Our visit to pilgrims rest was as what tourists would describe as a tourist trap and if it wasnt for the history one might say that it was purpose built as a tourist destination. Bourkes luck potholes are a natural water feature found within the mpumalanga province of south africa, about 35km north of graskop on the. Bourkes luck potholes also feature an interesting and informative visitors centre, which sheds light on the natural history of the region, as well as providing an introduction to the early inhabitants of the region, the san. About 35km north of graskop, lies the village of bourkes luck. It takes around 89 to reach hazyview to bourkes luck potholes. Bourkes luck potholes moremela 2020 all you need to know. Bourkes luck potholes named after a miner called tom bourke, who found a bit of gold here, but never got rich as the gold seam was located a short distance to the south of his claim. Bourkes luck potholes budget tours in south africa. Also featured at the centre are a series of fauna and flora displays. The blyde river canyon is the kind of place where brochures and guide books run out of original adjectives to describe the fresh mountain scenery and magnificent panoramic views.
There is a lot that i like about pothole s and a few things that didnt quite work for meof course that is true of a lot of stories. Hotels near bourkes luck potholes, graskop best hotel. Potholes of the mind paperback july 24, 2010 by rolfe porter author. Raging waters have created a strange geological site that looks like something off of a progressive rock album cover. Bourkes luck potholes moremela, mpumalanga, south africa. Bourke s luck potholes potholes and plunge pools of the treur river this geological feature and day visitors attraction, named after bernard thomas bourke brother of eddie bourke, is situated at the confluence of the treur and blyde rivers, on the reserves western boundary 2440. Discover bourkes luck potholes in ehlanzeni, south africa. Bourkes luck potholes and mac mac falls, panorama route.
The bourkes luck potholes are one of the major tourist attractions in south africa. Drove all the way from pretoria to visit the potholes with. The potholes and rock formations are carved from the rock by water action at the confluence of the blyde and treue rivers. Years and years of erosion of the soft bedrock of the river, from the swirling whirlpools, created these unusual, large cylindrical potholes, which resembles an incredible lunarscape. Bourke s luck potholes is a magnificent natural attraction located along the panorama route, approximately 35km north of the town of graskop in mpumalanga, and approximately a 20 minute drive from gods window. Bourkes luck potholes, blyde river canyon, mpumalanga. You can visit many vantage points and bridges, offering views of the natural rock formations colored in yellow, red, and brown shades. Entrance was free for the driver only, r63 for adults, r23 for children under 12 and pensioners. Bourkes luck potholes also feature an interesting and informative visitors centre, which sheds light on the natural history of the region, as well as providing an. From fertile valleys to beautiful vistas, i was impressed by every stop along the route, but my favorite i think was the unusually named bourkes luck potholes. Papers presented by members of the bourke and district historical society on the history of bourke.
Bonita and jonathan saw some incredible geology on their honeymoon, and theyve kindly given me permission to share some of their pictures here on georneys. Discover bourke s luck potholes in ehlanzeni, south africa. You will see how the river has eroded the rocks and created unusual potholes along the course of. Through countless eons the swirling whirlpools which occur as the treur river plunges into the blyde river caused waterborne sand and rock to grind huge, cylindrical potholes into the bedrock of the river. I felt as if i had experienced a lifetime with these characters in the space of a short story. Bourkes luck, pilgrims rest, ehlanzeni district, mpumalanga, south africa. Discount hotels near bourkes luck potholes, graskop. Bourkes luck potholes south africa attractions lonely. The three rondavels, across the blyde canyon and at the end of the panorama route in mpumalanga, are huge triplet rock spirals rising out of the far wall of the canyon. Waters power to shape a landscape is spectacularly displayed at bourkes luck potholes in mpumalanga, where centuries of river activity have. From there, the viewing point for these potholes is 700 meters away. The confluence of these two river forces over eons eroded the red sandstone of the blyde river canyon into bourkes luck potholes which now shimmers full of wellwishers tokens. A pothole is a depression in a road surface, usually asphalt pavement, where traffic has removed broken pieces of the pavement. If you can, begin your wander around mpumalanga with bourke s luck potholes, for they are without doubt incredible.
Bourkes luck potholes moremela 2020 all you need to. Yet another popular destination for mpumalanga tourism, bourkes luck potholes are named after thomas bourke, who was involved in the gold mining in the area. The meeting place of two rivers and the beginning of the blyde river canyon, bourkes luck potholes have left many gazing in sheer wonder at the spectacular patterns and rock formations left behind after centuries of water erosion. This natural water feature marks the beginning of the blyde river canyon, the greenest canyon in the world, and has been formed by years and years of swirling whirlpools eroding holes. Visit the bourkes luck potholes in graskop, mpumalanga. Bourkes luck potholes photographs south africa travel blog. For her honeymoon she and her new husband jonathan went to the mpumalanga region of south africa. Graskop is the closest town to the canyon if you are planning to stop over and spend quality time rather than grabbing fleeting glimpses through a tour bus window of this stunning region. Antlions ants bees beetles bugs butterflies, moths and caterpillars centipedes and millipedes cockroaches crickets dragonflies and damselflies grasshoppers and katydids mantis stick insects ticks and mites wasps woodlice. Ironically, some tourists treat bourkes luck potholes as a wishing well and many have dropped coins into the potholes. You can just fly from hazyview to bourkes luck potholes. Things to do near bourkes luck potholes blyde river canyon nature reserve, moremela, south africa.
