Due to the discovery of gold in 1886, this region has developed into the industrial and
financial centre of South Africa and Johannesburg has become the gold capital of the world.
But, despite this industrial development, a large portion of the land is utilised solely for
agriculture. To enjoy the best of both the worlds that Gauteng offers, many people escape from
the stress of city life with weekends away at the Vaal River, the Magaliesberg, which is an ideal destination for outdoor activities such
mountaineering, fishing, hiking and bird watching, and nearby nature reserves such as South
Africa's premier reserve, the Kruger National Park.
Johannesburg is Egoli or 'Place of Gold', famous for its gold mining past as well as the variety
of shops, hotels, restaurants and the sheer energy of the city. The Johannesburg stock exchange,
commonly referred to as Diagonal Street, is one of the most active in the world.
Even though the city does not possess many tourist attractions besides a number of museums such
as the Johannesburg Library's Africana Collection and the
'living museum' of Gold Reef City, it can serve as a base from which to explore the more exciting
parts of the country including the Magaliesberg and Mpumalanga (formerly known as the Eastern
Transvaal). From 30 September to 2 October the city comes alive with the Guinness Johannesburg
Jazz Festival where several local and overseas musicians perform.
Pretoria is known as the 'Jacaranda City' because of
the abundance of lilac-blossomed jacaranda trees that line the roads and enhance the gardens and
parks during October and November. The Union Buildings,
designed by Sir Herbert Baker, are a well-known sight and known for their manicured gardens.
Don't forget to visit the State Theatre which is
renowned for its opera and other world-class theatrical productions.
|
