Free Climbing the Blyde River Canyon, Mpumalanga

The Blyde River Canyon is made up of roughly 30 miles of quartzite mesas people from all over the world visit in order to climb. In Africa, the rules of rock climbing are a little more lax than here at home, so some of the world’s top free climbers — people who climb without a rope — call it a favorite.

The canyon is located four hours northeast of Johannesburg, making it a doable daytrip for anyone visiting the city. The region has around 80 traditional climbing routes available to both beginners and professionals, though if you’re going to try your hand at free climbing you want to stick to the kiddie routes.

There are also plenty of camping and small resorts in the area if you plan on staying overnight, with the most prominent the Blyde Canyon Forever Resort. Amenities include a swimming pool, campsites and nearby attractions like horse trails, fishing, mini golf, trampoline and easy access to God’s Window, the Eco Caves and Bourke’s Luck Potholes.

The landscape around the Blyde River Canyon in Mpumalanga is fairly remote with rugged views you won’t find anywhere else. The local wildlife is unique, but precautions should always be taken when so far away from the city.