Mpumalanga traffic update: R533 closed between Graskop and Bushbuckridge!

The Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport has announced the temporary closure of the R533 road between Graskop and Bushbuckridge, effective immediately. The closure follows a comprehensive on-site safety assessment conducted on Monday, 22 December 2025.

Based on the outcome of the assessment, authorities decided to fully close the route as a precautionary safety measure to protect motorists and allow urgent remedial work to proceed without risk or disruption.

Why the R533 has been closed
The closure is a critical safety intervention aimed at safeguarding road users and enabling technical teams to address the situation with urgency. The Department confirmed that the decision was taken to prevent potential loss of life and to ensure the road can be restored to a safe condition as quickly and effectively as possible.

Alternative route for motorists
All road users travelling to and from Bushbuckridge are strongly advised to use the alternative route:

• Graskop > Sabie > Hazyview

Motorists should plan their journeys accordingly, particularly during the busy festive travel period when traffic volumes are significantly higher.

Ongoing monitoring and updates
The Department will continue to monitor the situation closely and will keep the public informed of any developments. Road users will be notified once the R533 is declared safe and reopened to traffic.

The Department has apologised for the inconvenience caused and has appealed to motorists to exercise patience, caution, and cooperation while essential safety work is underway.

Travellers moving through Mpumalanga are encouraged to stay updated on road conditions, especially when travelling between key tourism hubs such as Graskop, Sabie, Hazyview, and Bushbuckridge.

 

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Mpumalanga: The Graskop Gorge Viewing Lift temporarily closes for maintenance! [update]

update (25 June 2025): The maintenance of the viewing lift was on schedule, and the lift is again open to the public! 

The Graskop Gorge Lift Company in Mpumalanga, South Africa, has announced a temporary closure of its iconic Viewing Lift for scheduled maintenance. The lift will be out of service from 17 June to 24 June 2025. During the maintenance period, free access will be provided to the Afromontane forest trail, the Cliff Café, and the Mid-level Walk, accessible via approximately 300 stairs. Adventure activities that normally include lift access - such as the Big Swing and Cliff Walk - will continue to operate and will be discounted by the lift fee. All other attractions, restaurants, and facilities at Graskop Gorge Lift Company will remain open to the public. Standard entrance fees still apply.

Conveniently located just outside Graskop on the R533 toward Hazyview, the Graskop Gorge Lift Company is a top-rated eco-tourism and adventure destination on South Africa's famous Panorama Route. Just a short drive from the Kruger National Park, it offers a thrilling mix of outdoor experiences set against stunning natural scenery.

Graskop Gorge Lift Company's signature attractions include:

• Viewing Lift: Descend 51 meters into a pristine Afromontane forest, then explore a 600-meter boardwalk that meanders through the forest floor, complete with interactive exhibits, suspension bridges, and a waterfall view.
• Cliff Walk: Test your nerves on narrow walkways high above the gorge, cross two suspension bridges, and ride a zipline back across the chasm—perfect for thrill-seekers.
• The Big Swing: One of the highest gorge swings in the world, this heart-pounding experience launches from the top of a waterfall with a 70-meter freefall, reaching speeds up to 140 km/h.
• Double Zipline: Enjoy 360° views as you glide across the gorge on a 120-meter zipline, walk a short trail, and return via a second exhilarating ride.

Mpumalanga: Graskop Gorge lift open on weekends only! [update]

update (24 August 2020): As from 01 September 2020, the Graskop Gorge lift will be open from Monday to Sunday again. (Monday to Friday: 10:30 to 15:30; Saturday and Sunday: 08:30 to 17:00)

Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Graskop Gorge lift in Mpumalanga, a viewing lift that takes visitors 51 metres down the face of the Graskop Gorge and into the forest below, will only open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, except for long weekends. This also applies to the world’s highest cable gorge swing, the Big Swing, and the Zipline (a 130m high-wire zipline!). The Graskop Gorge lift reopened to the public a month ago, on 03 July 2020, following a three month closure as a result of the national coronavirus lockdown in South Africa.
The Graskop Gorge lift, which is operated by the Graskop Gorge Lift Company, is located just outside of Graskop on the R533 towards Hazyview along the famous Panorama Route (on the opposite side of the gorge to the Big Swing).

Mpumalanga: Graskop Gorge lift to close for planned maintenance!

The Graskop Gorge lift in Mpumalanga, a viewing lift that takes visitors 51 metres down the face of the Graskop Gorge and into the forest below, will be closed on 11 and 12 February 2020 for planned maintenance. The world’s highest cable gorge swing, the Big Swing, and the Zipline (a 130m high-wire zipline!) will be operational, and the shops and restaurant will be open for business as usual. Walks in the Graskop Gorge will be at half price. The Graskop Gorge lift, which is operated by the Graskop Gorge Lift Company, is located just outside of Graskop on the R533 towards Hazyview along the famous Panorama Route (on the opposite side of the gorge to the Big Swing).

