Blyde River Canyon

The third-largest canyon on earth and the largest green canyon, the Blyde River Canyon in Mpumalanga plunges 800 metres and stretches 26 kilometres through subtropical vegetation, while the Grand Canyon (USA) plunges 1,857 metres — making Blyde shallower yet greener. The canyon's most iconic feature, the Three Rondavels — three cylindrical dolomite pillars rising from the valley floor — are named for traditional African huts and overlook a reservoir home to hippos and crocodiles, drawing 500,000 sightseers each year.