North West Attractions
| Aerial Cableway Hartbeespoort Attraction in Hartbeespoort Dam
The beauty of Hartbeespoort Dam is what draws people here - the dam literally cradled in the lap of the mountains - and many regard this as a retreat from the concrete jungle of city living. The 1620 hectare Hartbeespoort Dam functions both as a source of irrigation for farms in the area and as a resort, and the peace of the hills and valleys, the warmth even on winter days and the charm of the surrounding countryside, make this a place to restore the soul. Take the scenic road from Johannesburg to Hartbeespoort, along curving roads that meander between aloes in flower during the winter months, and you're sure to pass the breakfast run of Harley-Davidsons - their drivers part of the Jo'burg exec set hell bent on nothing more than enjoying their machines in the sunshine. The Hartbeespoort Dam offers an array of water sports, a local bird sanctuary, challenging hikes and gentle rambles. There is a collection of restaurants in Hartbeespoort that range from Tan' Malie se Winkle, a local institution where you can eat to your heart's content on traditional Afrikaans home-cooked meals, to the local Pick-a-Pancake, which takes pancakes into a new league. This restaurant lies literally in the heart of the Welwitschia Market - a range of African arts, crafts, novelties, curios and other at the fourway crossing at Hartbeespoort that makes a visit here imperative |
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Bosman Living MuseumAttraction in Groot Marico |
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Hot Air Ballooning Cradle Game ReserveAttraction in Magaliesburg |
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Sterkfontein CavesAttraction in Hekpoort |
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The Zulus with their sticks and cosy beehive huts, the Xhosa with their perfectly thatched rondawels and distinctive white blankets, the Pedi with their rhythmic drums and whistles, the conical straw hats and brightly coloured blankets of the Basotho and the Ndebele with their beautifully painted homes will reveal a way of life not readily encountered in the South African urban centres.Rooms are built in the traditional style but with modern conveniences, enabling guests to stay overnight to experience the lifestyle of a traditional rural African family without forfeiting comfort.Meals are a culinary feast and are enjoyed in a stylish decorated restaurant offering an exotic buffet serving ethnic dishes and a carvery.Special cultural programmes consisting of an audio-visual presentation on the history and origins of the various ethnic groups, guided tours and tribal dance displays, introducing guests to the multi-cultural lifestyle of the inhabitants of Lesedi.Enjoy the spirit of Ubuntu at this unique cultural venue where the music, song and warmth of Africa’s hospitality await you and the crafts and lifestyle of her people will enthral you.
Magaliesberg Canopy Tours
Attraction in Magaliesburg
De Wildt Cheetah & Wildlife Trust, North West Province
A captive breeding facility for cheetahs and other endangered animals, the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre lies in the foothills of the Magaliesberg, close to Brits and Hartbeespoort Dam. The privately owned and funded non-profit organisation was established in 1971 by Ann van Dyk on her 65 hectare farm in an effort to breed what was once a threatened species, the cheetah - the population of which was estimated at a mere 700 at around this time. Since its inception, some 500 cheetahs have been raised and re-settled in game reserves throughout South Africa and other countries, proof that a cheetah bred in captivity doesn’t lose its hunting instinct and can adapt quickly to its natural environment. The centre’s efforts have resulted in the birth of close to 600 cheetah cubs, and since then other rare and endangered animal species have been included in their efforts, such as the wild dog, brown hyaena, serval, suni antelope, blue and red duiker, riverine rabbit and vultures.
Rustenburg, Bojanala Region
Two of the world’s largest platinum mines lie just outside Rustenburg, earning it the nickname ‘Platinum City’, which is hardly a fair description of the city that started out as little more than a church and farming community centre, named as a ‘place of rest’ that still manages to retain its small town atmosphere. Rustenburg is one of the oldest towns in this part of the world. It lies surrounded by the Magaliesberg mountain range, its streets lined with the ubiquitous jacaranda tree. It’s a pretty little town, despite being a city, and there is an element of sluggishness to Rustenburg that makes it so attractive, lying as it does only 112 kilometres from Johannesburg and not far from the Sun City complex.
The temperature here is normally about 4 degrees warmer than Gauteng; it’s malaria free, with access to a number of game parks, including the Rustenburg Nature Reserve and the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, and relatively free of crime, making it an attractive option for visitors. Other than game viewing, one can enjoy the Rustenburg Ramble – a meander that takes in craft galleries, farm stalls and places to eat; the Kgaswane Mountain Reserve just outside Rustenburg; the Royal Bafokeng Sports Place, one of the 2010 Fifa World Cup stadiums; and the Waterfall Mall, if shopping is necessary.If you are an avid historian there are many places within the city to visit. The Rustenburg Museum, in the Town Hall; the Anglican Church, built in 1871; and the Dutch Reformed Church, to name but a few
Sun City Resort, North West Province
Deep in the rugged bushveld, in the heart of an ancient volcano, lies the world's most unique resort, the internationally acclaimed Sun City. The Resort has a unique heartbeat and an African rhythm of its own and is unlike any other Resort destination in the world. This is pure fantasy and your every desire is met. There are four world-class hotels including the magnificent Palace of the Lost City that glitters like a jewel beneath the African sun, brilliant in its rain forest surroundings and luxurious in its detail and design. Adjoining the Resort, is the beautiful Pilanesberg National Park, which will delight game viewers as it is a malaria free zone and home to the "Big 5" (Buffalo, Elephant, Leopard, Lion and Rhino). The Sun City resort has amazed the international community with its glamorous casinos, gourmet restaurants, extensive sports facilities and star studded spectaculars. The full variety of entertainment on offer ranges from slots to safaris; the theatre extravaganza to a games arcade for children; horse riding to golf; the Valley of Waves to The Lost City ... whatever it is you're looking for, you'll find it at Sun City.
