North West is an inland South African province that borders Botswana. Its landscape is defined by mountains in the northeast and bushveld scattered with trees and shrubs. The province is home to Sun City, an upscale resort with hotels, a casino and a water park with a massive wave pool. Nearby is Pilanesberg National Park, with an extinct volcano and more than 7,000 animals, including lions and elephants. Much of the province consists of flat areas of scattered trees and grassland. The Magaliesberg mountain range in the northeast extends about 130 km (about 80 miles) from Pretoria to Rustenburg. The Vaal River flows along the southern border of the province. The majority of the province’s residents are the Tswana people who speak Tswana.
What to do :
Valley of the Waves
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The Valley of the Waves theme park at the Sun City resort offers visitors the chance to surf, swim and ride water chutes in the midst of the African bushveld. An immensely popular theme park and entertainment venue, the Valley of the Waves is recreation heaven. The Valley of the Waves theme park is a jewel in the crown of the Sun City resort complex, no mean feat when you consider the enormous range of leisure activities on offer at the resort. Catering to both day visitors and those staying over at one of Sun City’s many luxury resorts, the Valley of the Waves’ entertainment options are many, from simply lazing around in the sun or enjoying a leisurely swim to riding the rapids on an underground river. There are more sedate rides for younger children and nervous adults too. The Sacred River Ride is an underground river journey on brightly coloured tubes that gently meanders its way around the Valley of the Waves theme park, or tackle the Tarantula, a scream-a-minute tube ride in total darkness!
Pilanesberg Game Reserve
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Situated in the caldera of a 1.3-million-year-old extinct volcano, is a wonderfully scenic reserve replete with mountains, valleys, plains, rocky outcrops and a huge dam. Today over 7 000 animals (including the Big Five) roam the reserve’s diverse ecosystems. Pilanesberg is also home to hundreds of bird species and you may well find yourself eye-to-eye with a Verreaux’s or tawny eagle as your hot-air balloon floats high over the surrounding countryside. Depending on wind and weather conditions, you’ll fly at anything from treetop height to just over 1 800m. You’ll see lots of game on this aerial safari – herds of antelope, grazing white rhino (the Pilanesberg is one of the best places in the world to see white rhino), stately giraffe, scampering zebra, browsing elephants, herds of buffalo, and, if you’re lucky, lions and maybe even a leopard. But ballooning is not just about game-spotting. No longer earth-bound, just soak up the tranquility, shed your stress, and watch Africa’s majesty drift slowly beneath you. BEST TIME TO VISIT: Any time of year is good, but remember to wrap up warmly in winter. Balloons fly every day of the week at sunrise (depending on weather conditions).
Hartbeespoort Dam
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Hartbeespoort Dam is a popular weekend and day trip destination for folk in the Johannesburg and Pretoria area. The dam and surrounding areas offer a host of outdoor activities, from a variety of watersports to flights of every description. Hikes, walks and trails complete the region’s compelling outdoor adventure activities. Boating and watersports are popular, and visitors can enjoy sailing, windsurfing, jet skiing, parasailing and water skiing. Sundowner cruises on Hartbeespoort Dam are also popular. Quad biking has become a popular way to explore the rugged hillsides around the town and there are numerous operators offering quad trails of varying lengths and difficulties. There are also lots of ways to enjoy the scenery from the air. Paragliding and hang-gliding are both popular, which affords a bird’s eye view of the dam, mountains and adjacent river valleys. If climbing mountains is more to your liking, you’ll be pleased to know there are several rock climbing and hiking routes in the area, some of which also include abseiling. The nearby Crocodile River, which feeds the dam, offers white water rafting, including overnight options complete with riverside camping. Tubing, canoeing and cable slides into the river are also available. The area also boasts one of South Africa’s few inland dive sites – a 33m-deep open cast chrome mine at Miracle Waters, north of the dam. The clear spring water provides good visibility and several underwater features, including a sunken bus and aeroplane, are accessible to experienced divers.
Magalies Meander
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Take a break from city life and head westwards out of Johannesburg or Pretoria to the Magalies Meander in the heart of the beautiful Magaliesberg Mountains. These mountains have seen a tumultuous historical and cultural past, where Boer battled Brit and rival local tribes fought for territory. But they are also home to an amazing variety of indigenous woodland, plants, birds and wildlife – a nature lover’s paradise. Visit some of the attractions en route: Maropeng, the Visitor Centre at the Cradle of Humankind; the ancient Sterkfontein caves; the Elephant Sanctuary; and the Mountain Sanctuary Park. Go game spotting at the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve, or spend some time on a working farm. If you want a bird’s eye view of the rolling green hills, valleys and rivers, then take a balloon safari. Or swing through the forest on a canopy tour. What about a quad or mountain bike trail, or a canter along a mountain path on a sturdy pony
Magaliesberg Mountain
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Famous for their dramatic quartzite cliffs, the Magaliesberg Mountains offer an abundance of valleys, ravines, cliffs and waterfalls for the pleasure and indulgence of nature lovers. The mountains are also a birder’s delight, with over 300 bird species recorded. Cape vulture and Verreaux’s (black) eagle nest in cliffside colonies with jackal buzzard, falcon and swift. During winter flowering red aloes attract iridescent sunbirds, while summer warmth lures migrating storks. You’ll be able to tick off starling, robin, cuckoo, barbet, owl and many other bird species. Rich in geology, biodiversity and human heritage, there are plans to have the Magaliesberg declared a UNESCO biosphere, thereby ensuring the preservation of this ancient natural treasure for future generations. The mountains are also a birder’s delight, with over 300 bird species recorded. Cape vulture and Verreaux’s (black) eagle nest in cliffside colonies with jackal buzzard, falcon and swift. During winter flowering red aloes attract iridescent sunbirds, while summer warmth lures migrating storks. You’ll be able to tick off starling, robin, cuckoo, barbet, owl and many other bird species.
