Quartzkop

Peak: Quartzkop (1750m)
Area: Blyde River Canyon, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Just a short jog, glad to be able to expend some energy after several days driving round the wonderful Kruger National Park. This morning, I left Satara Camp in Kruger very early, driving into Limpopo then through the huge township of Bushbuckridge to Graskop. After breakfast, I headed up to the famed God's Window viewpoint. Here, the warm air of the Lowveld rises to meet the cooler air of the high plateau of Mpumulanga at the start of the Panorama Route and Blyde River Canyon. At this time of year, early summer, mist is the inevitable result. So, instead of the vast view over the Lowveld, a misty subtropical atmosphere prevailed. Still very atmospheric, with ever changing views over the top of the clouds and the plateau clear. I quickly realised that the path continued past God's Window to take in the subtropical cloud forest beyond: all moss and dripping vegetation, reminding me of my trip to Panama earlier this year. Above, typical Highveld scenery and vegetation as a plateau is reached. Great running here, with cloud to the right over the Lowveld and huge views left over the plateau towards the Blyde River Canyon. I kept on going to the highpoint, some interesting birds, then jogged back to resume my tour of the region. Later, I took in the Three Rondavels, Blyde Canyon, Bourke's Luck Potholes and many more sites in this wonderful area before staying in the hills above Graskop, near the famous Berlin Falls.