Things to do in Graskop
Graskop is a small village of a few thousand people on the edge of the escarpment, and almost everything worth doing is either in it or within an hour of it. That is the whole reason people sleep here rather than in Nelspruit.
The viewpoints and waterfalls of the Panorama Route are the main event and have a guide of their own. What follows is everything else: the gorge on the edge of the village, the things to do when it rains, and the two or three places worth a second day.
In the village
You can walk to all of this from Mark Street, or drive it in under five minutes. For somewhere to eat in Graskop afterwards, the lodge's own restaurant and pub is on Mark Street too.
Big Swing at the Graskop Gorge
2.2 km, 4 minutes from the lodge
A 68-metre gorge swing at the same site as the Graskop Gorge Lift, and the highest cable gorge swing in the country.
Jock of the Bushveld Trail
1.2 km, 3 minutes from the lodge
A walking trail starting on the edge of the village, named for the route the Jock of the Bushveld transport wagons took off the escarpment.
The viewpoints and waterfalls
Seven stops, all within an hour of the village, in the order you would drive them. Each one has drive times, distances and how long to allow on the route guide.
- Graskop Gorge Lift · 2.2 km
- The Pinnacle Rock · 5 km
- God's Window · 10.3 km
- Lisbon Falls · 10.5 km
- Berlin Falls · 12.4 km
- Bourke's Luck Potholes · 37 km
- Three Rondavels · 52.9 km
A day in Kruger
Kruger's Phabeni Gate is 51 km from the village, about fifty minutes, which is close enough to be at the gate when it opens and back for dinner at the lodge.
Gates, distances and the dayWorth a half day
Further out, and the reason people who booked one night ask about a second.
Africa Silks farm
24.2 km, 23 minutes from the lodge
A working silk farm outside Graskop where the worms, the reeling and the weaving are all on site, and the finished cloth is sold at the door.
Shangana Cultural Village
32.3 km, 29 minutes from the lodge
A Shangaan village near Hazyview presenting the culture through guided tours, a market and evening meals with dancing.
Lowveld View
45.6 km, 37 minutes from the lodge
A quieter viewpoint over the Blyde River Canyon on the R532, between Bourke's Luck Potholes and the Three Rondavels.
Echo Caves
78.8 km, 1 hour 7 minutes from the lodge
Dolomite caves north of Ohrigstad, used as a hiding place by the Pedi during the 1800s and toured with a guide.
Stay in the village, not an hour away
Summit Lodge is on Mark Street, walking distance from the middle of Graskop. Thatched rondavels, self-catering family units and converted railway coaches, from R220 a night, booked direct with reception.