Mac Mac Pools & Falls

Mac Mac Pools & Falls

DID YOU KNOW?

In the 1870s Scottish immigrants came to Mpumalanga to pan for gold. Many of them, had surnames that began with Mac. When President Thomas Burger visited the area, he thought this quite amusing and named the area Mac-Mac. The Mac Mac Falls has a drop of 70m ,the falls is a double stream of water that sprays rainbows across the scene.
The river falls to a deep, dramatic pool. in my opinion This is what waterfalls are supposed to look like.

The Mac Mac Falls is 13.3 km from Sabie on the R532 road towards Graskop.  The turnoff and parking area is at the curio stalls and a nominal entrance fee of R30 is charged.

 A long steep walk on a cement pathway takes you to the viewing platform above the falls.

This waterfall was originally a single river, but gold miners diverted the river in an attempt to work the rich gold-bearing reef over which the river plunges. The 70 m high Mac Mac Falls is declared an National Monument. Toilet facilities are available at the entrance gate.  The path to the viewing platform is accessible for anyone

Mac Mac Pools

The Mac Mac Pools lies south of the falls and are well grassed with shady picnic sites and braai and ablution facilities.

The water in one of these naturally formed shallow swimming pools. There is a 3km Secretary Bird Day Trail at the pools and if you are lucky there is a range of birds that you can see on the trail like: robins, thrushes, turacos, greenbuls, and cuckoos in summer.

 Secretary Bird Walk
This 3km circular route starts and finishes at the Mac Mac Pools, 13km from Sabie on the R532 road to Graskop.  The trail takes you through grassveld and scattered patches of indigenous forest.  There is little shade along the route and precautions against sunburn is advised.  You do not need a permit for this walk, but an entrance fee of R30/person is payable at the entrance gate to the Mac Mac Pools. Picnic and toilet facilities are available and swimming in the crystal-clear mountain stream is refreshing.