Things to Do in Eastern Region

The Elephant Sanctuary offers an exciting elephant experience. Here you can walk trunk-in-hand with four Africa elephants and hand-in-hand with a child or loved one. They offer an exclusive, 'hands-on' educationally oriented experience where you can learn more about elephant habits, behaviour, different personalities and anatomy through up-close and personal interaction. You will also get an opportunity to touch, brush down and feed these magnificent animals.

Walk through an indigenous forest on elevated wooden walkways and see a variety of exotic monkeys in an exquisite natural environment. Bushbabies Monkey Sanctuary takes in rescued primates that have been raised as pets or have been bred or imported for the pet trade. Their mission is to rehabilitate them for relocation to an environment that is natural to them and where they can lead normal, happy, and productive lives.Need to know? All tours are structured and guided - perfect for family, corporate and educational outings.

Live on the wild side and ride like a real cowboy or cowgirl in the Hekpoort Valley near Magaliesburg. Nestle in the foothills of the Magaliesburg Mountains lies the Hekpoort Valley, home to Saddle Creek Ranch. Here the owners offer horseback riding with a difference – Western style. No riding experience is required and the trail horses are "well trained, obedient calm and friendly”. The horses are suitable for everyone, from total beginners to experienced riders. Visitors have the option of various routes into the bushveld and mountain foothills accompanied by trained trail guides. Western-style riding is becoming more popular and Saddle Creek Ranch is a safe place where you can learn to ride like a real cowboy and have loads of fun. Call Mike to book this experience +27 (0) 79 467 9906. www.horseridingsa.co.za

Lying on the border of the North West Province, Atherstone Nature Reserve offers an exciting game viewing experience. Black rhino and elephant are the biggest highlight for many visitors to this 23 500-hectare wilderness. Characterised by extensive savannah plains with bushveld and Kalahari grasslands eco-systems, Atherstone supports a great diversity of wildlife and birds. Besides antelope, zebra and giraffe, buffalo and rare sable can also be seen. Feathered friends to get twitchers ticking off boxes are the large number of grassland birds including the Kori bustard and secretary bird.

The Mooi River Mall is a top class waterfront shopping mall straddling the Mooi River with 47 500 m2 of shops and 2 000 parking bays. The centre is the answer to shopping and entertainment par excellence for the Northwest region, with support expected from as far a field as Orkney, Ventersdorp and Carletonville. A first of its kind for the region, in the true sense, comparable to those centres akin to the major cities around South Africa, Mooi River sets the benchmark for centres to follow within the region

The Kgaswane Mountain Reserve is a place of special beauty, an escape into a mountain range of great natural appeal and an ideal destination for a days outing.There is a self drive route on tarred roads which link a number of picnic sites and view points.It is also a great place to walk and enjoy the wildlife - and especially the resident sable antelope.Twitchers will have much to twitch about with over 320 species having been recorded including a breeding colony of cape vultures. Nesting pairs of martial and black eagles are also of great interest.Walking on the wild side The reserve caters for a wide range of interests and is famous as a hiking destination. Two trails are open to the public.These overnight trails are extremely popular and early booking is essential.The Summit Route is 25,3km and, for the first time, includes the Natural Pools in which swimming is permitted.The Baviaanskrans Route is 19,5km and includes the Waterfall View and the Garden of Remembrance. The trails have amenities to accommodate 12 hikers.The Peglarae Trail is a day excursion of approximately 5,5km over fairly steep and rocky terrain.The shorter Vlei Ramble, just 2km, takes visitors to a viewing hut on the vlei - a favourite spot for the many birders who enjoy the reserve.Need to know? Gate Times05:30 - 19:00 Summer06:00 - 18:30 Winter

Tee off on stunning greens next to the banks of the Hartbeespoort Dam with sweeping views of the foothills of the Magaliesberg. Magalies Park Golf Course is an 18-hole course designed by Loutjie van Aswegen. Here, the total length of the course is a mens 5 864m and a ladies 5 001m. The course rating for men is 72 and for ladies is 70. While the course may not be very long, it does not however mean that the golfer can take out his driver and play to his heart's content. A number of small trees have been strategically placed and although there are few water holes and no bunkers this is not a course for the faint-hearted, making for a challenging game of golf any day. Interesting holes are the par 4 8th, and the par 4 12th stroke five, which is one of the most attractively designed holes on the course. At the clubhouse, a Pro Shop is made available for all your golfing needs, golf cards and club hire. Lessons are available on request. When the going gets tough take a break and grab a light meal and refreshments at the 'Barn Owl' Halfway House, the 'Loeries Flight' takeaway and the 'Albatross' Halfway House.

