This itinerary includes quite a bit of driving, but all roads indicated are paved and no special vehicle is required. Attractions are all close to the main roads and clearly indicated with signs.
The itinerary is broken up over 3 days:
If you are interested in astronomy, [http://www.malapo.co.za '''Malapo Country Lodge'''], just outside Lydenburg, is a good option as you can use evening time to view the skies using their 14 inch telescope.
Leave Gauteng around midday on Friday in order to avoid rush hour traffic.
Follow the '''N1''' towards Pretoria. Make sure you stay on the left just after exit 112 (''Brakfontein/Old Pretoria road'') as the '''N1''' and '''N14''' will meet and you need to keep following the '''N1''' through the Brakfontein Interchange.
For some unknown reason the speed limit between exit 128 (''John Foster'') and exit 136 (''Rigel Ave'') is 100km/h rather than the usual 120km/h. There are static cameras, so make sure you don't exceed the limit.
Continue following the '''N1''' until it meets the '''N4''' at the Proefplaas Interchange, shortly after exit 141 (''M6 Lynwood Rd''), keep to the left and follow the '''N4''' Witbank signs. From here, follow the directions as from Pretoria.
Take the '''N4''' east towards Witbank. This is a toll road in very good condition and average driving time will be around 1 hour. Toll cost is R18 at the Diamond Hill toll gate (''about halfway between Pretoria and Witbank''). Keep an eye open for an impressive swallows nest construction (''thousands of nests build from mud'') covering the underside of one of the overpasses on this road.
You will reach the Middelburg toll gate shortly after passing through Witbank. Toll cost is R29.
Stay on the '''N4''' and pass by Belfast on your way to Machadodorp. If you need to take a break from driving and stretch your legs, stop at Milly's just before Macahodorp. You will also notice that the speed limit is reduced as you enter Machadodorp, so make sure you keep below the posted speeds as their are ''always'' speed traps.
Shortly after passing through Machadodorp you will reach the Machado toll gate. Toll cost is R43.
Be aware that you might encounter '''heavy fog''' between Witbank and Machadodorp during the winter months.
Within 2km from this toll gate there will be an exit to your left marked as '''R36''' Lydenburg/'''(N4)''' Nelspruit via Schoemanskloof. Take this exit and follow the '''R36''' for about 15km until you see the old Bambi Hotel on the right. This portion of the '''R36''' has been newly rebuilt and is in excellent condition.
At the Bambi Hotel you need to turn left onto the road marked as '''R36''' Lydenburg and drive the last 50km to Lydenburg. The road condition on this portion of the '''R36''' is not very good, so slow down and watch out for potholes.
Total driving time from Johannesburg to Lydenburg will be around 3 hours.
If you booked accommodation in Sabie rather than Lydenburg, turn right onto the '''R37''' Sabie in Lydenburg and continue over the Long Tom pass towards Sabie.
You are now in the Mpumalanga Escarpment, check yourself in, have a drink and relax. Tomorrow there will be some more driving to see all the sights in this area.
If the establishment you are staying in does not serve breakfast early, ask if they can pack a take-away breakfast for you to use as ''padkos'' (''road food'') tomorrow; alternatively, plan to have a breakfast in Sabie.
Set out early on Saturday morning. 7AM to 8AM will do fine.
Fill up with fuel and have some cash on hand for entrance fees (''nominal at the couple of places that do require it'') and curios.
You will be doing a bit of walking at the various stops, but most will not have a place to buy drinks and it can get quite hot, so buy some bottled water before you set out for the day.
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''If your accommodation is around Sabie rather than Lydenburg, start at the next section''
Follow the signboards '''R37''' Sabie from Lydenburg and continue on the Long Tom pass over the Drakensberg mountains.
On your way, stop at the Long Tom on the right, a replica of one of the Guns used by the ''Boers'' against the British forces during the ''Boer war'' around 1900.
Just after the Long Tom, as you start descending the pass, you will find a viewpoint overlooking the valleys below. Photos from this location are often used in travel guides and you might want to take your own as well.
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There are a number of waterfalls on the Sabie River, Sabie Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and the Lone Creek Falls. The best one to visit is probably the 68m Lone Creek.
