Self Drive the Sabie River Route

About Self Drive the Sabie River Route

Dignified Drakensberg ridges inaugurate the Sabie River Route of which some sites are settled within strolling strides of the like-named country town, Sabie. These mountains of Mpumalanga shepherd the sweeping landscape which can be appraised on foot in the fresh mountain air or on wheels winding with dropped windows.

The richness of Mother Nature glistens in the golden history on this whimsically retired mining village. Take a leaf from yesteryear and let the story of tree trunks narrate the rings of regional history at the Forest Industry Museum. See the forms of the Kruger National Park depicted in the ceramic tiles panelled to the Post Office walls by J Pop-Fincken in 1936. While you're there, mail a handwritten note addressed to your favourite bottle of wine as you admire the Cork Oak Tree Plantation across the street whose corky saplings first sprouted in 1938.

The sound of Anglican church bells from the St. Peter's Church resonates Sir Herbert Baker's 1913 architecture through the town. Hold your horses at the original Hitching Rail outside First National Bank where horses were once tied while gold was exchanged for cash inside the bank by the cowboys that rode them. Be on the lookout for the famous dog, Jock of the Bushveld's, waymark bearing testimony to sharing of this pass by you and historic transport rider Percy Fitzpatrick together with his canine companion. By prior arrangement Huntington and Cemetery, the original home of the founder of Sabie namely the late H.T Glynn, can be visited for appreciation as a National Monument.

Sabie Falls tumbles Sabie River reserves 73 meters down the Sabie Gorge reflecting light through its spray. The remains of the hydro-electric plant that supplied the town with power in 1907 are visible at the base of this waterfall. Set foot on the footbridge, Lord Milner's Bridge, connecting the gorge above the falls since1915.

The nod of private river-side land-owners a few hundred meters upstream gives gateway to the Old Wagon Drift, once upon a time the crossing of transport riders prior to the completion of Milner Bridge. Wave to Roy Smith residing in the only tin-roof house remaining from the days of 1930 forestry pioneers on the Original Ceylon Plantation en route to Graskop.

A little further a 750m aisle through a indigenous forested cathedral leads to an open-air altar where a water mist veils a 70m waterfall named for its portrayal of a bride. Bridal Veil Falls is the site where a father of rock gives away his daughter of water to a proud pool below.

A little closer to the town of Graskop the Loggerhead Restaurant replenishes wood choppers and serves a landmark to picnickers that the parking spot for Lone Creek Falls is in the vicinity. A 200m walk through the forest is just long enough to enjoy the woods and short enough to carry a well stocked picnic basket to the base of this 68m waterfall.

Post picnic blanket snooze move on to spend the afternoon fishing with rented tackle and bait at the Horse Shoe Trout Farm near the Horse Shoe Falls, to be taken in for its horseshoe shaped splash. All in all a slow paced drive full of waterfalls to be saluted and watercolours to be savoured.