Here follows a detailed description of all the Falls and Picnic areas within the Komatieland Forestry. Skip directly to your area of choice by clicking on the site name.
Falls
The falls of Komatiland Forestry consist of :
In the Sabie/Graskop area, Mpumalanga:
In the Tzaneen area, Limpopo :
Picnic sites and braai facilities
In the Sabie/Graskop area, Mpumalanga:
In the Tzaneen area, Limpopo
In the Makhado area, Limpopo
Falls: Descriptions
Lone Creek Falls
The imposing 68 metre high Lone Creek Falls is a national monument and a well-known landmark in the Sabie area. Pay a minimal fee at the boom gate and walk 200 metres through an indigenous forest that takes you to the bottom of the falls. Picnic and toilet facilities are available.
The falls are 9 km from Sabie on the Old Lydenburg Road.
Lisbon Falls
At a height of 92 metres, the falls are the highest in the area and were named after the European capital. There is a 100-meter footpath leading from the parking area to a vantage point at the base of the falls for a really spectacular view.
To get to Lisbon Falls, turn left where the R534 rejoins the R532. After 800 metres, turn right onto the gravel road. Drive for 2.2 km to reach the falls.
Berlin Falls
This 45 m high national monument was formed when the softer rock was slowly worn away by the relentless flow of the river. A short walk takes you to the observation platform from where you get a panoramic view of the Berlin Falls.
To reach the Berlin Falls, drive from the Lisbon Falls back to the tar road (R532) and turn left. Drive past the R534 turnoff and turn left after 2 km. Pass the Berlin Sawmill and turn left from the main road after 2 km. Park your car in the parking area.
Mac Mac Falls
The Mac Mac Falls national monument is 65 metres high. The waterfall was originally a single stream but when gold was discovered along the Mac Mac River, the diggers wanted to work along the rich, gold-bearing reef and used dynamite to divert the river. The explosion split the 65-metre-high waterfall into two streams. To get to the viewing platform above the falls, walk along the cement pathway.
The Mac Mac Falls is 13 km from Sabie on the R532. A nominal entrance fee is charged.
Maria Shires Falls
The falls are named after the pioneer Maria Shires, mother of Joseph Brooke Shires, a commercial forester who planted the first eucalyptus and wattle trees at Onverwacht (now Brooklands). Maria's daughter, Ann Maria Mclachlan was a devoted nurse in the Mac Mac diggers community.
The falls are approximately 15 km from Sabie on the R532.
Bridal Veil Falls
The name says it all – the falls resemble a bridal veil and at 70 m wide are a spectacular sight.
From Sabie, follow the Old Lydenburg Road and turn right at the Mondi Sawmill and Falls sign. Cross the Ceylon Bridge and continue for approximately 3 km. A short uphill trail through an indigenous forest leads to the falls.
In the Tzaneen area, Limpopo:
Debegeni Falls
The name ‘Debegeni’ means 'place of the big pot', referring to the shape of the falls. This waterfall plummets down into a series of rock pools – the perfect place for a dip. There is a picnic site at the falls.
To get there from Gauteng, take the N1 North towards Polokwane. Turn off on the R71 to Tzaneen and drive for about 77 km. Turn off at the Woodbush Plantation/ Debegeni Falls sign. Follow the gravel road to the Debegeni Falls.
Picnic sites: Descriptions
In the Sabie/Graskop area, Mpumalanga
Green Heritage Picnic Site
The Green Heritage Picnic Site is about 15 km from Sabie. The site with its braai facilities and toilets is situated across the Maria Shires Falls.
To reach the site, take the R532 from Sabie to Graskop.
Mac Mac Pools Picnic Site
To the south of the Mac Mac Falls are the Mac Mac Pools and Mac Mac Pools Picnic Site. The Mac Mac Pools are a series of rocky basins filled with water. The brave and strong can test their resistance to freezing water in one of these naturally formed swimming pools. The Secretary Bird Day Trail starts at the Mac Mac Pools.
The Mac Mac Pools are approximately 10 km from Sabie on the R532.
Braai and picnic facilities are available.
Pay a minimal fee at the boom gate.
Lone Creek Falls Picnic Site
The imposing 68 metre high Lone Creek Falls is a national monument and well-known landmark in the Sabie area. Pay a minimal fee at the boom gate and walk 200 metres through an indigenous forest to the bottom of the falls. Picnic and toilet facilities are available.
The Lone Creek Falls are 9 km from Sabie on the Old Lydenburg Road.
Braai and picnic facilities are available.
In the Tzaneen area, Limpopo
Debegeni Picnic Site
The Debegeni Picnic Site is situated at the Debegeni Falls in the Tzaneen area. Braai facilities and toilets are provided.
This is a lovely picnic spot for the whole family. Choose one of the picnic tables along the river or perhaps one right at the falls.
In the Makhado area, Limpopo:
Hanglip Picnic Site
The Hanglip Picnic Site is situated in the Soutpansberg, South Africa's northern most mountain range and one of the most beautiful areas in the country. Hanglip Picnic Site is a birdwatcher's paradise with birds such as the purplecrested lourie found here.