Overview
Take a trip to North West Province on your South Africa Vacation
The North West Province of South Africa shares a border with Botswana, as well as four domestic borders with the Free State, Northern Cape, the Limpopo and Gauteng. The province was created in 1994 with the merger of Bophuthatswana – a former Bantustans (a black homeland), and the western part of Transvaal, one of the four former South African provinces.
The capital is Mafikeng which is popular with tourists on South Africa tours because of the Mafikeng Game Reserve, 4,600 ha of open Kalahari grassland and acacia thorn scrub. The province prides itself on offering an authentic African bush experience and Mafikeng Game Reserve is an excellent example of this on South Africa safaris.
Pilanesberg National Park is another famous area of the North West province. It is the fourth largest park in Southern Africa and is found in the crater of an extinct volcano. A preferred site of human settlement for thousands of years, after being proclaimed a reserve in 1979, it was, at the time, the largest and most expensive game stocking and land rehabilitation project ever initiated in an African game reserve. Today, while many other developing African countries are facing declining wildlife resources, Pilanesberg is witnessing the opposite and has received international praise.
Sun City, located between the Elands River and Pilanesberg National Park, has been described as South Africa’s answer to Las Vegas. Sun City has attracted not only tourists on South African vacations but big-name musical acts and remains ever popular with international and South African tourists alike.
Sun City, located between the Elands River and Pilanesberg National Park, has been described as South Africa’s answer to Las Vegas. Sun City has attracted not only tourists on South African vacations but big-name musical acts and remains ever popular with international and South African tourists alike.
At a Glance
Languages
Zulu, Xhosa, Afrikaans, EnglishCurrency
South African Rand (ZAR)What do the experts say?
Skip the more commercial wineries and visit artisanal producers—you’ll find sparkling wines and small-batch reds that are absolutely world-class.
Djembe drumming at GOLD in Cape Town is an immersive African experience through their 14-dish food safari and unique live entertainment.
The game viewing in Kruger and Eastern Cape always draws me back—it’s truly superb.
South Africans are famously warm—when you’re new in town, you're often invited to a braai, our way of welcoming people through food.
South Africa is a wonderful starting point for Africa. It's got some of the top cities in the world, stunning food and wine, and exceptional value for money.
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