The bar has officially been raised – literally – at one of South Africa’s most scenic destinations. Set on the edge of a cliff above a lush Afromontane forest, the new Cliff Café at Graskop Gorge Lift Co in Mpumalanga is redefining what it means to grab a drink with a view.
This café-in-the-forest invites visitors to sip, stroll and soak in some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world.
It is accessed via the new Next-Level Walk, a no-harness walkway that winds along the cliff face, revealing trickling spring water, hanging ferns, and ever-changing views of the ancient gorge.
No ropes, no sweat – just raw natural beauty.
The Next-Level Walk and Cliff Café are accessed via the viewing elevator. When alighting at this level, visitors can choose to go right and enjoy a scenic stroll to the Cliff Café, or go left and walk along the rock face, eventually descending via a series of stairways and walkways to join up with the Forest Trail one level below. The interpretive Forest Trail, along raised walkways and suspension bridges, teaches visitors about the wonders of the Afromontane forest.
If visitors fancy a hot, cold or alcoholic drink while doing the Forest Trail, they can take the lift one level up, or enjoy the scenic route and make their way up via the new walkway.
Not just for thrill-seekers
The Next-Level Walk opens up previously inaccessible parts of the gorge’s upper walls, offering safe access to landscapes that were once only visible to climbers or drone cameras.
But this is more than just another picturesque stop on the Panorama Route. It’s the latest chapter in a remarkable transformation story that has reimagined how travellers experience the province’s Panorama Route wonders.
From lift to landmark
When the Graskop Gorge Lift Co opened its scenic viewing lift in December 2017, it was the first of its kind in South Africa, transporting visitors down the face of a 51-metre cliff into an Afromontane forest world below. It was bold, immersive and rooted in eco-tourism.
Since then, the site has expanded rapidly, becoming a flagship destination in Mpumalanga and a blueprint for sustainable, experience-based tourism in South Africa. International visitors flock to the centre, which welcomed its millionth visitor in September 2024.
Evolving experiences
- Over the years, the Graskop Gorge Lift Co has grown into a multi-faceted adventure and leisure hub. Today, visitors can:
- Ride the panoramic lift to the forest floor and explore a lush, circular Forest Trail, complete with interpretation boards and bubbling streams.
- Brave the Big Swing, an adrenaline-filled 70m freefall (reach speeds of more than 140km/h in just three seconds).
- Zip across the gorge and back on 120m ziplines for a different kind of rush.
- Opened in 2024, the Cliff Walk is a thrilling, harnessed adventure along the gorge’s vertical cliffs, featuring suspension bridges and high pathways that offer heart-pounding views and a fresh perspective on the landscape.
- Step onto a 52-metre suspension bridge for panoramic views across the gorge.
- Choose between two distinctive restaurants: The casual Swing Café, perfect for families and action-watchers, and the Lift Café, with a full menu and sweeping views.
- And now, with the addition of the Cliff Café and the Next-Level Walk, Graskop Gorge has yet again expanded its offerings.
