Road trip... Destination 1: North West province
I'm sure all of us working people would like to go on a road trip, if we can... Well, at least I'd like to. So I have decided to take matters into my own hands. Since, I can't just up and go, the best alternative is to visit these places... by words.
So, today's destination, courtesy of Thisile, will be: North West province (what can I say, the child is weird).
North West is situated in the north of South Africa, sharing its border with Botswana. West of the province is the Kalahari desert, while the economic hub of SA, Gauteng, lies in its east, and the Free State to the south. North West is known for its platinum mines, nicknamed the Platinum Province.
The capital of North West is Mafikeng (I wonder if anyone we know lives there? For the sake of free accommodation, of course), which lies near the Botswana border. Other big cities in the province include Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp; other main towns are Brits and Rustenburg (Thato's home town! Accommodation is sorted!).
So what can one do in North West? It boasts the internationally famous Sun City (no, you will not see Charlize Theron walking around there), the Pilanesberg National Park, the Madikwe Game Reserve and the Rustenburg Nature Reserve. Many would say that Sun City is not to be missed, but seriously, we are not here to see man-made structures. Rather take a game drive that'd be more fun! Oh, also not to be missed are the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Vredefort Dome and the Taung huminid fossil site. The Vredefort Dome is the world's largest visible meteor-impact crater. The Taung fossil site together with Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai form the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site.
Now as oppose to Thisile's believe that there's nothing in North West, quite to the contrary there's a lots! Instead, the place is quite literally sitting on a "gold mine". About 94% of South Africa's platinum is found in the Rustenburg and Brits area. Apart from platinum, North West also produces a quarter of the country's gold, as well as granite, marble, fluorspar and diamonds. Still think there's nothing? Alright, fine! So I can't take any of those, but at least I can dream, can't I!!
Anyways, so what else can one do in North West? Well there are... white water rafting, canoeing, diving, hot air ballooning, hiking, fishing, rock climbing, abseiling, game viewing, hunting, golfing, birding, and much more!
That's all for now, folks. Stay tune for our next destination!
So, today's destination, courtesy of Thisile, will be: North West province (what can I say, the child is weird).
North West is situated in the north of South Africa, sharing its border with Botswana. West of the province is the Kalahari desert, while the economic hub of SA, Gauteng, lies in its east, and the Free State to the south. North West is known for its platinum mines, nicknamed the Platinum Province.
The capital of North West is Mafikeng (I wonder if anyone we know lives there? For the sake of free accommodation, of course), which lies near the Botswana border. Other big cities in the province include Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp; other main towns are Brits and Rustenburg (Thato's home town! Accommodation is sorted!).
So what can one do in North West? It boasts the internationally famous Sun City (no, you will not see Charlize Theron walking around there), the Pilanesberg National Park, the Madikwe Game Reserve and the Rustenburg Nature Reserve. Many would say that Sun City is not to be missed, but seriously, we are not here to see man-made structures. Rather take a game drive that'd be more fun! Oh, also not to be missed are the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Vredefort Dome and the Taung huminid fossil site. The Vredefort Dome is the world's largest visible meteor-impact crater. The Taung fossil site together with Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai form the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site.
Now as oppose to Thisile's believe that there's nothing in North West, quite to the contrary there's a lots! Instead, the place is quite literally sitting on a "gold mine". About 94% of South Africa's platinum is found in the Rustenburg and Brits area. Apart from platinum, North West also produces a quarter of the country's gold, as well as granite, marble, fluorspar and diamonds. Still think there's nothing? Alright, fine! So I can't take any of those, but at least I can dream, can't I!!
Anyways, so what else can one do in North West? Well there are... white water rafting, canoeing, diving, hot air ballooning, hiking, fishing, rock climbing, abseiling, game viewing, hunting, golfing, birding, and much more!
That's all for now, folks. Stay tune for our next destination!
posted by jule at
5:27 AM
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