Getaway to Mpumalanga

This weekend we went on a little getaway with the whole family to White River to visit Riaan's aunt and uncle in a  special part of South Africa. We left the Gauteng bush to watch the landscape become increasingly dense in forestry and lush vegetation. 

Somewhere between Dullstroom and Sabie on our way to White River.

South Africa's diversity in climate and vegetation is really striking when you hit the tropical regions of Mpumalanga. Even waking up to their song birds was exotic, with mist and the full round notes of the tropical Knysna loeries. We're more used to the Vlei loerie and the Grey loerie (better known as the Kwe-voël).

DULLSTROOM
We made a short pitstop on Freedom day at Dullstroom, had a milkshake and went craft shop hopping.

WHITE RIVER

We visited the White River art gallery, a very cool architectural structure, very modern, with white open space; we also walked around and had a look their surrounding stores with local craft, and their self help farm store (really refreshing). 

KAAPSEHOOP

On Saturday we went to see the breathtaking view from a high peak in Kaapsehoop. The climb was occasionally held up by wild horses grazing and grooming each other.

Wild horses on the short hiking trail to the view point at Kaapsehoop.

At the Top.

The lookout at Kaapsehoop.

SABIE

Sunday we planned to make a small tour of the waterfalls just outside Sabie. We didn't hop too much in the end; there are many well known waterfalls in the area but unfortunately these destinations now require entrance fees which would have been a bit pricey for our group of 8. So we just went to the Bigswing at Graskop for the view and the Lone Creek Falls, where Riaan was in his element with all the moss that grows under the spray of the waterfall.

The view from the patio at the Big Swing in Graskop.

The Lone Creek Falls.

Dense vegetation at the Lone Creek Falls.

Moss covering almost everything surrounding the Lone Creek Falls. 

Driving between all these places meant driving through the pine and blue gum plantations in the hills, which set an out of this world atmosphere. All in all we were blown away by the sheer beauty and majesty of the landscape. A true African experience.