SCENIC PANORAMA ROUTE SOUTH AFRICA | Cinematic Travel Video
A Cinematic travel video of beautiful Panorama Route, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
The Panorama Route is one of the most scenic drives in South Africa connecting several cultural and natural points of interest. This route, steeped in the history of South Africa, is situated in the Mpumalanga province. The route is centred around the Blyde River Canyon, the world’s third largest canyon, and features numerous waterfalls, one of the largest afforested areas in South Africa and several natural landmarks. The route starts at the foot of the Long Tom Pass just outside Lydenburg, following the natural descent from the Great Escarpment to the Lowveld, and ending at the border of the Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces near the Echo Caves.Highlight of the Panorama Route -
God's Window
Lisbon Falls
Berlin Falls
The Pinnacle
Bourke`s Luck Potholes
Blyde River Canyon
Graskop
Pilgrim's rest
Sabie
Mac Mac falls
Waterfalls
Rainforests
Kruger national park
Lone creek fall
Horse shoe fall
Forest fall
Three rondavels
Nooitgedacht Estate and Village August 2013
Come and live in Nooitgedacht Village, Stellenbosch, South Africa. With 200 hectares of historic vineyards, a river, beautiful orchards and fantastic mountain views. Nooitgedacht Village is the ultimate place to live in.. Surrounded by well known wine farms the likes of Simonsig, Beyerskloof, Kanu and L`Avenir the village is perfectly located. Nooitgedacht Village is now the top selling estate in Stellenbosch.
History Of Sudwala Caves Mpumalanga South Africa
History Of Sudwala Caves Mpumalanga South Africa
History
In the nineteenth century the Sudwala Caves were used by Somquba, the brother of the Swazi heir apparent, as a fortress. In a power struggle for the Swazi throne, many bloody battles were fought at the cave entrance. The story begins as follows: When King Sobhuza I of Swaziland died in 1836, his heir was Mswati II, who was still a minor and too young to ascend the vacant throne. A cousin, Paramount Chief Usutfu, was installed as regent, which proved to be a flawed choice. Usutfu was too weak to prevent Mswati’s brother Somquba from making an effective bid for the throne by calling an Incwala, or Festival of the First Fruit. The significance of this is that it is high treason, not to mention sacrilege, for any other person other than the Swazi king to hold an Incwala. After a skirmish with Mswati’s army near the Mgwenyana River, 9 km west of Barberton, Somquba and his followers fled the area, with some 500 head of Mswati’s cattle. They crossed the Crocodile River and settled near the Mankelexele Mountains, between Elandshoek and Schagen, about 10 km from what are now the Sudwala Caves. Their settlement was known as M’selezie.
Somquba sought and received protection from the newly established Boer settlement of Lydenburg. He made a formal alliance with the (1856–57) Lydenburg Republic.
There was continuous conflict between Mswati’s and Somquba’s followers in the form of raids and cattle theft. The Boers continued to side with Somquba, in return for labour to dig the first water canal at Lydenburg. Another benefit for the Boers was that Somquba acted as a buffer for them, against Mswati.
During the early 1860s Somquba came to know of the Caves, and subsequently, in times of conflict, he and his followers would take refuge there, with their cattle. They stock-piled food and there was plenty of water, so it made a strong refuge. Somquba maintained observation posts, and always kept the cave entrance clear, so that he could retreat there in a hurry. At that time stage the cave mouth was much smaller, and could barely accommodate the long horns of his small herd of prized Nguni cattle, as they were led in by hand, in single file. The principal guardian of the Caves’ entrance was Sudwala, Somquba’s chief inDuna (councillor/captain), whose name is thus commemorated to this day, and whose spirit is legendarily said to linger in the Caves. Today nobody knows how many times Somquba took refuge inside the Caves, but many bloody battles were fought at the site. At one time, the ever-persistent regiments of Mswati built a massive bonfire at the entrance, while Somquba and his followers were inside, in an attempt to suffocate them, but the natural airflow in the Caves foiled this attack. Help was sent for and received from a Lydenburg Boer commando, led by one Abel Erasmus. The commando drove off Mswati’s regiments, and freed Somquba. Traces of the fire are still visible to this day. Somquba and his followers used the caves as refuge, until Somquba was killed in an unexpected attack. Survivors stayed on under the leadership of Sudwala, and that is how the caves got their name.
During the Second Boer War, in 1900, the caves were used by the Boers to store ammunition for their 94-pounder Long Tom guns. It was thought that the caves may have been used by President Paul Kruger to store the legendary Kruger Millions, gold bullion which reputedly disappeared somewhere between Waterval Onder and Nelspruit during Paul Kruger's flight from Pretoria to Lourenço Marques (now Maputo) in Mozambique.
In 1914 a company was formed to excavate huge amounts of bat guano; this was sold as fertilizer to farmers.
Mbulwa Estate Luxury Accommodation Sabie South Africa | Africa Travel Channel
Mbulwa Lodge, sabie South Africa. Perched on the edge of a knoll forming part of the magnificent Mount Anderson Pass and surrounded by indigenous lush forests, is the beautiful Mbulwa Lodge. The lodge is a 38 hectare estate, with understated cottage architecture of wood and stone buildings, designed by Steffan Arends in the early 1960’s. This has become an exclusive lodge and perfect mountain top retreat for the discerning traveller. The lodge is surrounded by lush vegetation and boasts an unmatched panoramic view of the Sabie Valley.
The lodge is ideally situated and uniquely positioned to offer you an experience entrenched in breath-taking views, surrounded by nature, and removing you from the hustle and bustle of city life. The lodge is centrally located to a number of waterfalls, historical sights and the Kruger National Park.
The lodge prides itself on its excellent guest relations, and although the lodge is exclusive and upmarket, it offers a calm luxurious feeling with delicious meals prepared by the in-house Chef.
Long Tom Pass (R37) Part 1 - Mountain Passes of South Africa
Subscribe at for the full write up on this pass with accurate directions, history, tourism, photos, Fact File, Route File, and an interactive smart map and much more. Access to over 700 passes and poorts.
Abel Erasmus Pass (R36) Part 1 - Mountain Passes of South Africa
Whilst our videos are informative, to get the complete information we strongly recommend getting the full facts on our website. Subscribe at for the full write up on this pass with accurate directions, history, tourism, photos, Fact File, Route File, and an interactive smart map and much more. Access to over 700 passes and poorts.
Crow Wing Crest Lodge Aerial Video
Kim and Big John welcome you to Crow Wing Crest Lodge.
Video Produced by Tom Merchant - go360media.