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Johannesburg
Gauteng is the capital of Johannesburg, which is the smallest and most powerful province in South Africa, as the growing suburbs and rapidly developing skyscrapers and motorways show.
Over ten million people inhabit the main city with the African name of Egoli meaning ' the place of gold', which has an energetic and fast pace. The development of the city, which is just over a century old, has followed the fortunes of the Witwatersrand (White Water Reef), the rich gold-bearing rock reef that stretches across this area of central South Africa. The initial gold rush started in the 1880s, and barely ten years later Johannesburg had become South Africa's largest town and the site of frenzied development that has been ongoing ever since.
Johannesburg is a diverse city with opulent and contemporary high rise buildings set beside relics of Victorian buildings and luxurious suburbs of rich homes next to the poverty ridden shacks of the Soweto township in the south. The chasm between rich and poor in the city has given rise to a high crime rate, evidenced by the fortress-like security that pervades the wealthier suburbs.
Johannesburg International Airport is the gateway for a majority of tourists to South Africa, especially the ones intent on exploring the Mpumalanga game reserves. There is little in Johannesburg itself to grab the attention of tourists, but a few days can be filled taking in some entertaining man-made attractions before heading off to the game parks of the northeast or the coastal regions. The most interesting diversion in Johannesburg is undoubtedly a 'Heritage Route' or 'Shebeen Crawl' tour of Soweto, but take care only to venture into the maze of the township with an organised tour or professional guide.
Kruger National Park
South Africa's oldest and most famous wildlife conservation park is Kruger National Park, which boasts the 'Big Five' as a part of its wildlife portfolio. Visitors have an excellent chance of seeing lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhino among the enormous variety of wildlife, including over 140 species of mammals, 500 species of birds, reptiles and amphibians. Situated on South Africa's north eastern border, Kruger is a primary destination for international tourists, and is visited by more than half a million local and international people every year who are attracted by the different safari options as well as the park's excellent range of visitor facilities and choice of accommodation, from luxurious game lodges to cottages and camping.
Newtown Cultural Precinct
The cities officials have begun an urban refurbishment of the city centre complex of buildings, which now restored as the Newtown Cultural Precinct offer many attractions to tourists. The Market Theatre and Museum Africa, for instance are housed in a Victorian building in Bree Street that was originally Johannesburg's fresh produce market. The Museum Africa is particularly worth a visit with its exhibits that tell the story of the city from its beginnings to the present day, including an interesting section about the Treason Trial of the 1950s in which Nelson Mandela and other activists were accused of plotting against the state. The same building houses a photography museum and the Museum of South African Rock Art. At its eastern end is the Market Theatre, famed for being the venue for many protest theatre productions in the Apartheid era. Also in the area, in President Street, is the South African Breweries Centre, which offers a tour detailing brewing history through some reconstructed gold-rush pubs and shebeens (township bars). Along Jeppe Street is the Oriental Plaza, the commercial centre for the Indian community.
Opening time: Museum Africa open daily 9am to 5pm
Johannesburg Zoo
A visit to the Johannesburg Zoo offers ample opportunity to see the wildlife in the area, with over three thousand species, including an underwater pool containing polar bears. Of course the Big Five are all in residence too. A tractor-tram does circuits of the zoo for those who don't fancy walking. On the eastern edge of the zoo is the Museum of Military History, which has some interesting exhibits like tanks, fighter aircraft and submarines.
Gold Reef City
Originally intended as a re-creation of the Victorian gold rush era in Johannesburg, Gold Reef City is mainly a theme park offering thrill rides and an impressive entertainment complex. The park, four miles (6km) south of the city centre via the M1 motorway, was built around the No.14 Crown mineshaft that began operations in 1887 and closed in 1975. During its production years 1,400 tons of gold came out of the shaft. Visitors can now descend into the old mine shaft to experience life at the rock face, and watch gold being poured and minted. Gold Reef City also houses a number of museums, and offers performances by traditional gumboot dancers. Youngsters particularly enjoy the rides like the Anaconda roller coaster and Thunder Mountain River Rapids. There are also plenty of restaurants, bars, a massive casino, and a Victorian hotel for those wanting to stay the night.
Warmbaths
Springbok Flats are located on the road to Zimbabwe and are part of the Great Rift Valley. About 80 miles (125km) north of Johannesburg on the edge of the Flats lies the town of Warmbaths, named for the hot mineral springs that rise to the surface there. The spring yields about 20,000 litres of water, enriched with sodium chloride, calcium carbonate and other minerals every hour. The town has now become a popular spa and holiday resort, considered to be one of the most modern of its kind in the world. It has a large indoor pool with underwater jets, outdoor hot and cold swimming pools, wave pools, and water slides.
Sun City and the Palace of the Lost City
Sun City is the biggest adult entertainment centre in the world and the 'Las Vegas' of South Africa, which is located in the Bojanala area and offers golf, live shows, casinos and the architectural treasure of the Lost City. The vast resort complex is one of South Africa's top attractions for gambling, entertainment and opulence, a luxury theme park for adults that was the multi-million dollar dream child of South African entrepreneur, Sol Kerzner. The Lost City, with its African theme of life-size animals, has at its centre a luxurious 'palace' decorated with mosaics, frescoes, palm fronds and elephant tusks. Surrounding it are lakes, forests and a tropical beach. There are a variety of water sports and The Valley of the Waves, the most advanced water park in the country, has among other things a wave machine capable of generating almost seven-foot (2m) waves. The resort complex also borders on the Pilanesberg National Park, home to the 'Big Five' and a popular game-viewing destination.
