North Western Province - Things to do
Madikwe
Madikwe is an approx. 60’000ha Game Reserve (counts to the largest Game Reserves in South Africa) bordering Botswana and about a three hours’ drive from Pretoria or Johannesburg. Visitors of Madikwe can find Africas Big 5 on a safari and enjoy the view over open wood- and grasslands and the Dwarsberg Mountain in the South.
The Madikwe Game Reserve offers a various number of private high-class lodges, which offer day and night game drives and bush-walks. At Madikwe there are no day visitor facilities – only residents at a lodge in the reserve are allowed to enter it.
As well game drives or walks are only allowed with a ranger (guided tour) of the reserve, which means no game drives with the private car are allowed. This gives the whole reserve a very privileged and private touch – a must stay for everybody who wants to escape from everyday life.
Madikwe is an approx. 60’000ha Game Reserve (counts to the largest Game Reserves in South Africa) bordering Botswana and about a three hours’ drive from Pretoria or Johannesburg. Visitors of Madikwe can find Africas Big 5 on a safari and enjoy the view over open wood- and grasslands and the Dwarsberg Mountain in the South.
The Madikwe Game Reserve offers a various number of private high-class lodges, which offer day and night game drives and bush-walks. At Madikwe there are no day visitor facilities – only residents at a lodge in the reserve are allowed to enter it.
As well game drives or walks are only allowed with a ranger (guided tour) of the reserve, which means no game drives with the private car are allowed. This gives the whole reserve a very privileged and private touch – a must stay for everybody who wants to escape from everyday life.
Sun City
In the middle of a volcanic valley and surrounded by the Pilanesberg Mountains, visitors will discover the unbelievable Sun City Resort Complex which guarantees entertainment for everyone. At Sun City Then Sol Kerzner built his ultimate fantasy, the “recreation” of a Lost City.
The Lost City, an illusion of idyllic ancient civilisation rediscovered, contains of old temples and ancient carvings, combined with the African theme with sculptures of life size elephants, cheetahs hunting and much more. The palace of the Lost City is one of the architectural highlights of Africa and also one of the most famous hotels in the world.
The Sun City Resort Complex counts to one of the world’s largest entertainment centres, offering casinos, golf courses, shows by some of the world’s most famous stars like Queen, Frank Sinatra, etc. and can accommodate more than 2’000 guests.
In the middle of a volcanic valley and surrounded by the Pilanesberg Mountains, visitors will discover the unbelievable Sun City Resort Complex which guarantees entertainment for everyone. At Sun City Then Sol Kerzner built his ultimate fantasy, the “recreation” of a Lost City.
The Lost City, an illusion of idyllic ancient civilisation rediscovered, contains of old temples and ancient carvings, combined with the African theme with sculptures of life size elephants, cheetahs hunting and much more. The palace of the Lost City is one of the architectural highlights of Africa and also one of the most famous hotels in the world.
The Sun City Resort Complex counts to one of the world’s largest entertainment centres, offering casinos, golf courses, shows by some of the world’s most famous stars like Queen, Frank Sinatra, etc. and can accommodate more than 2’000 guests.
Pilanesberg
The Pilanesberg National Park is situated in the Bojanala Region of the North Western Province and establishment of the Reserves was one of the most challenging programmes of its kind in the world. The Reserve was founded in 1979 with the re-introduction of many long-vanished species and until now the park is home of about 7’000 animals including 24 of the large species.
At the same time the Pilanesberg National Park is home of rare rock types which give it a unique geological feature. The setting of the National Park is the crater of a long extinct volcano, which eruptions date back some 1’300 million years ago. Centre of the National Park are the Thabayadiotso, which means “the Proud Mountain” and the large central lage – the Mankwe Dam. Visitors of Pilanesberg National Park can choose between self-drive safaris or guided tours on the approx. 200 kilometres of excellent quality roads.
The Pilanesberg National Park is situated in the Bojanala Region of the North Western Province and establishment of the Reserves was one of the most challenging programmes of its kind in the world. The Reserve was founded in 1979 with the re-introduction of many long-vanished species and until now the park is home of about 7’000 animals including 24 of the large species.
At the same time the Pilanesberg National Park is home of rare rock types which give it a unique geological feature. The setting of the National Park is the crater of a long extinct volcano, which eruptions date back some 1’300 million years ago. Centre of the National Park are the Thabayadiotso, which means “the Proud Mountain” and the large central lage – the Mankwe Dam. Visitors of Pilanesberg National Park can choose between self-drive safaris or guided tours on the approx. 200 kilometres of excellent quality roads.
Hartbeespoort Dam
The Hartbeespoort Dam was constructed in 1925 and has a current capacity of 205 million cubic metres. The dam is situated in the centre of the Magaliesberg mountain range, a well-known destination for weekend getaways and day trips.
The Hartbeespoort Dam is approx. halfway from Johannesburg to the Pilanesberg National Park and can be reached by a 2 hours’ drive from Johanneburg or Pretoria. The dam offers all kind of water sport facilities like parasailing, windsurfing, water and jet skiing. For families the area offers an aquarium, private zoo, a snake park and a cable way up to the Magaliesberg.
The Hartbeespoort Dam was constructed in 1925 and has a current capacity of 205 million cubic metres. The dam is situated in the centre of the Magaliesberg mountain range, a well-known destination for weekend getaways and day trips.
The Hartbeespoort Dam is approx. halfway from Johannesburg to the Pilanesberg National Park and can be reached by a 2 hours’ drive from Johanneburg or Pretoria. The dam offers all kind of water sport facilities like parasailing, windsurfing, water and jet skiing. For families the area offers an aquarium, private zoo, a snake park and a cable way up to the Magaliesberg.
