God's Window is a viewpoint at the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment in Mpumalanga, and the name tells you what to expect. The cliff falls away almost a kilometre to the Lowveld below, a flat, hazy plain of bush and farmland that stretches east toward Kruger National Park and the Mozambique border. On a clear morning you can see an astonishing distance, and on a misty one the whole plain vanishes under cloud and you are left standing on the roof of a white sea. Weather is capricious here, and even in summer a fog can swallow the view within minutes, so give yourself a margin.
A short path climbs through a pocket of rainforest to the top of a rocky outcrop, with a good view of the mountain wall running north and south. The escarpment catches moisture from the Indian Ocean, and the slopes are covered in lush forest, tree ferns and wild flowers. Nearby is the old gold-mining village of Pilgrim's Rest, where a rush in the 1870s drew thousands of prospectors and the town is now a living museum, and Graskop, a small town with craft shops and pancake houses.
The Panorama Route follows the lip of the escarpment on the R532, a smooth, scenic road with broad bends and short climbs. Traffic includes tour buses and trucks, particularly in the middle of the day, so rise early for clear views and light traffic. Mist and rain are possible at any time, and the road can be slippery. Winter days, from May to September, are dry and cool, with the clearest air, while summer brings afternoon thunderstorms and warm, humid mornings.
Fuel is available in Graskop, the nearest sizeable town, and in Hazyview and Sabie, and you should fill up before setting out along the route. A small entrance fee is charged at the viewpoint, and local traders sell crafts in the car park. Keep a close eye on your bike, since opportunist theft happens at tourist car parks.