Things to Do in Olifantsfontein

Undulating golden grassy hills, vleis and a brilliant blue dam characterise the Rietvlei Nature Reserve. Situated 18 kilometres from the centre of Pretoria, the reserve is an idyllic home to 1 600 head of game – and you can spot them easily from your vehicle.Blesbuck, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, eland, Burchell's zebra, waterbuck, reedbuck, springbuck, mountain reedbuck, steenbuck and grey duiker all roam the open plains.Don’t forget to pack a picnic basket – the Marais Dam is a great place to take a break from driving. There’s a fabulous bird hide, shady spots where you can braai and ablutions. While you munch your boerewors roll you can watch the antics of the hippos and waterbirds. Twitchers are usually delighted by some new bird to tick off at Rietvlei Nature Reserve.And that’s not all – brown hyena, black-backed jackal, ant-bear, aardwolf, porcupine, springhare and bush pig can often be seen on guided night drives. These trips end at the popular Rietvlei Nature Reserve Lapa for a memorable braai under African stars.You can also have amazing encounters with white rhino, cheetah, leopard and buffalo on guided hiking trails and horse riding trails. Day and weekend trails are on offer. Booking is essential for all activities.

One of Africa’s largest conference, event and exhibition venues, Gallagher Convention Centre (GCC) is conveniently positioned in the rapidly developing investment hub of Gauteng. The dedication to a five star experience is evident from GCC’s facilities through to the service delivered by all levels. GCC security conforms to stringent international security standards and has experience in providing a location for secure events such as the Pan-African Parliament meetings. With five purpose-built single level exhibition venues offering 27 000 square meters of exhibition space, nineteen multipurpose venues and state of the art facilities, GCC also offers conveniently located parking facilities for 10 000 vehicles. Other features include 12 versatile conference and boardrooms, the Gallagher Grill which includes foyers and cocktail bars, a ballroom, an auditorium seating 414 and various tranquil venues for intimate celebrations. An internationally acclaimed team of chefs caters to every taste or cultural requirement, and the kitchens have also been certified by the National Independent Halaal Trust. Technical support services, on-site office requirements, state of the art equipment, video conferencing, satellite and interpretation facilities are available. Together with floral and décor services, GCC is equipped with the experience and expertise to ensure the success of any conference, exhibition or event. +27 (0)11 266 3000

The Irene Trading Post is more than just a shop – it's an experience! The store specializes in antiques, novelties, art, gifts and various pieces of locally made furniture. The owners only support small entrepreneurs, artists and crafters – offering visitors and the artists an opportunity to connect. Their unusual tea garden aims to inspire and revitalize everyone’s own creative juices. Delicious cakes and light lunches, all home cooked, are on offer. In winter the wood burning stoves are fired up and soups and homemade bread is available. Kids are welcome – the bunnies love being fed. Open 7 days a week from 09:00 – 17:00. www.irenetradingpost.co.za

Cafe Barcelona is a dynamic live music and entertainment venue offering restaurant and pub facilities. For over 10 years Cafe Barcelona has supported the music scene embracing famous names as well as unknown bands. Some well-known perfomers include The Parlotones, Karen Zoid, Arno Carstens, Albert Frost, Valiant Swart, Fokofpolisiekar, 16 Stitch, Watershed, Louise Carver, Koos Kombuis, Jan Blohm, Jackhammer and many more.

Emperors Palace Hotel Casino Convention Entertainment Resort encompasses a truly world-class experience with a variety of accommodation options, a state-of-the-art convention and exhibition centre, a thrilling and dynamic casino, superb entertainment, endless dining choices and fun-filled children’s activities.Set in the heart of the resort is the dazzling and vibrant casino with 1 724 slot machines and 67 gaming tables offering Blackjack, Roulette and Poker. The gaming experience is both thrilling and manifold with the latest and most innovative gaming fun on offer, from multi-line video high hit jackpots to themed novelty slots, from floor-wide mystery jackpots and progressive slots, all available in a convenient cashless environment played via smart card.Emperors Palace has also become the home of Poker with the beautifully appointed Fortuna Poker Room, dedicated to devotees of Texas Hold ’Em!The jewel of the gaming empire is the epic Palace Court Privé, considered one of the most beautiful in the world, with dedicated services for the ultimate in high limit private gaming.A new Betting World facility in the Entertainment Emporium offers a variety of sports and fixed odds betting options.World class entertainment happens in the 756-seater Theatre of Marcellus. Extensive international and local dance extravaganzas, musicals and plays with an impressive list of performers have graced its stage. The Entertainment Emporium is the Nu Metro movie theatre experience comprising six cinemas with a total of 1250 seats, one of which, The Pantheon boasts 500 seats and is the largest cinema on the African continent. Another two offers spectacular digital technology and a third is a permanent 3D cinema.Wining and dining throughout the resort offers delectable dining choices catering to every taste. A brand new childcare facility, Jupiter’s is managed by qualified and experienced child minders and offers a safe, secure and stimulating environment for younger children. A new games arcade caters for teens (and adults) with the latest video and arcade games. Emperors Palace is the ultimate family destination.

