There is something magical about waterfalls. Maybe it is the sound and sight of the water rushing over the rocks, the figures and facts that baffle the mind or perhaps it is the biologically diverse environment surrounding the waterfall. Words like majestic, dazzling, stunning and mind-blowing are often used in the same sentence.

South Africa is home to a lot of different landscapes, biomes, altitudes and gorges. These are ideal conditions for waterfalls to form over time, and they did. Especially in the Mpumalanga province. No wonder that the Sabie Waterfall Route is located in this province.

The Sabie Waterfall Route is located in the same area as the breathtaking Panorama Route and just 60 km (37 mi) to the west of the Kruger National Park. Few people have written about this route and therefor few people know about this route. And let’s face it, with the huge number of yaw-dropping spectacles in this area, it is hard to stand out. For those of you who can’t get enough of waterfalls, the Sabie Waterfall Route needs to be on your bucket list.

The Sabie Waterfall Route is one of South Africa’s best-kept secrets. Over a distance of 35 km (22 mi), as the crow flies, there are 11 noteworthy waterfalls. Ranging from small and quiet, to wide and really high. From Sabie to Blyde, the R532 connects all of these waterfalls. By road the distance is approximately 70 km (44 mi) and at some waterfalls you have to hike.

There are more waterfalls here than anywhere else in southern Africa. Mpumalanga is known as ‘the place where the sun rises’, but you might also say it is 'the place where the water falls’. Drive through this mountainous and forestry area and visit these waterfalls.

You can visit these waterfalls year-round, but they are really spectacular in the rainy season. In that period some of these waterfalls really come to live. Take a look at some of the water wonders South Africa has to offer.

Augrabies Falls

Just before the water plummets down, the river, together with a number of islands and smaller streams and falls, has a width of about 3 km (1.9 mi). The main waterfall drops 56 m (184 ft) down into a pool with a depth that probably exceeds 43 m (141 ft). Here you can see the sheer force of water and the erosion over time. The granite walls of the gorge have been polished to a smooth surface.

Berlin Falls

The Berlin Falls is the second highest waterfall in Mpumalanga, after Lisbon Falls, and a national monument since 1983. The water of the Lisbon River drops 80 m (263 ft) down into a deep pool. The contrasting colors of the falling water and the surroundings are beautiful. The jade green water in the pool against the rugged red cliffs above. The rolling green hills on top of the plateau and the lush vegetation in the canyon. It is a breathtaking visual for travelers.

Bourke's Luck Potholes

The Bourke’s Luck Potholes is more than a textbook waterfall that plunges from a height. Centuries of swirling whirlpools, where the Blyde River and Treur River meet, have created cylindrical holes into the bedrock of the river. This truly is a showcase of what water and time can do to rock and stone. These potholes mark the beginning of the Blyde River Canyon and have an amazing array of white, yellow and dark brown colors showing you all the different layers of rock on top of each other.

Bridal Veil Falls

The water of the Bridal Veil Falls doesn’t plunge over the edge of the cliffs, but drifts gently over the rocky overhang. This creates a fine spray that resembles a veil, hence the name. From the parking lot there is a 750 m (2461 ft) path through the indigenous forest.

Howick Falls

The water in the Umgeni River comes from a nearby lake to the southwest of Howick. The river meanders through the city before the falls cascades over a cliff composed of dolerite rock, straight into the pool at the bottom. The view from the observation deck, roughly at the same height as the waterfall itself, is quite beautiful. From here you can see just on top of the waterfall, as well as the green and lush gorge into which the river continuous.

Lisbon Falls

Lisbon falls is the highest waterfall in the Sabie-Graskop area of the Panorama Route. Located in the rolling hills, north of the city Graskop, the Lisbon River form a series of pools between the rocks just above the waterfall. These pools split the river into 3 separate streams before they tumble over the cliffs into the large pool at the bottom. The thundering of the water and the curtains of mist and spray it generates, offers a remarkable natural sight for visitors.

Lone Creek Falls

The Lone Creek Falls has been declared a national monument and when you arrive at the base of the waterfall, you will understand why. The beauty of the waterfall and the lush surroundings will take your breath away. From the parking lot you will have to walk through an indigenous forest, before reaching the waterfall. The water of the Sabie River tumbles over the edge of the red cliffs, creating mist which enables the growth of many ferns and mosses along the base of the waterfall.

Mac Mac Falls

The Mac Mac River splits into 2 different streams and has carved its way through the rocks just before the water plunges over the edge of the cliff, 65 m (213 ft) down, into a pool. The white streams of water create a lot of mist and spray which enables ferns, mosses, plants and trees to grow. The top third of the cliffs have little to none vegetation and displays the beautiful white and orange rocks whereas the bottom 2 thirds of the cliffs are covered in green vegetation.

Magwa Falls

The Magwa Falls are simply breathtaking, especially when the water level is at its peak. The curtain of water falls 142 m (466 ft) down into a narrow slot canyon that was formed by seismic activity over time. The many small streams of water give the impression of an overflowing basin, evenly spilling its water over the edge. Even at low water levels, the white lace down the cliff is a sight to behold, but at high water it truly something else.

Mlambomkulu Falls

Often this waterfall is called Waterfall Bluff, but this is actually the name of the area in which the waterfall lies. This area has many near-vertical cliffs along the coastline and many rivers end in the Indian Ocean. Some rivers here are already at sea level before reaching the ocean, but some, like the Mlambomkulu River, are still on top of the cliffs before reaching the end. They pour their water over the cliffs straight into the ocean. Visitors at the Mlambomkulu Falls love to sit underneath the ledge of the waterfall and getting a good spray.

Motitsi Falls

The Motitsi Falls, or also known as the Panorama Falls, is often just a trickle of water, but after heavy rainstorms it becomes quite impressive. The water tumbles down into the green and lush Graskop Gorge. At the bottom of this gorge you will find an Afromontane forest, only 0,5% of the South African landmass consists of this type of forest.

Uvongo Falls

The Uvongo Falls isn’t located in a beautiful stretch of nature, between the hills or in deep rocky gorges. No, it is located in the city of Margate underneath an overpass. The Vungu River plunges 23 m (75 ft) down into a lagoon fringed with green lush forest and rocky cliffs. The depth of the lagoon is 27 m (89 ft), making this one of the deepest in South Africa. The lagoon eventually reaches Uvongo Beach where it drains into the Indian Ocean.