Kaapsche Hoop Mining Commissioners Cottage

Built in 1884.

Nests belonging to to the nearly exting Blue Swallow - hopefully they will return to this area...

Kaapsche Hoop - Intro

Kaapsche Hoop is famous for two things. The first is the endangered Blue Swallow and the second is the feral/wild horses roaming the countryside.

My visit to this small Mpumalanga town was far to short! Its a tiny town with nothing more than a pub, fantastic glass shop and a few tourist shops for those who are looking for keepsakes. The most impressive buildings in town is the Silver Mist Country Inn (originally the post office built in 1896) and derelict government buildings dated between 1884 and 1885.

Kaapsche Hoop was officially declared a town in 1891 and during the Anglo-Boer war British soldiers of the Corps of Royal Engineers were stationed there.

These 'older' buildings are all clad with corrugated iron and date between 1890 and 1940's with the current Kaapsche Hoop Guest House dating from the mid 70's

This building is just to beautiful - I have no idea what its current use is.

More home-fronts

The original Post Office has now made way for the Silver Mist Country Inn

Private home

Kaapsche Hoop - Those Crazy Horses

There are many romantic stories about the origin of these feral horses. Most untrue. First seen around the Kaapsche Hoop area as far back as 1910 it is believed these horses escaped from their gold mining owners and became wild. These horses live in small groups (natural horse behaviour) that includes one stallion with a harem of around five mares.

Kaapsche Hoop has around 160 permanent residents (the human kind) and about 150 wild horses.

Thought he would munch on my car seat!

Horseshoe Falls

The aptly named Horseshoe Falls is in the shape of a horseshoe.

Visiting these falls a few months ago has been very diasppointing. Strange how you visit sights as a child, it seemed bigger, more impressive and greener then... Perhaps it was just because I visited during a very dry summer season?

That's it right there...

This was the perfect spot for a swim

I do need to keep my tripod with me AT ALL TIMES!

 

Natural Bridge

This natural wonder is 2.3 km from Graskop on the R532 road to Sabie / Pilgrim's Rest.  Park at the curio stalls and follow the short footpath into a small gorge where the Mac Mac river carved a path under rocks to form a natural bridge.

•This bridge was used more than a century ago when it was first used by the Voortrekkers and later by transport riders to cross the Mac Mac river. 

Softer Dolomite worn away...

The not so natural bridge that eventually replaced nature...

My photos aren’t so great... it was a dark and cloudy morning and footing was scarce

Blyde River Canyon

The Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve lies to the North of Graskop and is a narrow strip that runs for approximately 57 km along the Drakensberg escarpment. It contains one of the great scenic wonders of Southern Africa, the Blyde River Canyon that is 16 km long. The reserve is known primarily for the outstanding natural beauty of the canyon as well as the numerous endemic and endangered fauna and flora species present.

Bourke's Luck Potholes

Bourke's Luck Potholes, were named after prospector Tom Bourke who discovered alluvial gold in the area during the late 1880's. The formation formation of the potholes is a natural phenomenon created by the swirling river water. They are found at the source of the third largest canyon in the world, the Blyde River canyon in Mpumalanga.

Located approximately 35 km north of the town of Graskop, the site has grown in popularity as one of the province's best tourist destinations. The potholes which lie at the confluence of the Treur and Blyde rivers, were formed millions of years ago by the swirling of sand and pebbles, which resulted in the carving of the potholes into the underlying riverbed.