"The Window", a rock formation near Graskop, Mpumalanga province

Graskop is a small forestry town perched on the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment, centrally situated in the Panorama tourist region of Mpumalanga.

It is only a few minutes drive from a number of scenic wonders such as God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes and the world renown Blyde River Canyon and Three Rondawels, as well as spectacular waterfalls such as Lisbon Falls, Berlyn Falls and Mac Mac Falls.

The mist belt which stretches along the escarpment is caused by warm moisture laden air rising up from the Lowveld and cooling at these high elevations, resulting in misty cloudy conditions and a relative high rainfall. Some areas receive up to 4,000mm of rain per year. As one moves further west (away from the escarpment edge) the rainfall and mist diminishes.

PHOTO SOURCE: Chris Marais, courtesy of, and copyright, South Africa Tourism, a department of the government of South Africa, used with permission.

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