Discover....
Gauteng.
Gauteng.
Gauteng is where the creative spirit of a nation converges in a dense, cultural heartland. It is the intersection of African and global trade - incorporating Johannesburg, Pretoria and Soweto.
Gauteng is a cosmopolitan, multicultural mix of people from all walks of life, from all corners of the world. Gauteng's primary attraction is big business, but there is so much more to this province. There is a wealth of culture to be mined in the museums, galleries, art routes and historical battlefields. Gauteng is also an entertainment playground, offering a plethora of world-class restaurants, shebeens, shopping malls and music venues.
Gauteng is a cosmopolitan, multicultural mix of people from all walks of life, from all corners of the world. Gauteng's primary attraction is big business, but there is so much more to this province. There is a wealth of culture to be mined in the museums, galleries, art routes and historical battlefields. Gauteng is also an entertainment playground, offering a plethora of world-class restaurants, shebeens, shopping malls and music venues.
Overview
Where else on earth can you find a mini-Big Apple existing alongside the remains of the first hominids? Gauteng has a legacy of larger-than-life heroes and villains, ancient civilisations, as well as turbulent political history. Johannesburg - also called ‘Joburg’ - dates back to 1886 when the main Witwatersrand gold-bearing reef was discovered. Almost immediately, the Transvaal (as it was known then) was swamped by diggers from near and far. In 1900, Johannesburg fell to the British (during the Anglo-Boer War). Around this time, the black townships were established - such as Sophiatown and Alexandra. The thirties gave birth to the township of Orlando - in the southwest of Johannesburg. This is the area around which Soweto evolved. Much of the history of the province was defined by apartheid and forced removals.
Major Attractions:
Heritage
The many monuments, such as the Hector Petersen Memorial (Soweto) and the Women's Memorial (Pretoria), are some of the historic testimonies to the bravery of our heroes. The Sharpeville Memorial - a reminder of where protestors were killed, the Hector Petersen Memorial - a tribute to the youth of Soweto.
The Apartheid Museum Dedicated to South Africa’s darkest days - this incredible world-class museum documents the forced removals, political executions, the rise of Black Consciousness and the 1976 Soweto student uprisings and its triumphs.
Newtown Newtown Cultural Precinct is where some of Johannesburg’s hot and happening cultural scene can be found. At the heart of Newtown sits the famous Museum Africa as well as the Market Theatre complex. Newtown is part of the inner city regeneration project and promises to be Joburg’s most popular tourist hotspot.
The Cradle of Humankind Take a tour to the Cradle of Humankind, at Sterkfontein, Gauteng’s famous World Heritage Site - where caves have produced nearly half of the world’s hominid fossil discoveries. Close to the Cradle is the Kromdraai Wonder Cave, as well as the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve.
Township Tours Experience Township Life up close and personal, in Soweto. Visiting the Regina Mundi Church, Sharpeville Memorial Site, Nelson Mandela’s home - and/or stay for the night at any of Soweto’s famous Bed and Breakfasts. There are also township tours offered in Alexandra as well as the keen hospitality offered by township dwellers around Tshwane.
Out in the Country The Magaliesberg area offers a wonderful arts-and-crafts route including fabulous foodie options, country getaways and wildlife. The Crocodile Ramble and the Magalies Meander are two well-known tourists routes in the area.
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens A well-maintained nature reserve with over 600 species of flowering plants, 210 species of birds, as well as a number of reptiles and small mammals.
Days of Gold Spend a day at the famous Gold Reef City, where you can go underground on a mine exploration and relive the old gold rush days of Johannesburg.
Museum Heartland Pretoria offers a number of fantastic museums, grouped together as Museum Park. Why not visit the Natural Cultural History Museum of Science and Technology, the Transvaal Museum and the GeoScience Museum, to mention just a few.
Union Buildings Designed by British Architect Sir Herbert Baker to accommodate the offices of the Prime Minister in 1913. The Union Buildings is set in terraced gardens modelled on the famous Villa d’Este at Tivoli near Rome, Italy, with magnificent views of the city. The gardens of the Union Buildings are home to another group of memorial structures.
Voortrekker Monument Heritage Site Perched conspicuously on top of one of the many hills that surround the City of Pretoria, is the imposing Voortrekker Monument. This enormous granite construction commemorates the Voortrekkers (pioneers) who trekked from the Cape, between 1835 and 1854, in search of independence from British rule.
