Blyde Canyon

Have any of you hiked around the Blyde River Canyon at all? Any nice trails on the west side where there might be nice views of the 3 Rondavels?

I have found out that there are trails called the Lourie, Kadisi-Tufa, Guinea-fowl and Leopard trail near the Forever Resorts. I will hike these and report back, as the iconic backdrop should make it nice!

I hiked the Leopard trail in June.

Pros: Well marked, not strenuous, lovely echoes off the cliffs got me singing to myself, great lunchspot that feels like you are in the bowl of the gorge, friendly baboontroop (as in they didn't kill me when we surprised each other early in the morning... sentinels not up to scratch..., situated in the Forever resort - so nice facilities.
Cons: Much of the early part of trail heads away from the gorge and is carved through really dense bush (so views are not so great), sandfleas that nail you when you head down to lovely looking pools - nasty little burrowing buggers..., situated in the Forever resort - so go in the offseason to avoid the throngs.

All in all, a very nice taster of the area (6th largest gorge in the world), but not "wild enough" to my liking. Did sneak onto the actual Blydepoort trail (God's Window to Bourke's Luck) and hiked for about an hour along the escarpment. Great views, like the 'berg but without the pass-climbing... but turned around and went back after a snack. The route is closed for renovations but seems well worth it. Great views, huts every night - hot water ones, splash pools as you head down into the gorge... and technically, still part of the 'berg...

I see some mention made of the Kadisi-Tufa route higher up. This is really a very short walk, like 15 minutes to the falls and 15 minutes back, easy strolling. It is lovely however with a beautiful Tufa waterval at the end of the walk (see photo below)



(As many will know, Tufa means a falls that does not actually erode the rock away as is usual, but rather builds it up through lime or other salt deposits. This is one of two lime tufa's in the immediate area, about 6 in total known of in the Blyde-to-Olifant's catchment area).

Another well known one is opposite the Strydom Tunnel (high side).

The Blyde Canyon is really very beautiful, we love going there. Things to enjoy are probably a bit different to the Berg, we most-of-all enjoy the roads around the canyon. Immense sport drives. Unless its snowing.