Things to Do in Rust de Winter

Grab your kids for mega wallowing and splashing about at Forever Resorts Warmbaths. Even if you’re not crazy about family-oriented resorts, a trip to Bela-Bela wouldn’t be complete without a dip in the bubbling hot mineral spring. But if it’s a quiet getaway you’re after be warned – on weekends and school holidays you might be joined by thousands of holiday makers. The source of the ancient spring gushes out 22 000 litres of water at 52 degrees Celsius every hour. Rich in limestone minerals including calcium carbonate, sodium chloride and other salts, the water is popular for healing treatments. Apart from the hydro therapy of the Jacuzzi, indoor hydro pools and the main pool, the resort offers cable water skiing, go-karts, mini quads, a fufi-slide, pedal boats, target shooting, 'Monster Web' climbing, putt-putt, kids play park, speed slide, wave pool – the list is endless! Day visitors are welcome from 07:00 – 17:00 December rates subject to change: adults R130, children 3 – 13 R100.

Cycle back in time to an immaculately restored, yet living and growing community that is as much about the future as the past. Cullinan makes up part of the Dinokeng Region, which is famous for giving visitors the opportunity to see all that Africa has to offer in a day.Cullinan is 30 minutes drive from Tshwane (Pretoria) and less than an hour from Johannesburg. Clusters of original stone miner's cottages, a turn-of-the-century railway station and authentic buildings flank the jacaranda and oak tree lined avenue. The semidetached houses in Oak Avenue are built of local stone in 1904 to provide housing for the mine employees.The Edwardian setting of the Cullinan mining town has a proud involvement in heritage and conservation matters. The Second World War POW's left behind amazing art works and architectural reminders of their stay in Cullinan and the surrounding areas. The largest allied prisoner of war camp in Africa was established here and the graves of 264 Italian prisoners are still preserved.The famous South African architect, Sir Herbert Baker, also left his mark on the village, as he designed the beautiful St George's Anglican stone church in Oak Avenue. Cullinan Mine has always placed a high priority on nature conservation. Cullinan Mine also has its own game farm that conserves numerous plants, animals (including white rhinos), insects and birds.

Ever dream of zipping above the trees like Tarzan and Jane? The Waterberg Zipline takes guests on an exciting, two-hour adventure sliding from one platform to the next. Professional guides share interesting facts about the local animals and plant life. The views of the Waterberg Mountains are stunning. 073 591 2280 / 082 903 6041 www.waterbergzip.co.za

Giddy up with Cullinan Adventure Outrides. Horses are suitable for beginners to more experienced riders. Rides usually take an hour and a half for a maximum of 10 people. Book your outrides and stay at Cullinan Backpackers.

Bambelela offers two and a half hour guided tours offering in-depth knowledge and first-hand experiences about hand-raising wild animals and primates. Some of the animals can be touched and there are great photo opportunities. Orphaned and injured African animals are cared for with the aim of rehabilitating them back into the wild. Bambelela are working on being officially recognized as a Vervet Monkey Sanctuary in the Waterberg. Tours are by appointment only. Cost per adult is R100 and R50 for kids (under 4 years free).

Situated close to the beautiful Nylsvley Nature Reserve, Koro Creek Golf Estate offers a wonderful escape for families and golfers alike. Visitors can enjoy close encounters with wildlife on the 18-hole golf course or the game reserve – there is something for everyone. Warm, sunny winters and fantastic summers provide year round opportunities for golfing and other pursuits in a malaria-free playground. The 860-hectare nature reserve alongside the estate is going to be incorporated into the estate allowing wildlife to roam free. Koro Creek Golf Course is a 6825 metre par 72 championship course featuring four tee boxes on every hole to accommodate every level of golfer. Fairways narrow as you enter onto the green - be sure to bring your putting game! The clubhouse has all the amenities including a restaurant and all the amenities that members and visiting golfers require.

For the birds! Twitchers take note – get ready for a birding bonanza when the Nyl River floods the Limpopo wetlands. The birding watching is awesome, particularly in the Nysvley Nature Reserve. Now an internationally renowned RAMSAR site, the 4,000-hectare Nylsvley Conservancy is part of South Africa's largest flood-plain that stretches 70 km from Modimolle to Mokopane. The reserve is home to 72 mammal species, including rare Roan Antelope. High rainfall years bring a mind-boggling 80 000 migratory water birds to the floodplains, with up to 420 recorded species. Nysvley Nature Reserve is a haven for 37 Red-Data species, hence its significance as a RAMSAR site. You can easily spot as many as 365 species in the reserve itself which has five bird hides. The prolific bird life and plant species makes it a great attraction for bird-lovers, researchers and tourists at any time of year. And it’s not all about birding, it’s a great place for a weekend getaway or day outing. There are a few dirt roads for game-viewing, extensive walking, hiking, and mountain biking trails as well as campsites and picnic spots. +27 (0)14 743 1074 www.nylsvley.co.za

Die Sinkshack is a restaurant, bar, live entertainment venue and guest house in Bronkhorstspruit. Kick back with a frosty in a chilled and super-friendly environment out of the city. Live acoustic music is on offer every day except Sundays and Mondays. Featured artists include Karen Zoid, Valiant Swart, Elvis Blue, Francois van Coke and more. Open Tuesday to Saturday 11:00 – 00:00.

