The Blyde Dam boat cruise is one of the best things to do in Mpumalanga. This scenic cruise will take you through the 11 km long and 2,5km wide canyon and countryside for which South Africa is known. Photographs do not do it justice. Incorporating the third largest canyon in the world and impressive lush scenery. The Blyde River Canyon Reserve offers visitors a breathtaking experience. This Nature Reserve is near the world-famous Kruger National Park and covers 29 000 hectares stretching from the misty highlands down to the hotter and drier lowveld at the Blyde Dam.  The Blyde River Canyon is one of the most spectacular attractions in Africa. The canyon is lined by cliffs up to 1,400 meters high which are continuously sculpted by the flow of the river, and the boat cruise is a great way to see it. The Blyde Dam boat cruise will take you upstream on the mighty Blyde River to view this World Heritage Site in all its glory. Visitors enjoy a leisurely 90-minute river cruise past two impressive waterfalls

The dam was completed in 1974.  The 71 m high dam wall and 22 m deep is situated 3 km from Swadini resort by road. The Blyde Dam Boat Cruise is well known among tourists and residents because it offers a superb view of the magnificent Blyde River Canyon. The Blyde dam boat cruise is only minutes away from the town of Hoedspruit and in easy reach of the Kruger National Park. The Blyde Dam Boat Cruise is an activity that is ideal for holiday makers, tourists and is situated in Mpumalanga Province. The trip takes you on a fascinating journey to some of the most scenic points of the canyon lead by a guide who is happy to point out any hippos or crocodiles you may see on the way, along with many other types of wildlife that call the canyon home. The dam itself is a magnificent structure with some really cool features. It is not just a lake created by the dam, but also interesting landforms and interesting places to explore.

Perhaps the most popular sight along the cruise is the Kadishi Tufa waterfall, one of few rare living tufa waterfalls in the world and is said to be the second highest tufa waterfall in the world, dropping 200 metres from its limestone shelf to the water of the Blyde Dam. In the case of the Kadishi Tufa fall, the formation that has been produced strikingly resembles a face which is crying profusely, and is thus sometimes known as ‘the weeping face of nature. Tufal waterfalls take million of years to form. Water, running over dolomitic rocks, absorbs calcium from the rocks. The mosses that also grow on these rocks draw out carbon dioxide whilst photosynthesising, which causes the calcium in the water to deposit layers of tufa on the surface of the waterfall (a bit like crystalisation of water). The water continues to flow over and underneath the layer of calcium.

Another popular sight is the Three Rondawels, these rock formations consist of quartzite and shale. They are sometimes referred to as the 'Chiefs Troublesome Wives', with the flat-top peak representing the chief, Mapjaneng, and the Rondavels representing his three wives. Locals of South Africa know the rondavel as a traditional beehive-shaped hut which was built and used for centuries by indigenous people for their homes

The abundance of wildlife will keep you distracted while learning more about the natural history of the Blyde Canyon. The dam and surrounds is home to a range of wildlife species such as kudu and duiker, as well as leopard and other small carnivores. The dam itself is home to hippo’s, crocodiles, Fish Eagles, African Finfoot which you may be lucky enough to spot on the leisurely 90-minute boat trip.

The Blyde dam boat cruise is only minutes away from the town of Hoedspruit and in easy reach of the Kruger National Park.