Three Rondavels (Blyde River Canyon)
스리 론다벨스
The Three Rondavels are three round, grass-covered mountain tops above the Blyde River Canyon in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. They look a lot like the traditional round huts, called rondavels, that are built from local materials. The Blyde River Canyon, also called Motlatse Canyon, is one of the largest canyons on Earth.
See it on the 3D globe →At a glance
- Country
- South Africa
- Location
- Mpumalanga, South Africa
Quick answers
Where is Three Rondavels (Blyde River Canyon)?
Three Rondavels (Blyde River Canyon) is in Mpumalanga, South Africa.
Three round-topped peaks above the Blyde River Canyon, shaped like traditional round huts.
The canyon sits on the Drakensberg escarpment, a long line of cliffs. It is protected as the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, an area of about 29,000 hectares. The height of the land ranges from 560 metres to 1,944 metres above sea level. The Three Rondavels are one of the reserve's most popular viewpoints.
Where did the names come from?
The names remember a chief of the 1800s called Maripi and three of his wives, Magabolle, Mogoladikwe and Maseroto. The flat-topped peak beside the three round ones is Mapjaneng, which means 'the chief', who is remembered for fighting invading Swazis in a famous battle. The peaks are also sometimes called the Three Sisters, though that name can be confused with another group of three in the Northern Cape.
How were they formed?
Geologists explain the shapes by slow erosion. Soft stone underneath was worn away over a very long time, while harder rocks, quartzite and shale, stayed behind and formed the rondavel shapes. Nearby, at a place called Bourke's Luck Potholes, a river swirling in plunge pools has drilled round holes in the rock. On a clear day the lookout at the canyon gives wide views, and in the distance the high plateau of Mariepskop may be visible.
Fun facts
- Blyde River Canyon is one of the largest canyons on Earth.
- The peaks look like traditional round African huts.
- They are named after the wives of a 19th-century chief.
- The canyon is one of the largest on Earth.
- Swirling river water carved round potholes nearby.
On the globe
The model shows three round-topped peaks above the canyon. Look for the three rounded domes standing side by side.
Nearby on the globe
Sources
Updated: 2026-10-14