Make it a weekend getaway!

The Longtom Pass links the two towns of Sabie and Lydenburg in Mpumalanga Province in the north east of South Africa . The two towns are 56 km apart - both are well-known tourist destinations close to the Kruger National Park and part of the scenic Panorama route.

Lydenburg: Situated at the beginning of the Long Tom Pass on the Highveld escarpment of Mpumalanga, Lydenburg is a town of history and a town for all seasons. This town has a rich history associated with the Voortrekkers and the Anglo-Boer War. The name Lydenburg means "Place of Suffering". The town was so named after the many deaths of Voortrekkers at Ohrigstad due to malaria. Today the town offers excellent trout fishing in 22 kilometres of trout-stocked river. Outdoor activities such as hiking, bird-watching and mountain biking, and scenic drives, quaint coffee shops and curio shops lure local and foreign tourists to Lydenburg. Lydenburg is also the gateway to the acclaimed scenic Panorama Route leading to the Blyde River Canyon on the one side and Longtom Pass on the other. Accommodation includes various guesthouses and two caravan parks.

The climate and magnificent surroundings make Lydenburg the ideal outdoor adventure paradise for the whole family. Activities encompass fly fishing and unspoilt nature with panoramic views. Visits to Mashishing Township and the Lydenburg Museum , with its display of prehistoric artefacts dating from 15 BC to present day, are worthwhile.

Sabie: On the other side of the Longtom Pass is Sabie, a small forestry town nestled at the foothills of the majestic Drakensberg Escarpment Mountains in Mpumalanga. It is a tourist haven offering activities such as back-packing, fly fishing, mountain biking, horse riding, white-water rafting, rock climbing and abseiling, bird watching, 4x4 trips, sightseeing, and shopping for African arts, crafts and curios. Sabie is a relaxing hour's drive from the Kruger National Park . The town is surrounded by spectacular waterfalls and pristine mountain streams. Sabie originated in 1900 when gold diggers congregated here beside the mountain in search of fame and fortune. It was also a hunter's paradise and considered a camping site for hunting parties.

Voortrekkers reached the Sabie area 1846 and called it Grootfontein as the region boasts numerous springs, fountains, rock pools and waterfalls. Later diggers and fortune hunters streamed to the area and camped on the banks of the Sabie River . The river was feared for its strong currents and crocodiles. Hence it was named “ULUSABA” (river of fear) which Sabie was later named after.

In 1876 Joseph Brook Shires had already started planting the first commercial eucalyptus trees when he realised that the forests were chopped down to meet the needs of the mines, housing and firewood. Forestry followed suit in 1904 and today Sabie is surrounded by the largest manmade forestry area in the world.

The climate and conditions in this beautiful area are ideal for the forestry industry. Mist is a common sight in summer and snow occurs on the mountain tops in winter.