Woodlands Boulevard is an upmarket shopping, dining and lifestyle destination in the vibrant and trendy Pretoria East.Designed for convenience, Woodlands Boulevard offers the best in restaurants, lifestyle, fashion, furniture, jewellery, health and beauty as well as a 7 cinema complex, Movies@Woodlands.

Hosting numerous electrifying performance and events, the Theatre of Marcellus is a superb multipurpose state of the art theatre. Situated at Emperors Palace adjacent to the casino floor, it is a popular venue for product launches and exclusive banquets. The theatre can accommodate over 900 people in cinema style seating and comfortably accommodates 500 for a banquet. The theatre harks to its namesake in Ancient Rome and features extensive international and local dance extravaganzas, musicals and plays. The impressive list of performers to have graced the stage includes Nataniël, Johnny Clegg, Steve Hofmeyr, Kurt Darren, Barry Hilton and Casper de Vries. Television productions for ‘Jerry Springer’s Saturday Night’, ‘Noot vir Noot’ and ‘Dis Hoe Dit Is’ have been filmed here and international shows ‘Tap Dogs’, ‘Bounce’ and ‘Earth, Wind and Fire’ have featured on the bill.

The ultra-modern Netcare Pretoria East Hospital is a 358 bed facility offering patients the most technologically advanced medical and surgical services.The hospital is an internationally recognized Centre of Excellence in neuro-spinal, ortho-spinal and large joint replacement surgery.The expertise in this surgery has become recognized countrywide and many patients requiring hip, knee and shoulder joint replacement surgery are referred to Netcare Pretoria East Hospital. There is also an outstanding maternity unit with an atrium and skylights, allowing in natural light to enhance the peaceful atmosphere.

Friendship, good food, wine and brilliant entertainment – the Barnyard Theatre in Menlyn is where it all comes together. The first Barnyard Theatre started as a homely, rustic farm theatre in Plettenberg Bay where friends and family could be entertained and eat, drink and talk into the small hours of the morning. It proved to be such a winner that more Barnyard Theatres started popping up all over the country. There are currently 12 Barnyard Theatres in South Africa. While each theatre is a product of its individual setting, they all retain the quaint rustic charm of the original farm theatre’s humble beginning.

Menlyn Park Shopping Centre offers over 300 stores, 37 restaurants and a wide variety of entertainment.All this in an upmarket area of Pretoria’s eastern suburbs makes it a popular shopping and entertainment spot for Tshwane dwellers.Conveniently situated, the centre is just a short distance from the N1 Highway and just five kilometres from the N4.Shoppers will find all the major chain stores under one roof including Hyperama, Woolworths, Truworths, Stuttafords, Foschini, Game and NuMetro.Ten features of this entertainment hotspot include an Imax Theatre, outdoor events arena, play park and the planet's first rooftop drive-in cinema, go-karts, 3D NuMetro Cinema, Festival Market, FLY Me helicopter rides, fufi-slides and quad bikes.

Friendship, good food, wine and brilliant entertainment – the Barnyard Theatre in East Rand is where it all comes together. The first Barnyard Theatre started as a homely, rustic farm theatre in Plettenberg Bay where friends and family could be entertained and eat, drink and talk into the small hours of the morning. It proved to be such a winner that more Barnyard Theatres started popping up all over the country. There are currently 12 Barnyard Theatres in South Africa. While each theatre is a product of its individual setting, they all retain the quaint rustic charm of the original farm theatre’s humble beginning.

Brooklyn Mall is situated in the heart of the diplomatic area of Pretoria's affluent eastern suburbs. This dynamic centre provides an elegant shopping venue with more than 170 retail stores. Pleasing to the eye and spacious, shoppers are assured of a relaxed shopping experience as well as a tempting assortment of restaurants, entertainment, products, and speciality shops. Fashionistas will find all the International brand shops, elite designer boutiques and luxury specialty stores. Foodies will find a dazzling array of culinary delights and more than 23 top notch restaurants and coffee bars. Nine Ster-Kinekor cinemas and five Cinema Nouveau movie theatres provide the latest block-busters and acclaimed art films. Shoppers who are keen to get some sun and fresh air will enjoy a round of Adventure Golf in the lush gardens. Trading Hours: Monday to Friday 09:00 – 18:00 Saturday 09:00 – 17:00 Sunday 09:00 – 14:00 Public Holidays 09:00 – 17:00

You'll find more than awesome cocktails at this buzzy, trendy spot in Rivonia. The News Café is a high street café and cocktail bar offering a unique, relaxed and entertaining dining experience. It's also very popular as an Internet venue.

