North West province is one of the most diverse tourism destinations in Africa, with some of the finest wildlife reserves, cultural sites, archeological treasures and entertainment resorts calling it home.
The province’s main attractions are within easy driving distances of the major centres of Johannesburg and Pretoria. It is rich in mineral and agricultural wealth, with platinum, gold, diamonds, maize, beef, and sunflower seeds being the principal products.
The people of North West have a rich cultural and natural heritage. In particular the Groot Marico area stands out. It was the home of writer and poet Herman Charles Bosman and is well known for its mampoer as well as for the Kgaditshwene and the Elands river battlefield heritage sites.
The 76 500ha, Madikwe Game Reserve is a vast conservancy and transition zone between the Kalahari sandveld and the thornveld. Madikwe hosts all of the major plains species, including the Big Five, and has the second-largest concentration of elephants in South Africa.
The reserve is also home to endangered species such as the African wild dog and more than 300 bird species, sable antelope, impala, springbok, warthog and gemsbok. The reserve is a malaria-free area.
Pre-history has its place in North West with the Taung Heritage and Blue Pools site, located to the west of the village of Taung at the Buxton Quarry.
It was here that the lime-encrusted skull of an early hominid child was unearthed in 1924. The discovery was a major advancement in the quest to discover our earliest ancestors.
On to the Vredefort Dome where a giant meteorite struck the Earth 2 000-million years ago near the present-day village of Vredefort. The impact created a crater about 90km in diameter and caused a shift in the Earth’s crust across a 150km radius.
Another jewel in North West’s crown is the Pilanesberg National Park. One of the most accessible of all the major South African game reserves, the Pilanesberg is located just 90 minutes north of Johannesburg and Pretoria. This outstanding 580km2 reserve, which is one of the largest national parks in South Africa, is set high in the volcanic Pilanesberg range, traversing the floor of an ancient and now long extinct volcano, providing a variety of grassland and thornveld habitation for the extensive fauna and flora of the park. This includes the Big Five and some of the highest concentrations of game in the country.
The world famous Sun City and Lost City resorts, Kwa Maritane, Tshukudu, Bakubung, Manyane and Bakgatla lodges are all located close to the four entrance gates. The Pilanesberg has an excellent network of roads and is open to tours and self-drive visitors. The park is a malaria-free area.
An hour south of the Pilanesberg is the Hartbeespoort dam and the Magaliesberg. The dam was constructed in 1925 to provide irrigation for the fertile agricultural lands along the lower reaches of the Crocodile river and is a favourite recreational area for the people wanting to escape the city at weekends.
Development has kept pace with these needs and today the dam offers a wide variety of watersports, and places of interest along the Magalies Meander, an arts and crafts route with excellent restaurants and day visitor facilities.
The Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course at Pecanwood hosts the annual Nelson Mandela Tournament. The De Wildt Cheetah Breeding and Wildlife Centre are nestled in the foothills of the Magaliesberg presenting a landscape of open veld, indigenous trees and a panoramic view to the north.
De Wildt is renowned for its success in breeding rare endangered species including the King Cheetah and the African wild dog. Tours can be arranged but booking is essential.
The provincial capital of Mafikeng attracted the world’s attention during the Anglo-Boer South African War of 1899 to 1902 as the small British garrison, under the command of Colonel Baden Powell, which held out against Boer forces who had surrounded the town for 217 days.
Today Mafikeng is a vibrant provincial and commercial capital and a major tourism attraction for the many aspects of the history, culture and wildlife. The Mafikeng Museum and Mafikeng Game Reserve are the principal attractions.
But perhaps the tourism capital of North West is Sun City. This legendary resort boasts four top hotels and two of the finest golf courses in Africa and a wide range of top tourism facilities including the world-renowned casino, Valley of the Waves and extensive entertainment centre.
For those travelling around the province there are regional tourism offices at Mafikeng, Rustenburg, Potchefstroom, Pilanesberg, Sun City, Vryburg and Hartbeespoort. All are well located and provide full tourism information, accommodation and route planning services.
For more information contact North West Parks and Tourism on 018 293 1611 or visit www.tourismnorthwest.co.za