North West lies in the north of South Africa, on the Botswana border, fringed by the Kalahari desert in the west, Gauteng to the east, and the Free State to the south. Sun City, the Pilanesberg National Park, the Madikwe Game Reserve, the Cradle of Humankind Site, the Taung Heritage Site, the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Trust and the Lesedi Cultural Village are some of the tourist attractions.

Some of the largest cattle herds in the world are found at Stellaland near Vryburg, which explains why this area is often referred to as the Texas of South Africa. Marico is also a cattle country. North West is South Africa’s major producer of white maize. Mining contributes immensely to North West’s economy and the South African mining industry.
It is known as the Platinum Province due to its abundant mineral riches of platinum, chrome and the platinum group metals. It is also home to a strong dimension stone sector, due to the riches of its slate, marble and granite deposits. The Rustenburg and Brits districts produce 94% of the country’s platinum. In addition to granite, marble, fluorspar and diamonds, the province also produces a quarter of South Africa’s gold

Mafikeng

Mafikeng is situated next to Mmabatho, the vibrant provincial and commercial capital of the North West Province. It is a town with an interesting history, rich culture and wildlife variety. The name Mafikeng (Mahikeng) means "The place among the rocks". This name was given to the area by early Barolong chiefs who had settled along the Molopo River near the present day village of Rooigrond after a period of intertribal war. Mafikeng is served by excellent hotels, guesthouses and bed & breakfast establishments. There is a casino located at the Tusk Mmabatho Casino Resort. There are two golf courses: the Leopard Park Golf Club, located in the western suburbs and the Mafikeng Golf Club.

The city of Mafikeng has it all! There is no shortage of tourist accommodation available in the area. There are hotels, lodges, guest houses, bed and breakfasts, self-catering units and even casinos to stay the night.

Visit the Botsalano Game Reserve, The reserve is located in open Kalahari thornveld. It is used for the breeding of antelope species and other mammals for the stocking of reserves throughout the province. There is an extensive network of roads which are accessible to motorists in most vehicles. Activities include game and bird viewing as well as trophy hunting. Botsalano is one of the most prolific white rhino and antelope breeding grounds in the North West Province, as the veld is very conducive to breeding. It is also home to one of the oldest volcanic craters in the world, which extends through the park into Botswana.

Visit the Mafikeng Game Reserve, The 4,800 hectare Mafikeng Game Reserve is composed of Kalahari and Acacia bushveld with bountiful plains game viewing as its main attraction. The entrance to the Mafikeng Game Reserve is through the main gate off Jacaranda Drive in Mafikeng. When visiting Mafikeng be sure to include this attractive park into your itinerary. The principal circuit takes only 2 hours and is a most rewarding game viewing experience. Not only is the Reserve an important recreational area for the western regions of the province, but is also a breeding centre for a wide variety of game species. The Mafikeng Game Reserve conserves large populations of plains game including white rhino, buffalo, gemsbok and giraffe which can be viewed and photographed on the open plains. Numerous sightings of all the principal species is a special feature of the reserve. Numerous birds may be viewed along the Molopo River.

Museum to view the extensive ethnographic and Anglo-Boer War exhibits. To the south east of Mahikeng is Kanon Kopje, a defensive fort built during the Warren Expedition of 1885. Nearby the Kgotla of the Barolong Boora Tshidi, the tribal meeting place of Chief Montshoia. A monument honouring the Barolong who died during the Mahikeng siege stands beside another in recognition of Kgosi Besele Montshoia, head of the Barolong Regiment during the siege. Also nearby is the Mahikeng Siege Cemetery. Heritage House, is located at the entrance to Mahikeng on the Lichtenburg Road (R503), housing the Head Office of the North West Parks and Tourism Board at Cookes Lake. To the south of the road to Vryburg is the Lotlamoreng Cultural Reserve and Montshiwua Dam where there is a cultural village, recreational area and a demarcated waterfowl sanctuary. Nearby is the Modimola Dam, an angling and weekend picnicking site.

Lesedi cultural village

Lesedi Cultural Village is located in the heart of the African bushveld amidst the rocky hills within the Cradle of Humankind, a World Heritage Site. Discover the fascinating cultures and traditions of the people of Africa, visiting five traditional homesteads inhabited by Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele tribes who live according to tribal folklore and traditions of their ancestors.

Lesedi has offered the pre-eminent African cultural experience in South Africa for the past 15 years. The opportunity to be immersed in the traditional richness of African Culture is enhanced with 38 beautifully themed guest rooms to accommodate guests in first class comfort. Representatives of the various tribes facilitated the design of the cultural villages to ensure a historically representative portrayal of the cultures, highlighting aspects of the traditional way of life. Members of these historic communities live at Lesedi and continue to breathe life into their fascinating cultures. Stay with a traditional rural African family in a choice of five traditional homesteads, which nestle in the African bush, and where families of Pedi, Sotho, Xhosa, Zulu and Ndebele live.

