The Crocodile River, a valley pass and notable landmarks such as Old Joe give Schoemanskloof a distinctive character. If you are looking for a destination with river scenery, cultural points of interest and a range of activities, you will find several themes here that can be considered separately when planning your trip.

The Crocodile River and its landscape

The Crocodile River runs for approximately 55 kilometres through Schoemanskloof to Montrose Falls. Along its banks, steep slopes and dense riverine forests shape the river landscape. Large rock pools, riffle sections and rapids are also part of this stretch of the river.

At Montrose Falls, the Crocodile River and the Elands River meet. Their confluence makes the site a distinctive natural landmark in the valley and adds a second river to the view of the Crocodile River. When planning your trip, you can consider the river landscape as a separate theme alongside Schoemanskloof’s roads and cultural stops.

Pass, crossings and Old Joe

The Schoemanskloof Pass runs through the valley. The Schoemanskloof Highway is considered one of the most scenic roads in Mpumalanga and marks the transition from the Highveld to the Lowveld. Old Joe is a distinctive painted rock associated with Schoemanskloof and marks the transition from the Highlands area to the Lowveld. The pass, road and landmark offer different points of reference for the landscape and its transitions.

Another special feature can be found at Old Joe's Kaia: a classic seven-path maze lies in the lower woodland. Various indigenous plant species line the path, and a spring-fed stream flows through the maze. This is a small, specific landscape feature alongside Schoemanskloof’s broader river scenery. Visitors can also stop for a meal at Old Joe's Kaia.

Culture and activities in Schoemanskloof

Joubert en Seuns Padstal was established in 1966 on Geluk Farm. The Schoemanskloof Citrus Festival is held every year at Wolwekrans Lodge. If you would like to include the festival in your plans, check the specific event dates. Both offer a glimpse into the area’s agricultural and community connections, without requiring a set itinerary.

There are also named points of interest for other interests. The Mountain Links Golf Course at Drakenzicht is a nine-hole course with 18 tee boxes. Hiking is also listed as an activity in Schoemanskloof, without specifying a particular route. This lets you choose between river scenery, a landscape or cultural theme, and a sporting activity, rather than turning the individual details into a prescribed tour.

Mpumalanga as a wider setting

Beyond Schoemanskloof, the wider destination of Mpumalanga offers other themes. The Barberton Makhonjwa Mountains comprise 40 percent of the Barberton Greenstone Belt and are a World Heritage Site. Their volcanic and sedimentary rocks are between 3.6 and 3.25 billion years old. In Kruger National Park, also within the wider destination of Mpumalanga, the area covers almost two million hectares; wildlife experiences are the main focus there. Geology and wildlife are therefore distinct regional interests alongside Schoemanskloof’s river landscape, cultural themes and activities.

To decide whether Schoemanskloof is right for your trip, you can first choose your focus: the rivers and their banks, the transitions between landscape regions, or the named cultural and leisure offerings.

Discover more destinations: Weimershoek, Kruger Park, Blyde, Emoyeni, Kaapschehoop, Mbombela, Louw's Creek, White River.

See the wider travel overview: Ehlanzeni.