Ohrigstad, Panorama Route

Ohrigstad is a quaint village and valley nestled in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains, close to the Blyde River Canyon, God's Window and Potholes. It is no surprise then that Ohrigstad is known as the gateway to the Panorama Route.

Ohrigstad is the oldest town on the Panorama Route. Ohrigstad was founded in 1845 by Hendrik Potgieter, the well-known "Voortrekker" leader. He named the town after himself and George Ohrig: Andries-Ohrigstad. Sadly, the town was plagued by malaria mosquitoes and abandoned in 1848. Ohrigstad was only resettled in the 1900s when the malaria plague was controlled. Thankfully, today Ohrigstad is a malaria-fee zone. In addition, relics of Iron- and Stone Age civilizations found in the area indicate that the Pedi and San groups lived here thousands of years ago.

Today, Ohrigstad is mostly a farming community and a diverse range of crops are produced. Their economy thrives on maize, beans, fruit and paprika. The region abounds with plenty unexplored possibilities and opportunities concerning business, tourism, agriculture and local communities. The scenic Ohrigstad valley combined with the panorama and an abundance of activities make for the ideal weekend breakaway. Many enjoy fly-fishing, game viewing, horse riding, hiking and many other exciting activities.

At the point where the swift-flowing Blyde River is joined by the Ohrigstad River, engineers built an unobtrusive dam wall in a bottleneck below the confluence to form the Blyde Dam. Wildlife in the canyon area is as varied as the habitats. There are mountain reedbucks on the escarpment, dassies on the canyon walls, hippo and crocodile in the Blyde Dam as well as impala, kudu, blue wildebeest, waterbuck and zebra on the Lowveld plain near the canyon's mouth. It is a must visit for all tourists!

In the area is another fascinating ecological site known as the Echo Caves. The Echo Caves was discovered in the 1920's. One of the rooms of the cave had a height of 60m. After exploring the cave, the discoverer realized that this is a gift from nature laid among the gentle undulating hills of the Mpumalanga escarpment. These are some of the oldest caves in the world and were declared a Historical Monument. Ohrigstad boasts stunning natural scenery, a moderate climate and a tranquil environment. Life here is relaxed and peaceful! There are plenty of activities and marvellous natural wonders to explore.

Ohrigstad also boasts a wide variety of accommodation to choose from, ranging from bed and breakfast establishments to game lodges and guest farms all situated in spectacular terrains. From the accommodation establishments to the handmade furniture, art and décor, there is something here for everyone. Ohrigstad’s ideal location causes very pleasant climatic conditions all year round making it an ideal tourist destination or stop over to plenty other destinations.