North West and Gauteng
The North-West Parks and Tourism Board aims to conserve the biodiversity in formally protected areas and to promote tourism, job creation, capacity-building and community input in the province. The province has five geographically distinct areas, namely the Central, Eastern, Bophirima, Rustenburg and Southern districts. It is anticipated that the Eastern region will be amalgamated with the Rustenburg region shortly.
Central district
The Historic Route of Mafikeng includes an Anglo-Boer/South African War siege site, the Molema House where Sol Plaatje lived while writing his Mafikeng Diary, and the Mafikeng Museum.
The Lichtenburg Game Breeding Centre and the Botsalano Game Reserve are well worth a visit.
The Groot Marico region is known as mampoer country and visitors can embark on a mampoer and tobacco route. The Kortkloof Cultural Village is dedicated to the Tswana people.
Other attractions include the Wondergat, the Bosbult Monument which commemorates a battle during the Anglo-Boer/South African War, the Kaditshwene Iron Age Village Ruins and various hiking trails.
Eastern district
The Hartbeespoort Dam is a popular spot for weekend outings, breakfast runs and yachting. The Hartbeespoort Cableway offers a breathtaking view of the Dam and surrounding areas.
The Hartbeespoort Reptile and Animal Park is situated on the banks of the Dam. Cultural experiences include the popular Mapoch and Gaabo Motho cultural villages as well as the Ring Wagon Inn.
The De Wildt Cheetah Breeding and Research Centre specializes in breeding cheetah and other endangered wildlife species. Other places of interests include the Borakalalo Game Reserve, the Margaret Roberts Herb Farm and the Phaladingwe Nature Trail.
Bophirima district
The Taung Skull Site and the Blue Pools are renowned for the Taung skull found in the Buxton quarries next to a valley with caves, clear blue pools and streams. This region is popular with adventure seekers - especially the 4x4 routes and hunting farms.
Rustenburg district
The Pilanesberg National Park supports over 7 000 head of game, including the Big Five and 350 bird species. Guided day and night game drives are available.
The Madikwe Game Reserve is home to the biggest game relocation programme ever. Over 10 000 animals of 27 major species have so far been reintroduced under Operation Phoenix. A hot-air balloon ride, day and night game drives and bushwalks are available. Sun City and the Palace of the Lost City are very popular tourist attractions offering gambling, extravaganza shows, water sport and an artificial sea.
There are various hiking trails in the region. In September 1999, the North-West Parks and Tourism Board, in conjunction with the Rustenburg District Council, officially opened two new hiking routes in the Rustenburg Nature Reserve. Both routes are unique in that contemporary development concepts were applied in the design of the overnight facilities by including cultural-historical aspects of the area. The new routes include a waterfall, natural pools and cultural-historical sites and are considered to be some of the best in South Africa.
The Heritage Route which starts at the Sterkfontein Caves World Heritage Site and ends at Pilanesberg was launched in the middle of 2000.
Southern district
The OPM Prozesky Bird Sanctuary in Potchefstroom has over 200 bird species and is situated adjacent to the Mooi River. The Oudorp Hiking Trail takes visitors through the old part of Klerksdorp where the original 12 Voortrekker families settled.
Other attractions in the region include the Potchefstroom Lakeside resort, the Faan Meintjies Nature Reserve in Klerksdorp, mine tours at Orkney, the Diggers Route at Wolmaransstad and the Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve.
Gauteng
Gauteng offers a vibrant business environment and many tourist attractions, including a rainbow of ecological and cultural diversity.
The Vaal Dam covers some 300 km2 and is a popular venue for water sport. Numerous resorts line the shore. The Dam also attracts a great diversity of birds.
Vanderbijlpark was built during the late 1940s by the Iron and Steel Corporation (ISCOR) to accommodate its employees.
The old mining town of Cullinan developed around the Premier Diamond Mine and many of the turn-of-the-century houses still stand. The Mine has produced some of the world's most famous diamonds, including the Cullinan.
The Willem Prinsloo Agricultural Museum outside Cullinan centres around a farmstead dating from 1880. Traditional farming activities are demonstrated and annual events include a prickly pear festival, mampoer festival and the Agricultural Museum Show.
The Sterkfontein Caves near Krugersdorp are the site of the discovery of the skull of the famous Mrs Ples, a 250-million-year-old hominid fossil. The Caves comprise a series of caverns with many stalactites and stalagmites and a huge underground lake. Guided tours are available. The Wonder Cave, about two billion years old, is one of South Africa's most impressive natural assets. In 1999, Sterkfontein and its environs were declared a World Heritage Site.
The Krugersdorp Game Reserve provides sanctuary for several game species, including four of the Big Five. The African Fauna and Bird Park houses various species of wildlife and birds.
