Page 9 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

HOW T O USE THIS GUIDE  7
GA UTENG AND MPUM ALANGA  311
GAUTENG AND SUN CITY
Johannesburg is an urban conglomerate that developed around
the rich gold mines of the Witwatersrand in Gauteng. To the north
lies sedate and elegant Pretoria, founded by the Voortrekkers
before the discovery of gold and today South Africa’s
administrative capital. In the northwest, the glittering Sun
City complex provides fast-paced entertainment, while the Introduction A general South Africa
neighbouring Pilanesberg reserve offers Big Five game-viewing.
The rocky Witwatersrand (“ridge of white homes. The Magaliesberg mountain 1account of the land- Area By Area
waters”) escarpment lies about 1,600 m range is a nearby nature retreat whose
(5,250 ft) above sea level and stretches for lower slopes are popular for hiking.
80 km (50 miles) from west to east. After The ambitious Sun City development scape, history and
the discovery of the main reef on the turned the most unpromising terrain in
Witwatersrand in 1886, gold fast became the former homeland of Bophuthatswana, Apart from Cape Town, the
the basis of the national economy and now part of the North West Province, into character of each region
dictated the development of the then an opulent leisure resort. Subsequent
mostly rural Transvaal Boer republic. While expansion produced the exotic fantasy rest of the country has been
Johannesburg was built on gold and called The Palace of the Lost City, where is given here, explaining
industry, Pretoria was founded as a capital tropical jungle now covers what once was
during the Voortrekker period of South overgrazed farmland, and computer- both how the area has divided into ten regions, each
Africa’s past, and is still today the home generated waves wash onto pristine, man-
of government departments and made beaches. Even those who do not
diplomatic missions. find the complex to their taste have to de veloped over the
Those who wish to escape the cities admire the effort and planning that went of which has a separate chap ter.
do not have far to go. Northwest of into its creation. Adjoining Sun City is the
Johannesburg and Pretoria is the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, which was centuries and what
Hartbeespoort Dam, where water- sports created out of an extinct volcanic crater in The most interesting cities,
enthusiasts flock at weekends, and the 1979 and today is home to all the large
shores are lined with resorts and holiday animals visitors expect to see on safari. attractions it has to offer towns and sights to visit are
visitors today.
num bered on a Regional Map at
the beginning of each chapter.
312  GA UTENG , LIMPOPO AND MPUM ALANGA GA UTENG AND SUN CIT Y  313
Exploring Gauteng and Sun City Each area of South Africa can be
With an estimated population of around seven million, the greater
In October, the streets of Pretoria are ablaze with lilac jacaranda blossoms Monte Christo easily identified by its colour coding,
Johannesburg metropolitan area is the most densely populated
Doors of the Constitutional Court, Johannesburg, with carvings symbolizing the rights enshrined in the Constitution Mokolo Villa Nora Palala
region of the country. Its choice of attractions is ever-expanding
and places of interest include museums dedicated to the city’s Lephalale Marken shown on the inside front cover.
