Discover Gauteng: Nature, History and Culture

Discover Gauteng through a wide range of experiences: nature and wildlife sit alongside places that reveal South Africa’s history and cultural heritage. When planning your trip, it is worth first considering which themes you would like to shape your days. The region offers inspiration for a trip focused on botanical sights, activities in a game reserve, or museums and historic memorial sites.

Nature and Wildlife in Gauteng

Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden combines an impressive variety of plants with birdwatching opportunities: around 240 bird species have been recorded there, and a pair of Verreaux’s eagles also breeds in the garden. More than 600 plant species add to this picture of biodiversity. These figures offer two different insights into the garden’s natural wealth without narrowing the focus to just one group of animals or plants.

Dinokeng is in northern Gauteng and is a region with numerous natural, cultural, and historic heritage sites. The malaria-free Dinokeng Game Reserve covers 19,000 hectares and is Gauteng’s only Big Five game reserve that visitors can explore freely. A 70-kilometre self-drive route offers a way to explore the reserve in your own vehicle. Activities also include guided game drives, horseback riding, hiking, quad biking, and hot-air balloon rides. This gives you different ways to spend time in the reserve; which one suits your trip depends on whether you would rather drive yourself or choose one of the activities on offer.

Heritage and History

The Cradle of Humankind is Gauteng’s only World Heritage Site. Its area includes 13 excavation sites recognised as national heritage sites. Maropeng is the official visitor centre for the Cradle of Humankind. The Sterkfontein Caves also offer a striking connection to early history: the prehistoric hominid skull known as “Mrs Ples” was found there.

Other places focus on different aspects of the country’s history. Freedom Park commemorates chapters of South Africa’s struggle for freedom, from pre-colonial times to the fight against apartheid. Interactive exhibitions and guided tours are among the visitor experiences on offer there. The Apartheid Museum illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid. At the Hector Pieterson Museum, the story of South Africa’s struggle for freedom is told through multimedia exhibitions and historical displays. Constitution Hill, in turn, is a living museum that explores South Africa’s transition from colonialism and apartheid to democracy. Together, these themes show how differently a visit can engage with history: through the struggle for freedom, apartheid, or the political transition to democracy.

Getting Around and Planning Where to Stay

The Gautrain is an 80-kilometre express commuter rail system in Gauteng, connecting Johannesburg, Pretoria, Ekurhuleni, and O. R. Tambo International Airport.

When choosing where to stay, it is best to start with the focus of your trip: would you mainly like to experience nature, set aside time for historical sites, or combine different interests? That way, your choice follows your travel plans rather than a general idea of the kind of stay Gauteng offers.

Discover more destinations: Metsweding, Pretoria, City Of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Sedibeng, West Rand, East Rand

Go to the main travel overview: South Africa.