Sabie Attractions
The little town of Sabie lies amid dense forests on the slopes of Mount Anderson (2,285m/7,497ft) and the Mauchberg (2,115m/6,939ft). It is the principal center of the timber industry in the region, with the largest paper factory in the country.
Sabie, well equipped with shops, restaurants and filling stations, is a favorite stopover for tourists on their way to the Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve or the Kruger National Park.
Sabie occupies the site of a farm acquired in 1880 by H. T. Glynn, who one day during a party challenged his guests to a shooting contest with empty bottles set in front of a rock as targets. Under the hail of bullets fragments of rock splintered off, revealing a seam of gold, which thereafter was worked from 1895 until 1950. Sabie grew up round the gold-mine, and in 1913 was linked by rail with Nelspruit.
With its agreeable climate and expanses of forest (otherwise rare in South Africa) the country round Sabie is a popular holiday area for South Africans. Since the forests have mostly been planted within recent years, their attractions for walkers are limited; but there are a number of magnificent waterfalls round Sabie, among them the 68m/225ft high Lone Creek Falls (12km/75mi west), the Bridal Veil Falls (8km/5mi west) and the Horseshoe Falls (1km/.75mi north).
Sabie, well equipped with shops, restaurants and filling stations, is a favorite stopover for tourists on their way to the Blyderivierspoort Nature Reserve or the Kruger National Park.
Sabie occupies the site of a farm acquired in 1880 by H. T. Glynn, who one day during a party challenged his guests to a shooting contest with empty bottles set in front of a rock as targets. Under the hail of bullets fragments of rock splintered off, revealing a seam of gold, which thereafter was worked from 1895 until 1950. Sabie grew up round the gold-mine, and in 1913 was linked by rail with Nelspruit.
With its agreeable climate and expanses of forest (otherwise rare in South Africa) the country round Sabie is a popular holiday area for South Africans. Since the forests have mostly been planted within recent years, their attractions for walkers are limited; but there are a number of magnificent waterfalls round Sabie, among them the 68m/225ft high Lone Creek Falls (12km/75mi west), the Bridal Veil Falls (8km/5mi west) and the Horseshoe Falls (1km/.75mi north).
Mac Mac Falls
14km/8.5mi from Sabie on the Graskop road (R 532) is a parking place from which steps lead up to a lookout point a 5 minutes' walk away from which there is a superb view of the Mac Mac Falls - twin falls which plunge down 56m/184ft into a wooded gorge, forming a crystal-clear lake 2km/1.25mi downstream. At one time when gold was found here prospectors flocked to the area, including many Scots: hence, it is said, the name of the falls.
Forestry Museum
The small Forestry Museum in Sabie is informative about the development of timber-working and the various species of trees.
Long Tom Pass
From Sabie R 37 runs 53km/33mi west to Lydenburg, going over the Long Tom Pass (2,149m/7051ft) and following the old voortrekker route through the Drakensberg. The pass got its name during the Boer War, when the Boers defended the pass with long-barreled guns nicknamed Long Toms. From the pass road there are magnificent views of the surrounding country.
