Africa Deluxe Tours Bourke's Luck Potholes

Bourke's Luck Potholes

The Bourke’s Luck Pothole's stop on the Panorama Route was named after Tom Bourke, a gold digger who had a claim for prospecting gold nearby. Although he never found any gold on his claim, he was correct in predicting that gold would be found in the region.

The potholes in the bedrock at the confluence of the Treur and Blyde rivers were caused over millions of years by the eroding power of the two fast flowing rivers.

During the middle of the 1800’s a party of Voortrekkers were in search of a harbour for their new Republic. At a stage they encamped on the banks of a river and left the women and children there. They sent a party of men on horseback to seek a harbour on the current Mozambican coast. When after a long absence the men did not return, the woman assumed that they had perished and broke up camp to leave. They named this river the River of Sorrow (Treur Rivier). The next evening they set up camp at another river and to their great surprise the men previously assumed to be lost, arrived at the camp. To mark the turn of events they named this the River of Joy (Blyde Rivier). As mentioned these two rivers join at the Potholes.

Tours that include Bourke's Luck Potholes

Table Mountain and The Twelve Apostles

Duration: 16 days, 15 nights
Tour Type: Private guided tours
Luxury Level: *** / ****
Price: R63,000 per person sharing - for group between 2 and 2. (±US$ 4,542 )
R40,800 per person sharing - for group between 4 and 6. (±US$ 2,941 )
R33,500 per person sharing - for group between 7 and 14. (±US$ 2,415 )
R15,500 single supplement (±US$ 1,117 )

Valid dates: Nov 2017 - Oct 2018


Discover the main things to do, see and experience in South Africa, including beautiful winelands, majestic mountain ranges, rolling wheat and sugarcane fields, caves, beaches and rocky shorelines, forests and pristine wilderness areas. Explore by game drive vehicle, hike in beautiful environs and enjoy our beloved country’s rich cultural diversity.

Highlights: Cape Town , Cape Winelands , Stellenbosch , Oudtshoorn , Route 62 , Garden Route , Knysna , Oudtshoorn ostrich farms , Cango Caves , Sunshine Coast , Wild Coast , Transkei , KwaZulu-Natal , iSimangaliso Wetland Park , St. Lucia , Kruger National Park , Swaziland , Panorama Route .

Blyde River Canyon

Duration: 16 days, 15 nights
Tour Type: Scheduled tours
Luxury Level: *** / ****
Price: R32,500 per person sharing (±US$ 2,343 )
R10,900 single supplement (±US$ 785 )

Valid dates: Nov 2017 - Oct 2018


The German-guided version of our tour that covers the highlights of South Africa (link to English tour provided as well). It provides a mix of cities, countryside, historical sites, scenic drives, nature, wildlife, culture and people. The southbound tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town.

Highlights: Panorama Route , Blyde River Canyon , Kruger National Park , Swaziland , Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve , St. Lucia , iSimangaliso Wetland Park , Transkei , Garden Route , Storm’s River Mouth , Knysna , Cango Caves , Route 62 , Cape Winelands , Stellenbosch , Paarl , Cape Town .

Blyde River Canyon

Duration: 16 days, 15 nights
Tour Type: Scheduled tours
Luxury Level: *** / ****
Price: R32,500 per person sharing (±US$ 2,343 )
R10,900 single supplement (±US$ 785 )

Valid dates: Nov 2017 - Oct 2018


This tour covers the highlights of South Africa and is ideal for first time visitors to the country. It provides a mix of cities, countryside, historical sites, scenic drives, nature, wildlife, culture and people. The southbound tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town.

Highlights: Panorama Route , Blyde River Canyon , Kruger National Park , Swaziland , Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve , St. Lucia , iSimangaliso Wetland Park , Transkei , Garden Route , Storm’s River Mouth , Knysna , Cango Caves , Route 62 , Cape Winelands , Stellenbosch , Paarl , Cape Town .

Blyde River Canyon

Duration: 16 days, 15 nights
Tour Type: Private guided tours
Luxury Level: *** / ****
Price: R57,500 per person sharing - for group between 2 and 2. (±US$ 4,146 )
R38,500 per person sharing - for group between 4 and 6. (±US$ 2,776 )
R30,700 per person sharing - for group between 7 and 14. (±US$ 2,213 )

Valid dates: Nov 2017 - Oct 2018


This private guided tour covers the highlights of South Africa and is ideal for first time visitors to the country. It provides a mix of cities, countryside, historical sites, scenic drives, nature, wildlife, culture and people. The southbound tour starts in Johannesburg and ends in Cape Town.

Highlights: Panorama Route , Blyde River Canyon , Kruger National Park , Swaziland , Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve , St. Lucia , iSimangaliso Wetland Park , Transkei , Garden Route , Storm’s River Mouth , Knysna , Cango Caves , Route 62 , Cape Winelands , Stellenbosch , Paarl , Cape Town .

Bourke's Luck Potholes attractions

The majestic Blyde River Canyon on South Africa's Panorama Route. The 'Three Rondavels' is visible to the right.

Panorama Route

The scenic Panorama Route, with various viewpoints, runs along the top of a section of the escarpment between the Mpumalanga Highveld and Lowveld. It offers incredible views, we strongly recommend it. The Route may be approached from Ohrigstad or from the logging town of Graskop.

Part of the Blyde River Canyon on the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Blyde River Canyon

The Blyde River Canyon is located in Mpumalanga - South Africa, just north of the town of Graskop. It is the third largest canyon in the world after the Grand Canyon (USA) and the Fish River Canyon (Namibia). It is the largest green canyon in the world.

God's Window viewsite on the Mpumalanga escarpment, part of the scenic Panorama Route.

God's Window

God's Window, part of the popular Panorama Route, is a viewpoint on the Mpumalanga Escarpment with beautiful vistas of the Lowveld below. God's Window is clearly signposted from the R534. It's a 50m walk from the car park to the edge of the escarpment.

The Three Rondavels, Mapjaneng and other peaks rising high above the Blyde River Canyon below.

Three Rondavels Viewpoint

Of all the view sites along the majestic Panorama Route, Three Rondavels arguably offers the best views. The view point, ±60 km north of Graskop, lies just above the broadest section of the Blyde River Canyon.

Wonder View, adjacent to God's Window on the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga, South Africa

Wonder View

Wonder View is the highest viewpoint on the Panorama Route and offers a 180 degree view over the Lowveld. The drop down to the Lowveld from the Panorama Route is approximately 900 m. On a clear day it is possible to see the Kruger National Park and the Lebombo mountain range in the distance.

The Pinnacle, a free standing rock formation on the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga - South Africa.

The Pinnacle

The Pinnacle is the first viewpoint on the Panorama Route, if you approach the Route from the town of Graskop. It is a 30m- / 100ft high quartzite rock needle in a ravine that leads to the Lowveld below. The Ngwaritsane River flows down the ravine, cascading over eight waterfalls.