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TOUR OF PILGRIM’S REST MINING TOWN AND WATERFALLSR1,500-00 p/p |
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| The museum town of Pilgrim’s Rest is retained in the same state as it was in 150 years ago, when it
was the centre of the first gold rush in South Africa! The afternoon is spent hiking to view six of the
most spectacular waterfalls in the green, high rainfall area of the town of Sabie. |
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The tour departs from Elandela Lodge, after a breakfast at
07h00, on a two hour drive to Pilgrim’s Rest town. Pilgrim’s
Rest dates back to 1873, when a prospector - known as
Wheelbarrow Alex because he transported all his belongings
around in a wheelbarrow - struck gold in a nearby creek. For
a while the town grew and flourished. The heady days of the
“gold rush” are long past, but the carefully preserved village
retains much of its early character. It is easy to envisage
what life was like in a gold rush town in the middle of South
Africa, 150 years ago! Shop at the curio market or any of the
speciality shops inside the original buildings made out of
building material, imported on ox wagons all the way from
the far off ports. In those days it took a ship 3 months to sail
from England to the Port of Durban, but six months by ox
wagon from Durban to Pilgrim’s Rest! The shopkeepers try
to keep the original atmosphere, as recorded by the curious
inscriptions on the tombstones in the cemetery. Enjoy lunch
in one of the many restaurants before leaving at 12h00. |
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| The first stop is at the Sabie Town waterfall. Then, stop at two spectacular waterfalls – Lone Creek
Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. It takes two and a half hours to view them both as the beautiful Bridal Veil
Falls is in pristine forest at the top of a mountain trail, 500 meters from the car park. |
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| At 15h00 hours we stop at the Maria Shires Falls, where we start a 1 km stroll to reach the wide and
impressive Forest Falls! This is ideal to stretch your legs and also to marvel at the huge tree ferns and
the lush indigenous forest. We leave at 16h00 to stop at the very high Mac Mac Falls – so called
because of all the Scottish prospectors in Pilgrim’s Rest at the time! You have the option to purchase
artefacts from vendors located at the fall’s entrance. We head back, to reach Elandela at dinner time. |
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| PROVEN TOUR PROGRAM PREPARED AND OFFERD BY www.windowstoafrica.co.za |
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