Vredefort
Vredefort is about 100km south west of Johannesburg and is a small village close to the Vredefort Dome, which was created about 3’000 million years ago by a massive meteorite. The crater has a diameter of about 90 km and is about 16-18km deep. The meteorite formed a partial ring of hills which form an arc to the North and West of Vredefort. This arc also gives the name “Vredefort Dome”. The Vredefort Dome is a World Heritage Site and offers adventure
tourism focused on campers, hikers, rock climbers, canoeists or wild water rafters.
Vredefort is about 100km south west of Johannesburg and is a small village close to the Vredefort Dome, which was created about 3’000 million years ago by a massive meteorite. The crater has a diameter of about 90 km and is about 16-18km deep. The meteorite formed a partial ring of hills which form an arc to the North and West of Vredefort. This arc also gives the name “Vredefort Dome”. The Vredefort Dome is a World Heritage Site and offers adventure
tourism focused on campers, hikers, rock climbers, canoeists or wild water rafters.
Taung
The Taung Heritage Site is the historical basis for many scientists to believe that the origin of the early man was on the African continent. 1924 the skull of a child was unearthed at the old Buxton limestone quarry. Prof. Raymond Dart, who discovered the skull and gave it the belonging to an early hominid, named it “Australopithecus africanus”, meaning the “southern ape of Africa”.
The discovery of the Taung child skull at the Buxton quarry is known as one of the most important archaeological events of the time and was the proof of the existence of early humans in Africa by more than a million years.
The Buxton quarry is today a famous research site and a place of great peace and tranquillity. Besides that, the Taung Heritage site is also a popular hiking, abseiling and picnic location. From the limestone cliffs, constantly clear water flows into the azure Blue Pools, which are surrounded by gorgeous caves and streams. A perfect picture-taking spot!
The Taung Heritage Site is the historical basis for many scientists to believe that the origin of the early man was on the African continent. 1924 the skull of a child was unearthed at the old Buxton limestone quarry. Prof. Raymond Dart, who discovered the skull and gave it the belonging to an early hominid, named it “Australopithecus africanus”, meaning the “southern ape of Africa”.
The discovery of the Taung child skull at the Buxton quarry is known as one of the most important archaeological events of the time and was the proof of the existence of early humans in Africa by more than a million years.
The Buxton quarry is today a famous research site and a place of great peace and tranquillity. Besides that, the Taung Heritage site is also a popular hiking, abseiling and picnic location. From the limestone cliffs, constantly clear water flows into the azure Blue Pools, which are surrounded by gorgeous caves and streams. A perfect picture-taking spot!
Cultural Heritage
The North Western Province is blessed with several cultural villages, which give their visitors a picture of the people of South Africa, their traditions and their living. Most of the people in the North Western Province are BaTswana in origin with their language SeTswana.
They can trace back their origins for many centuries with a turbulent history. Visitors have the possibility to sleep over in one of the authentic villages, for example, Lesedi Cultural Village, and can participate in mystical cultures, folklore and ancestral tradition.
To be part of the Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela community, which lives around the Pilanesberg Mountains, visitors can stay in the Moruleng Village. This vibrant community will wake-up a little bit of Africa in every soul with its music, rhythm and tradition. Besides that, visitors can also stay at the Buya Zulu Cutural Kraal, Mapoch Ndebele Village, Gaabo Motho Cultural Village, to name just a few of the various and different cultures in South Africa.
The North Western Province is blessed with several cultural villages, which give their visitors a picture of the people of South Africa, their traditions and their living. Most of the people in the North Western Province are BaTswana in origin with their language SeTswana.
They can trace back their origins for many centuries with a turbulent history. Visitors have the possibility to sleep over in one of the authentic villages, for example, Lesedi Cultural Village, and can participate in mystical cultures, folklore and ancestral tradition.
To be part of the Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela community, which lives around the Pilanesberg Mountains, visitors can stay in the Moruleng Village. This vibrant community will wake-up a little bit of Africa in every soul with its music, rhythm and tradition. Besides that, visitors can also stay at the Buya Zulu Cutural Kraal, Mapoch Ndebele Village, Gaabo Motho Cultural Village, to name just a few of the various and different cultures in South Africa.
Mahikeng
Mahikeng is the capital town of the North Western province and was founded in the 1880’s. The name Mahikeng means “the place among rocks” and this refers to the volcanic rocks, which provided temporary shelter to the Stone Age humans. Later in the centuries Mahikeng came back into focus during the Anglo Boer War (South African War) of 1899 to 1902, as the small British garrison held out for 217 days against Boer forces, who had surrounded the town.
This is also a reason why the town today is a major tourism attraction in aspects of the history of South Africa – very well documented at the Mahikeng Museum. At Mahikeng visitors will find a variety of hotels, guesthouses and B&B’s, as well as two golf courses and a casino located at the Tusk Mmabatho Casino Resort.
Mahikeng is the capital town of the North Western province and was founded in the 1880’s. The name Mahikeng means “the place among rocks” and this refers to the volcanic rocks, which provided temporary shelter to the Stone Age humans. Later in the centuries Mahikeng came back into focus during the Anglo Boer War (South African War) of 1899 to 1902, as the small British garrison held out for 217 days against Boer forces, who had surrounded the town.
This is also a reason why the town today is a major tourism attraction in aspects of the history of South Africa – very well documented at the Mahikeng Museum. At Mahikeng visitors will find a variety of hotels, guesthouses and B&B’s, as well as two golf courses and a casino located at the Tusk Mmabatho Casino Resort.