Live the view, feel the forest and beat the winter blues with a Lowveld getaway
Escape the Gauteng chill in the winter school holidays by scheduling a visit to the balmy Mpumalanga Lowveld – just three-and-a-half hours from Johannesburg and Pretoria.
Even a weekend break is rejuvenating for Gautengers after weeks of frost, veld fires and beige landscapes.
A new attraction on Mpumalanga’s Panorama Route is the Graskop Gorge Lift Co, which has created a tourism storm since opening at the end of December. It is just outside the tourist town of Graskop and a short and very scenic drive away from the Kruger National Park.
There are loads of accommodation options in the area to suit all budgets and many other beautiful attractions close by.
The Graskop Gorge lift centre boasts Africa’s first viewing lift – which travels 51m down the face of the Graskop Gorge and into the forest below. And it is there, in the pristine Afromontane forest, that the real show begins.
You will delight in the beautiful forest environment which is explored via a 600m circular trail consisting of elevated boardwalks and suspension bridges. Thoughtful interpretation boards provide information on the forest and its inhabitants.
In South Africa, Afromontane forests cover only 0.5% of the country’s land area. They occur in pockets along mountain ranges in well-watered areas, including ravines and south-facing slopes. Under the vivid green canopy of trees lies a lush wonderland filled with a spectacular variety of plants, animals, insects and birds.
The centre, which is perched on the top of the cliff edge with spectacular views of the Motitsi waterfall, the forest below and long views down into the Lowveld, also has a restaurant and bar, contemporary African art gallery, colourful African fashion clothing shop, curio shop and community craft market. There is ample parking for cars and busses as well as clean, modern toilet facilities.
The Graskop Gorge lift centre is on the R533, 1km outside of Graskop.
Contact:
066 305 1572 l 066 305 1573
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GraskopGorgeLiftCo
Website: visit www.graskopgorgeliftcompany.co.za
