Destination overview

Stretching all the way from Pretoria in the north to Vereeniging in the south, Gauteng means Sotho for ‘place of gold’. Gauteng is a young province with an old history dating back some four million years. It was here that the first recognisable hominids walked the Earth. Modern humans have been living in the Gauteng region for thousands of years, first as hunter-gatherers, living off the bountiful Highveld game and later as nomadic pastoralists with flocks of sheep and goats.

The Metsweding region is of particular significance to the Tswana, Pedi, Afrikaans, Ndebele and Tsonga-speaking people, many of whom can trace their roots back to the ancient bush and rolling grasslands. Today, villages in the area offer opportunities to be a part of these indigenous cultures. With the 1886 discovery of gold the rural character of this frontier region changed forever. What now makes up the Johannesburg region became the new metropolis.

While Gauteng’s history lies embedded in the discovery of gold, today Gauteng not only has one of the best infrastructures, but its people form part of a vibrant mix of energy and diversity that make it one of the wealthiest provinces in Africa, and the entertainment epicentre of South Africa. This is evident from the rich legacy of literature, arts and music which developed in the cities, towns and townships of Gauteng. The energy of the Highveld, with its intense summers broken only by intermittent electric storms, is echoed in the sheer buzz of the place.

While high-rise buildings and vast shopping malls are now a definitive part of the landscape of this province, nature is never far away. The region is renowned for a wide range of natural treasures just waiting for your visit.

A good starting point is at The Cradle of Humankind, a World Heritage Site first named by UNESCO in 1999, where some of the oldest pre-human fossils in the world have been found. The site comprises a strip of a dozen dolomitic limestone caves containing the fossilised 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.

Nearby you will find the Sterkfontein and Wonder caves and within a 60-minute radius you will be able to visit a variety of wildlife attractions, including the Krugersdorp Game Reserve and the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve. Here you will also find the Elephant Sanctuary and the De Wildt Cheetah Research Station - a must for first-timers to Africa. The Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens offers a rare opportunity to view one of the few breeding pairs of eagles to live in an urban environment anywhere in the world, while the Kloofendal Nature Reserve abounds with indigenous trees and plants.

The Magaliesberg Mountain range and surrounds is a prime spot for walking and mountain biking. For the more adventurous, activities such as abseiling or rock climbing are on offer. The Magalies Meander and Crocodile Ramble in the West Rand and Vaal Meander in Sedibeng are some of the best arts and crafts routes in South Africa. Artists and studios selling and exhibiting original works, tea gardens, restaurants, nature reserves and outdoor adventure activities line the routes.

Sedibeng, in the south of Gauteng, is the playground of urbanites who escape for the weekends. The Vaal River offers boat cruises, fishing and water-skiing. It is also home to the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, which has 66 kilometres of hiking trails that are especially suitable for children and hikers with little experience.

There are many green spaces in the urban centres and often you do not have to leave the city to enjoy a brisk walk or leisurely picnic. The many lakes, dams and parks in the region provide residents and visitors alike with a chance to relax and unwind. Ekurhuleni has many such lakes and is home to the Rietvlei Zoo and Nature Reserve, and the Korsman and Rondebult Bird sanctuaries. Tshwane has the Fountains Valley Nature Reserve and the famed Pretoria Zoo. Johannesburg has Emmarentia Dam and Zoo Lake on its doorstep.

The leafy city of Pretoria serves as one of the country’s three capital cities, officially the executive or administrative capital. But Pretoria is not just about government. It is also a place of culture with a series of theatres, museums and monuments – Church Square, Union Buildings, Melrose House and the Voortrekker Monument are all worth visiting.

Roses grow beautifully in the city’s climate and it was known early on as the ‘city of roses’. Add to this some 50,000 jacaranda trees that line the streets and one can understand how it became known as ‘jacaranda city’.

If it’s biking you’re into, you will be spoilt for choice with a variety of trails networking around Pretoria.

The city has access to a number of Nature Reserves that include Groenkloof, Rietfontein, Faerie Glen and Wonderboom, as well as the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens. Another place of interest, the 220,000 year-old Tswaing Meteorite Impact Crater near Hammanskraal in Tshwane, is the best-preserved small meteorite crater in the world.

Ezemvelo Nature Reserve is situated on the Bankenveld, 20 kilometres outside Bronkhorstpruit and only 45 minutes from Pretoria, which is the transition eco-tone between the grassland and savanna biomes. Ecologically this is very valuable as elements of both biomes occur within the reserve, creating a very rich biological diversity.

The clear waters of the Wilge River cut through the reserve forming beautiful gorges and valleys of colourful Wilge River sandstones. The bushy river valleys are home to extensive animal and birdlife, and the savanna area dominates the rest of the reserve covering about 6,000 hectares and is characterised by the occurrence of many tree species.

The Premier Mine, situated in the town of Cullinan, 40 kilometres east of Pretoria, is an underground diamond mine owned by De Beers. This quaint Victorian and Edwardian village is the heart of the diamond industry and the origin of the biggest diamond in the world, as well as those used in the crown jewels. You’ll see many diamond outlets, a jewellery school and beautiful old houses used for art galleries, restaurants and curio shops.

Gauteng might be the smallest South African province, but it’s one of the most diverse and serves as the gateway into Africa. Don’t leave it off your itinerary when you plan a visit to this part of the world.