Fodor's Expert Review Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve

The world's third-largest canyon is also South Africa’s second-most-visited natural attraction (after Table Mountain). Discover spectacular scenery of red cliffs jutting up from the canyon base, quirky mountain formations, indigenous rare Afromontane forest, cascading waterfalls, and an abundance of birds, small animals, and biodiversity. The Treur (sorrow) and Blyde (joy) rivers feed into the canyon, named by early Voortrekkers, and you can try your hand at all sorts of adventure activities, from white-water rafting and abseiling to mountain biking and hiking. The Blyde River (Motlatse) Canyon and Reserve is nearly 30 km (19 miles) long, and stretches for 60 km (37 miles) from its entrance north of Graskop up to the Abel Erasmus Pass. You'll get superb views from the Panorama Route, which winds along the lip of the canyon.