Pinnacle

The Pinnacle is a tall, freestanding quartzite buttress that rises about 30 m above the indigenous forest of Driekop Gorge, just north of Graskop in Mpumalanga. It is one of the regular stops on the Panorama Route, and because it sits on the same loop road as God’s Window it is easy to combine the two. It is a short stop, but a lone rock tower standing clear of the canopy is a strange sight and photographs well.

What to expect

From the parking area, short paths lead to viewpoints looking across the gorge to the column. The Ngwaritsane stream runs through the forest below, and to the right of the Pinnacle is the first of eight small waterfalls on that stream. Aloes grow along the cliff edges and flower orange in season, which brings in sunbirds. Most people spend 20 to 45 minutes here.

Practical details

• Location: about 6 km north of Graskop on the R534, a scenic loop that leaves and rejoins the R532.
• God’s Window is further along the same R534 loop, roughly 9 km north of Graskop.
• There is a small entrance fee, toilets and stalls selling local crafts.
• The paths are short and mostly in good shape, but some sections are uneven, so closed shoes are a better choice than sandals.

Good to know

Low cloud can hide the gorge on escarpment viewpoints, so keep the day flexible and come back later if the view is blocked. Lisbon Falls, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, the Three Rondavels, the Graskop Gorge Lift and Pilgrim’s Rest are all within about an hour’s drive, which makes the Pinnacle an easy first or last stop on a Panorama Route day.

Last updated 6 October 2026. Sources: Graskop Tourism, Jenman African Safaris.