The official name is Bourke's Luck Potholes, but these are not the kind that can be driven over. Located in Ehlanzeni, South Africa, this strange geological site was formed by raging waters and erosion thousands of years ago. Bourke's Luck Potholes is situated in an area where the Blyde and Treur Rivers meet, in the South African region of Mpumalanga.
It was a warm, sunny morning as we left our overnight stay in Pilgram's Rest, Mpumulanga, South Africa to the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve. We stopped here at the mouth of the Blyde River Canyon to see the huge cylindrical potholes in the sandstone bedrock. The potholes are a fascinating network of tunnels and tubes and interconnected whirling pools. The different soil levels in each hole give them a unique color. The result is a colorful landscape.
The Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, which houses the potholes, has bridges and viewing platforms for getting up close and personal with the scenery. There are many short walking trails, and it is an easy walk from the parking lot.
The potholes get their name from John Bourke, a prospector, who believed that the region had gold deposits. Despite the name of the potholes, Bourke never found a single ounce of gold there. Later prospectors did eventually find rich amounts of gold in the area.
The trails are mostly flat and marked, so it is easy to get to the waterfalls, which are in various stages of the walk.
Bourke's Luck Potholes is a must visit for anyone driving along the Drakensberg escarpment.
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