North West
Known as the “Heritage Province”, the North West is a rewarding holiday destination
that offers exciting wildlife and adventure encounters as well as the opportunity
to participate in a rich cultural and historical heritage. The area is flanked by
the
Magaliesburg Mountains and the Kalahari Desert, while the Vaal
River forms the province's southern border. Summer provides hot, sunny days (temperatures
in the region of around 22 to 34 degrees centigrade) and the winters are relatively
warm during daylight hours. However, the evenings can get somewhat chilly (temperatures
range from 15 to 22 degrees centigrade).
The mainstay of the economy of North West Province is mining, which generates more
than half of the province's gross domestic product and provides jobs for a quarter
of the workforce. The chief minerals are gold (mined at Orkney and Klerksdorp);
uranium (mined at Klerksdorp); platinum (mined at Rustenburg and Brits); and diamonds
(mined at Lichtenburg, Christiana, and Bloemhof). The northern and western parts
of the province have many sheep farms and cattle and game ranches, while the eastern
and southern parts of the province are crop-growing regions that produce maize (corn),
sunflowers, tobacco, cotton, and citrus fruits.
Things and Places of Interest
Sun City
The extravagant Sun City hotel/entertainment complex `in the middle of
nowhere’, is a well known 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 and spectacular
African feel - is one of the most famous hotels in the world. The complex includes
a casino, an 18-hole golf course, theatres and concert halls, beaches and a wave
pool at the
Valley of the Waves (a gigantic man-made pool, a man-made
beach, palm trees and a machine that produces bona fide waves!), a meticulously
reconstructed tropical rainforest, and a number of world-class hotels.
The Taung Skull (Australopithecus Africanus - meaning the "southern
ape of Africa")
The world-famous Taung Skull was found in the Buxton limestone quarry in 1924 by
Dr Raymond Dart and indicated to the world that humanity most likely evolved on
the African continent. You can visit the Taung Heritage Site where the skull was
discovered. The mine is no longer in production but remains an important scientific
research site and is also a place of great peace and tranquility.
The Lesedi Cultural Village
A short and scenic drive from Johannesburg brings you to this cultural
village. At the village you can view a number of the indigenous cultures of South
Africa, offering an exploration of traditional folklore and ancestry - as well as
spectacular cuisine and fantastic curios.
The Majestic Magaliesburg Range
The
Magaliesburg mountain range is the perfect holiday spot for
weary city-dwellers. Just a half hour away from the big city lights, the Magaliesburg
offers a relaxed country experience and is a favoured destination of bird-watchers,
hikers and those who simply want to get away from it all.
Pilanesberg and Madikwe Game Reserves
Next door to the famous Sun City resort is the
Pilanesberg Game Reserve,
where visitors can experience the big five. Pilansburg is situated inside the eroded
crater of a long-extinct volcano and is a sanctuary for various kinds of game. It
is the successful conclusion to one of the largest game-stocking operations in South
Africa. The reserve is home to a large number of wild animals and is one of the
province’s biggest attractions. Not too far from the Botswana border lies the Northwest’s
best-kept secret –
Madikwe Game Reserve. This reserve, consisting
of reclaimed farm land, is famous for the ambitious re-stocking programme “Operation
Phoenix” that took place in the early nineteen nineties. Madikwe also boasts fantastic
accommodation across the board – from five-star opulence to roughing it in style.
Madikwe is regarded as one of the finest conservation areas in Africa, offering
all the major species, including lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, both white and
black rhino, wild dog, spotted hyena, cheetah, along with almost all the plains
antelope species.
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 picturesque little town. Groot Marico is also home to
a vibrant artistic community – keeping the art of storytelling alive and well. This
area is also home to mampoer – a largely alcoholic drink that was traditionally
made from peaches (although these days just about any fruit type will do). Mampoer
is often compared to the American drink, moonshine, but according to the locals
is a much stronger poison. This is also where the Bakgatla tribe believe in totem
animals and that their wellbeing is dictated by the stars...
Mafikeng and the Story of the Siege
Once famous for the Mafikeng Siege during 1900 and where
Baden Powell
started what is now the international
Scouts movement for young
boys, today
Mafikeng is an interesting combination of colonial
modern African. Victorian buildings stand next to a modern-day museum that boast
art work of the ancient San and Tswana traditional exhibits in a powerful juxtaposition
of cultures. It was in Mafikeng that Sol Plaaitjie, one of South Africa’s most famous
early writers, wrote of the spectacular Mafikeng Siege - so this city is something
of a mecca for Anglo-Boer War buffs … and other interested parties.
Treasures of the Small-town Experience
The North West Province 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 stay in their homes …
even for the night.
Christiana,
Wolmaranstad and
Bloemhof are certainly worthy of a self-drive voyage of discovery.
De Wildt Cheetah Farm
The De Wildt Cheetah Farm is a must for visitors to the province. This
well-known centre is renowned for the breeding of cheetahs - including the rare
king cheetah. You can also experience the brown hyena and African wild dog here.
Hartebeesport Dam
This Dam, with its spectacular scenery and proximity to Johannesburg and
Pretoria, is the principal water recreation area of Northern Gauteng. The perfect
spot for a weekend getaway, and close enough for a quick day trip. The area boasts
wonderful picnic spots and an opportunity to windsurf, sail, canoe, body-board and
catch some welcome sun.
Vredefort Dome
Visit the oldest and largest meteorite impact site in the world on your
way on the way to or from
Potchefstroom. It was formed an estimated
2000 million years ago when a gigantic meteorite (asteroid) hit the earth.
There are so many exciting outdoor activities to experience in the North West, such
as bird watching, game viewing, fishing, hiking, 4x4 trails, rock climbing, warm
weather water sport and picnicking, that every day should be its own adventure!