Know your province

All the provinces have different landscapes to boast about. Limpopo has beautiful Baobab trees.
Get to know your province with these simple fun facts.
The Eastern Cape's main feature is its spectacular coastline, lapped by the warm Indian Ocean. The
coast is the province's main tourist attraction with long stretches of unspoilt sandy beaches, rocky
coves, secluded lagoons and towering cliffs. The main languages spoken in the Eastern Cape is
isiXhosa and Afrikaans. This province has two harbours and four airports offering direct flights to
the main centers, and an excellent road and rail infrastructure.
Must see: Hole in The Wall
The Free State lies in the heart of South Africa, with the Kingdom of Lesotho nestled in the hollow of
its bean-like shape. Its capital city is Bloemfontein and the main languages spoken are Sesotho and
Afrikaans. This is a summer-rainfall region and can be extremely cold during the winter months,
especially towards the eastern mountainous regions. The western and southern areas are semidesert. A beautiful range of hills near Parys in the northern Free State is actually part of the
Vredefort Dome, the largest visible meteor-impact site in the world.
Must see: Gariep Dam Nature Reserve
The smallest province, Gauteng punches way above its weight, contributing around 34% to the
national economy and some 7% to the GDP of the entire African continent. Gauteng was built on the
wealth of gold found deep underground. Johannesburg is the capital and the main languages spoken
are isiZulu and Afrikaans. An exciting blend of western art and cultural activities are reflected in
theatres and open-air arenas throughout the city. Gauteng has hot summers with dramatic afternoon
thunderstorms and dry cold winters. Gauteng is home to the Cradle of Humankind, one of South
Africa's eight Unesco World Heritage sites.

Must see: Arts on Main


Green, lush and beautiful Drakensberg Village in KwaZulu-Natal.

KwaZulu-Natal is known as The Garden province of South Africa and is a subtropical region with
lush and well-watered valleys, washed by the warm Indian Ocean. Its western part is marked by the
majestic Drakensberg mountain range, with several peaks well over 3000 metres. The range has
been awarded Unesco World Heritage status for its natural beauty and the wealth of San Bushman
rock art found in its caves the richest concentration on the continent of Africa. The capital of
KwaZulu-Natal is Pietermaritzburg and the people of this province speak isiZulu and English.
Must see: Umhlanga Rocks
Limpopo is a region of contrasts, from true bushveld to majestic mountains, primeval indigenous
forests, unspoilt wilderness and farmland. The province borders the countries of Botswana to the
west, Zimbabwe to the north and Mozambique to the east. In the eastern region lies part of the
magnificent Kruger National Park, a nature reserve teeming with wildlife, an area roughly the size of
Israel. The capital is Polokwane and this is a summer-rainfall region. The northern and eastern areas
are subtropical with hot and humid summers; winter is mild and mostly frost-free. In addition to the
Kruger National Park, there are 54 provincial reserves and several luxury private game reserves.
Must see: Go on safari

Mpumalanga is the second smallest province with spectacular scenic beauty and an abundance of
wildlife. Mpumalanga is highly accessible, with a network of excellent roads and railway
connections, as well as a number of small airports. The capital of Mpumalanga is Nelspruit. The
province is a summer-rainfall area, with occasional winter snow on high ground in the escarpment.
Thick mist is common during the hot and humid summers. Lake Chrissie is the largest natural
freshwater lake in South Africa and is famous for its variety of aquatic birds, particularly pretty pink
flamingos.
Must see: Blyde River Canyon

Beauty of a different kind. The bushveld of the North West.

The Northern Cape is the largest province, slightly bigger than Germany, but it has the smallest
population. The landscape is characterised by vast arid plains with haphazard rock piles. The capital
is Kimberley and the weather conditions are extreme frosty in winter, and very high temperatures in
summer. The area is known worldwide for its amazing annual explosion of spring flowers, attracting
thousands of tourists. The province has a wealth of national parks and conservation areas and it is
home to The Big Hole, an open-pit diamond mine, said to be the largest hand-excavated hole in the
world. It is also home to the worlds largest telescope.
Must see: Sutherland
North West is known as the Platinum Province for the wealth of the metal it has underground.
Mahikeng is the capital of the North West. This province has a number of major tourist attractions,
including the internationally famous Sun City, the Pilanesberg National Park, the Madikwe Game
Reserve and the Rustenburg Nature Reserve. Portions of two of South Africa's eight Unesco World

Heritage sites fall within the borders of North West: the Vredefort Dome, the world's largest visible
meteor-impact crater, and the Taung hominid fossil site, which has been incorporated into South
Africa's Cradle of Humankind.
Must see: Sun City
The Western Cape Afrikaans is one of the country's most beautiful, attracting its fair share of foreign
tourists. It is a region of majestic mountains and colourful farmland all set in lovely valleys and long
beaches. Further inland, the wide-open landscape of the semi-desert Karoo makes for a beautiful
contrast. The capital is Cape Town and the Western Cape is roughly the size of Greece. The
Mediterranean climate of the peninsula and the mountainous region is ideal for grape cultivation,
with a number of vineyards producing excellent wines. The Western Cape's unmatched natural
beauty, famous hospitality, cultural diversity, excellent wine and rich cuisine make it one of the
worlds greatest tourist attractions.
Must see: Hermanus

Gorgeous Sun City in the North West province.

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