A couple of years ago, while paging through a travel magazine I came across a stunning picture of the Lisbon Falls in Mpumalanga and became obsessed with taking a trip up there to see for myself. Each time we’d start planning a trip I’d throw waterfalls in Mpumalanga in the mix but it never seemed to pan out…until late last year when the coin toss was finally in my favour. I was beyond excited.
The drive to Mpumalanga has a mystical feeling to it and I love driving through there. The roads hug the rolling forest hills, meticulously lined with pine and eucalyptus trees. Each curve on the road reveals another angle of amazing views as you make your way up and down the winding valleys.
We stayed at the Valley View Backpackers in Graskop which as the name suggests has an incredible view of the valley below. They have bikes you can rent and a good base for finding information about what’s good where. It also has a large common area which is good to share a meal and meet people from all over the world over a drink.
Bourke’s Luck Potholes
On our first full day we took a drive along the panorama route and took in the breath-taking views at the aptly named “God’s Window,” marvelled at the Bourke’s Luck Potholes, where the natural flow of the river has carved out this interesting patterns and caves over millions of years…
…and of course the reason I came here in the first place…Waterfalls!
Waterfalls in Mpumalanga
To be honest, I can’t really explain my sudden fascination with waterfalls in Mpumalanga. I just saw a picture and I was just hooked on waterfalls. There are loads of waterfalls in the area and I didn’t get to see them all because after three days my boyfriend was like “it’s a waterfall, just like all the other ones.” But, I think it would be a good idea to go back and see them from a different angle (just for variety).
Just after the Mac Mac Falls are the pools. Here you can have a picnic or braai and take a dip in the rock pools. We worked up an appetite on our brief walk (1 hour) on one of the shorter trails and spent the afternoon slothfully as holiday dictates you do.
Our trip was mostly chilled vibes and on a later trip we’d include the mystical town of Kaapschehoop , but thankfully there are many adventure activities around. We needed these to jolt ourselves back into reality if we were going to make it back home in one piece. So we decided Geckoing in Sabie would do the job.
Geckoing
Geckoing, or white water tubing, is a water activity that involves a one person inflatable tube (Gecko); fast, low volume rivers and rapids…a lot of rapids (sections of the river where the river bed has a fairly steep slope, causing an increase in water speed and turbulence). I seem to keep having these experiences where I have a general idea what an activity entails and once I’ve signed up, I think “oops, this is a bit more than I thought.”
Geckoing was one of those experiences.
Our excursion began with a safety talk, a struggle to strap on my helmet and brief lesson on how to use our paddles to steer. Our guide tells us that if you fall off the tube while going down the any of the rapids, don’t try get back on or stand. Rather, raise your coccyx (tail bone/bum) as high as you can to avoid hitting any sharp rocks and glide down the rapid to calmer waters. With that we set off on out on a surprisingly scenic ride.
The last rapid was the largest. So much so that you had the option of giving it a miss. I decided to be brave the rapids. It was not picture perfect. As I was engulfed by the rapid water, two things went through my mind. First, “raise your coccyx, raise your coccyx! Protect that bum, girl.” Then I thought, I cannot be the author of this blog (and one of two black people on this tour) and die out here going down this rapid. No ways, so with each breath of air I shouted “whoo hoo.” I think I was very convincing.
Would I do this again?
Well, I think I should try others things first.
Should you?
Most definitely.
Travel Information
Valley View Backpackers
http://www.valley-view.co.za/
013 767 1112
Kestell Adventures
https://kestelladventures.com/
Info@kestelladventures.com
072 351 5553