Visitor safety bolstered in Lowveld

For David Holmes and his family, nothing can beat a weekend trip to forests, waterfalls and numerous pools in the Lowveld.

- Buks Viljoen

Lowvelder reports his great surprise when, during a recent visit to the Mac-Mac Pools near Graskop, they found that the bigger of the two pools was fenced off and marked with a "no entry" sign.

"It was truly a highlight to cool off in the sparkling pools," Holmes says.

According to Nokuthula Makaringe, the communication manager of the SA Forestry Company Limited (Safcol), the larger pool at Mac-Mac was fenced off a few months ago to ensure visitors' safety.

"At this stage, there are no plans to close the smaller pool as it is considered a low risk due to its depth."

Several drownings, not only at the Mac-Mac Pools, but at some of the waterfalls near Sabie, have been recorded.