If you’re an avid golfer visiting Pretoria, the Silver Lakes Golf Course challenges you to enjoy its championship layout. Designed by Peter Matkovich, it bears the trademark of his exclusive water design. The Silver Lakes Golf Academy offers you a complete range of golf-related services, regardless of your proficiency level, at a facility comparable to the best in the world. Other sporting activities at your disposal include tennis and squash. Silver Lakes Estate is justly proud of its indigenous vegetation and natural wetland. Game such as blesbuck, nyala, impala, duiker, kudu and zebra roam freely, inviting you to stroll along the demarcated nature trail. Or you could spend a leisurely hour or two atop the game-viewing platform. Numerous cycling trails traverse the reserve. In addition, the estate is a bird-lover’s paradise, more than 160 different species having been spotted here. When you’re ready to succumb to relaxation, the Fairways Restaurant offers a wide selection of tasty dishes, and is only a stone’s throw away from the Lodge.

Tee off on the world first Biosphere Golf Course in the Waterberg The combination of 18 championship golf holes and the untamed wilderness of Africa promises to be an exceptional playing experience. Against a stunning backdrop of hills and nestled in the valleys, the course is divided by numerous gorges and water features on the magnificent estate. Entirely sensitive to the natural bushveld, the well-manicured USGA standard greens, bunkers and tees provide an attractive contrast to the wilderness. The Waterberg Biosphere Course is an outstanding addition to golfing in Limpopo and this unique concept will see the integration of a championship par 62 golf course with the Biosphere Nature Trail. Keen golfers will be able to play this course in less than three hours and see wildlife en route.

A winning combination of golf and the unsurpassed beauty of the Waterberg landscape make playing on Euphoria Golf Course a unique golfing experience. The soothing surroundings in no way diminish the challenging aspects of the Annika Sorenstam-signature 18-hole championship course. Designed to preserve the indigenous fauna and flora, the estate also features wide golf corridors to ensure privacy to golfers and residents alike. Clubhouse facilities are in keeping with the overall world-class experience, offering the elegant Sundowner Deck Restaurant and terrace, perfect for enjoying the stunning views. A nifty cableway links the club house to the mountain estate and restaurant.

Situated in the heart of Pretoria is Duncan Yard, a distinctive boutique lifestyle centre and must-do lunch spot. Here visitors amble through quaint stores and eateries along cobbled stone walkways and castle turrets. The alfresco centre provides a unique shopping experience with over 15 restaurants and shops. Its picturesque location is reminiscent of a rustic Italian village and provides a refreshingly exotic experience. Renowned for the popular Papa’s Real Food restaurant and the Deli on Duncan’s delectable array of delicacies, Duncan Yard also features an enticing selection of stores offering boutique clothing, jewellery, indoor and outdoor décor, and carpet and florist services. Both the beauty and hair salon are idyllically situated for complete relaxation and pampering. Trading Hours: Monday to Friday 09:00 – 17:00 Saturday 09:00 – 15:00 Sunday 10:00 – 14:00 Public Holidays 10:00 – 14:00 www.duncanyard.co.za +27 (0) 12 362 2224 / 4054

Spot the Big Five in a malaria-free reserve in the Waterberg Mountains. Conveniently situated, Mabalingwe Nature Reserve is an easy two-hour drive from Johannesburg or Pretoria – a great escape from the stresses of urban living. Gripping sightings of elephant, white rhino, leopard, hippo, giraffe, hyena and sable antelope are routine on this lush Limpopo game park. Spread over 12 500 hectares of pristine wilderness, the rolling hills of the reserve is the birthplace to 32 species of wildlife. Birders will be kept busy ticking off numerous special sightings with more than 250 bird species on record. Visit Mabalingwe at any time of year and discover some of life's forgotten pleasures - it's definitely worth a trip!

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.

Pretoria has a complex and fascinating past. Initially the capital of the independent Boer republic of the Transvaal, it moved on to became one of the three capitals of South Africa and an international symbol of Apartheid.Then the turnabout came in 1994 with the jubilant inauguration of former President Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first democratically elected President. Suddenly the Union Buildings transformed from a symbol of white, supremacist domination to one of genuine unity in this beautiful and culturally rich city.The Union Buildings still form the official seat of South Africa's government and houses The Presidency as well as the Department of Foreign Affairs. Built at the loftiest point of South Africa's capital city, the elegant buildings preside like an ancient temple adorning and presiding over the city it governs. Designed by Sir Herbert Baker, the building was completed in 1913. Herbert Baker chose Meintjieskop for the site because it reminded him of the acropolises of Greece and Asia Minor. The overall design is influenced by the neo-classic architecture of the Italian Renaissance as well as Cape Dutch.

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.

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.

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.

One of the top ten zoos in the world, The National Zoological Gardens of South Africa offers animal lovers a staggering 9 500 animals to view. Situated on 85 hectares in the heart of ‘Jacaranda City’, it’s the largest zoo in the country and is home to mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians alike. The spacious grounds house some rare species of antelope, white rhino, elephant, hippos, lions, cheetah, gorillas and even bats!Over 600 000 people visit the zoo every year, and there’s so much to see. It’s worth enquiring about what tours are on offer. You can hire a golf cart or take the Zoo Choo-Choo Tractor Train if you’re not up for the six kilometres of walkways. For a birds-eye view, take the cableway and ride above the zoo and on both sides of the Apies River.The largest inland marine aquarium in the country, The Aquarium and Reptile Park, also form part of the zoo facility. Kids will love watching the endangered Komodo dragon, ragged-tooth sharks and other weird and highly poisonous beasties.Dotted around the zoo are a number of picnic spots where you can relax under giant shade trees. Braai facilities are available at the picnic area on the banks of the Apies River. You can also opt for a sit down meal at the restaurant.Visiting hours:Open seven days a week, 365 days a year. Tickets are sold from 8:30 to 16:30 daily and the zoo closes at 17:30.

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