Travelling in North West Province
Fun and Fantasy
La Provence d’Afrique - a piece of make-believe France is to be found on the banks of the Magalies river.
La Provence d’Afrique is not pretentious as the name might lead you to believe, but instead offers you a fantasy French countryside to escape to with friends and loved ones.
Sculptor, Charles Gotthard, also known for his Goblin’s Cove fairy restaurant in Magaliesburg, converted his studio of stone into French suites. Nothing too exciting from the outside, once inside under the canopy of leaves and branches, the magic of the Gotthard’s is tangible.
A huge fountain and a piano in the courtyard leads you down a French provincial street past seven suites to an outsize yellow wood table lingering in the warmth of a huge fire place, where guests often “kuier” into the wee hours of the morning.
Most of the furniture, window frames and leaded glass window panes where salvaged from demolished building and have a history of nostalgia surrounding them. The aptly named suites have romantic bathrooms with Victorian baths, antique furniture and hand embroidered lined. Feather boas, ornate mirrors, old trunks, heavy curtains and candles add to their charm.
You can enjoy dinner from a picnic basket in the "street café" or at Goblin's Cove. In summertime, enjoy breakfast in the lush garden or picnic on the lawn next to the river on trout, bread, salad and wine. When the air gets nippy, you can count on a hearty pot of soup on the fire and hot, sumptious dinners.
Activities include star gazing evenings on top of the Magalies berg, stone therapy massage, horse riding and hot air balloon flights. Intimate theatre parties and French evenings are also offered.
For more details phone 014 577 1126 or 082 900 8205
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Madikwe Game Reserve
Madikwe Game Reserve is located on the Limpopo river border with Botswana, and is one of two of the largest national parks.
Situated a mere three hours drive from both Johanesburg and Pretoria, the Madikwe Game Reserve is renowned as one of South Africa's prmier safari destinations. Being home to 66 large mammal species, including the 'Big Five', and approximately 300 resident and migrant bird species, Madikwe Game Reserve is one of the largest of its kind in the country. Guests can enjoy day and night game drives and bush walks, or just be treated to the absolute luxury of the area's many fine accomodation facilities.
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Mafikeng Game Reserve
When visiting Mafikeng be sure to include this attractive park into your itinerary.
Not only is the Reserve an important recreational area for the western regions of the province, but is also a breeding centre for a wide variety of game species.
The Mafikeng Game Reserve conserves large populations of plains game including white rhino, buffalo, gemsbok and giraffe which can be viewed and photographed on the open plains.
Numerous sightings of all the principal species is a special feature of the reserve, and numerous birds may be viewed along the Molopo River.
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More Exciting Info about the North West Province
The North West Province is mostly pretty close to the urban conurbation of Johannesburg and Pretoria.
While vast areas are dedicated to maize and cattle farming, and the mining industry is very well developed, ther are some wonderful destinations.
The fantastic Madikwe Game Reserve, right on the Botswana border is a wonderful place with all of the Big Five and - major bonus, - a large population of the gorgeous and endangered African wild dog. It's not often you get to see these particularly attractive animals, with their 'painted' coats and white tipped tails.
Another fantastic reserve is Pilanesburg, which is situated in an enormous volcanic crater - long extinct, don't worry. One of the major attractions of Pilanesberg is the hot air balloon flights from which you're likely to see a variety of animals.
Pilanesberg is smack bang next door to the rather over-the-top casino resort of Sun City and the outrageous Lost City. As well as gambling, there are fun rides, water parks, horse trails and two championship golf courses. It's all designed to separate you from your hard earned cash but, if you go there expecting that, you'll have loads of fun.
The small town of Groot Marico is deeply entrenched in the South African pshyche as the setting for the stories of one of the country's most well loved authors - Herman Charles Bosman. His rather far fetched, hilariously funny and touching poignant short stories tell of the ambitions and misadventures of the thinly fictionalised residents of this rural enclave in the early 20th century. The whole town is a tribute to the man who put it - literally - on the map. The literature map, that is. You can do a mampoer tasting trips, which are only recommended for people with strong and healthy livers, visit the pub in which most of his stories are set, and do some general tours of the area, including a visit to the Eye of Mariko - a pretty spring, which is also a rather low key dive site, strangely though.
Really close to Johannesburg is the lovely Magaliesburg, where you'll find all manner of rural pleasures including craft outlets and studios, coffee shops, restaurants, guest houses, cheese factories, horse trails and hot air balloon rides.
"Copyright: TDS - Leisure Pages".
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South Africa's North West Province is diverse and exciting
Mafikeng is the Home of SOL PLAATJIES and the founding town for Lord Baden-Powell who founded the international scouts movement.
Some of the finest wildlife reserves, cultural sites, archaeological treasures, and entertainment resorts await visitors. It's close proximity to Johannesburg International Airport, and the major centres of Johannesburg and Pretoria make access both easy and convenient to visitors who seek to experience the wilderness and cultural treasures of the North West.
