The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa
Blyde River Canyon
Afrikaans name: Blyderivierspoort
Photo © AndreasEdelmann - Fotolia.com
South Africas canyon - the Blyde River Canyon
Mpumalanga
The Blyde River Canyon is one of South Africa's top tourist attractions attracting over 1 millions visitors per year.
The canyon is the second biggest in Africa with the Fish River Canyon taking top spot. It is also one of the biggest in the world.
The Blyde River Canyon is 26 km long and the deepest point is 800 metres.
The name is under some debate as the name of the Blyde River which flows through it has been renamed to the Motlatse River.
There is a wide variety of mammal, bird and plant life to be found in the canyon as it offers many different habitats.
Above - Three Rondavels
Photo © Johan van Zyl
Above - Curio market near the view site
Photo © Johan van Zyl
Some of the mammals which might be seen at Blyede River Canyon
Lesser Bushbaby
Thick-tailed Bushbaby
Samango Monkey
Bush Pig
Grey Rhebuck
Common Duiker
Some of the birds that might be seen at Blyde River Canyon
Alpine Swift
African Black Swift
Denham's Bustard
Black-bellied Bustard
Peregrine Falcon
Blue-mantled Crested-Flycatcher
Gorgeous Bush-Shrike
Black Saw-wing
Dark-capped Yellow Warbler
Chorister Robin-Chat
Malachite Sunbird
Greater Double-collared Sunbird
References and further reading
Southern African Birdfinder - Author: Cohen, Spottiswoode and Rossouw - Published: 2006 - Page: 176The Pictorial Motoring Atlas of South Africa - Author: Maxwell Leigh - Published: 1987 - Page: 126
Southern Africa from the Highway - Author: AA RSA - Published: 1991 - Page: 61
Road Tripping South Africa - Author: MapStudio - Published: 2014 - Page: 160
Hit the Road - 2nd Edition - Author: MapStudio - Published: 2018 - Page: 137
Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 60
Readers Digest Illustrated Guide to Southern Africa - 4th edition - Author: - Published: 1986 - Page: 248
Places to Visit in Southern Africa - Author: AA RSA - Published: 1995 - Page: 86
On Route - Explore South Africa region by region - 3rd edition - Author: B.P.J. Erasmus - Published: 2014 - Page: 290
Getaway - Vol 35 No 09 - Author: - Published: 2024 - Page: 77
go! - Issue 151 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 20
go! Drive & Camp No 39 - Author: - Published: 2020 - Page: 87
Getaway - Vol 27 No 09 - Author: - Published: 2015 - Page: 77
Getaway - Vol 28 No 08 - Author: - Published: 2016 - Page: 10
Getaway - Vol 29 No 10 - Author: - Published: 2018 - Page: 72
Getaway - Vol 31 No 09 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 88
Conollys Guide to Southern Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Denis Conolly - Published: 1982 - Page: 320
Caravan & Outdoor Life - Issue 682 - Author: - Published: 2019 - Page: 25
Blyde River Canyon
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