Top 5 Hikes in Blyde River Canyon
The hiking options at Blyde River Canyon are endless! After a week of exploring the area, I’ve decided on the top hikes in Blyde River Canyon that you shouldn’t miss.
Blyde River Canyon is 25km long. It is the world’s 3rd largest canyon and also the greenest. An easy way to describe it is “the Grand Canyon but greener and cooler.” The famous “Panorama Route” makes major stops along waterfalls and geographical features in Blyde River Canyon. But, you must be here for the hiking, not just the views!
You can hike to waterfalls, down to the Blyde River, and around the Blyde River Dam, all while enjoying spectacular views. I spent one week in Blyde River Canyon, completing all of these hikes in the first 4 days of our trip. You’ll be tired, but you too can do it all!
View of the Three Rondavels from the Leopard-Guinea Fowl-Tufa Trail.
Top 5 Hikes in Blyde River Canyon
#1 Leopard-Guinea Fowl-Tufa Trail
The Leopard-Guinea Fowl-Tufa Trail was my favorite hike in the area. The Blyde River Canyon Forever Resort has several trails on its property. One of the most popular options for avid hikers is the Leopard-Guinea Fowl-Tufa trail combo. The views of the Three Rondavels, the canyon, and the dam on this 7km hike are incredible. To top it all off, you can take a dip in two swimming holes and Tufa Falls. This trail will take around 3 hours, including stops for lunch and braving the icy water. Read the complete hiking guide.
#2 Belvedere Trail
Belvedere Day Walk is one of the most strenuous day hikes in Blyde River Canyon. This out-and-back trail heads straight down into the canyon to Blyde River. On the hike, you’ll pass the abandoned Belevedere hydroelectric power station and you’ll be rewarded with serene river views once you make it to the bottom. Easier to judge by time rather than distance, the trail should take you 5 hours: 2 to descend, and 3 to return. Read the complete hiking guide.
#3 Hippo Trail
The Hippo Trail in Swadini is on the “other” side of the canyon if you’re mostly around the Panorama Route. The Hippo trail is a 14km out-and-back hike around the Blyde River Dam. The views are stunning and the difficulty in this hike comes from the distance rather than any steep inclines while hiking. However, you can plan to go as far as you feel like and then turn around to make a shorter hike. We hiked 4km to reach the shore of the dam (to look out for hippos) before turning around. Read the complete hiking guide.
#4 Forest Falls Trail
The Forest Falls trail is an easy 4km along the Mac Mac River. The trail leads to Forest Falls, a small but lovely waterfall where you can picnic and swim. Climb the paths on either side of the waterfall to get to the top!
The water is absolutely freezing, but on a hot day, I’m sure you’ll feel refreshed! I could only make it up to my calves before running out. Read the complete hiking guide.
If you’re looking for a longer hike, pair this with the Secretary Bird Trail nearby at Mac Mac Pool.
#5 Lisbon Falls
Less of a hike and more of a scramble, the Lisbon Falls trail is a short 20-minutes hike down to the base of Lisbon Falls.
Named after Portugal’s capital, Lisbon Falls is spectacular both in the rainy and dry seasons. I mention this because we visited in the dry season and other falls like Berlin and Mac Mac had lost their luster… in my opinion. Although this trail is short, the splendor of the falls still makes it one of the top hikes in Blyde River Canyon. You can take a dip in the waterfall pool, or just pretend to get in for the ‘gram.