This file is licensed under the creative commons attributionshare alike 3. The entrance fee at bourke s luck potholes is r60 per adult, r20 per child and free to children under 6. Bourke s luck potholes are without doubt a major icon, but when thrown in together with the likes of the three rondawels, gods window, the blyde river canyon and numerous magnificent waterfalls, one can become immune after a while. We visited the popular bourkes luck potholes in graskop during our stay in mpumalanga last week, and this geological attraction formed by water erosion was a phenomenal sight. Exploring the amazing bourkes luck potholes in south africa. Go see the magnificent rock features called bourkes luck potholes. Bourke was the surname of a man who made claim to this area in the hopes that he would. This area set adjacent to the truer river is part of the blyderivierspoot nature reserve, and the potholes mark the start of the blyde river canyon. From sep 2010 you can sleep there only if you book a hot air balloon flight. Bourkes luck potholes named after a miner called tom bourke, who found a bit.
The three well known gigantic peaks of quartzite and shale with their sheer rock walls tower more than 700 m. One of the most popular features along the panorama route, the potholes sit at the confluence of two rivers, the treur and blyde. Bourke s luck potholes also feature an interesting and informative visitors centre, which sheds light on the natural history of the region, as well as providing an introduction to the early inhabitants of the region, the san. Apart from the trip distance, refer directions from hazyview to bourkes luck potholes for road driving directions. Blyde river canyon nature reserve, bourkes luck potholes, south africa, travel raging waters have created a strange geological site that looks like something off of a progressive rock album cover. Rothstein writes about the spaces between people and reveals in a unique way darker emotions that often go unexamined. It is open to the public and there are braai and picnic facilities available. Bourkes luck had nothing to do with the potholes but rather a lucky strike in this goldrich area. Bourke s luck potholes this natural water feature marks the beginning of the blyde river canyon. Bourkes luck potholes ehlanzeni, south africa atlas. It was named after a local prospector, tom bourke, who predicted. Copy link top choice natural feature in blyde river canyon. Book online for instant confirmation and 247 live support. Bourkes luck potholes another 25km north along the r532, panoramarouters will turn right to enter the blyde river canyon nature reserve, where they will find the peculiar but striking natural phenomena that are the bourkes luck potholes, mpumalanga.
Heritage management of archaeological, historical and industrial resources on the. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in. Top things to do near bourkes luck potholes, moremela. Alana giresi is a cute secondchange romance with a very loyal best friend and a twist that took me completely by surprise. Not far off is the main tourist viewpoint, gods window. This natural water feature marks the beginning of the blyde river canyon. Blyde river canyon nature reserve is situated in the drakensberg escarpment region of. Bourkes luck potholes in graskop, mpumalanga sa venues. Witness the artistic power of water at bourkes luck potholes, a series of interconnected pools that took centuries to form. Begin your wander around mpumalanga with bourkes luck potholes, for they are without doubt incredible to see these geological wonders it is no surprise to learn that bourkes luck potholes made it onto frommers 500 places to take your kids before they grow up that are an amazing array of white, yellow and dark brown eddies of colour because of the soil present in the water, you. The rock formations have beautiful hues of white, yellow and dark brown.
Mpumalanga, south africa this natural water feature marks the beginning of the blyde river canyon. Situated at the confluence of the treur and blyde rivers in the blyde river canyon in mpumalanga, the meeting point of these rivers has, over hundreds of years, caused swirling eddies that have shaped these magnificent natural wonders. Everyone drives south africas blyde canyon highways carefully, dodging potholes. You can also find the distance from hazyview to bourkes luck potholes using other travel options like bus, subway, tram, train and rail. Bourkes luck potholes, mpumalanga blue mountain lodge.
Through countless eons the swirling whirlpools which occur as the treur river plunges into the blyde river caused waterborne sand and rock to grind cylindrical potholes into the bedrock of the river. For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of south africa. The distance between hazyview to bourkes luck potholes is 90 km by road. Book your tickets online for bourkes luck potholes, moremela. Today i am sharing some pictures of their visit to bourkes luck potholes. Bourkes luck potholes also feature an interesting and informative visitors centre, which sheds light on the natural history of the region, as well as providing an introduction to the early. It is usually the result of water in the underlying soil structure and traffic passing over the affected area. The view from the bridge at the bourkes luck potholes. Bourkes luck potholes is a magnificent natural attraction located along the panorama route, approximately 35km north of the town of graskop in mpumalanga, and approximately a 20 minute drive from gods window. A small visitors center is located nearby that provides information about the canyons origins and the flora and fauna found in the area. Sustained kolks in the treur rivers plunge pools have eroded a number of cylindrical potholes or giants kettles, which can be viewed from the crags above. Bourkes luck potholes ehlanzeni, south africa atlas obscura. Bourkes luck potholes nomad africa adventure tours. Visit bourkes luck potholes on your trip to moremela or.
I was drawn to the premise of the story and the initial excerpt as soon as i read it. Over thousands of years, surreal cylindrical rock sculptures created by whirling. This natural water feature marks the beginning of the blyde river canyon, the greenest ca. Find the perfect bourkes luck potholes stock photo. The potholes were formed by swirling water erosion, of. To find the driving direction from hazyview to bourkes luck potholes which is 90 by road, click on show directions after entering start and end locations in the calculator control. Bourkes luck potholes moremela all you need to know.
Named after an 18th century man, tom bourke, who had little luck in striking gold but whose namesake rock formations now catch coins attached to golden wishes that. The word rondawel is a south african word that refers to a round hutlike dwelling usually with a thatched roof. Bourkes luck potholes, moremela, mpumalanga, south africa. Save up to 75% off hotels near attractions in graskop.