Travel Guide & Accommodation in Gauteng (previously Transvaal), South Africa

If money makes the world go round, Gauteng is one of its major axes. Meaning 'the place where the gold is' Gauteng is the economic powerhouse of Africa. It is South Africa's smallest, wealthiest and most frenetic province. Everything moves fast - cars zoom down the highways, people walk fast through the malls and offices, and new buildings spring up on the drab brown Highveld like so many glass and chrome mushrooms. 

There are a number of small nature reserves where you could go for walk, or even a horse ride, and see some game. 

Being such a small province, Gauteng is virtually a hub, with easy access to attractions in neighbouring provinces, most notably the Free State and North West Province.

Johannesburg is about money. It's a city built on dreams of great wealth - literally built on gold. And while the gold mines are now on the outskirts of the city itself, it is money that drives this vibrant city that is widely accepted to be the economic powerhouse of Africa.

Not many visitors actually put Johannesburg on their itineraries but most end up spending a day or two here anyway, as it is the main air traffic hub of southern Africa - in fact, of Africa. And guess what? After initially whingeing to their travel agents about having to spend a whole day here, many want to stay longer. Johannesburg has had very bad press. Sure - it's not Utopia, and it's a city where you need to keep your wits about you and preferably not much else, but it's not the criminalised war zone that's been portrayed in the media. And it's a truly vibey place... read more

Pretoria (Tshwane) Information:

Affectionately known as the Jacaranda City for all the purple blossom-bedecked trees, which line its thoroughfares in summer, Pretoria is an elegant, quiet city that's a perfect contrast with its more frenetic neighbour, Johannesburg, just half an hour away. Pretoria has a long, involved and fascinating history - first as the capital of the independent Boer republic of the Transvaal, then as one of the three capitals of South Africa, it became an international synonym for apartheid. 

But that all changed in 1994. With Nelson Mandela's inauguration, the Union Buildings morphed overnight from a symbol of white, neo-colonial domination to one of true unity. And it's only one of the many landmarks in this cultural city.

The Transvaal Museum boasts excellent  natural history displays and is the home of Mrs Ples, the australopithecine fossil found at Sterkfontein in the Cradle of Humankind. Artefacts from the  Iron Age state of Mapungubwe are exhibited at the Mapungubwe Museum at the University of Pretoria. The famous golden rhino, golden sceptre, golden bowl and various gold, ivory and copper ornaments, trade beads and Chinese ceramics are on display... read more

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