North West Province

• The Hartbeespoort Dam fed by the waters of the Crocodile River and the Magalies River.
• The Pilanesberg and Madikwe Game Reserves.
• The Taung World Heritage Site Extension.
• Several fossil hominid sites, such as Sterkfontein, Swartkrans and Kromdraai.
• The Vredefort dome World Heritage Site.
• The Lesedi Cultural Village.
• The Zip 2000 – the world’s fastest zip line and also one of the longest zip lines ever created!

Although many people feel that they should head for the coastal areas of South Africa to enjoy the best of the country, we can promise you that the gorgeous inland provinces are incredibly special places that you will love. The North West Province is certainly one of the nicest areas in SA and somewhere that we would recommend in a heartbeat.

This province is found to the west of Gauteng and some of its main towns and cities are Kerksdorp, Potchefstroom, Rustenburg and Mahikeng (the capital of the province formerly known as Mafikeng). Towards the northern boundaries of the province you will find the fantastic Pilanesberg National Park, with the world-famous Sun City at its side, and the majestic Madikwe Game Reserve, renowned for its exceptional wildlife. Not far from Pretoria and Johannesburg are also the Magaliesberg Mountains, a mountain range that lies in both the provinces of the North West and Gauteng, and the picturesque Hartbeespoort Dam.

An interesting location towards the south of the province is Taung. It was here that a 2.5 million  year old skull of a hominid child was discovered, today known as the Taung Child. The age of this skull gave credence to the belief that humankind originated in Africa. When visiting Taung you can follow in the prehistoric footsteps of our hominid forefathers by completing the 45km Taung Heritage Route. The route includes some interesting natural wonders, such as the Blue Pools, rock basins, caves and a limestone waterfall, as well as locations where other important fossils have been found. The site where the Taung Child was discovered is part of the UNESCO Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site.

The Magaliesberg region is famous for being considered as the birthplace of mankind because excavations here have uncovered ancient skeletons such as the Little Foot, an almost complete Australopithecus fossil skeleton that is four million years old, and new discoveries of various kinds of important fossils relating to the start of humankind’s existence are still occurring. A wonderful visitor centre can be found at Maropeng where you can learn all about these fascinating discoveries. The Magaliesberg Mountains stretch for over 120 kilometres and are a hundred times older than Mount Everest. They are said to be half the age of the earth. The entire area possesses an incredibly rich biodiversity of unique plant life and unparalleled birdlife. 360,000 hectares of land is protected by the Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve. In the Magaliesberg area popular activities include hot air ballooning, quad-biking, mountain biking, horse-riding, fishing, rock climbing, abseiling, canyoneering (kloofing), birding and hiking, and places to visit include the Sterkfontein Caves and the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre.

The internationally renowned Sun City offers entertainment for the whole family in the form of golf courses, water theme parks, a casino, various children’s activities and even cultural experiences. The Valley of the Waves is Sun City’s famous water theme park with fantastic slides and a palm-fringed beach, while Waterworld offers activities such as bumper boats, parasailing, water-skiing, wakeboarding and sunset cruises. Sun City has two 18-hole golf courses designed by Gary Player, the Lost City Golf Course and the Gary Player Golf Course, and both are considered as premier golfing destinations. In addition, Sun City has the world’s fastest zip slide reaching speeds of up to 160km/h! The Zip 2000 offers solo and tandem slides and is available to those over the age of 12.

The Hartbeespoort Dam is a reservoir that is fed by the waters of the Crocodile River and the Magalies River and is a popular holiday and weekend resort for many people that reside nearby, and even for those from northern Gauteng. A variety of water sports and activities are enjoyed on the dam, such as boat cruises, jet boat rides, tube rides and yachting. River rafting is even possible at some points along the Crocodile River.

Anyone who loves nature will find the Hartbeespoort Dam an intriguing place with plenty of opportunities for hiking, birding and visiting animal sanctuaries, such as the renowned Elephant Sanctuary where you can walk with the elephants and learn more about their habits, and the Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary, offering walks through indigenous forests, tours and viewing of exotic varieties of monkeys in their natural environment. This sanctuary is only one of eight of its kind in the world. Furthermore, an excellent variety of aquatic animals can be visited at the Hartbeespoort Dam Aquarium. There are seals, penguins, crocodiles, freshwater fish and tropical fish, and over the weekends their live shows are extremely entertaining.

