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.
Population
Gauteng is the most
densely populated province in South Africa.
It houses more than seven million of the
country's people. Being the transport hub of
the continent, the mix of people here is
quite staggering, as is the level of
integration amongst races. About 70% of
Gauteng’s population is African; 23% white;
4% coloured (mixed race) and 2%
Indian/Asian.
Climate
The Highveld is said to
offer one of the world’s best climates:
summer days are warm and wind-free
(relatively) and winter days are crisp and
clear. Gauteng’s summer-rainfall area has
hot summers and mild winters with frost.
Hail is common during the summer
thunderstorms. Snowfalls rarely occur.
Getting to Know Gauteng
Johannesburg
Johannesburg, also
nicknamed Egoli (place of gold), is the
capital of the province. Here, mine dumps
stand firmly as symbols of its rich past,
while modern architecture rubs shoulders
with examples of 19th century engineering
prowess. Gleaming skyscrapers contrast with
Indian bazaars and African 'muti' (medicine)
shops, where traditional healers dispense
advice and traditional medicine.
Soweto
South of Johannesburg is
Soweto, a city developed as a township for
black people under the apartheid system.
Most of the struggle against apartheid was
fought in and from Soweto. The name Soweto
is an acronym, made up - in apartheid days -
from the first letters of the words ‘south
western township’.
Soweto is a city of
enterprise and cultural interaction. It is a
popular tourist destination with sites such
as Kliptown (where the Freedom Charter was
drawn up), the home of former President
Nelson Mandela, the Hector Petersen Memorial
site, restaurants and shopping malls.
Pretoria/Tshwane
Some 50 km north of
Johannesburg lies Pretoria, which resides
within the City of Tshwane Metropolitan
Municipality - a cluster of metropolitan
municipalities and councils that amalgamated
in December 2002.
As administrative capital
of the Republic, Pretoria is dominated by
government services and the diplomatic corps
of foreign representatives in South Africa.
Pretoria is renowned for
its colourful gardens, shrubs and trees,
particularly beautiful in spring when the 50
000 jacarandas envelop the avenues in mauve.
Pretoria has more than 100 parks, including
bird sanctuaries and nature reserves.
Dining
Gauteng’s restaurants
offer everything from the most mundane
franchise burger joint, to elaborate and
exotic themes reserved for the well-heeled.
From Africa, local traditions are up against
the best from our neighbours in Mozambique
and even as far afield as Morocco. Asia is
represented in a choice of Chinese, Indian,
Japanese, Thai and even Vietnamese
restaurants. The traditions of Europe and
the Middle East have also filtered through
in innumerable gastronomic offerings.
Music
Gauteng is a melting pot
of music and entertainment. It is a place
where cultures converge and continents
collide. Jazz bars and live music hangouts
offer some of the best local music on the
continent.
Shopping
Gauteng offers some of the
best shopping this side of the equator. From
world-class sprawling malls, to outdoor flea
markets, country stalls and even muti
markets – this part of the world is a
shopping Mecca for every taste.
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 who died in the 1976
uprising, and many others stand as testament
to the sons and daughters of Gauteng.
Sport and Events
Gauteng is the
indisputable sporting epi-centre of South
Africa. The province hosted the South
African Formula One Grand Prix in 1993,
Rugby World Cup Final in 1995, and the All
Africa Games in 1998. We also hosted the
Cricket World Cup in 2003 – with superb
feedback from around the globe. Look out for
the Soccer World Cup in 2010.
Major attractions:
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.
Johannesburg
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Magaliesburg
Information supplied by SA
Tourism
