From KSh1,036,123 to KSh2,516,299 pps
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Panorama Route, South AfricaActivities travellers enjoyed
Historical tours | Bush dining | Bird watching | Fine dining experience | Wine tasting | Picnics

HomeDestinationsPanorama Route
The Panorama Route is the scenic day between Johannesburg and Kruger: Blyde River Canyon, God's Window, and a series of viewpoints.
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To the west of the Kruger Park lies a region of exceptional natural beauty and dramatic landscapes: the Panorama Route.
Take a slow drive around this rugged, mountainous countryside stopping at reach-for-your-camera viewpoints such as “God's Window” and “The Pinnacle” – their names conjuring up the enormity of their panoramic vistas – and be sure not to miss the surreal cylindrical rock formations at the Bourke's Luck Potholes in the Blyde River Canyon.
Most visitors treat this area as a brief diversion on their way to or from the Kruger Park, but spend a few days on the Panorama Route and you'll soon discover that naturally sculpted canyons, waterfalls and unspoilt mountain views are only part of the appeal while lovely little towns, local hospitality and outdoor activities – horse riding, hiking and fly fishing – complete the holiday experience.
The Panorama Route is perfect for a self-drive holiday: infrastructure is good, the roads are easy to navigate and there are plenty of accommodation options in the surrounding towns.

With the closest gate to the Kruger Park only 10 km away, Hazyview is a popular base from which to explore the extravagantly scenic Panorama Route and then get an early start on a Kruger Park safari.
This pretty little town has a good selection of accommodations, shops, and restaurants, and there's a wonderful Belgian bakery where you can enjoy all manner of tasty pastries and teatime treats. There's plenty to do in the area too: scenic hot air balloon fights, quad biking and paddling on the Sabie River.
All in all Havyview is a much better overnight option than nearby Nelspruit, which lacks the small-town feel and safari buzz.
Just north of Nelspruit lies the small town of White River. Around a 30-minute drive from the Numbi Gate of the Kruger Park, White River is a convenient base from which to tour the Panorama Route, try the many adventurous outdoor activities in the area, play a round or two of golf and – of course – go on a self-drive safari. As for the town itself, there are some lovely pottery and art studios, boutique shops, delis and open-air restaurants, and the pleasant sub-tropical climate is ideal for growing fruit and nuts: Valencia oranges, mangos, litchis, macadamias and pecan nuts are all farmed on the surrounding hills.
Malalane is located a mere 10-minute drive from the Malalane Gate of the Kruger Park. This is sugar cane country and Malalane – a small farming town – is not very interesting in itself, however, there are a couple of world-class golf courses nearby including Leopard Creek. Here “golfing hazards” take on a new dimension with regular sightings of crocodile, hippo and antelope – either on the course itself or next to the river running alongside several holes.
At 2 100m above sea level, Dullstroom is one of the highest – and coldest – towns in South Africa, and lies in the rolling landscape between Johannesburg and the Panorama Route. Dullstroom is an exceptionally beautiful town with an abundance of water: clear streams, waterfalls, and 14 lakes and dams all stocked with rainbow trout. Popular activities include fly-fishing, horse riding, hiking to nearby waterfalls, and a visit to the informative bird of prey rehabilitation centre.
Dating back to the late 1800s, Pilgrim's Rest is a historic gold mining town set in a pretty location on the Panorama Route. In an attempt to preserve the atmosphere of South Africa's early gold rush days the entire town has been declared a national monument: all the buildings have been carefully restored, there are museums up and down the main road, and visitors can enjoy quirky activities such as ghost tours and gold panning excursions.
Scenery
Self-drive

Clear winter days and the dry season you probably wanted in Kruger anyway.

Mist on the escarpment is common. The views come and go.

Do not land in Johannesburg and try to see the canyon and enter Kruger the same evening.
Priced itineraries that pass through this place. Nights can still change when the quote is drawn up. Nothing is paid until you accept it.
From KSh307,072 to KSh448,597 pps
Sustainable Cape Luxury
4 daysA visit with a local community.
Cape Town | South Africa
From KSh369,395 to KSh510,271 pps
Eco-Retreat: The Grootbos Experience
4 daysMorning and afternoon game drives on each full day on safari. Park and permit fees for the places on this route.
South Africa | Western Cape
From KSh523,904 pps
Train Journey to Vic Falls
4 daysMorning and afternoon game drives.
Botswana | South Africa | Zimbabwe
From KSh425,226 pps
Pretoria to Cape Town Journey
4 daysMorning and afternoon game drives on each full day on safari. Park and permit fees for the places on this route.
Cape Town | South Africa
From KSh523,904 pps
Train Journey to Vic Falls
4 daysMorning and afternoon game drives on each full day on safari. Park and permit fees for the places on this route.
Botswana | South Africa | Zimbabwe
From KSh557,014 to KSh603,107 pps
5-Day Essential Kruger Park Safari
5 daysMorning and afternoon game drives on each full day on safari. Park and permit fees for the places on this route.
Kruger Private Reserves | South Africa
From KSh810,851 to KSh814,097 pps
Mid-Range 5-Day Essential Kruger Park Safari
5 daysMorning and afternoon game drives.
Sabi Sands Game Reserve | South Africa
From KSh1,470,438 to KSh1,663,900 pps
Luxury 5-Day Essential Kruger Safari
5 daysMorning and afternoon game drives.
Sabi Sands Game Reserve | South Africa
Accommodation on the Panorama Route ranges from comfortable forest retreats to luxury lodges with amazing scenery – enough to suit all tastes, budgets and trip types. Whether you’re looking for a self-drive trip of Mpumalanga or a convenient stopover before your Kruger Safari, our selection of Panorama Route accommodation is sure to inspire you and will make planning your South Africa holiday so much simpler.
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1 stay. The rate is per person sharing.
From KSh1,036,123 to KSh2,516,299 pps
Panorama Route, South AfricaHistorical tours | Bush dining | Bird watching | Fine dining experience | Wine tasting | Picnics
The Panorama is a transfer and a hotel, small beside the Kruger nights.
Keep it on the safari quote so the driving day is not a surprise.