Taung skull heritage site

In the heart of the Bophirima region of the North West Province of South Africa, amidst the farmlands and sprawling landscapes, is the Taung Skull Heritage Site. South Africa has long been considered to be the Cradle of Humankind by a number of archaeologists, historians and anthropologists, thanks to some of the fossilised remains that appear to support this claim. Of these, the Taung Skull is one of the most significant finds. A monument has been erected at the site of the discovery to mark its significance. Of course, the Buxton Quarry is no longer being mined, but is still being used as a significant scientific research hub. However, it also exudes an ambience of quiet serenity and makes for an idyllic spot in which to get away from the ‘real world’ and enjoy the tranquillity that only the outdoors can bring. The wonder of this region are nothing short of breath-taking, and visitors are reminded to bring their cameras along. The nearby Blue Pools are spectacular for picnics and braais. The many caves, rock basins and streams of this area also make this the perfect spot for those who enjoy stunning backdrops while they go hiking and abseiling. Bophirima, formerly known as Stellaland, is an agricultural area that also boasts many game farms. As such, it is, in itself, gaining international acclaim as a restful escape for tourists.

Pilanesberg National Park

Pilanesberg National Park exists in a transition zone between the dryness of the Kalahari and the wet Lowveld vegetation. This rich transitional zone attracts an incredible variety of game animals, flora and fauna that are not often found living side by side. Virtually all of the animal species native to southern Africa can be found here, including the Big 5, wild dog, Roan, Tsessebe, Sable antelope and more than 360 species of bird. The relatively small size of the park, and its unusual ecological richness, dramatically increase your chance of encountering the Big 5 in their natural environment. Enjoy a leisurely Safari experience, or a surprise weekend escape: Pilanesberg allows you to choose your own adventure.

Cradle of humankind world heritage site

The Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai and Environs, known as the Cradle of Humankind, were declared a World Heritage Site on December 2 1999. The Cradle of Humankind covers an area of over 47 000 hectares of privately owned land north west of Johannesburg and is home to over 17 000 residents. In 2005, two other highly significant sites, Makapan and Taung were listed as serial sites together with the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site (COH WHS). Together, these are the Fossil Hominid sites of South Africa. The area is of outstanding universal value, because it contains a complex of palaeo-anthropological sites, which have yielded some of the most valuable evidence, world-wide, of the origins of modern humans, hence its name Cradle of Humankind. Maropeng is the official visitor centre for the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. The Sterkfontein Caves are open every day of the year except Christmas and Easter. Tours through the cave run every half an hour, with the first tour leaving at 09h00 and the last tour leaving at 16h00. These tours last approximately 45 minutes. Another popular cave which does tours is Wonder Cave. Both of these venues are suitable for children, but not easily accessible for the elderly or disabled. Near to Wonder Cave is the Rhino And Lion Nature Reserve.

De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Trust

A captive breeding facility for cheetahs and other endangered animals, the The Ann van Dyk De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre lies in the foothills of the Magaliesberg, close to Brits and Hartbeespoort Dam.
The privately owned and funded non-profit organisation was established in 1971 by Ann van Dyk on her 65 hectare farm in an effort to breed what was once a threatened species, the cheetah - the population of which was estimated at a mere 700 at around this time.
Since its inception, some 500 cheetahs have been raised and re-settled in game reserves throughout South Africa and other countries, proof that a cheetah bred in captivity doesn’t lose its hunting instinct and can adapt quickly to its natural environment.
De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre has received international recognition for bringing the cheetah back from the edge of extinction and it was largely due to their efforts that the cheetah was removed from the endangered species list in 1986. The centre is also the first to breed the rare king cheetah - originally thought to be a separate species although in reality it is genetically identical to the true cheetah.
It has also bred and released captive-born wild dogs back into the wild. Ann van Dyk received a gold medal award form the South African Nature Foundation for her contribution in 1988.

Madikwe Game Reserve

Madikwe Game Reserve is one of the largest game reserves in South Africa; besides many other wildlife species, the Big 5 can also be found in the reserve. Madikwe is a prime wildlife reserve safari destination with a choice of excellent accommodation venues. It is one of the largest game reserves in South Africa; besides many other wildlife species, the Big 5 can also be found in the reserve. Accommodation in Madikwe is mainly in luxury private game lodges rated 5 and 4 stars and is of the highest standard. The Reserve borders Botswana and is located in North West Province, 90 kilometers north of Zeerust, about 3.5 hours' drive from both Johannesburg and Pretoria. Madikwe Game Reserve is one of the few game reserves in southern Africa, the only place in Africa where Springbok and Kalahari Gemsbok meet naturally. The Reserve is a unique family friendly malaria-free safari destination catering for all holiday and business travel. A special feature of Madikwe lies in its unique location, a transition zone on the edges of the Kalahari, where a number of rare species occur naturally, and the bushveld. The climate is generally mild to hot, but winter nights can be cold.