Bourke's Luck Potholes

Where the Treur River joins the Blyde, the water has drilled dozens of smooth cylindrical potholes into the yellow and red sandstone - the mechanism is straightforward, with pebbles caught in eddies grinding downward over thousands of years until they cut shafts, some several metres deep. The rock between them is polished into curves and the two rivers run through the gaps in narrow slots. Tom Bourke, a prospector, staked a claim nearby in the 1880s believing there was gold in the formation; there was gold in the area but not on his claim, so the name commemorates a man whose luck was in fact bad, which locals enjoy pointing out. Footbridges cross above the potholes and paved paths lead around the site from a visitor centre. The river names mean sorrow and joy, from a Voortrekker story about a party feared lost and then found.

What to look for

• The drilled shafts - cylindrical potholes cut by pebbles swirling in eddies.
• The two rivers - the Treur meeting the Blyde through polished rock slots.
• The ironic name - a prospector remembered for a claim that held no gold.
• The footbridges - walkways directly over the formations.

When to go

April to September. One to two hours. Water levels change the look completely.

Practical notes

In high flow the potholes fill and are less visible; in drought the river is low and dull. Paths and bridges get crowded midday with tour groups. Rock surfaces are slippery. There is a fee and the visitor centre facilities are basic.

Nearby

The Three Rondavels are north; God's Window and Graskop are south.

Key facts