Sun City Resort
The Legend
The Palace of the Lost City is a fantasy world of Africa 's jungles, cliff-tumbling gardens, streams, waterfalls, swimming pools, and al fresco entertainment areas. Legend tells us that the Palace of the Lost City was built as the royal residence of an ancient civilisation of South Africa, but was destroyed by an earthquake. It has now been restored to its former glory and offers splendid accommodation in the most sumptuous surroundings in South Africa.
Cradle of Humankind, Gauteng
View from top of Amphitheater at Maropeng
Tumulus at Maropeng, Cradle of Humankind
The Cradle of Humankind Site comprises a strip of a dozen dolomitic limestone caves containing the fossillised remains of ancient forms of animals, plants and most importantly, hominids. The dolomite in which the caves formed, started out as coral reefs growing in a worm shallow sea about 2.3 billion years ago. The Cradle of Humankind site lies mainly in the Gauteng province with a small extension into the neighboring North West Province, and covers 47 000 hectares of land mostly privately owned. The Cradle of Humankind Site comprises a strip of a dozen dolomitic limestone caves containing the fossillised remains of ancient forms of animals, plants and most importantly, hominids. The dolomite in which the caves formed, started out as coral reefs growing in a worm shallow sea about 2.3 billion years ago.
Vaalkop Dam Nature Reserve, North West Province
Just 90 minutes from Johannesburg and 30 minutes from Sun City, Vaalkop Dam Nature Reserve is relatively easy for both visitors to Johannesburg and Pretoria to reach, situated as it is 54 kilometres from Brits north-east of Rustenburg. At last check the reserve was still closed for reconstruction of the dam wall, so you will need to check before visiting Vaalkop Dam Nature Reserve is dominated by broken bushveld, a renowned area for both lovers of fishing and birds, and; a lovely space in which to spend a day picnicking, canoeing or just gently idling away the time on the shore of the dam, spotting the bird life that includes exciting visitors like the acacia pied barbet, white-throated robin-chat, Marico flycatcher, and black-faced waxbill.
The night veld is also alive with sound, if you stay at the camping site on the northern edge of the dam. The North West Parks Bird Sanctuary, an 800 hectare section of the reserve, also lies along this leg of the dam, although it isn’t accessible to the public but it does mean that there are exciting birds that pass along this part of the shore. The spotted eagle-owl, barn owls and the African crake are all vocal here at night. If you’re not into birding then climbing Bulkop, the koppie that dominates the skyline west of the dam wall, is a great climb, although you need permission from the farm on which it rests. There are a myriad walks and bicycle rides throughout Vaalkop Dam Nature Reserve, and boat rides simply to drink in the beauty of the surrounds are a must. And there is always a chance that you’ll encounter a herd of buffalo, a couple of wading hippos or a White rhino come down to drink at sunset.
Madikwe Game Reserve, North West Province
Madikwe Game Reserve is about 70 000 hectares of bushland just north of the little town of Groot Marico that stretches all the way up to the Botswana border, about 3 hours’ drive from Johannesburg. Young it might be - having opened its gates only in August 1991 - but not only is it is one of South Africa’s largest and most popular game reserves, it’s also one of the only ones in the world proclaimed a reserve purely on the grounds of its being the most appropriate and sustainable land use for this formerly depressed area.
What used to be farm land is now restored to its former natural environment and over 8 000 animals and 27 wildlife species were moved to Madikwe Game Reserve as part of a huge translocation of game known as Operation Phoenix. Predominantly grasslands and bushveld, intermingled with lone mountains and rocky outcrops, with water a scarcity as it is throughout Africa, the Madikwe Game Reserve serves as home for cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, lion, elephant their resettlement a success story on its own) black and white rhino, buffalo, zebra, giraffe and any number of antelope. (see photographs at Madikwe Game Reserve photographs.
Madikwe Game Reserve is run as a joint venture between the state, private sector and local communities who live on the borders of the reserve and who benefit too, earning an annual share of the park’s profits, so that they in turn can upgrade their own infrastructure. There are day and night game drives within Madikwe Game Reserve, bush walks and over 350 species of birdlife, including a number of interesting raptors.
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