The most beautiful stops along the Panorama Route in South Africa
The Panorama Route is without a doubt one of the most beautiful road trips in South Africa. Along the way, you'll drive past breathtaking viewpoints, lush green canyons, impressive waterfalls, and incredible natural landscapes. If you're combining a visit to Kruger National Park with a road trip, the Panorama Route is definitely worth adding to your itinerary. In this guide, I'll share the best stops along the Panorama Route, practical travel tips, and everything you need to know before your visit.
Lone Creek Falls
Lone Creek Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls along the route. From the parking area, it's just a short walk through the lush forest to reach the waterfall. A well-maintained path leads you to a viewing platform with a small bridge, offering stunning views. It's one of the few waterfalls where you can get this close, making it one of the highlights of the Panorama Route.
Mac Mac Falls
Mac Mac Falls is an easy stop to combine with Lone Creek Falls, as it's only about a 30-minute drive away. You can admire the waterfall from a viewpoint above, or hike all the way down to the base. We've heard it's quite a challenging hike, so we decided to skip it. If you only visit the viewpoint, you'll probably spend no more than a few minutes here, but it's still a worthwhile stop along the route.
Berlin Falls
Berlin Falls is especially impressive during or just after the rainy season, when the water flow is at its strongest. During the dry season, the waterfall is much smaller. Just like Mac Mac Falls, you can enjoy the view from a scenic lookout.
Lisbon Falls
Our absolute favourite! Unlike most waterfalls along the route, you can walk down to the bottom of Lisbon Falls for an incredible view of both the waterfall and the towering cliffs. On sunny days, the spray often creates a small rainbow, making the scenery even more spectacular.
If you don't feel like walking down, you can also admire the waterfall from the viewpoint at the top. When we visited, several local vendors were selling handmade souvenirs in the parking area—perfect if you're looking for a unique souvenir to take home.
Besides the many waterfalls, there are several other incredible places worth visiting along the Panorama Route. We visited Pinnacle Rock and the Three Rondavels ourselves, but I've also included two additional stops below that are definitely worth considering.
Pinnacle Rock
As the name suggests, Pinnacle Rock is a striking rock formation rising from a deep gorge. It's a beautiful place to stretch your legs, although it's a fairly quick stop. You can admire the rock from the viewpoint or walk a little further along the edge of the gorge. There are also public toilets here, making it a convenient place to stop.
Three Rondavels
The Three Rondavels was our favourite stop on the entire Panorama Route. Imagine a green version of the Grand Canyon in South Africa. The viewpoint overlooks the spectacular Blyde River Canyon and the famous rock formation known as the Three Rondavels. There are several viewpoints to explore, and you can take a short walk to enjoy the scenery from different angles.
Extra stops along the Panorama Route
Have some extra time? These are two popular stops we didn't get a chance to visit but are definitely worth adding to your itinerary.
Bourke's Luck Potholes
This unique natural attraction is where two rivers meet, creating fascinating cylindrical potholes carved into the rock over thousands of years. It's a beautiful place to explore and, on a warm day, even take a refreshing swim.
God's Window & Rainforest
If you're up for a short walk through one of South Africa's lush rainforests, God's Window is a fantastic stop. The trail leads through beautiful forest scenery to one of the area's most famous viewpoints.
Where is the Panorama Route?
The Panorama Route is located in the Mpumalanga province in eastern South Africa. The route stretches for approximately 180 kilometres and takes you past some of the country's most famous waterfalls, viewpoints, and canyons.
How many days do you need for the Panorama Route?
We split the Panorama Route into two separate days, but it's definitely possible to see the main highlights in just one day if you leave early and don't spend too much time at each stop. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, you could easily spread the route over two or even three days.
Where to stay along the Panorama Route
For the first part of the route, we drove from Kruger National Park to our accommodation in Hoedspruit. The following day, we completed the rest of the route as a loop from our accommodation.
We highly recommend Kruger Cliffs Lodge. This beautiful lodge offers stylish studios with a private plunge pool, outdoor shower, and a terrace overlooking the surrounding landscape, where you can often spot wildlife roaming freely.
Tips for visiting the Panorama Route
Since the Panorama Route mainly consists of natural attractions, it's a good idea to bring plenty of snacks and drinks for the journey. Most stops don't take very long, and there aren't many restaurants along the way.
Also, make sure to carry some cash. Almost every attraction charges a small entrance fee, usually between €1 and €5 per person.
