Mac Mac Falls
Kruger National Park, South Africa
Most people travel to northeast South Africa for game drives and lush canyons, but the Mpumalanga Province offers something else: waterfalls. Mac Mac Falls is one of the most dramatic examples—a national monument featuring a pair of 213-foot (65-meter) cascades, viewable from an observation deck above the falls.
The Basics
Named after Scottish gold miners in the 1870s, the falls used to be a single cascade until miners blasted the rock beneath the falls and separated the flow into two streams. Take in the views from the lookout above the falls, or plunge into the water below during a guided canyoning tour, which awards adventure-seekers with close-up views of hidden gorges and rock pools.
You can also visit Mac Mac Falls and learn about local flora and fauna on a full-day tour through Blyde River Canyon, the third largest canyon in the world. For a stress-free experience that incorporates the best of northeast South Africa, opt for a multi-day guided tour, which typically includes stops in Kruger National Park and other natural wonders along the Panorama Route.
Things to Know Before You Go
There is a small entrance fee to view the falls, typically included in the cost of tours.
Due to a steep pathway and stairs, the viewing platform is difficult to access with a wheelchair or stroller.
There is a barrier around the lookout. With a small enough camera lens, you can shoot photographs through the holes in the fence; however, be sure to use caution when dealing with loose objects near the edge.
Take a dip in the spring-fed Mac Mac Pools, located 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) south; you can find bathrooms, braai (barbecue) pits, picnic tables, and plenty of green space near the pools.
How to Get There
Mac Mac Falls is located 40 miles (65.5 kilometers) outside Kruger National Park, halfway between the towns of Sabie and Graskop. Access the falls via R532.
When to Get There
The area is at its most picturesque during summer (October–February), when the falls flow heavily and the surroundings are green.
The Sabie Waterfalls Route
Although Mac Mac Falls is arguably the most popular waterfall in the area, others are just as worthy of a visit—some unobstructed by wire fences, free of charge, or even with pathways leading behind the falls. The 30-mile (50-kilometer) Sabie Waterfalls Route connects a handful of waterfalls, including towering Lisbon Falls and delicate Bridal Veil Falls. Give yourself two days to properly tour the route, as there are many viewpoints, swimming holes, and picnic spots along the way.
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