Giltedge - Africa
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Most travellers visiting Gauteng prefer to overnight in the upmarket Johannesburg suburbs of Sandton and the other leafy northern areas of Sandhurst and Rosebank that are ideal for conveniently exploring all that the ‘City of Gold’ has to offer.
Centrally located malls, including Rosebank Mall, Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square, feature exclusive designer shops making it a shopper’s paradise with an abundance of gourmet restaurants completing the picture. A notable attraction when in the Johannesburg area is the Newtown Cultural Precinct where the Nelson Mandela Bridge, Newtown Art Gallery, MuseuMAfrica, Moyo African Restaurant and Market Theatre Complex are to be found. Also worth a mention is the Apartheid Museum where visitors can take an emotional, interactive journey through South Africa’s history from the early peoples to the birth of democracy. Another worthwhile attraction is the Gold Reef City theme park - a reconstruction of pioneer Johannesburg where visitors can descend down a mine shaft and watch gold being poured.
Attractions of plant and animal interest in Gauteng include the Zoological and Botanical Gardens, the Lipizzaner stallions of Kyalami, the Melrose Bird Sanctuary and the Lion Park. Just south of Johannesburg lies the sprawling community of Soweto (South Western Townships), where a burgeoning informal sector of markets, hawking and backyard industry flourishes. The Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto is Africa’s largest medical facility and The Sowetan newspaper also found here, the country’s fastest growing in terms of circulation. The dramatic Wonder Caves and the famed Sterkfontein Caves, also known as the ‘Cradle of Mankind’ and proclaimed a World Heritage Site because of its palaeontological importance is northwest of Johannesburg and are well worth a visit. This area has a hominid fossil history dating back more than three million years. Pretoria, to the north of Johannesburg, is Gauteng’s other major city. South Africa’s administrative capital, the city is older and far more sedate than Johannesburg and hosts the imposing crescent-shaped Union Buildings. Neoclassical in style, they buildings are set in landscaped gardens that are open to the public.
Besides the famed deep purple Jacaranda trees that bloom in the southern summer, attractions in Pretoria include the Premier Diamond Mine in Cullinan, the Tswaing meteor crater, the Voortrekker Monument, Anton van Wouw bronze statue of Paul Kruger and Kruger House in Church Square, Melrose House and the National Zoological and Botanical Gardens.
Nestled in the exclusive suburb of Sandurst in Sandton, Johannesburg, The Saxon makes a world-class statement of ethnic African elegance, combined with personalised attention to detail.
Transformed from the old saxonwold post office, the Monarch Hotel specializes in hospitality with a personal touch.
Rovos Rail was establishing in 1989 and has since earned its reputation as the world’s most luxurious train. The train carries a maximum of 72 passengers and accommodation is in a choice of three immaculately decorated room-types.
Tintswalo at Waterfall is a luxurious, intimate property offering unparalleled cuisine, exceptional luxury and excellent service in typical Tintswalo style.
The Westcliff is a luxury hotel in Johannesburg’s plush northern suburbs. The hotels hillside setting and sculptured gardens overlook the zoological gardens and evoke the elegance of a bygone era. Luxurious facilities and amenities complement any stay at The Westcliff.
The Blue Train is perhaps South Africa’s most famous luxury train. The train is based in Pretoria, but serves a number of destinations around the country. Luxurious and spacious private suites and a number of elegant lounges and bars onboard make for a truly exceptional journey.
