Gauteng

Gauteng – In pursuit of a new gold

Gauteng is South Africa’s smallest province yet has the second highest population after KwaZulu Natal. It is basically made up of Johannesburg and Pretoria, and their surrounding areas. Pretoria is the countries Legislative capital while Johannesburg is the countries, and the continents, economic powerhouse. The city of ‘Joburg’ began after the discovery of gold there in 1886. To date, around 40 percent of the worlds gold has been found in or around the city. It is still often called by its Zulu name, Egoli – place of gold, although the Jo’burg of today revolves around business, innovation, and a fast paced way of life.

Pretoria is a relatively quiet city but has many cultural and historical attractions. There are plenty of top class restaurants and bars and the Union Buildings in Church Street are well worth a look at. Only an hour away, Jo’burg has a very different feel. The city centre itself has been going through a major clean up in the past few years and vibey areas such as the Newtown Precinct have emerged with some favorable entertainment venues. Sandton is the main focus of the city for many Jo’burg residents and some people see it as the new city center. For upmarket shopping and quality wining and dining, it can’t be faulted.

Within the Cradle of Humankind, a World Heritage Site northwest of Jo’burg, are the Sterkfontein Caves, which scientists believe were inhabited by pre-human primates around 3.5 million years ago. This is the home of Mrs Ples, a two-and-a-half-million-year-old female hominid whose skull was discovered in 1947. It is also where the spectacular 'Little Foot' was uncovered in 1994. An almost complete ape-man skeleton dating back to some four million to 3.3 million years. This is a very significant site for the history of humankind and attracts a lot of interest both locally and internationally.

The Haartebeesport Dam and Magaliesgerg areas have plenty of adventure and weekend getaway type activities. There are also a fair number of farms in the province offering game viewing safaris and wilderness experiences. If you have time to spare however, Gauteng is well positioned for easy access to the magnificent reserves of Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West Province, including the world famous Kruger National Park.
Gauteng is the ideal place to experience one of South Africa’s newest tourism concepts, the township tour. Soweto was a leading force behind the human rights movement. Today it is a city in its own right and has some interesting elements to share such as; Vilikazi Street, where Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu once lived, the Hector Pietersen Museum, named after the first student to be shot in the 1976 riots, and the shebeens (bar/restaurant), such as Wandies, which provide authentic township entertainment. A tour of ‘Alex’ township is also worthwhile. It his however recommended that these tours be done with registered tour guides.
Gauteng won’t be outdone and has developed a ‘can do’ attitude to compete with the other province’s natural attractions. It is a place that is at the helm of the regions future development and exudes an unmistakable air of buoyancy.
Gauteng Tourism: 011 340 9000