Things to Do in Swartruggens

The recently built Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in the North West Province is a multi-purpose venue that played host to the FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 and 2010 FIFA World Cup. Improvements to the stadium have increased the seating capacity to 40,000 and provisioned it with state-of-the-art electronic scoreboards and floodlights. The stadium is named after the Royal Bafokeng community, a group who manage the world’s richest platinum mines and who exclusively funded the sports grounds in the North West Province. Rustenburg lies on the edge of the Magaliesberg Wilderness area and is not too far from the awesome Madikwe Game Reserve, the Pilanesberg Game Reserve and glitzy Palace of the Lost City - a great escape for revellers and gamblers.

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