The area
boasts archaeological discoveries that go
back to the beginnings of humankind, as well
as the world-famous Sun City hotel complex,
creatively dedicated to ancient lost
civilizations and modern-day pleasures.
Overview
The
province extends all the way from Gauteng to
the Botswana border. The area is flanked by
the Magaliesberg and the Kalahari Desert.
North West has a population of just over
three million people.
Climate
Summer
brings hot, sunny days (temperatures in the
region of around 22 to 34 degrees
centigrade); winters are relatively warm
during daylight hours, however the evenings
can get somewhat chilly (temperatures range
from 15 to 22 degrees centigrade).
Getting to
Know the North West
Close to
Gauteng, the North West province is a quick
and easy escape from the big city, boasting
superb accommodation options and a wide
variety of sightseeing activities.
Major
Attractions:
The
Taung Skull: The world-famous Taung
Skull (Australopithecus Africanus)
was found in the Buxton limestone quarry in
1924 by Dr Raymond Dart and indicated to the
world that indeed the man initiated on the
African continent. Visit the Taung Heritage
Site where the skull was discovered.
Lesedi Cultural Village: A short,
scenic drive outside of Johannesburg, this
cultural village offers a window onto the
traditions of a number of our indigenous
cultures. The village offers an exploration
of African folklore and ancestry … not to
mention the spectacular cuisine and
fantastic curios.
Magnificent Magaliesberg: The
Magaliesberg mountain range is the perfect
weekend spot for jaded city-dwellers. Just
half an hour away from Johannesburg, the
Magaliesberg offers a country experience and
is a favoured destination of bird-watchers,
hikers and those who simply want to get away
from it all.
Sun
City: The extravagant Sun City
hotel/entertainment complex is known the
world over as a tourism hotspot. It was
built over 20 years ago in the homeland of
Bophuthatswana when gambling was not
permitted in South Africa under the
apartheid government. Sun City remains an
icon of family fun and entertainment. The
Lost City is the obvious highlight of the
Sun City complex and the Palace of the Lost
City - with its extravagant lost-world theme
- is one of the most famous hotels in the
world.
Valley
of the Waves: Kids absolutely love this
in-land seaside entertainment centre. The
Valley of the Waves at the Lost City (Sun
City) offers a gigantic man-made pool, a
man-made beach, palm trees and a machine
that produces bona fide waves! Death-defying
water chute rides and the Temple of Courage
waterslide is not for the faint hearted!
Pilanesberg
Game Reserve:
Next door to
the famous Sun City resort is the
Pilanesberg Game Reserve, where visitors can
experience the ‘big five’, just two hours
from Johannesburg. The reserve is home to a
large number of wild animals and is one of
the province’s biggest attractions. The
Pilanesberg mountain range exists as a
result of an enormous volcano that erupted
millions of years ago - leaving behind the
beautiful hilly undulations that stretch as
far as the eye can see.
Mampoer
Country: Groot Marico is a small town
made famous by author Herman Charles Bosman.
The spirit of one of his main characters,
the feisty Oom Schalk Lourens, still lingers
along the quiet streets of this enticing
little town. Groot Marico is home to a
vibrant artistic community – where the art
of storytelling is alive and well.
Safari-time in Madikwe: Not too far from
the Botswana border lies the Northwest’s
best-kept secret – Madikwe Game Reserve.
This reserve, consisting of reclaimed
farmland, is famous for the ambitious
re-stocking programme “Operation Phoenix”
that took place in the early nineties. The
area is now home to the big five and is
famous for its wild dog, spotted hyena,
cheetah and elephant population. Madikwe
also boasts fantastic accommodation across
the board – from five-star opulence to
roughing it in style.
Mafikeng:
Mafikeng is an interesting combination
of colonial modern African – once- famous
for the Mafikeng Seige of 1900. Victorian
buildings stand next to a modern-day museum
that boasts ancient San works of art and
Tswana traditional exhibits in a powerful
juxtaposition of cultures. This city is
something of a mecca for Anglo-Boer War
buffs … and other interested parties.
Small-town treasures: North West is
jam-packed with small towns and artistic
communities. This is where real “boerekos”
(traditional Afrikaner farm-style cuisine)
is served up with a smile and where local
communities invite you to their homes … to
stay the night. Christiana, Wolmaranstad and
Bloemhof are certainly worthy of a
self-drive voyage of discovery.
Cheetah
Country: The De Wildt Cheetah Farm is a
must for visitors to the province. This
well-known centre is renowned for the
breeding of cheetah (including the rare king
cheetah), as well as the brown hyena and
African wild dog.
Land
of Ancient Meteorites: Why not
visit the Vredefort Dome (on the way to or
from Potchefstroom) where an ancient
meteorite is said to have hit the earth
aeons ago…. The area was recently declared a
World Heritage Site.
Water
Sports: Hartebeespoort Dam is just a
half-hour drive from Johannesburg, and is
something of a weekend mecca for water
sports lovers. The area boasts wonderful
picnic spots and an opportunity to windsurf,
sail, canoe, body-board and catch some sun.
