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Gauteng / Johannesburg
Gauteng (Sotho word meaning “place of Gold”) is the commercial and industrial hub of South Africa
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. For the inexperienced traveler Gauteng can be rather daunting. Lekker Holidays suggests a tailor made choice of holiday for this province. Our experienced South African staff will handle ever aspect of your visit. Click here to complete our online enquiry form and one of our agents will call you to discuss your needs. For the more seasoned South African traveler. A choice of excellent hotels in the North provides an ideal platform for day visits in and around Johannesburg.
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 civilizations, 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 Sophia town 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.
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 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. Gauteng has the most amazing electrical storms, not for the faint hearted.
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. The busy streets ring out with the call of fruit sellers and street vendors. An exciting blend of ethnic and Western art and cultural activities is reflected in theatres and open-air arenas, throughout the city. The northern subarbs offer an array of 5 star accommodations. Johannesburg like any other city can be dangerous at night; we advise checking with your hotel what tour services and transport they offer. Click here for recommended Johannesburg Hotels.
Soweto
South of Johannesburg is Soweto, a city developed as a township for black people under the apartheid system. Now better know as the original home of ex president Neslson Mandela. Most of the struggle against apartheid was fought in and from Soweto.
Soweto is estimated to be inhabited by over two million people, with homes ranging from extravagant mansions to makeshift shacks. 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. It boasts one of the largest hospitals on the continent and the only African-owned private clinic. There are serveal tour operators offeing day trips into Soweto, you can go to a real “shebeen” and drink with the locals, see Nelson Mandela’s home learn from candid tour guides abouth the struggle and the birth of the ANC. Click here for a list of recommended Soweto tour operators.
Pretoria/Tshwane
Some 50 km north of Johannesburg lays Pretoria, which resides within the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. 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 colorful gardens, shrubs and trees, particularly beautiful in spring when the 50 000 jacarandas envelop the avenues in purple to mauve. Pretoria has more than 100 parks, including bird sanctuaries and nature reserves. Church Square is well worth visiting. Many historical sightseeing tours depart from here. Click here for recommended Pretoria tour operators.
• Dining: (see list of restaurants)
Gauteng’s restaurants offer everything from the most mundane franchised burger, to elaborate and exotic themes reserved for the well-heeled tourist. Don’t discount the popular steak franchise Spur for an excellent night out. Spur is well supported by the locals and serves up juicy flame grilled steaks in a relaxed atmosphere. There are also numerous choices of Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Thai and even Vietnamese restaurants. The majority of South African restaurants have excellent table service, most waiter rely heavily on tips for income. A normal tip is any thing from 10% of the total value of the bill.
• Music
Gauteng has produced many South African artists who have made it in the international community. The clubs provide a stomping ground for new artist’s looking to crack recording contracts. The most popular local radio station is 94.7 Highveld Stereo www.highveld.co.za. You can listen online from any where in the world thanks to streaming audio.
• Shopping
Gauteng offers some of the best shopping in Afirca. From world-class sprawling malls, Sandton City, Eastgate to outdoor flea markets, and country stalls. All Shopping Malls are situated outside the city centres and have a large variety of shops, restaurants and cinemas. Perfect for a day out. Click here for a list of Gauteng Shopping Malls
• 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 epee 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. Coming soon the 2010 world cup.
Major attractions in the area:
• 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.
• Kruger House
President Paul Kruger lived in a house situated just three blocks from Church Square, from 1884 until 1900. The Victorian gabled house – which represents a simplified version of the neo-Gothic style - is a museum and displays his furniture, stagecoach, private railway coach and all of his personal effects. A few hundred metres to the west, is Pretoria’s Old Cemetery, Helde Akker (heroes’ acre) where President Kruger lies buried.
• 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. The Delville Wood memorial commemorates the South African soldiers who died in the Battle of Delville Wood in France (World War I). Today, the Union Buildings still house the offices of the State President.
• 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.
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