An ambitious R60 million (€3.1m) project – which has revitalised tourism along Mpumalanga’s Panaroma Route and brought national and global attention to the region – has welcomed its one millionth visitor.

Established in 2017 under the visionary leadership of tourism stalwarts Oupa Pilane, James Sheard and Campbell Scott, the Graskop Gorge Lift Company (GGLC) has proven to be a remarkable example of private-sector innovation.

With a combination of public and private-sector funding, the company has built a world-class facility in the mountains outside the small town of Graskop, revolving around a 70 metre-high gorge lift. Perched spectacularly on the edge of an escarpment, the lift takes travellers down through lush indigenous forest to a 600 metre-long circular walkway leading through the bottom of the gorge.

The project, featuring an extreme freefall swing, ziplines and suspension bridge spanning the gorge, is a massive drawcard for tourists to the province. Pilane, also Chair of inbound industry association SATSA, said that with each visitor spending an average of between R500 (€26) and R1 000 (€52), the project has generated at least R500m (€26.1m) in revenue. Its progressive expansion has led to the creation of 98 permanent jobs.

First-of-its kind cliff walk

Last Friday, October 25, the project celebrated another ground-breaking achievement with the official launch of its Cliff Walk adventure – a first of its kind for South Africa. The cliff walk includes a walkway running along the cliff face, two suspension bridges and a zipline.

“Our focus was on creating unique access through the use of cliff-face walkways and other minimalist structures to environments normally limited to those with special training and fitness,” said Scott, GGLC Co-Director.

Construction of the walk – in accordance with the highest international safety standards – started in April and was completed in September.

“The Cliff Walk offers a close-up experience of nature, allowing participants to reach places that would otherwise be inaccessible,” said Co-Director Sheard, further emphasising the unique appeal of the GGLC as a whole.

“Where else can you do a cliff walk, dare yourself to do an extreme 70-metre cable swing or double zipline across the gorge, cross a 51-metre suspension bridge, ride a viewing lift into the forest below and enjoy an interpretive forest trail – all in one breathtaking gorge?”

Earlier this year, a solar installation valued at R2.7 million (€141 000) was also completed to supplement power supply.

GGLC was the first beneficiary of the Department of Tourism’s Tourism Transformation Fund receiving R38 million (€2m) in funding from the initiative since 2017.

A revitaliser for the Panorama Route

Pilane said the private sector-led GGLC, with government support, is a much-needed anchor project for the region to catalyse tourism growth and investment.

Stretching from the small Mpumalanga town of Sabie (close to the Kruger National Park) and up into Limpopo, the Panorama Route incorporates a dazzling variety of natural attractions along the world’s third-largest canyon – the Blyde River Canyon.

However, lack of funding from the managing authority, Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, led to deterioration of infrastructure at key attractions such as God’s Window, Mac Mac Falls, Bourke’s Luck Potholes and the Three Rondawels – exacerbated by patchy road maintenance along the route.

“We have built it and the tourists have come. There is now an opportunity to capitalise on the attention this project has given to the region and develop other world-class infrastructure to fully exploit its immense potential for further tourism growth and job creation,” said Pilane.

SATSA views Graskop as a central pillar of its small town regeneration strategy, which seeks to stimulate private-sector investment in small towns, based on a similar model to the Jozi My Jozi project in Johannesburg, added Pilane. Founded in 2023, Jozi My Jozi has gathered corporate heavyweights together to regenerate Johannesburg’s inner city.

Pilane said the region is in dire need of accommodation facilities to attract overnight guests. The GGLC is investigating the purchase of neighbouring properties to construct a hotel.

GGLC will welcome 100 tour operators to the Cliff Walk next month to increase global awareness of the attraction and the region.