Travel Guide SA - North West

The North West province, situated in north-west central South Africa, was reorganized from part of north-eastern Cape Province and the south-eastern half of the Transvaal. It shares borders with the Northern Cape, the Free State, Gauteng and other northern provinces as well as with Botswana, and it includes that part of the former homeland of Boputhatswana that is home to the famous Sun City.

The North West Province, with a land mass of some 118,797 sq km and an estimated population of around 4 million people offers an escape route to the real Africa. A land of peace and tranquillity where nature's wild creatures roam vast plains of scenic African bushveld.

A visit to the North West Province would be incomplete without a visit to one or more of its game or nature reserves, each offering a unique nature experience. Home to the fantastic Pilanesberg and Madikwe game reserves, North West boasts its share of the big five, fantastic bird-life and wide-open African skies. Known as the “Heritage Province”, the North West consists of flat areas of scattered trees and grassland. It is a peaceful province with a year round sunny climate, exciting wildlife destinations and various cultural and historical attractions.

Sun City leisure resort is internationally renowned as one of South Africa’s premier holiday resorts, with a multitude of attractions and activities to keep everyone occupied. It offers activities ranging from world-class golfing, gambling, games, extravaganzas, a valley of waves with a beach, cinemas and restaurants. Other popular destinations include Hartebeesport Dam, Madikwe Game Reserve, Taung Heritage Site and Vredefort Dome, and there's always plenty to see and do in the popular holiday resort of Rustenburg.

The crater of a long extinct volcano is the setting of Pilanesberg National Park - a fascinating alkaline complex produced by volcanic action some 1 300 million years ago. Pilanesberg is one of the largest volcanic complexes of its kind in the world with rare rock types and structure that make it a unique geological feature and the early presence of man can be seen in the numerous Stone and Iron Age sites throughout the park.

History buffs will be fascinated by Mafikeng, and in particular its museum, which has exhibits relating to the Siege of Mafeking, the Barolong people and the Bushmen and the towns of Lichtenburg, Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom are of interest from a historical point of view.

For city-dwelling South African travellers, accustomed to stress and tense agendas, the tranquillity of the North-West province’s wide open spaces provides a welcome change. Endless fields of maize cloak the fertile plains, and small villages and peaceful homesteads dot the pastoral landscape outside the parks. Inside the parks, relaxing activities such as bird-watching, hiking, horse-riding and game-viewing enhance the enjoyment of a true African experience.