Follow the '''R532''' towards Graskop. Just before leaving Sabie and crossing the Sabie River, you will find signboards on your left indicating Merry Pebbles and Lone Creek. Turn left here and follow the road for about 9km. A nominal entrance fee is payable per vehicle (''R5 ?'') at a gate before reaching the parking area and open air curio shops.
Once parked you will need to walk about 200m through the forest to reach the bottom of the falls.
You may be tempted to spend quite a bit of time in these tranquil surroundings, explore further and even follow the footpath all the way to the top of the falls, but don't spend too much time here, because there is a lot more to be seen and a weekend is a short time to do everything.
Trace your steps back to Sabie.
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Cross the Sabie River and follow the '''R532''' towards Graskop .
About 13km from Sabie you will find the Mac-Mac Falls on the right-hand side of the road. The short walk (''less than 100m'') to the view area is not paved and can at times be very uneven, so be careful not to slip and fall.
The falls have two streams that plunge 56 m deep into a gorge and got their name from the large number of Scots that dug for gold in the area during the gold rush of the 1870s. Unfortunately the only good views of the falls are from caged steel constructions on the edge of the cliff face. This makes it rather difficult to get any good photos.
As with most tourist attractions, there are stalls selling curious, local art and handcrafts next to the parking area.
A little further along the road, on your left, you will find a plaque commemorating [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jock_of_the_Bushveld Jock of the Bushveld].
23km from Sabie the '''R533''' joins the '''R532''' from the left, and you need to take this turn and follow the '''R533''' for about 10km towards Pilgrim's Rest.
Pilgrim's Rest is a small town preserved and restored as an gold mining village from the late 1800s, early 1900s. There are a number of Museums and interesting buildings, as well as places to eat and drink.
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Follow the '''R533''' back to where it joins the '''R532'''. Continue along the '''R532''' and pass through Graskop. Shortly after Graskop you will find the '''R534''' (''marked '''Panorama Route''' '') turn-off to the right. Turn onto the '''R534'''. You are now on the very edge of the escarpment.
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The first attraction you will find on the Panorama Route is '''The Pinnacle''', a 30m high outcrop of quartzite rock that has eroded slower then the surrounding rock and has become detached from the cliff face. There are no facilities and no fee is charged.
A little further along the road you will find '''God's Window''', a lookup point with views over the Lowveld 700m below. It is often said that on a clear day one can see all the way to Maputo from here, but you might want to take that with a grain of salt. Paved walkways provide easy access to the edge of the cliff face where dedicated lookout points has been built in stone. Toilet facilities and a craft market is located at the parking area. There is no entrance fee.
'''Wonder View''' is the highest viewpoint on the '''R534''', providing arguably better views than God's Window. You'll find its little parking area approximately 1.3km north from the God's Window parking area.
Continuing further and the '''R534''' will rejoin the '''R532''', take a right turn onto the '''R532'''.
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Shortly after rejoining the '''R532''' you will see signposts on the left indicating '''Lisbon Falls''' and '''Berlin Falls'''. Both are located quite close to the roadside and are well worth stopping to see, especially after heavy rains in the area. No fees are charged at either.
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A take-away shop, restaurant and toilet facilities are located in the mail building. There is also a picnic area under trees. An entrance fee of R20 is charged.
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The Blyde River Canyon is the third largest canyon in the world and for the next couple of kilometres the '''R532''' follows along its top edge. There are a number of places where one can stop to view the canyon below, and the two most visited are the ''Lowveld Viewpoint'' and the ''Three Rondawels Viewpoint''.
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The '''R532''' will join with the '''R36''' some 20km after you pass the '''Blydepoort Dam'''. Turn left into the '''R36''' towards Ohrigstad. <br clear="all">
Continue following the '''R36''' back to Lydenburg.
If your accommodation is in Sabie, then follow the step you skipped earlier to get from Lydenburg to Sabie.
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Take care when approaching the edge of the escarpment or canyon, because 700m is a very long way to fall.
On a short getaway like this there are many things one will not be able to see or do. The nearby Sudwala Caves is definitely something for which you may want to return.