Much of South Africa’s architectural heritage goes far beyond broekie-lace and gables. The austere Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria pays homage to the gritty trekkers who deserted the Cape Colony in the mid 1800s. The entire 62-metre high structure is loaded with symbolism, from the assegai motif entrance, to the rippling patterns and friezes of the ‘Hall of Heroes’ and the 64 laager wagons surrounding the building. There’s even an opening in the dome roof that allows the sun’s rays to light up the cenotaph every year at 12 noon, 16 December. In essence, the monument functions as a giant sundial. Situated on top of Skanskop and within a nature reserve, the monument boasts lovely views of Pretoria. Shops, a restaurant, art gallery and various activities including horse rides are on offer.

One of the largest indoor venues in Pretoria, the Heartfelt Arena in Pretoria is host to a number of big live music concerts and exhibitions. The Main Arena has hosted popular events such as the Metro FM Awards Show, Godly Revolution Music Concert, Baba Indaba Expo and advert productions for Coke and Nestlé. A range of facilities offer versatility and seating for 80 to 4 500 people. Large events are supported by the VIP areas, holding rooms, theatre, board rooms, media room, rehearsal studio and other facilities. Well situated between Centurion and Pretoria, access to Heartfelt is convenient and there is ample on-site parking. +27 (0) 12 651 2251.

The University of South Africa, or UNISA as it is commonly known, is a distance education university with the main campus and headquarters in Pretoria. You cannot miss the gigantic, mind-blowingly ugly buildings.With over 200 000 students enrolled, it is highly regarded and is one of the largest universities on the planet.Founded in 1873, UNISA was initially an examining agency for Oxford and Cambridge universities as well as something of a ‘mother ship’ to other establishing universities in South Africa. In 1946 it became a distance education university, offering certificate, diploma and degree courses up to doctoral level. It was able to remain interracial during the years of apartheid largely because it was a distance education university. Famous students and professors include:Nelson Mandela, former President of South AfricaDesmond Tutu, South African cleric and political activistRobert Mugabe, current president of ZimbabweAhmed Kathrada, South African politician and anti-apartheid activistTokyo Sexwale, South African businessman and former politician, anti-apartheid activist, and political prisonerWalter Battiss, South African abstract painter and creator of the quirky 'Fook Island' concept, UNISA Professor of Fine Art.

Africa's Greatest Shopping AdventureEastgate Shopping Centre is situated in the suburb of Bedfordview, on a prime site on the major freeway between Johannesburg International Airport and Johannesburg City Centre. Easily accessible from the high way, this super regional shopping centre is home to over 280 stores catering for all tastes and lifestyles. This ultimate shopping destination offers an out of this world retail experience, attracting an abundance of local and international shoppers. In addition to numerous smaller speciality stores, Eastgate is anchored by South Africa’s leading major retailers, including Checkers Hyper, Game, Edgars, Stuttafords and Woolworths.A large Ster Kinekor Cinema complex and a host of restaurants situated in an open air piazza area, make Eastgate the ideal venue of choice for the entire family. Eastgate’s evolution as a trend setting destination continues with the introduction of its high fashion quarter and action wear zone. “Eastgate offers everything for everyone, from popular brands, amazing Friday night entertainment and loads of fun for the entire family”. Eastgate Shopping Centre... Africa’s Greatest Shopping Adventure.

The University of Pretoria, fondly called ‘Tucs’ by students, is ranked as the leading research university in South Africa. Also one of the top three universities in the country, it draws a large number of new students every year, with 39 000 students enrolling in 2010.The university has six campuses and numerous operational sites such as the Pretoria Academic Hospital. The Hatfield campus has a beautiful setting and attractive historic buildings, making it one of the more striking universities in South Africa.Visitors usually make their way to the Ou Lettere building to view the amazing archaeological finds from Mapungubwe. Here you can see the gold rhinoceros, jewellery, figurines, pottery and other artefacts at least 700 years old.The Hatfield campus has contributed to the reputation of Hatfield as the most vibrant suburb of Pretoria with numerous trendy cafés, bars and restaurants.

Situated in the heart of Sandton, The Blues Room is an upmarket nightclub and restaurant delivering up live blues, jazz, fusion, comedy, and sometimes even rock 'n' roll.

One of South Africa’s top stadiums with a seating capacity for 50 000 people, Loftus Versfeld Stadium is situated in South Africa’s capital Pretoria (Tshwane). It was one of the 2010 FIFA World Cup venues, hosting five first-round matches and one second-round match. Home turf of the Premier Soccer League dynamos Mamelodi Sundowns, the Blue Bulls Currie Cup rugby team and the Bulls Super 12 rugby squad, it was also one of the primary venues for the 1995 Rugby World Cup. In addition to being one of South Africa’s premier sporting venues, Loftus Versfeld is also a thriving venue for big concerts. Tshwane, Pretoria, "Jacaranda City," ePitoli - this graceful city has enormous appeal, a fascinating history and is now a symbol of South Africa's true unity. It's an elegant, quiet city in complete contrast to its bustling neighbour, Johannesburg, which is just 50 kilomtres apart and less than an hour's drive away.