gold-mining past as well as the apartheid struggle. Pretoria is
310-311_EW_South_Africa.indd All Pages just 56 km (35 miles) north of Johannesburg along the N1 29/05/2015 15:52 Matlabas
motorway, and today the two cities are almost joined up by the Spanwerk Mokolo Groesbeek
burgeoning development that surrounds them on the Highveld. Dam Mokamole Tinmyne
To the northwest, Sun City and Pilanesberg Game Reserve lie Rooibosbult Hermanusdorings Sterk
next to each other and are nearly always visited together. LIMPOPO Mokopane
Marico Sentrum Vaalwater H a n g l i p b e r g e Polokwane Regional Map This shows the
Maricosdraai Crocodile W a t e r b e r g e Vanalphensvlei Haakdoring
Thabazimbi
Derdepoort Mookgophong 2main road network and gives
Ramotswa Ganskuil Witfon teinrant Middelwit 1499 m Rooiberg Modimolle Middelfontein
MADIKWE Bela-Bela Holme Park The Valley of the Waves at Sun City
GAME RESERVE Bier Leeuport Nutfield an illustrated overview of the
Nietverdiend Northam
Silkaatskop Settlers Elands Getting Around
Klipvoor Radium
PILANESBERG 1687 m Dam Siyabuswa Major roads radiate in all directions
Blairbeth GAME RESERVE Pienaarsrivier Rust de Winter from Johannesburg and Pretoria, whole region. All interesting
but the most direct roads linking
History comes alive in Gold Reef City Kromellenboog Dam Mabaalstad SUN CITY Soutpan Marokolong Dennilton them are the N1 and R21. Heading
Zeerust Rooikoppies- Mabopane Kwamhlanga Game Reserve west, the N4/R104 from Pretoria
Loskop Dam
heads to the popular weekend
Dam
Groot-Marico Millvale Bospoort Dam Hartbeespoort Wilge retreat of Hartbeespoort Dam. Sun places to visit are numbered
Mmabatho Wondermere Rustenburg Dam Lammerkop City and Pilanesberg are approximately
Magaliesberg Range PRETORIA 140 km (87 miles) west of Pretoria,
Mafikeng
Elandsputte Koster GAUTENG Bronkhorstspruit Middelburg and 170 km (105 miles) northwest and there are also useful tips
Derby SANDTON & Emalahleni of Johannesburg. There are a
Lichtenburg Swartplaas GAUTENG ROSEBANK Ogies Nelspruit number of approaches but the
TOUR
most direct is to take the N4
NOR TH WEST Klerkskraal GOLD JOHANNESBURG Coalville to Rustenberg, from where it is on getting to, and around,
Sights at a Glance Deelpan REEF CITY 50 km (31 miles) northwest on the
Biesiesvlei Coligny MPUMALANGA
1 Johannesburg Madibogo Ventersdorp Carletonville SOWETO Germiston Devon Kriel R565 to the entrance of Sun City.
2 Soweto Sannieshof Gerdau Nigel Kinross Bethal the region.
3 Gold Reef City pp318–9 Harts Fochville Daleside Heidelberg Davel
4 Sandton and Rosebank Kuruman Delareyville Hartbeesfontein Brakspriut Balfour Evander Ermelo
6 Pretoria Potchefstroom Vereeniging Charl Cilliers
7 Sun City Ottosdal Sasolburg Greylingstad Morgenzon
Palace of the Lost City Renosterspruit Klerksdorp Dasville Bettiesdam
pp328–9 Orkney Parys Vaal Vaal Dam
8 Pilanesberg Game Reserve Vierfontein Oranjeville Villiers Waterval
9 Madikwe Game Reserve Wolmaransstad Leeudoringstad Vaal Vaal
Viljoenskroon FREE ST A TE
Tour Kimberley Makwassie Bothaville Rooiwal Heilbron Cornelia
5 Touring Gauteng pp322–3 Frankfort Wilge
Bloemfontein
Harrismith Story boxes explore specific
Key
Motorway Main railway 0 kilometres 50 subjects further.
Main road Minor railway 0 miles 25
Minor road International border
Untarred road Provincial border
Scenic route Summit The Union Buildings, the seat of parliament in Pretoria
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp389–90 and pp408–10 For keys to symbols see back flap
326  GA UTENG , LIMPOPO AND MPUM ALANGA GA UTENG AND SUN CIT Y  327
a wave machine, and a
number of thrilling waterslides, Hot-Air Ballooning in the Pilanesberg
including the 70-m (230-ft)
Temple of Courage. To enter Hot-air balloon trips over Pilanesberg
Game Reserve are a popular safari
this, visitors cross the Bridge
Detailed Information All the of Time, an ingenious mock- option. Drifting in total silence over the
herds of wildlife that peacefully graze
volcano that erupts every
within the rim of the extinct volcano is a
hour in a theatrical display
operated by Air Trackers (tel 014 552
of rumbling volcanic sounds remarkable experience. The trips are
3important cities, towns and and smoke. 5020, www.hotairballoonsafarisa.co.za),
and can be booked either through the
Although changes in gam-
bling law introduced in 1996
Pilanesberg accommodation or at the
other places to visit are The Cascades Hotel at Sun City mean that casinos have sprung Welcome Centre in Sun City. Rates A hot-air balloon glides over
include a one-hour balloon ride from the
up around the country, Sun City
continues to attract visitors with
centre of the reserve and a game drive
the bushveld
before breakfast at one of the lodges.
