canyon
, including sections of the Ohrigstad
and Blyde River
s and the geological formations around Bourke's Luck Potholes, where the Treur River
tumbles into the Blyde below. Southwards of the canyon, the reserve follows the escarpment, to include the Devil's and God's Window, the latter a popular viewpoint to the lowveld at the reserve's southern extremity.
The Mogologolo (1,794 m), Mariepskop (1,944 m) and Hebronberg (1,767 m) massifs are partially included in the reserve. Its resort areas are F.H. Odendaal and Swadeni, the latter only accessible from Limpopo
province. In all it covers an area of approximately 27000 hectares (270 km²).
and Blyde River
s, on the reserve's western boundary 24°40′28"S 30°48′39"E. The reserve's nature conservation headquarters is located here, beside the village of Moremella, at the canyon's southern, or upper reaches.
Sustained kolk
s in the Treur River's plunge pool
s have eroded a number of cylindrical potholes or giant's kettles, which can be viewed from the crags above. It was named after a local prospector, Tom Bourke, who predicted the presence of gold, though he found none himself. The pedestrian bridges
connect the various overlook
s of the potholes and the gorge downstream.
escarpment
, at the southern extremity of the Nature Reserve.
Here, sheer cliffs plunge over 700 metres to the lowveld. From this escarpment—a mostly unbroken rampart of cliffs—opens a vista into the lowveld expanse and escarpment forests, the Eden
-like aesthetic appearance of which prompted the name. On a clear day it is possible to see over the Kruger National Park
towards the Lebombo Mountains
on the border with Mozambique
.
God’s Window features prominently in the plot of the 1980 cult film
The Gods Must Be Crazy
. Near the end of the movie, the Bushman
character Xi (played by Namibia
n bush farmer N!xau
) travels to God’s Window, and due to some low-lying cloud cover believes it to be the end of the Earth.
. Impala, kudu, blue wildebeest, waterbuck and zebra roam the wooded lowveld area. A breeding colony of bald ibis occurs, and around a 1,000 plant species have been recorded.
Percy Fitzpatrick and George Fullerton's summer quarters as transport riders during the 1880s was situated at Paradise Camp 24°55′24"S 30°52′08"E, some 6 km south of God's Window, and similarly perched on the edge of the escarpment. Close to God's Window are several waterfalls, including Berlin Falls
and Lisbon Falls.
Drakensberg
The Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa, rising to in height. In Zulu, it is referred to as uKhahlamba , and in Sesotho as Maluti...
escarpment region of eastern Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga , is a province of South Africa. The name means east or literally "the place where the sun rises" in Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, north of KwaZulu-Natal and bordering Swaziland and Mozambique. It constitutes 6.5% of South Africa's land area...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The reserve protects the Blyde River Canyon
Blyde River Canyon
The Blyde River Canyon is a significant natural feature of South Africa, located in Mpumalanga, and forming the northern part of the Drakensberg escarpment. It is in length and is, on average, around deep. The Dam itself, when full, is at an altitude of 665m . The Canyon consists mostly of red...
, including sections of the Ohrigstad
Ohrigstad River
Ohrigstad River is located in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The Ohrigstad River joins the Blyde River at the BlydeRivierpoort Dam in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve...
and Blyde River
Blyde River
The Blyde River , or Motlatse River , is a river in the Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces of South Africa. It has a northwards course in steep-sided valleys and ravines of the Mpumalanga Drakensberg, before it enters the lowveld region of the Limpopo province...
s and the geological formations around Bourke's Luck Potholes, where the Treur River
Treur River
The Treur River is a small river in the Drakensberg escarpment region of eastern Mpumalanga province, South Africa. It is nowhere far from the R532 motor route, which intersects it twice. Its ultimate origin is inside the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, though most of its course is to the west...
tumbles into the Blyde below. Southwards of the canyon, the reserve follows the escarpment, to include the Devil's and God's Window, the latter a popular viewpoint to the lowveld at the reserve's southern extremity.
The Mogologolo (1,794 m), Mariepskop (1,944 m) and Hebronberg (1,767 m) massifs are partially included in the reserve. Its resort areas are F.H. Odendaal and Swadeni, the latter only accessible from Limpopo
Limpopo
Limpopo is the northernmost province of South Africa. The capital is Polokwane, formerly named Pietersburg. The province was formed from the northern region of Transvaal Province in 1994, and initially named Northern Transvaal...
province. In all it covers an area of approximately 27000 hectares (270 km²).
Bourke's Luck Potholes
This geological feature and day visitors' attraction, is situated at the confluence of the TreurTreur River
The Treur River is a small river in the Drakensberg escarpment region of eastern Mpumalanga province, South Africa. It is nowhere far from the R532 motor route, which intersects it twice. Its ultimate origin is inside the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, though most of its course is to the west...
and Blyde River
Blyde River
The Blyde River , or Motlatse River , is a river in the Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces of South Africa. It has a northwards course in steep-sided valleys and ravines of the Mpumalanga Drakensberg, before it enters the lowveld region of the Limpopo province...
s, on the reserve's western boundary 24°40′28"S 30°48′39"E. The reserve's nature conservation headquarters is located here, beside the village of Moremella, at the canyon's southern, or upper reaches.
