trip report by site editor Rick McCharles
While visiting the must see tourist attraction of Bourke’s Luck Potholes in Blyde Canyon, I checked details on the not-so-popular Belevedere hike.
You must register at Bourke’s Luck. Pay a trail fee of about $5 in addition to the parking fee of $5. Start the hike before Noon and be back by 4pm.
I talked them into letting me start well past 1pm, promising to do a trail run to make up the time. I ended up checking out at about 4:30pm.
The trail down into Blyde River canyon is easy to navigate.
Promoted as “strenuous”, I’d more call it “overgrown” and “non-maintained“. Only the most agile will be able to avoid all the spider webs.
It is pretty, though.
Not many tourists get down off the rim into the canyon. I saw nobody else on the trail this day.
The now defunct Belevedere hydro-electric power station is 400m below the Bourke’s Luck Potholes. Built in 1911, it was once the largest of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
It’s about 10km to here and back up.
This abandoned hiking shelter has a fabulous location. I wish it would be restored.
besthike.com 
Hello,
I would like to make the Belvedere day walk with some friends in august and I have some questions that I would like to ask:
What is the pick-up permit? I have the Wildcard Do I need this permit in anyways?
Is the hike a round trip? Meaning that it ends where it stops?
Do we need to book in advance?
Can we make it by our own or should we have a guide?
Thank you for your help.
Regards,
Veronica