Mountains and viewpoints in Eastern Cape

Dramatic Viewpoints & Peaks

This collection highlights the Eastern Cape's geological diversity, from the 120-meter dolerite columns of the Valley of Desolation in Camdeboo National Park to the rare marine waterfalls of the Wild Coast. It features South Africa's highest mountain pass at Naudé's Nek and the dramatic river gorges of the Tsitsikamma region, including the engineering feats of the Bloukrans and Storms River bridges. The list also includes unique formations like the Kalkkop impact crater and the Cape Vulture breeding colonies at Msikaba.

Dramatic Viewpoints & Peaks — Map

Leo za1 / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Valley of Desolation

Part of Camdeboo National Park, this site features vertical dolerite pillars rising 120 meters from the valley floor, formed by volcanic and erosive forces over 100 million years.

B

Magwa Falls

A 144-meter waterfall located within a tea estate. The water drops into a narrow, precipitous fissure, resembling the geological structure of Victoria Falls.

C

Kalkkop crater

Kalkkop is an impact crater which can be found on a private farm 50 kilometres south east of the town of Aberdeen, Eastern Cape, in the…

D

Naudé's Nek Viewpoint

Located at 2,587 meters above sea level, this is the highest dirt road pass in South Africa, offering expansive views of the Southern Drakensberg mountains.

E

Bloukrans Bridge Viewpoint

Overlooks the world's highest commercial bridge bungy jump. The bridge spans 216 meters above the Bloukrans River gorge on the border of the Eastern Cape.

F

Storms River Bridge Viewpoint

Also known as the Paul Sauer Bridge, this concrete arch structure stands 120 meters above the Storms River, providing views of the deep gorge and surrounding Tsitsikamma forest.

G

Waterfall Bluff

A rare geological feature where the Mlambomkhulu River falls 60 meters directly into the Indian Ocean. It is one of only a few such waterfalls globally.

H

Cathedral Rock

A prominent rock formation and natural arch located along the Wild Coast shoreline, situated between Luphuthana and Waterfall Bluff.

I

Baby Hole in the Wall

A natural rock arch and tidal island located near Coffee Bay, mirroring the larger and more famous Hole in the Wall formation further south.

J

Canyon

A deep, narrow gorge carved by the Storms River through the Tsitsikamma mountains, accessible via the suspension bridge and hiking trails in the Garden Route National Park.

K

Vulture Colony Viewpoint

Overlooks the sheer sandstone cliffs of the Msikaba River gorge, which serves as a significant breeding site for the endangered Cape Vulture.

L

Ribbokberg Lookout

A high-altitude vantage point in Camdeboo National Park providing panoramic views across the Karoo plains and the town of Graaff-Reinet.

M

Clearwater Viewpoint

Situated on the edge of the Mtamvuna River Gorge, this viewpoint offers vistas of the river winding through dense coastal forest toward the Indian Ocean.

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