A small province with a big personality, Gauteng is the beating heart of South Africa, not to mention its most prosperous part with both Johannesburg and Pretoria in its grasp.
Johannesburg, known also as the ‘City of Gold’, has much to offer visitors, from an insight into the country’s troubled history and apartheid past, to trendy neighbourhoods like Maboneng, which boasts countless cafes, restaurants and art galleries. Pretoria, the administrative capital, is often described as Johannesburg’s more relaxed and understated neighbour, with its jacaranda-lined streets and elegant historical buildings, such as the striking Union Buildings and the impressive 40-metre-high Voortrekker Monument.
Outside the cities, explore the age-old Magaliesberg mountain range extending out from Pretoria, or visit the Cradle of Humankind near Johannesburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where many fossils, tools and other traces of early human remains have been found.