Gauteng

In a Nutshell
Gauteng is South Africa's smallest but most urbanised and economically powerful province. One of the largest conurbations in the world not served by a waterway, Gauteng offers visitors the buzz of big city life - in Johannesburg, Soweto and Pretoria - as well as rural tranquillity, mountain walks and wildlife in its natural environment.

Area 17 010 sq kms

Population 8 million

Regions

• Central Gauteng - in the centre of the province lies Johannesburg, South Africa's largest metropolis and the capital of Gauteng. Fast growing Midrand, Soweto, Sandton and Randburg also lie within the region

• Northern Gauteng - Pretoria (Tshwane), the nation's administrative capital, and its environs are at the heart of this region which extends eastwards beyond Bronkhorstspruit.

• Eastern Gauteng - Johannesburg International Airport and several large mining towns - including Germiston, Benoni, Boksburg and Springs - are the economic drivers of this busy industrial and residential region

• Western Gauteng - this region contains the mining towns of Roodepoort, Krugersdorp and Randfontein as well as the village of Magaliesburg. It is also noted for its natural wonders including the Cradle of Humankind, conservancies and wildlife sanctuaries.

• Southern Gauteng - the mighty Vaal River, the province's main water source and water sports playground, dominates the region, which includes the steel-producing towns of Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging and the townships of Sharpeville and Sebokeng.

Best time to visit: Gauteng has a matchless climate of warm, thundery summers and crisp, dry and sunny winters. Late Spring and early Autumn are the best months to visit, but the weather year-round is good, with an average of 9 hours sunshine per day.

Getting there

Air: Johannesburg International Airport, approx 24 kms east of the CBD, is the hub
for international and domestic air flights to, from and around South Africa.
(Enquiries, tel 011 975 9963)
The airport is linked by shuttle bus (every 30 mins) to the Rotunda, near
Johannesburg's CBD (tel 011 975 0510); by MagicBus to Sandton (tel 011 608
1662) and by the Pretoria Shuttle (every hour) to Sammy Marks Square in the
CBD (tel 011 323 0904).

Bus: Coaches between Johannesburg and other cities around South Africa
operate from the Rotunda, cnr Leyds/Loveday streets, Braamfontein.
Greyhound (011 249 8700) and Translux (011 774 3333) buses operate
countrywide, while Intercity Mainliner runs to Cape Town (011 323 0904)
Coaches to and from Pretoria operate from the Railway Station.

Train: Long distance trains arrive at Park Station, near the Rotunda in downtown
Johannesburg, usually en route to or from Pretoria.
The TransKaroo runs daily between Gauteng and Cape Town
The TransNatal runs daily between Gauteng and Durban
The Algoa runs daily between Gauteng and Port Elizabeth
(For reservations phone 011 773 2944
Metrorail runs a shuttle from Park Station to Pretoria, departing every hour (773 3994)

Road: Gauteng is easily accessible along the N1 highway from the Cape via Bloemfontein (approx 15 hours); and from Durban via N3 (approx 6 hours). Johannesburg and Pretoria are linked by the M1 highway (approx 45 mins, out of rush hour);

Getting around: The best way to get around Gauteng is by hired car or in a tour
bus. Taxi cabs may be found at designated ranks (they do not cruise); take
metered taxis only.
Minibus taxis are a popular form of local transport, but are not always safe.

Visitor Information

SA Tourism (tel 011 778 000) has a booth in the International Arrivals Hall at
the airport. Information, maps and brochures are available
Also visit the Gauteng Tourism Authority in Rosebank (011 327 2000)
or go to www.gauteng.net
In Pretoria, visit Tourist Information at 012 337 4337

Tours

For tours of Gauteng's major tourist attractions, see under Johannesburg and
Pretoria respectively.
For tours from Gauteng to Sun City and the Kruger Park, see under North-
West Province and Mpumalanga respectively.

Car Hire Top theatres

Hertz 011 390 206 * The Market (JHB)
Budget 011 394 2905 * The Civic (JHB)
Imperial 011 394 4020 * The State (Pretoria)
*Theatre on the Square (Sandton)
Avis 011 394 5433
Europcar 011 394 8832
Khaya 011 453 7772

Casinos

Afrisun (Brakpan) 011 780 7791
Akani Egoli (Nasrec Expo Center) 011 494 2424
Caesars (Kempton Park) 011 928 1000
Emerald Safari Resort (Vanderbiljpark) 016 928 1000
Tsogo Sun (Fourways) 011 780 0440

Golf

• Royal Johannesburg Golf Club, Linksfiels North, offers two 18 hole courses (011 640 3021)
• Wanderers Golf Club, Illovo, 1-15 to the famous cricket ground,
  (011 447 331)
• Bryanston Country Club, a beautiful championship course in a prime residential area. (011 706 1361)
• Crown Mines Golf Club, 1-15 to Gold Reef City (011 835 3666)
• Pretoria Golf Club, near the city centre. (012 386 6836)

Links to Useful Sites

www.gauteng.net

 

Eastern Cape | Free State | Gauteng | KwaZulu Natal | Limpopo
Northern Cape | North West | Mpumalanga | Western Cape