Sustained kolk
Kolk
A kolk is an underwater vortex that is created when rapidly rushing water passes an underwater obstacle in boundary areas of high shear. High velocity gradients produce a violently rotating column of water, similar to a tornado. Kolks are capable of plucking multi-ton blocks of rock and...
s in the Treur River's plunge pool
Plunge pool
A plunge pool can be a natural hydrologic fluvial landform feature or a constructed recreational garden feature...
s have eroded a number of cylindrical potholes or giant's kettles, which can be viewed from the crags above. It was named after a local prospector, Tom Bourke, who predicted the presence of gold, though he found none himself. The pedestrian bridges
Footbridge
A footbridge or pedestrian bridge is a bridge designed for pedestrians and in some cases cyclists, animal traffic and horse riders, rather than vehicular traffic. Footbridges complement the landscape and can be used decoratively to visually link two distinct areas or to signal a transaction...
connect the various overlook
Overlook
A scenic overlook, or just an overlook, observation point, lookout or viewing point, is a high place where people can gather to view scenery , and to photograph it. Scenic overlooks are typically created alongside mountain roads, often as a simple turnouts where motorists can pull over onto...
s of the potholes and the gorge downstream.
God's Window
God’s Window 24°52′29"S 30°53′29"E is a popular vantage point along the DrakensbergDrakensberg
The Drakensberg is the highest mountain range in Southern Africa, rising to in height. In Zulu, it is referred to as uKhahlamba , and in Sesotho as Maluti...
escarpment
Escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...
, at the southern extremity of the Nature Reserve.
Here, sheer cliffs plunge over 700 metres to the lowveld. From this escarpment—a mostly unbroken rampart of cliffs—opens a vista into the lowveld expanse and escarpment forests, the Eden
Garden of Eden
The Garden of Eden is in the Bible's Book of Genesis as being the place where the first man, Adam, and his wife, Eve, lived after they were created by God. Literally, the Bible speaks about a garden in Eden...
-like aesthetic appearance of which prompted the name. On a clear day it is possible to see over the Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers and extends from north to south and from east to west.To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In the north is Zimbabwe, and to the east is...
towards the Lebombo Mountains
Lebombo Mountains
The Lebombo Mountains, also called Lubombo Mountains, are an 800km long, narrow range of mountains in Southern Africa stretching from Hluhluwe in KwaZulu-Natal in the south to Punda Maria in the Limpopo Province in South Africa in the north. Part of the mountains are found in South Africa,...
on the border with Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
.
God’s Window features prominently in the plot of the 1980 cult film
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
The Gods Must Be Crazy
The Gods Must Be Crazy
The Gods Must Be Crazy is a 1980 film, written and directed by Jamie Uys. The film is the first in The Gods Must Be Crazy series of films. Set in Botswana and South Africa, it tells the story of Xi, a Sho of the Kalahari Desert whose band has no knowledge of the world beyond...
. Near the end of the movie, the Bushman
Bushmen
The indigenous people of Southern Africa, whose territory spans most areas of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Mozambique, Swaziland, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola, are variously referred to as Bushmen, San, Sho, Barwa, Kung, or Khwe...
character Xi (played by Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
n bush farmer N!xau
N!xau
Nǃxau ǂToma was a Namibian bush farmer and actor who was made famous by his roles in the 1980 movie The Gods Must Be Crazy and its sequels, in which he played the Kalahari Bushman Xixo...
) travels to God’s Window, and due to some low-lying cloud cover believes it to be the end of the Earth.
Wildlife
The high plateaus are inhabited by mountain reedbuck, baboon troops and rock hyraxes. Hippo and crocodile are present in the BlydeRivierpoort DamBlydeRivierpoort Dam
BlydeRivierpoort Dam is dam on the Blyde River, near Hoedspruit, Mpumalanga, South Africa. It was established in 1974.- References :* from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry...
. Impala, kudu, blue wildebeest, waterbuck and zebra roam the wooded lowveld area. A breeding colony of bald ibis occurs, and around a 1,000 plant species have been recorded.
General area
The reserve is fringed to the east by the Mariepskop and Klaserie Waterfall Nature Reserves, and the Mapulaneng forestry region, below the escarpment. National Park status had been considered, if some adjacent areas were incorporated, and their forestry activities discontinued.Percy Fitzpatrick and George Fullerton's summer quarters as transport riders during the 1880s was situated at Paradise Camp 24°55′24"S 30°52′08"E, some 6 km south of God's Window, and similarly perched on the edge of the escarpment. Close to God's Window are several waterfalls, including Berlin Falls
Berlin Falls
The Berlin Falls is a waterfall in Mpumalanga, South Africa. They are located close to God's Window and the highest waterfall in South Africa, Lisbon Falls.The falls are on the Sabine River and fall , dumping into a circular basin flanked by red cliffs....
and Lisbon Falls.