Mpumalanga: Graskop Gorge lift is currently not operational! [update]

update (09 January 2020): It seems that the Graskop Gorge lift in Mpumalanga is operational again. The company has deleted the facebook posting which said that the lift is currently " not operational due to a huge storm at the Graskop Gorge on 05 January 2020".

The Graskop Gorge lift in Mpumalanga, a viewing lift that takes visitors 51 metres down the face of the Graskop Gorge and into the forest below, is currently not operational due to a huge storm at the Graskop Gorge on 05 January 2020. The world’s highest cable gorge swing, the Big Swing, and the Zipline (a 130m high-wire zipline!) are operational, and the shops and restaurant are open for business as usual. The Graskop Gorge lift, which is operated by the Graskop Gorge Lift Company, is located just outside of Graskop on the R533 towards Hazyview along the famous Panorama Route (on the opposite side of the gorge to the Big Swing).

Mpumalanga: Graskop Gorge lift to close for scheduled maintenance! [update]

update (04 December 2019): The maintenance work has been finished, so that the Graskop Gorge lift is back in operation earlier than previously announced!

The Graskop Gorge lift in Mpumalanga, a viewing lift that takes visitors 51 metres down the face of the Graskop Gorge and into the forest below, will undergo scheduled maintenance ahead of the festive season from 03 - 05 December 2019 and will not be operational on these three days. The world’s highest cable gorge swing, the Big Swing, and the Zipline (a 130m high-wire zipline!) will be operational, and the shops and restaurant will be open for business as usual during this time.
The Graskop Gorge lift, which is operated by the Graskop Gorge Lift Company, is located just outside of Graskop on the R533 towards Hazyview along the famous Panorama Route (on the opposite side of the gorge to the Big Swing).

Mpumalanga: Graskop Gorge lift is currently not operational! [update]

update (21 October 2019): The Graskop Gorge lift is up and running.

The Graskop Gorge lift in Mpumalanga, a viewing lift that takes visitors 51 metres down the face of the Graskop Gorge and into the forest below, is currently not operational. The world’s highest cable gorge swing, the Big Swing, and the Zipline (a 130m high-wire zipline!) are operational, and the shops and restaurant are open for business as usual. The Graskop Gorge lift, which is operated by the Graskop Gorge Lift Company, is located just outside of Graskop on the R533 towards Hazyview along the famous Panorama Route (on the opposite side of the gorge to the Big Swing). 

Graskop Gorge Adventure Hub thrills - Updated August 2019 from Artography on Vimeo.

Mpumalanga: Graskop Gorge lift to temporarily close for maintenance!

The Graskop Gorge lift in Mpumalanga, a viewing lift that takes visitors 51 metres down the face of the Graskop Gorge and into the forest below, will be shut down for routine maintenance on 26 November 2018 and 27 November 2018. The lift will be operational again from 28 November 2018. The cliff-top restaurant and the shops will remain open during the maintenance. The Graskop Gorge lift, which is operated by the Graskop Gorge Lift Company, is located just outside of Graskop on the R533 towards Hazyview along the famous Panorama Route (on the opposite side of the gorge to the Big Swing). 

Mpumalanga: The Graskop Gorge lift is currently not operational! [UPDATE]

update (19 October 2018): The Graskop Gorge lift is fully operational!

The Graskop Gorge lift, a viewing lift that takes visitors 51 metres down the face of the Graskop Gorge and into the forest below, is temporarily closed since 12 October 2018. The lift, which is operated by the Graskop Gorge Lift Company, is located just outside of Graskop on the R533 towards Hazyview along Mpumalanga's famous Panorama Route (on the opposite side of the gorge to the Big Swing).

Mpumalanga: The Graskop Gorge Lift set to open to the public!

update (30 December 2017): The Graskop Gorge Lift is finally operational. Multi-entry tickets cost R175 for adults, R120 for children (4 - 16 years; under 4 years are free) and R120 for pensioners!

The new Graskop Gorge Adventure Centre, located on the famous Panorama Route in Mpumalanga, is set to open on 18 December 2017. The main attraction of the new project is a viewing lift ("Graskop Gorge Lift"), which will transport 26 visitors at a time to the bottom of the Graskop Gorge. The glass elevator has a sheer drop equivalent to about 16 storeys or 51 meters and offers 360 degree views of the gorge, waterfall, trees, birds and sky. The Graskop Adventure Centre also includes a restaurant, bar and shops on the plateau as well as an extensive network of elevated walkways, suspension bridges and interactive exhibits at the bottom of the Graskop Gorge.

The Graskop Gorge Adventure Centre is situated 1 km out of Graskop, at the Graskop Gorge, on the R533 towards Hazyview.