Nestled in rolling emerald hills six(ish) hours northeast of Johannesburg, Blyde River Canyon is a geologist's paradise. Not to mention eye candy for any photographer, hiker, bird-watcher... you get the point. 

On our only full day, we were up at the crack of dawn driving the Panorama Route from site to site, from God's Window to the Three Rondavels.

Each geologic feature has its own look and feel, from the dramatic canyon with Blyde River below to the Bourke's Luck Potholes, cylindrical holes worn into the sandstone bedrock by decades of swirling river water. 

As if all that wasn't cool enough, we ran into a family of cheeky monkeys along the way and hung out for a bit with them while they ate stolen food and inspected each others' backs for bugs. 

Thanks to some fast-paced hiking and pushing our horribly slow rental car to its limit, we were able to see all the spectacular works of nature and be on the road again the next morning to continue along our South African road trip. 

Next stop: The Drakensberg