Inventorying regionally relevant geomorphosites with best tourism potential in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa.

Abstract

Inventorying or evaluation of geomorphosites, sometimes demands the elaboration of tools which are not supported by an articulated method of inventory and assessment, in other instances, some cards developed together with such methods do not take up the criteria used in the assessment. Besides, not all methods used contain such tools. Thus, we identified the need for a new method of assessment that materializes in the development of a synthetic sheet tool that captures the criteria and rates noted in the evaluative process. The originality of the method emerges from the separation of the structural and functional values of geomorphosites, for which new or improved criteria and ranking are used. Restrictive attributes are evaluated to obtain a complete view upon the possibilities of conservation and exploitation of the geomorphosite. All scores obtained by a geomorphosite are reflected in the inventory tool. This tool also includes general information about the landform, a brief description of the type of geomorphosite and justification for rates given in the evaluative process. A total of 15 potential sites were selected for further assessment, these formed the basis of the inventory of geomorphosites along the Panorama Route. God’s Window (GS7), Bourke’s Luck Potholes (GS10) Blyde River Canyon (GS11) and Three Rondavels (GS12) are the most valuable geomorphosites along the Panorama Route. Their scores are the highest in total value and final ranking. These are ‘panoramic viewpoints’ followed by Pinnacle (GS6) which is a ‘panoramic viewpoint’ with Eco Caves (GS13) and Sudwala Caves (GS15) being the tow caves of significance.