The Mac Mac Falls belong to a cluster of lovely waterfalls in Mpumalanga’s Sabie area, on the stunningly scenic Panorama Route. Its twin falls plunge dramatically 70km into the gorge below as rainbows dance over the white spray.
Although the Mac Mac Falls are named for the Scottish miners who sought their fortune by panning for gold in the here during the heady days of the 1870s gold rush, they themselves didn’t come up with the name. Apparently President Thomas Burger was visiting the area in 1873 and was struck by how many of the miners’ names began with ‘Mac’. On the spot, he named the area Mac Mac – a name that has survived to this day. You’ll find the name on many of the nearby tombstones.
The viewing platform at the Mac Mac falls is restricted by wire mesh, but you’ll still get a great view – just make sure your camera lens points through one of the mesh holes. Swimming in the deep pool at the base of the tumbling water is not allowed, but there’s a great spot for swimming and cooling off about 2km before you get to the falls. These are the Mac Mac Pools.
If you fancy a gentle walk, then amble along the 3km Secretary Bird Walking Trail at the pools which wanders through indigenous bush. You’ll hear robins, thrushes, turacos, greenbulls, cuckoos in summer, and if you’re lucky, you may well spot that curious looking Secretary bird which stamps snakes and small rodents to death before gobbling them down.