In the heart of the country's northern reaches, the tiny province of Gauteng is South Africa's economic dynamo. Home to the bustling metropolis of Johannesburg, as well as Pretoria, the country's trim and tidy administrative capital, Gauteng is the smallest province in the country, but its population is the largest.
Gauteng means "place of gold" in the Sotho language, but today instead of gold, the province lures travelers primarily with its urban attractions, including poignant historical monuments and impressive museums and botanical gardens. Away from the cities, you can explore the fossil-rich caves of the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To the west of Gauteng, separated by the millennia-old Magaliesberg Mountains, the North West Province is a perfect counterpoint. Here, superb game parks such as Pilanesberg National Park and Madikwe Game Reserve offer back-to-the-bush authentic African safaris.
But even the North West Province has been touched by nature-defying development. In sharp contrast to the province's sprawling savannah, the impossibly lush Vegas-style Sun City resort is like a mirage in the desert, an unabashed pleasure precinct packed with entertainment, from water parks with wave pools to lavish themed hotels.
1. Pilanesberg National Park, North West Province
About three hours' drive from Johannesburg, near Sun City, Pilanesberg National Park offers fantastic game viewing. Here, you have a chance to spot the Big Five: leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo, and rhino.
Thanks to its location in a transition zone, between the arid Kalahari and the moist lowveld of the Transvaal, the park's wildlife is diverse and abundant. Sable antelope, roan, African wild dogs, zebras, giraffes, and more than 360 species of birds are among the many animals found here.
2. Lion & Safari Park, Gauteng
For a walk on the wild side, less than an hour's drive from Johannesburg, head to the popular Lion & Safari Park for the day. This is one of the top animal-centered Gauteng attractions.
Cheetah and lion walks, as well as interactions with giraffes and ostriches are some of the exhilarating activities on offer, and you can also choose from an array of guided tours, including predator tours, night-feeding tours, bush walks, and the flagship three-hour safari.
Prefer to explore on your own? You can take a self-drive tour to see the resident wildlife, including hyenas, wild dogs, zebras, lions, cheetahs, and many species of antelope.
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