Lesedi African Lodge and Cultural Village offers the opportunity of experiencing the fascinating cultures and traditions of the people of Africa. Located in the Cradle of Humankind, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the village is only a 45-minute drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria.The multi-cultural village features five traditional homesteads each inhabited by Zulu, Xhosa, Pedi, Basotho and Ndebele tribes that live according to the tribal folklore and traditions of its ancestors.The Zulus with their sticks and cosy beehive huts, the Xhosa with their perfectly thatched rondawels and distinctive white blankets, the Pedi with their rhythmic drums and whistles, the conical straw hats and brightly coloured blankets of the Basotho and the Ndebele with their beautifully painted homes will reveal a way of life not readily encountered in the South African urban centres.Rooms are built in the traditional style but with modern conveniences, enabling guests to stay overnight to experience the lifestyle of a traditional rural African family without forfeiting comfort.Meals are a culinary feast and are enjoyed in a stylish decorated restaurant offering an exotic buffet serving ethnic dishes and a carvery.Special cultural programmes consisting of an audio-visual presentation on the history and origins of the various ethnic groups, guided tours and tribal dance displays, introducing guests to the multi-cultural lifestyle of the inhabitants of Lesedi.Enjoy the spirit of Ubuntu at this unique cultural venue where the music, song and warmth of Africa’s hospitality await you and the crafts and lifestyle of her people will enthral you.Nyama Choma Resaurant is divided into three sections. 'South Africa' has murals reflecting the nine tribes of South Africa. 'East Africa' features murals of the Masai, the statusque people of the East. 'North Africa – The Serengeti' offers the Nile Room, where you sit crossed legged on floor cushions at low tables and smoke hubbly-bubbly’s! The Fundudzi bar is situated next to the restaurant where overnight guests can relax.After a fun-filled day, rest your head in one of five traditional homesteads where families of the Pedi, Sotho, Xhosa, Zulu and Ndebele live in the traditional rural way, all nestling in pristine Bushveld.Additional guestrooms for each village have been constructed in the five homesteads offering the unique opportunity of staying with a traditional rural African family – however, all home comforts have been catered for. These include cosy beds and beautiful en suite bathrooms, equipped with all modern conveniences.The Monati (lunch) and Boma (dinner) cultural experiences are two and a half hour programs starting at 11:30am and 16:30pm. Guests are taken to the Ndebele village where a welcome by all the people of Lesedi takes place. The program begins with a multi-visual presentation on the history and origins of today’s rainbow nation, followed by a guided tour of the five homesteads. Guests are escorted to the Boma for traditional singing and dancing – a very participative affair!

The Cradle of Humankind is a significant UNESCO World Heritage Site about 50 km northwest of Johannesburg. Aptly named the Cradle of Humankind for the fact that it is the site where many of the oldest hominid fossils have been found, some dating back as far as 3.5 million years ago. Since 1947, when Robert Broom discovered the first hominid fossil, “Mrs Ples”, literally thousands of fossils have been found at Sterkfontein Caves and the other sites that make up the Cradle of Humankind. Besides the novelty of hanging out where our ancestors lived, the Cradle of Humankind is a fabulous place to visit and it is close to Pretoria and Johannesburg. There are plenty of small wildlife reserves, caves, restaurants, craft shops and guesthouses to keep you busy for days. You could even go for a hot air balloon ride. The Cradle is also close to Hartbeespoort Dam, the town of Magaliesburg and the Magaliesberg Mountains.

Gold diggers welcome! Have you ever tried panning for gold? Not many folk have witnessed how mining was done over a hundred-and-thirty years ago. Join experienced tour leaders for the experience of a lifetime as they take you back through the corridors of time into the original workings of the oldest gold mine in Gauteng.Wearing hard hats and lamps, you will get to use the original equipment of coco pans, picks, shovels, pit props and rope winches to crush ore and even pan your own gold! Blaauwbank Historic Gold Mine even has the only permit in the country that allows you to take the gold that you have panned home!

Go zwinging near the Hartbeespoort Dam with Ama Zwing Zwing and your kids! Embark on an airborne adventure of sliding along steel cables while watching the wildlife below. Seven exhilarating slides take you on a 1.3 km journey in the sky. Enjoy magnificent views of the surrounding Magaliesberg Mountains and the Crocodile River. Ama Zwing Zwing Zip Lines offers unbeatable fun for two hours at Amanzingwe Lodge. The package is inclusive of refreshments and a light lunch. +27 (0) 82 803 7731 www.amazwingzwing.co.za