its many other entertainment
described individually. They 7 Sun City designed by the former South options. Not only does it offer a The man-made rain forest at Sun City staying overnight, there is also Madikwe Game Reserve
chance of winning a fortune at
African golfing champion
8 Pilanesberg
Road map D2. Rustenburg. N4, take
Gary Player.
the spin of a wheel; there are
R565 turnoff. n Welcome Centre,
014 557 1580. ~ Pilanesberg, It soon became apparent also elaborate stage shows Game Reserve the excitement of night drives. abuts the Botswana border
are listed in order, following 014 552 1261; Johannesburg and that the complex could and music concerts at Road map D2. Follow signs from The Pilanesberg is also home three-hours’ drive northwest
of Gauteng and two hours
not cope with the
to a number of birds, notably a
the Superbowl, a
Cape Town. @ Sun International
from Sun City. The reserve
Sun City on R565, or take the
man-made lake
variety of raptors. Cape vul tures
influx of visitors,
Central Reservations, 011 780 7855;
tour buses from Johannesburg and and a further two for parasailing, Mogwase turnoff from R510. nest on the steep cliffs of the was established in 1991
the numbering on the Pretoria. Open day visitors: 8am–9pm hotels were added water-skiing and 6pm daily (times may vary). & 8 mountains and a number of following a government
Tel 014 555 1600. Open 6am–
daily. & 7 0 - = F I
feeding sta tions have been
jet-skiing, horse-
in 1980 and 1984
study that indicated what
O } ∑ parksnorthwest.co.za/
was then an unproductive
established to encourage the
respectively, the
riding stables and
pilanesberg
a 10-pin bowling
Regional Map. Within each Set in a fairly bleak part of the Cabanas and the rants and coffee The circular layout of this park survival of this endangered bird. tract of former ranchland
attractive
alley. The com plex
Pilanesberg Game Reserve
could be utilised more
North West Province, two hours
by road from Johannesburg
Cascades. Then in
profitably, with greater
also houses restau-
can be traced to pre historic
offers a choice of accommo-
benefits to local communities,
dation, from the luxurious
1992, the Palace of
and Pretoria, Sun City was the
times, when this area was the
shops, boutiques,
entry, there is further detailed brain-child of hotelier Sol the Lost City (see Casino entrance a cinema, a spa and crater of a volcano. Around the Kwa Maritane Resort, Tshukudu for conservation. Over the
pp328–9) opened, and
Kerzner. In the 1970s, when the
central Mankwe Dam lie three
Bush Lodge and Bakubung
subsequent decade, around
swimming pools. At
8,000 head of game were
today it is still Sun City’s
rings of little hills – mounds of
complex was built, the land
Lodge, which overlooks a
formed part of the quasi- five-star flagship hotel. In the entrance to the cooled lava – and the whole hippo pool, to bungalows introduced, including an
information on major independent “republic” of the same year, the Valley of the resort is Kwena Gardens, area is raised above the plain. and pleasant camp sites. elephant herd from drought-
home to more than 7,000 Nile
Bophuthatswana, where
The decision to establish a
Waves was constructed below
stricken southeast Zimbabwe.
crocodiles that can be seen
reserve here was economic: to
Today, giraffe, plains zebra,
gambling, officially banned in
the hotel and a second golf
course added to the complex.
greater kudu, springbok,
South Africa at the time, was
benefit the local people, and to
from elevated walkways.
buildings and other sights. legal. The casino was a key part The Valley of the Waves is one of O Kwena Gardens complement the nearby resort red hartebeest and tsessebe
of Sun City. Re-stocking the
Sun City’s favourite attractions –
of the initial success of the
are conspicuous among the
reserve’s 65 mammal species.
overgrazed farmland turned
a huge waterpark with a man-
resort, which then included
Tel 014 552 1262. Open 10am–6pm
only one luxury hotel, a man- made beach with palm trees, a daily. Feeding: 4:30pm daily. & - = into one of the most ambitious Of the Big Five, lion, elephant
made lake and a challenging “roaring lagoon” with ∑ kwenachalets.co.za game reloca tion ventures ever and white rhino are seen by
18-hole golf course attempted in South Africa. most visitors, while buffalo
Appropriately called Operation and leopard are uncommon.
