Waterfall is located in lush natural forest and is the central attraction of Phophonyane Falls Nature Reserve (area – 600 ha). Forests have very high biological diversity, e.g. 240 species of birds have been observed here.
Phophonyane River here forms some 2 km long series of rapids, pools, and waterfalls, in total falling per some 240 m. The 80 m tall Phophonyane Falls are the highest. Waterfall does not form a vertical plunge – the stream slides down along a steep surface of gneiss.
Legend
According to a legend this fall was created by lament of beautiful maiden, who lost her beloved. This man had to present a skin of leopard and went to hunt to Gobolondlo Mountain. Witches of this mountain seized him and man was turned into a white flower.
Unique geology
Waterfall has formed on Phophonyane River, which flows here along a border of two ancient continental plates – Barberton Greenstone Belt. The exposed stone – gneiss – is approximately 3.55 billion years old and belong sto world’s oldest exposed rocks. Thus the area around the falls is of high interest to geologists and, well, gold also has been found here.
