The Blyde River Canyon Reserve extends along the Blyde River Canyon's winding path, which at every turn offers more and more impressive views over sheer edges dropping 800m into the riverbed. The Blyde River Canyon is the third largest in the world and one of South Africa's most popular scenic wonders.

The fresh mountain scenery and panoramic views over the Klein Drakensberg escarpment are quite spectacular and give the area its name of 'Panorama Route'. Viewpoints are named for the sights they display like ‘God's Window’. The view is truly magnificent, overlooking the almost sheer 300m drop into indigenous forest clad ravine. Being 250m higher than the ‘Pinnacle’ viewpoint, the total drop to the lands below is approximately 750m.

The 'Pinnacle' is a single quartzite column rising out of the deep wooded canyon and the ‘Three Rondavels' (also called the 'Three Sisters’) are three huge spirals of dolomite rock rising out of the far wall of the Blyde River Canyon. Their domed heads are iced in green and their sides are stained with fiery orange lichen. From the 'Three Rondavels' one can see the extensive Swadini Dam in the far distance, which marks the end of the reserve.

At the meeting point of the Blyde River ('river of joy') and the Treur River ('river of sorrow') water erosion has created one of the most astonishing geological phenomena in South Africa, called the "Bourke’s Luck Potholes" which have taken thousands of years to develop cylindrical indents in the rock, carved by swirling water. The smooth red and yellow rocks contrast with the dark pools of water.

Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve and all three South African species of Loerie can be found in the reserve.