Genesis, it involved the release Madikwe is possibly South
of 6,000 mammals of 19 species Africa’s most reliable reserve
into the new reserve. To ensure for sightings of the endangered
the success of the challenging African wild dog.
venture, alien plants were Young elephants in Pilanesberg The 250 species of birds
removed and replaced with Game Reserve found here include many
indigenous ones, tele phone Kalahari woodland specials,
lines were diverted, farming among them crimson-
structures demolished and the 9 Madikwe Game breasted shrike and pied
ravages of erosion repaired. Reserve babbler. Madikwe caters
Elephant, black rhino and primarily to the middle and
leopard head an impressive list Road map D2. Tel 018 350 9931, upper end of the safari market,
of wildlife that can be seen at 071 687 2782. Open Access to studded as it is with around
Pilanesberg today. More than overnight visitors only. ∑ madikwe- 15 exclusive bush camps
game-reserve.co.za
200 km (125 miles) of good offering all-inclusive guided
free safari destination, the
to the private reserves
328  GA UTENG AND MPUM ALANGA GA UTENG AND SUN CIT Y  329 gravel roads traverse the park, South Africa’s premier malaria- safari packages comparable
and there are a number of walk-
Sun City is a completely man-made oasis in the North West Province in viewing hides. For visitors 750-sq-km (290-sq-mile) bordering Kruger.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp389–90 and pp408–10
The Palace of the Lost City . Elephant Atrium VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
and Shawu Statue
at Sun City This sculpture honours an Practical Information
elephant bull that roamed the Road map D2. N4 to Rustenberg,
In an ancient volcanic crater, some 180 km (112 miles) Kruger National Park until his then R565. Tel 014 557 4307; Sun
northwest of Johannesburg, lies the mythical “lost city” of graces a large chamber at International Central Reservations
death in 1982, aged 80. It
a vanished people, where time seems to have stood still. the end of the vaulted 011 780 7810. 7 0 - =
∑ suninternational.co.za
Here, innovative design and fanciful architecture in a lush, Elephant Atrium.
man-made jungle have created a complex that promises The Desert Suite For all the top sights, a Visitors’
Oak panelling, a
an unforgettable holiday: luxurious hotels, world-class private library, bar
golf courses, the glamorous Superbowl entertainment and panoramic
centre, glittering casinos and blue waves lapping views make this one Checklist provides the practical
palm-fringed beaches. of the Palace hotel’s
most opulent suites.
information you will need to plan
your visit.
Lost City Golf Course
This 18-hole championship
course offers a choice of tees.
A crocodile pool at the 13th
hole is a unique water hazard.
South Africa’s Top Sights The
. Central Fresco
The fresco that adorns the 4historic buildings are dissected
Cheetah Fountain 0 metres 20 dome of the reception area
measures 16 m (52 ft) in
This superb bronze sculpture shows impalas, 0 yards 25 diameter and took 5,000
frozen in flight from the feared predator. hours to complete. to reveal their interiors; national
Pilanesberg
Lost City Golf Village Wall Sun City Complex KEY
Course Clubhouse Baobab Forest 1 Buffalo Wing parks have maps showing
The 1 Grand Pool
Palace 2 Temple of Courage 2 King’s Tower
Hotel 3 Adventure Mountain 3 Desert Suite and
Sway Bridge 4 Valley of the Waves Presidential Suites facilities and trails. The most
Hidden Cave Falls Lake of 5 Bridge of Time 4 Queen’s Tower
Rainforest Cascades 6 Entertainment Centre 5 Elephant Atrium
Old East and Hippo Pool Royal Key 6 Some 1,600,000 trees, shrubs, interesting towns or city centres
Gate Bridge Bath Road (tarred) plants and groundcovers were
Royal planted at the Lost City
Amphitheatre Building
7 The porte-cochère leads to the have maps, with sights picked
domed lobby.
The Valley of the Waves
out and described.
For keys to symbols see back flap For hotels and restaurants see pp389–90 and pp408–10
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