# Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, South Africa: what it is and when to go

> Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve is a Biosphere reserve in South Africa | designated in 2001. Interests: Nature and Wildlife. The best time to visit is October to April. In December there are 13 h 31 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 29. It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in South Africa: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/blyde-river-canyon-nature-reserve/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** Biosphere reserve in South Africa | designated in 2001 · Nature, Wildlife
- **Where:** South Africa
- **Best time:** October to April.
- **Nearest airport:** JNB Johannesburg, 304 km as the crow flies
- **Website:** [mpumalanga.com](https://www.mpumalanga.com/our-provincial-parks/blyde-river-canyon-nature-reserve)
- **Coordinates:** -24.67858, 30.80287

## What it is and where

Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve is a Biosphere reserve in South Africa | designated in 2001. It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in South Africa: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

The Blyde River Canyon Reserve extends along the Blyde River Canyon's winding path, includes natural wonders such as the Bourke's Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels, Pinnacle Rock and God's Window.

Its coordinates are -24.67858, 30.80287; the nearest main airport is O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB, Johannesburg), 304 km as the crow flies. How to get around South Africa (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=-24.678577%2C30.80287)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-24.678577%2C30.80287)

It is one of the [Nature](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/naturaleza/) and [Wildlife](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/fauna/) places in South Africa. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve is **October to April**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Best time | 13 h 22 |
| February | Best time | 12 h 50 |
| March | Best time | 12 h 10 |
| April | Best time | 11 h 25 |
| May | Possible | 10 h 48 |
| June | Possible | 10 h 29 |
| July | Possible | 10 h 37 |
| August | Possible | 11 h 08 |
| September | Possible | 11 h 52 |
| October | Best time | 12 h 36 |
| November | Best time | 13 h 13 |
| December | Best time | 13 h 31 |

In December there are 13 h 31 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 29. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nature | October to April | May to September |
| Wildlife | October to April | May to September |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to South Africa in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to South Africa

To enter South Africa there are 9 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Passport with two blank pages and 30 days to spare”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the South Africa checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/#antes-de-salir). Currency: South African rand (ZAR); plugs: Type M and N · 230 V · 50 Hz (its own adapter: the large plug with three round pins); emergencies: 10111 police · 10177 ambulance · 112 from a mobile.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [Mariepskop](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/mariepskop/): Mountain in South Africa · 17 km
- [The Peak](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/the-peak/): Mountain in South Africa · 18 km
- [Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/moholoholo-wildlife-rehabilitation-centre/): With kids · Wildlife · 21 km
- [Echo Caves](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/echo-caves/): Cave system in South Africa · 24 km
- [Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/hoedspruit-endangered-species-centre/): With kids · Wildlife · 32 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the South Africa guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/).

## More in South Africa: Nature

- [Cape of Good Hope](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/cabo-de-buena-esperanza/): headland of Cape Peninsula, South Africa
- [Table Mountain](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/table-mountain/): mountain in Cape Town, South Africa
- [Cape Agulhas](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/cabo-de-las-agujas/): headland in the Western Cape, South Africa, the southernmost point of mainland Africa
- [Kruger National Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/parque-nacional-kruger/): national park in South Africa
- [Richtersveld](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/paisaje-cultural-y-botanico-de-richtersveld/): desert in South Africa
- [ISimangaliso Wetland Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/isimangaliso-wetland-park/): protected area

Every South Africa place under Nature, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/naturaleza/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve?

It is a Biosphere reserve in South Africa | designated in 2001. It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in South Africa: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

### When is the best time to visit Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve?

October to April. In December there are 13 h 31 of daylight, and in June, 10 h 29.

### How do you get to Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve?

The nearest main airport is O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), 304 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=-24.678577%2C30.80287) opens the route on the map, and how to get around South Africa is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the South Africa map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [Mariepskop](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/mariepskop/), [The Peak](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/the-peak/), [Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/moholoholo-wildlife-rehabilitation-centre/). The rest is in [the South Africa guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/africa-y-oriente-medio/sudafrica/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/883717243), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1305810), CC0. More about Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blyde_River_Canyon_Nature_Reserve). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).