Blyde Dam Boat Cruise – Blyde Canyon

Blyde Dam Boat Cruise

Blyde Canyon Hoedspruit South Africa

From R390 per person

Cruise Blyde Dam on a 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 of a Green Canyon. Read on to see the Blyde River Canyon activities and prices. Your next boat trip will be to Blyde River Canyon. Email Anthony at info@hoedspruitonline.co.za for bookings or more information. Click here for more history on the Blyde River Canyon.

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What time is the Blyde Dam boat cruise?

There are 4 departure times for the Blyde Boat Cruise every day (except December 25)

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

Please arrive at least 20 minutes before the cruise starts. It is a 45-minute drive from Hoedspruit to the Blyde Dam.

How long is the Blyde Dam Boat Cruise?

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

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. They will try their best to reschedule your boat cruise.

How much does it cost to go on a Blyde Dam cruise?

Blyde River Canyon boat cruise rates are as follows:

Adults                                      R390.00p

Children (2-12 years)              R210.00pp

Private Boat Cruise                 R4000 (1 to 10 people) R6000 (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 Limpopo Province 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, is the 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.

After 8km turn right onto the Swadini Forever Resort Road. This road is tarred.

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

Continue (pass the Forever Resort Swadini entrance) till you see the Blyde Dam Nature Reserve boom gate. Turn right. You 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 of the road to Blyde Dam Boat Cruises.

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

After your cruise, it is worth the drive to the top of the hill. 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. You can check availability and book online now

Where can I make my booking?

Inquiries and bookings can be made with Hoedspruit Online – check availability and book online now. If you are in Hoedspruit, you can book at Shop 18 Kamogelo Tourist Centre at Fern Boutique.

What must I bring with me?

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

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 Graskop and includes God’s Window, the Pinnacle, and Bourke’s Luck Potholes.

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

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

What activities is there to do in the Blyde Canyon

There are various activities besides the boat cruise in and around the Blyde Dam and Nature Reserve.  You can go on various hiking trails, white water rafting, kloofing, fly fishing, and horse riding. Nearby is the daily Sun Catchers 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 worth continuing 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

If you like 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