Guidebook
Lonely Planet South Africa, Lesotho & Eswatini
James Bainbridge et al. · 2022
Covers the Drakensberg, Augrabies, KZN Midlands, Panorama Route falls and Lesotho's Semonkong for Maletsunyane in one book.
South Africa · Southern Africa
Lisbon Falls
The tallest waterfall on Mpumalanga's Panorama Route drops in a narrow ribbon into a fern-lined gorge, viewable from a guardrail metres from the road. It sits minutes from Bourke's Luck Potholes and the Blyde River Canyon overlooks.
Tallest waterfall on South Africa's Panorama Route Essentials guide
Checked September 2026 by David Bussell
Lisbon Falls drops 94 metres (308 ft) on the Lisbon, inside Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve. It is a plunge-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Graskop, with HDS the closest airport. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy.
As a plunge waterfall, water leaves the rock entirely and falls free through the air.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Lisbon Falls itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Graskop are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Summer rains keep the Panorama Route falls fullest.
Entry: Small roadside viewpoint fee
Getting there
- Base town Graskop
- Airport HDS
- Country South Africa
- Region Southern Africa, Africa
- Access Easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint
How it compares
This waterfall
Lisbon Falls
South Africa
Height94 mWidth—
Most similar
Howick Falls
South Africa
Height95 mWidth—
Also a plunge waterfall, of similar height and in South Africa too
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
94 m
95 m
108 m
330 m
979 m
Lisbon FallsHowick FallsVictoria FallsEiffel TowerAngel Falls
Khone Phapheng Falls
10,783 m
Victoria Falls
1,708 m
Angel Falls is 10× taller than Lisbon Falls. It is about the same height as Victoria Falls (108 m). We don't have a reliable crest width for Lisbon Falls yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
Watch and read
Videos from Lisbon Falls
8:36
3:07
1:44
Chosen from YouTube; videos belong to their creators and play from YouTube's privacy-enhanced player.
Books worth packing
Walking guide
Walking in the Drakensberg: 75 Walks
Jeff Williams · 2017
Route descriptions for the Amphitheatre, including the Sentinel chain-ladder route to the top of Tugela Falls and the gorge walk below.
On the map
-24.8607, 30.8355
Quick answers
Where is Lisbon Falls?
Lisbon Falls is in South Africa (Southern Africa), inside Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve. The nearest base is Graskop and the closest airport is HDS. Its coordinates are -24.8607, 30.8355.
How tall is Lisbon Falls?
Lisbon Falls drops 94 metres (308 feet). It is a plunge-type waterfall on the Lisbon.
When is the best time to visit Lisbon Falls?
Peak flow is January to March and November to December. Summer rains keep the Panorama Route falls fullest.
What can you do at Lisbon Falls?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated easy — a short walk or roadside viewpoint.
How do you get to Lisbon Falls?
The usual base is Graskop, and the closest airport is HDS. A short walk or roadside viewpoint from there. Small roadside viewpoint fee.
Nearby
Closest to Lisbon Falls
Berlin Falls
South Africa · 80 m · 2 km away
A signature stop on the Blyde River Canyon drive
Mac-Mac Falls
South Africa · 65 m · 15 km away
The Mac-Mac Falls is a 65-metre waterfall on the Mac-Mac River in the Mac-Mac Forest Nature Reserve…
Lone Creek Falls
South Africa · 70 m · 30 km away
The Lone Creek Falls is near Sabie in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The waterfall plummets 70 m down into the…
Ncandu Falls
South Africa · 350 km away
Ncandu Falls is a waterfall in the Ncandu River in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, in South Africa close to the town…