At the Hartbeespoort Dam you can also ride the Harties Cableway, a relatively new addition to the area. The views of the dam and the beautiful Magaliesberg are stunning as you make your leisurely journey up the cableway. If you are yet to experience the famous Table Mountain cableway, or if you have previously enjoyed this popular Cape Town attraction, the Harties Cableway will be just the thing to try if you are in this area of the North West Province.

Additional attractions nearby the Hartbeespoort Dam include tours of the Van Gaalen Cheese Factory, strawberry picking at Tangaroa Farm during the strawberry season, the exquisite birds of prey at the Owl Rescue Centre, the Harties outdoor market and Chameleon Village, boasting the largest indoor market in South Africa and many other forms of entertainment. Hot air ballooning, mountain biking and quad bike safaris are other very popular activities around the dam, and nearby, the Lesedi Cultural Village marvellously displays the warmth of true rural African culture.

If you know of someone who has explored the magical game reserves of the North West Province you will have surely heard of how exceptional they are. East Cape Tours certainly recommends both Pilanesberg and Madikwe as two of the top safari destinations in South Africa.

The Madikwe Game Reserve is one of our favourite game reserves in South Africa, and also one of the newer game parks of the country. In the early 90’s the South African Government decided the land was not suitable for farming but perfect for the introduction of many species of wildlife. The rehabilitation of the area began and today the reserve has over 10,000 large mammals, including rarer predatory species such as Cape wild dogs, spotted hyena, Transvaal lions and South African cheetahs. In all, there are over 60 species of mammals in the park.

Madikwe Game Reserve is the fifth largest game reserve in South Africa and mostly consists of open grasslands and bushveld plains, along with some rocky outcrops and single mountains, and since it lies on the edge of the Kalahari it has a number of naturally-occurring and rarer species of plants and animals that are more adapted to a dryer environment. The reserve is also the ideal destination for birding, as there are over 350 recorded species.

There’s no shortage of places to stay at Madikwe Game Reserve. Thirty amazing lodges enjoy the best locations within the reserve and amidst the wildlife, and each have unique qualities and facilities for the pleasure of their guests. Some overlook large and natural waterholes, while others offer endless views of the bushveld. The lodges all strive to maintain the highest standards of service and provide exceptional meals. All this combined with their friendly service adds up to an unforgettable safari experience.

The Pilanesberg Game Reserve has become one of the top safari destinations in South Africa due to its healthy populations of leopard, lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo, zebra and many more large and small animal species. The reserve covers an area of 55,000 hectares, and is therefore considered to be the fourth largest reserve in southern Africa. Geologically, Pilanesberg is world-famous, as it is fringed by three concentric rings of hills that were formed by volcanic eruptions some 1,200 million years ago. Its alkaline volcanic crater is one of only three of its kind in the world and is one of the world’s most outstanding geological phenomenons.

The Pilanesberg area wasn’t always teeming with wildlife. Before it was proclaimed as a reserve in 1979 its indigenous wildlife had become depleted due to the intensity of commercial farming. From 1979 to 1993, with much effort and expense, the land was restored to its former glory and the natural wildlife of the area was returned. At the time, this was the biggest and most costly area rehabilitation project to be undertaken within any African game reserve.

Nowadays the only human developments in the Pilanesberg reserve are the wonderful bush and game lodges for visitors who want to come and enjoy the magnificent wildlife and landscape. A lovely choice of lodges is available and all are beautifully luxurious, spacious, equipped with excellent facilities and positioned in scenic locations. It’s actually quite difficult to decide where to stay as they all offer so much in terms of style, comfort, friendliness, generous meals and activities. If you need help picking the lodge that will best suit your needs, please do contact us. Our personal experience helps us to give the best advice to our clients.

Pilanesberg Game Reserve is the ideal year-round safari destination and is situated in a malaria-free area. Guests enjoy guided game drives to see the Big 5 and many more animals, as well as game walks that really bring people closer to nature and teach wonderful things about the beautiful surroundings. Bird walks and drives are also very popular, while hot air ballooning is another special treat available. Furthermore, you may feel inclined to master the art of archery, learn the secrets of playing a Djembe Drum, follow a hiking trail or visit the Mphebatho Cultural Museum that showcases the culture and traditions of the Bakgatla-ba- Kgafela people.