In 1843 Andries Potgieter attempted to find a more southerly route from Pretoria to Lourenco Marques, 
       but the one that his  party took turned out to be almost impossible to negotiate. The trek came to a halt at the edge 
       of the Drakensberg Escarpment from which there was no possible route of descent. A scout part was sent out, and 
       consequently discovered an animal track which permitted access to the Lowveld. The scouts were however delayed 
       on their return, and the original group left the area next to the river they had been waiting at, after naming it 
       "Treurrivier" (the river of sorrow). When the scout party managed to catch up with this group on the banks of another 
       river, they named this new river the "Blyderivier" (the river of joy).

       In the 1850s a renowned eastern Transvaal character, Abel Erasmus, known to the Africans as Dubula Duze 
       ('he who shoots at close range'), had a farm called Graskop ('grassy Hill'). From here he exercised rough justice 
       as the Native Commissioner of the Lowveld. Today, Graskop is the terminus of the branch railway from Nelspruit 
       and a centre  of a substantial timber industry.

       Sir Percy Fitspatrick spent some time in the area during the latter part of the 19th century, and makes reference 
       to the surrounding area in his book "Jock of the Bushveld" in the chapters entitled "Paradise Camp" and 
       "Baboons and Tigers".

       Just like other towns in Mpumalanga farming was the important occupation in Graskop as well. When gold mines 
       were discovered in Pilgrims Rest, it became necessary for having an access through rail transport , Since Graskop 
       was the nearest settlement available, a railway station was opened here in 1914 paving way for a blossoming 
       growth era for Graskop.

       In 1910 the building of a railway, from Nelspruit through the farm Sabie and onto the farm Graskop had begun. 
       The line was completed in June 1914, and Graskop was declared a town later in that year. By 1918 the town would 
       have a church, a store, and a primary school. Because of the high rainfall, vegetable and fruit farming were 
       not viable in the area. The vegetation was also not well suited to cattle farming, and the town remained a railway town 
       for some time.

       It was only in the late 1920's, during the depression, that government of the time decided to plant trees in the area 
       and Graskop developed into a timber town.

       By 1945 the town had a population of approximately 650 people. A town hall had been built and both a golf course 
       and horse racing track established. 

       The Pinnacle , God’s Window , Pot Holes , Berlin Falls , three Rondawel view point etc. are some of the rarest nature 
       blessing God has given for Graskop. No wonder why it is the most attractive place for tourists in Mpumalanga. 
       Graskop is also a Malaria-free zone.