Hartbeespoort Aerial Cableway
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Hartbeespoort Dam, with its abundant adventure and sporting activities, has always been popular with visitors, but now it can add the impressive new Aerial Cableway to its many other attractions. Closed, forgotten and fallen into disrepair, the original 1973 cableway has been brought back to vibrant life, sporting 14 new six-seater cable cars with wrap-around vision, the latest Swiss technology and hi-tech equipment. Stunning views await you. Amble round the 1km Dassie Loop, keeping an eye out for dassies – beaver-sized mammals that sun themselves on mountain slopes – as you scan the far distance beyond the blue waters of the massive Hartbeespoort Dam. At the base station, you’ll climb into your comfortable aerial gondola, then, with a whirr and a hum, the sophisticated machinery lifts you gently off the ground, then higher and higher, until you reach the very top. Although information plaques along the loop direct your gaze to points of interest all around, take time out to spot birds, small animals and the many grasses, flowers, trees and shrubs that cover the flanks of some of the oldest mountains in the world – the Magaliesberg..
Mountain Sanctuary Park
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Hiking, biking and walking are pursuits perfectly suited to the expansive Magaliesberg Mountains. Add pristine mountain pools, endemic animals, ancient rock formations and leafy overhead canopies, and you begin to get an idea why Mountain Sanctuary Park is considered a perennial favourite. The Mountain Sanctuary Park is a privately owned nature reserve tucked away amid the peace and quiet of the ancient Magaliesberg Mountains. The rocky terrain is pure mountain-bike heaven, with routes suited to all abilities. Barnardsvlei Road suits novices, while the physically demanding Breedt’s Neck Mountain Pass will test the mettle of experts. A demanding 12km trail also forms part of the annual Magalies Monster bike race. After a hard day’s hiking and biking, flop into the swimming pool set in a deck overlooking a picturesque valley. Then, when you’re cool and relaxed, throw some traditional South African boerewors (spiced sausage) on the braai (barbeque), as the locals do. Relaxing with a book under a shady tree is the best way to absorb the peace and tranquility that has become the hallmark of the Mountain Sanctuary Park. If you’re very quiet, you might be lucky enough to spot endemic fauna such as klipspringers, monkeys, jackals, warthogs and an amazing array of birds and butterflies.
Madikwe Game Reserve
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Madikwe Game Reserve, right up against the Botswana border in the North West province, is a strange anomaly in the world of conservation. One of South Africa’s foremost Big Five malaria-free reserves, was envisaged not by conservationists, but by economists. They found conservation would create more income and jobs than the existing land-use, which was cattle-farming. This successful reserve is now a model that has inspired South African conservation. It was transformed from a number of low-yield cattle farms to a high yield conservation area. This was not land chosen by ecologists for its rare vegetation or animals. It was chosen by economists because they found that a game reserve here would generate more jobs and money than any other land use option. Madikwe is now a model of the way conservation can benefit communities.
Source: southafrica.net
By Thato Malau
@ThatoMalau
Eden Myrrh from Cape Town sang Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know”. I don’t know the song but girl was horrible, from her tone to the dress code she was horrible.
Xanilee Hammond sang Brandi Carlile’s “The Story”.LOL woeheeee the only thing I can remember is Lira’ lying saying she was blown away by her shoes. I literally went on a brain freeze. someone please help my asseblief… please balance these shoes for me, are they WOW or NAY?
Lana Crowster messed up a beautiful song, she chose to sing Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing)”… I felt she thought she was on Shell Road To Fame!
Then there was Thembeka Mnguni from Durban! she also got the green light. she sang Beyonce’s halo. I’m prone to believing she can sing but over-singing a song is no sign of being a good singer. sister’s over sang that song, she even had the Whitney jaw shaking singing style. Doesn’t she look like Winnie Khumalo?
Busisiwe Mutlaka attempted Kelly Clarkson’s “Because Of You”… not my favourite, but she tried.
Show hosted by Lungile “Lungsta” Radu.
Not sure about this one though, we think the shoes have messed up the look.
I was told not to stalk him, his name is Lebo Dulamo… cute.
…Or shall we say latest conquest? LOL cute u-bhutiza nonetheless
The forever stylish Allan… if looks could kill.
I love Thulani Hadebe but Kabelo says Thulani thinks he is white… andazi.
Dr Lex and friend… I love what this dentist seems to be doing outside his job and being a socialite.
PE born, Zola NkonkI looking gorge in gold.
Eish Kgosi Modisane (guy in grey pants) loves to play deputy what-what yazi. Lol #CuteSnap
Crazy Beautiful people!
and drunk poses?
Yesss!
Death does not discriminate if TK and Mzwandile’s time comes, it will find them even in the sky or on the road. Yes it’s unfortunate for the families that lost their loved ones. Mabalale ngolukhulu uxolo.
Move Mag, runs with the Mandoza Cancer story as their cover. I think we have discussed Mandoza sickness a while back so I’m not going to get to that but I was say he is lucky to have Mpho as his support in this time.