Tswaing Meteorite Crater Situated 40 km to the northwest of Pretoria, the Tswaing Meteorite Crater is known as the Pretoria Saltpan. One of the best-preserved meteorite craters in the world, this crater is home to a few stone artefacts of the Late Stone Age as well as an impressive wetland.
A walk on the wild side All around Gauteng, one has the opportunity to experience wildlife and nature at its most abundant. The much-loved Lanseria lion park is a must for children of all ages and Krugersdorp Game Reserve offers a safari-type adventure close to both Johannesburg and Pretoria. ·
Where else on earth can you find a mini-Big Apple existing alongside the remains of the first hominids? Gauteng has a legacy of larger-than-life heroes and villains, ancient civilisations, as well as turbulent political history. Johannesburg - also called ‘Joburg’ - dates back to 1886 when the main Witwatersrand gold-bearing reef was discovered. Almost immediately, the Transvaal (as it was known then) was swamped by diggers from near and far. In 1900, Johannesburg fell to the British (during the Anglo-Boer War). Around this time, the black townships were established - such as Sophiatown and Alexandra. The thirties gave birth to the township of Orlando - in the southwest of Johannesburg. This is the area around which Soweto evolved. Much of the history of the province was defined by apartheid and forced removals.
Major Attractions:
Heritage
The many monuments, such as the Hector Petersen Memorial (Soweto) and the Women's Memorial (Pretoria), are some of the historic testimonies to the bravery of our heroes. The Sharpeville Memorial - a reminder of where protestors were killed, the Hector Petersen Memorial - a tribute to the youth of Soweto.
The Apartheid Museum Dedicated to South Africa’s darkest days - this incredible world-class museum documents the forced removals, political executions, the rise of Black Consciousness and the 1976 Soweto student uprisings and its triumphs.
Newtown Newtown Cultural Precinct is where some of Johannesburg’s hot and happening cultural scene can be found. At the heart of Newtown sits the famous Museum Africa as well as the Market Theatre complex. Newtown is part of the inner city regeneration project and promises to be Joburg’s most popular tourist hotspot.
The Cradle of Humankind Take a tour to the Cradle of Humankind, at Sterkfontein, Gauteng’s famous World Heritage Site - where caves have produced nearly half of the world’s hominid fossil discoveries. Close to the Cradle is the Kromdraai Wonder Cave, as well as the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve.
Township Tours Experience Township Life up close and personal, in Soweto. Visiting the Regina Mundi Church, Sharpeville Memorial Site, Nelson Mandela’s home - and/or stay for the night at any of Soweto’s famous Bed and Breakfasts. There are also township tours offered in Alexandra as well as the keen hospitality offered by township dwellers around Tshwane.
Out in the Country The Magaliesberg area offers a wonderful arts-and-crafts route including fabulous foodie options, country getaways and wildlife. The Crocodile Ramble and the Magalies Meander are two well-known tourists routes in the area.
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens A well-maintained nature reserve with over 600 species of flowering plants, 210 species of birds, as well as a number of reptiles and small mammals.
Days of Gold Spend a day at the famous Gold Reef City, where you can go underground on a mine exploration and relive the old gold rush days of Johannesburg.
Museum Heartland Pretoria offers a number of fantastic museums, grouped together as Museum Park. Why not visit the Natural Cultural History Museum of Science and Technology, the Transvaal Museum and the GeoScience Museum, to mention just a few.
Union Buildings Designed by British Architect Sir Herbert Baker to accommodate the offices of the Prime Minister in 1913. The Union Buildings is set in terraced gardens modelled on the famous Villa d’Este at Tivoli near Rome, Italy, with magnificent views of the city. The gardens of the Union Buildings are home to another group of memorial structures.
Voortrekker Monument Heritage Site Perched conspicuously on top of one of the many hills that surround the City of Pretoria, is the imposing Voortrekker Monument. This enormous granite construction commemorates the Voortrekkers (pioneers) who trekked from the Cape, between 1835 and 1854, in search of independence from British rule.
Tswaing Meteorite Crater Situated 40 km to the northwest of Pretoria, the Tswaing Meteorite Crater is known as the Pretoria Saltpan. One of the best-preserved meteorite craters in the world, this crater is home to a few stone artefacts of the Late Stone Age as well as an impressive wetland.
A walk on the wild side All around Gauteng, one has the opportunity to experience wildlife and nature at its most abundant. The much-loved Lanseria lion park is a must for children of all ages and Krugersdorp Game Reserve offers a safari-type adventure close to both Johannesburg and Pretoria. ·
Copyright Africa Inside Out 2008