The South African National Railway and Steam Museum at Randfontein Estates Gold-mine outside Krugersdorp houses some of the country's old steam locomotives, a diesel electric locomotive and more than 50 vintage passenger coaches. Train rides are offered once a month.
A team of Lippizaner stallions performs regularly at the South African National Horsemanship Centre, Kayalami, near Johannesburg. Visitors to Roodepoort can go on walks and trails through the Kloofendal Nature Reserve, or enjoy a picnic or show at the popular Kloofendal Amphitheatre. The Witwatersrand National Botanical Garden boasts a 70-m high waterfall.
The Tswaing Ecomuseum is the first ecomuseum in the country, and consists of a huge meteorite crater and a brine lake.
Johannesburg
The Adler Museum of the History of Medicine depicts the history of medicine, dentistry and pharmacy in South Africa. The Pharmacy Museum in Melrose houses a large variety of medicines, including more than 670 traditional medicines that have been collected throughout southern Africa.
There is also a display of old prescription books and dictionaries used by pharmacists in 1755.
MuseumAfrica in Newtown tells the story of life in South Africa from the Stone Age to the Nuclear Age and beyond. The museum is located in the old fruit and vegetable building next to the Market Theatre.
The Market Theatre Complex comprises three theatres, an art gallery, restaurants and pubs. Kippies Jazz Bar is a popular venue for live jazz.
Lesedi Cultural Village in the Swartkops Hills north of Johannesburg gives visitors the opportunity to meet families of different tribes. Visitors can spend the night with the family of their choice.
The Sibaya Zulu Boma located near Johannesburg gives the visitor a historical view of the Zulu people, using the traditional methods of dance, song and story-telling.
The Phumangena Zulu Kraal is an authentic Zulu kraal with traditional Zulu people living and working there.
The Melville Koppies in Johannesburg were once the site of a Stone Age African village and iron-smelting works. The flora includes 80% of the species recorded on the Witwatersrand. It is open to the public from September to April only.
Gold Reef City is a reconstruction of Johannesburg during the gold-rush era. Attractions include a Victorian fun fair, pubs, miners' houses, a brewery, restaurants, a hotel and a stock exchange. Visitors can take a trip down an old mine shaft and watch molten gold being poured.
At Santarama Miniland and Entertainment World, visitors can explore some models of South Africa's most popular beacons, such as Johannesburg International Airport, East London Harbour, the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town and the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Work on a model of Robben Island was completed in 1999.
The South African Museum of Military History houses an impressive collection of weaponry and uniforms from the two world wars. The South African Transport Museum relates to all aspects of South Africa's transport services.
A large, well-established park surrounds Zoo Lake, which is frequented by breeding bird colonies. Other attractions include jazz concerts, rowing boats for hire, a tea garden and a restaurant.
Soweto is one of the major tourist attractions in the country. It is estimated that some 1 700 foreign tourists visit Soweto every day. The homes of many well-known politicians can be seen in the area, as well as the Hector Peterson Memorial.
The two-bedroom house where former President Nelson Mandela lived before his incarceration has been converted into a museum and is worth a visit.
Pretoria
Many historical buildings can be seen in the city, which is known for its jacaranda trees.
Church Square is centred around a statue of Paul Kruger, President of the former Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek, and includes buildings such as the Old Raadsaal and the Palace of Justice.
The Kruger House Museum contains the personal belongings of President Kruger. Melrose House is a beautiful example of Victorian architecture. The Peace Treaty of Vereeniging which ended the Anglo-Boer/ South African War was signed here in 1902.
Demonstrations at the Pierneef Open-air Museum include milking cows, making butter and candles, baking bread and grinding coffee beans.
Other museums include the Police Museum, the Science and Technology Museum, the Coert Steynberg Museum and the Transvaal Museum of Natural History.
The Voortrekker Monument houses a museum and commemorates the Great Trek. Some 260 steps lead up to the dome, where spectacular views of the city can be enjoyed.
The Union Buildings was designed by Sir Herbert Baker and completed in 1913. It was the setting for the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as President in 1994 and of Thabo Mbeki on 16 June 1999.
The Sammy Marks Museum just outside Pretoria dates from 1885. Forty-eight rooms in the house are filled with Victorian paintings, furniture, silver and porcelain. There is a tea garden and restaurant on the premises.
The General Smuts House Museum is at Irene, south-east of Pretoria. The House contains the original furnishings of the Smuts family. A very popular arts and craft market is held on certain Saturdays.
The Rietvlei Nature Reserve is notable for 73 grass types, 147 different herbs, a large number of game and over 140 bird species.
The Mapoch Ndebele Village, north of Pretoria, is being restored by the residents and the National Cultural History Museum. To develop the project into a viable, living tourist village, the 50 families staying there have undergone tourist guide and business training. It is the first living cultural village in South Africa owned and managed by its residents.