Blyde Dam Boat Cruise – Blyde Canyon

Blyde Dam Boat Cruise

You can do a Blyde Dam Boat Cruise with Blyde Canyon Safaris. They offer daily boat cruises on the Blyde Dam in the world’s third-largest Canyon. Go and explore the untouched beauty. Read on to see the Blyde River Canyon activities and prices. Your next boat trip – Blyde River Canyon. Email Anthony at info@hoedspruitonline.co.za for bookings or more information.

Check availability and book now.

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What time do Boat cruises start?

Cruises start at 09h00 – 11h00 – 13h00 – 15h00

How long is the Blyde Dam Boat Cruise?

90 minutes – you must be at the launch site at least 20 minutes before departure.

What days does the Blyde Dam Boat Cruise operate?

Monday to Sunday, 364 days a year – closed on Christmas Day. If there are adverse weather conditions, the Operator can cancel the boat trip for safety reasons.

What does the boat cruise cost?

Blyde River Canyon boat cruise rates are as follows:

Adults                                      R340.00p

Children (2-12 years)              R190.00pp

Private Boat Cruise                 R3500 (1 to 10 people) R5000 (11 to 20 people) – prior bookings essential

No children under 2 years of age are allowed on a boat cruise.

Where is the Blyde Dam Boat Cruise?

40 km from Hoedspruit South Africa, off the R531 in the Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve at the jetty on the Blyde Dam. Entrance to the Nature Reserve is R35 per adult and R20 per child. Please take cash to pay. If you follow directions to Swadini Forever Resort, you will be on the right road to the boat cruise.

Directions to Blyde Dam Boat Cruise.

Travelling from Hoedspruit.

Take the R527 in an easterly direction towards Ohrigstad.

About 10 km from Hoedspruit, you will see Driehoek Corner, a fuel station, butchery, and cafe.

Turn left and drive for 4.4 km until you reach a T junction. Turn left onto the R531.

Turn right after 8 km onto the Swadini Forever Resort Road.

Travel till you reach a security gate. They will ask you where you are going – Blyde Dam.

Continue (pass the Forever Resort Swadini entrance) till you see the Blyde Dam Nature Reserve boom gate. Turn right. You have to pay the entrance fee at this gate (Cash only).

Cross over the Blyde River and shortly afterward you will see the sign on the right-hand side to Blyde Dam Boat Cruises.

Travel about 50m down the road and park your vehicle. The road is tar except for the last 50 meters.

After your cruise, it is well worth the drive to the top of the hill where you can walk down to the dam wall and visit the Interpretation Centre.

If you want to use your GPS/Garmin, enter Forever Resort Swadini.

When must I make my booking?

Bookings must be made 24 hours in advance – walk-ins are not encouraged and are subject to availability.

Where can I make my booking?

Bookings and inquiries can be made with Hoedspruit Online – email Anthony at info@hoedspruitonline.co.za

What must I bring with me?

Bring your camera, binoculars, sun hat, and sun cream. You are welcome to bring along snacks, cool drinks, and water but no alcohol is allowed on the boat. Wear comfortable clothes and bring along something warm to wear in the winter months.

Where does the Blyde River Canyon start

The Blyde River Canyon passes a rock formation known as the “Three Rondavels”. It is so named as the formation resembles three African-style houses or rondavels. This canyon is part of the Panorama Route. This route starts at the town of Graskop and includes God’s Window, the Pinnacle, and Bourke’s Luck Potholes.

How much does it cost to go to Blyde River Canyon?

The Blyde River Canyon is part of the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, controlled by the Mpumalanga Parks Board. It is therefore a protected area. The cost is R35 per person for adults and R20 for children. There is a pensioner rate of R20 for South African citizens. Please bring cash as the entrance gate does not have card facilities.

What activities are offered at Blyde Canyon

There are various activities besides the boat cruise in and around the Blyde Dam.  There are various hiking trails, white water rafting, kloofing, fly fishing, and horse riding. Nearby is the daily hot air balloon ride and the Swadini Forever Resort with hot pools.

What is a Tufa waterfall?

A tufa waterfall is formed when water running over dolomite rock absorbs calcium, and deposits rock formations more rapidly than they erode the surrounding rock.

In the case of the Kadishi Tufa fall (200m drop), the formation that has been produced strikingly resembles a face that is crying profusely, and is thus sometimes known as ‘the weeping face of nature’.

General

Enjoy the splendor of the 3^rd largest Canyon in the world and the largest green Canyon in the world due to the lush subtropical foliage. You will see the rare living Kadishi Tufa waterfall and the Three Rondawels while seeing wildlife and bird life living in the Canyon on the banks of the Blyde Dam.

It is well worth continuing on to the Blyde Dam Interpretation Centre. There is a short hike to view the dam from a different angle. You can stop over and walk down onto the Blyde Dam wall.

All these activities are within the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve

For all your accommodation options in Hoedspruit South Africa, click here

For more adventure activities and things to do in Hoedspruit, click here

Book your boat cruise now

A visit to the Blyde Dam on a boat cruise will make your outing an experience not to be forgotten