The agricultural and mining production in the North West is extremely important to the South African economy, platinum, gold, maize, beef and sunflower seeds being the principal products.
The people of the North West will welcome you with traditional warmth and share with you their pride in their history and culture, creating a lasting bond of friendship and understanding.
Barberspan Bird Sanctuary is one of the prime birding sites in Africa and the fishing at Borakalalo and Bloemhof reserves is unequalled. Pilanesberg National Park is located high in the Pilanesberg mountain range, traversing the floor of a vast and anceint volcano. Close by are the world- renowned Sun City and Lost City resorts, and the Bakubung and Kwa Maritane timeshare lodges, all of which provide an excellent accommodation base from which to explore the Pilanesberg.
Mafikeng not only have a "BIG 5 Game Reserve" which is an internationally marketed as a malaria free area, at the Madikwe Game Reserve, you can also enjoy a true African Safari Adventure where you will be taken to the very heart of pristine environment to witness the interaction of many species. Where nothing can live in isolation and survival means not only life, but also death. Experience the savage beauty of an African wilderness.
Main icons and tourist destinations are the Hartebeespoort Dam, Magaliesberg national Park, Sun City and the Palace of the Lost City, Madikwe Game Reserve, Mafikeng Capital City, The Vredefort Dome, and the Taung Heritage Site.
Below a few "Did you know" facts about Mafikeng:-
Mafikeng is situated 30km from the Botswana border, Lobatse (in Botswana) is the closest town to the border.
The airport in Mafikeng is in the process of being upgraded to international status.
Mafikeng has a fully equipped international sports stadium better known as the Mmabatho Sports Stadium.
Tusk Mmabatho Casino which incorporates the Leopard Park Golf Estate, plays host to big golfing days. This has also just recently been taken over by Peermont Casino group (Caesars Palace).
Zeerust is 60km away from Mafikeng, and will be hosts the annual BOSVELD HOENDER FEES around the beginning of the November.
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Sun City
Out of the depths of the bushveld rises Sun City. A vast entertainment complex with four world class hotels including the world famous Lost City.
In the North West Province lies an opulent complex of hotels, gaming rooms, theatres, restaurants, bars, discos and shops, all set in beautifully landscaped grounds with indigenous plants, this is the pleasure ground of Sun City, mecca for holiday-makers.
Hotels rang from the family-orientated Cabanas through the plush Sun City complex and the Cascades, also recently revamped, to the magnificent Lost City – whose centrepiece is the elaborately domed and minareted Palace of the Lost City, styled in a rich, African theme with life size statues and elaborate mosaic fountains and entrance halls.
The Valley of Waves Water Park is a central feature of the Lost City. This African fantasy world immerses visitors in the atmosphere of an ancient, exotic civilization. This playground has been described as the best in the world. The Valley of Waves recreates the mystery and marvels of an old age mythical civilisation in an exotic jungle, threaded with a wonderland of waterscapes, and adventure areas in the Valley, which is the largest and most imaginative of its kind ever created.
For golfers, the Gary Player country club, which hosts the annual Million Dollar Golf Challenge, has a desert-style golf course where crocodiles lie in the wait. Among Sun City’s amenities are riding stables, bowling greens and tennis and squash courts.
Not to be missed is the latest extravaganza, AFRO-DIZZIA!, an intoxicating kaleidoscope of dizzy energy, steaming sensuality and glorious spectacle - paying homage to the world of Extravaganza – where every spectacle born on her stage will be reincarnated, and given a dizzy re-invention.
Much revolves around attractive stretches of water – the waterscape near the Cascades, with its interlinked pools, weirs, tropical walkways and waterfowl; and Waterworld, a giant ‘lake’ for both the idle and the water-sports enthusiast.
Visit Kwena Garden, a ‘prehistoric’ reptile park and crocodile ranch. For the little ones, Camp Kwena offers a day care service full of fun and new friends.
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The Taung Heritage Site
The Taung Heritage Site is of enormous scientific importance.
It was at these limestone diggings at the old Buxton quarry in 1924 that the lime encrusted skull of a child was unearthed. Prof Raymond Dart, who discovered the skull belonging to an early hominid, named it "Australopithecus africanus" meaning the "southern ape of Africa". The Taung Heritage Site is dedicated to the discovery of this skull.
The discovery of the Taung child skull at the Buxton quarry was heralded as one of the most significant archaeological events of the time. The find effectively advanced the evidence of the existence of early man in Africa by more than a million years, leading many scientists to believe that the origin of early man was indeed initiated on the African continent.
The Taung site is not only of archaeological importance, although it has been recently awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO. From the limestone cliffs at the head of the valley, a constant flow of clear water flows through a succession of attractive pools (the Blue Pools) in descent down to this ancient valley. The azure Blue Pools are surrounded by picturesque caves and streams. This is a popular hiking, abseiling and picnic venue.
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Click on the regional link below to get great advice on more Top South African Travel Destinations.
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