| The North West Province is a diverse mix
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| | conditions around Mafikeng are regarded
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| of wildlife reserves, cultural and
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| | as among the best in the world. A short
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| heritage sites, archaeological treasures
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| | distance from the town is the Mafikeng
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| and entertainment resorts, such as the
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| | Game Reserve, well known as a breeding
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| world-renowed pleasure spots of Sun City,
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| | centre for rhino and other plains
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| its Lost City and Valley of the Waves,
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| | species.Taung Archaeological Site:"The
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| make this province attractive to the
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| | place of the lion", this is the location
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| local and international tourist.However,
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| | of the world-famous Taung archaeological
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| even though the combination of five-star
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| | site at the Buxton limestone quarry
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| casino resorts and the bush experience,
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| | where, in 1924 the lime-encrusted skull
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| as provided by the Pilanesberg National
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| | of a child was discovered and later named
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| Park, is a winner, the province's other
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| | Australopithecus africanus by the
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| attractions are culturally rich and of
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| | scientist, Dr Raymond Dart. The
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| great importance. Sites and routes such
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| | prehistoric skull - half man, half ape,
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| as the Taung Archaeological site, where
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| | is said to have provided the missing link
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| it was believed Darwin's missing link was
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| | in Darwin's theory of evolution.Bloemhof
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| found, and the Crocodile River Ramble,
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| | Dam Nature Reserve:Ideal stopover to
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| exploring local arts and crafts along the
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| | enjoy a drive through Bloemhof Dam Nature
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| way, are noteworthy.Sport and outdoor
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| | Reserve which has a variety of small and
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| enthusiasts will feel at home in these
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| | large antelope species and 256 bird
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| natural surroundings that cater for
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| | species, with the option of staying over
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| activities ranging from water-skiing to
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| | to take in some angling for carp and
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| mountain-climbing, with the town of
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| | barbel on either the Bloemhof Dam or the
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| Mafikeng well-known for providing some of
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| | Vaal River. Bloemhof Dam caters for water
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| the best gliding conditions in the
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| | sports enthusiasts and is one of the
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| world.CLIMATE:The North West Province
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| | prime angling destinations in South
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| experiences warm to hot summers and cold
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| | Africa hosting a number of major local
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| to very cold winters. This province
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| | and international angling
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| offers almost year-round sunshine meaning
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| | competitions.Potchefstroom:The oldest
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| visitors will spend very few days
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| | town in South Africa, Potchefstroom was
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| indoors. The province enjoys a summer
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| | also the republic's first capital.
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| rainfall, which normally sees
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| | Attractions include the Potchefstroom
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| thunderstorms occurring in the late
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| | Museum (in the house of the first
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| afternoon. Rain falls mainly between
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| | president), The Old Fort and Museum,
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| December and March, however the more west
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| | Totius House Museum, Andrew Carnegie
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| one travels the drier it
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| | Library and City Hall, Goetz Fleischack
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| becomes.SHOPPING:Shopping malls, antique
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| | Museum, North West Command and Oak
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| shops, craft markets, art galleries as
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| | Avenue.Rustenburg:Platinum mining town of
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| well as roadside vendors and stalls are
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| | Rustenburg where huge deposits of this
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| plentiful throughout the province.
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| | valuable mineral are mined. Rustenburg
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| Not-to-be-missed is the enjoyable
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| | has its own Nature Reserve, which
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| Crocodile River Ramble shopping route.
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| | protects a large herd of the rare sable
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| Good buys include fruit, biltong,
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| | antelope. Visitors are allowed to hike in
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| home-made jams and preserves, mampoer
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| | the park.Hartbeesport Dam:The
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| (locally distilled liquor), local arts
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| | Hartbeesport Dam nestles in the shadow of
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| and crafts, ethnic clothing and
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| | the Magaliesberg and is popular for
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| fabrics.TOP TEN ATTRACTIONS:Sun City:The
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| | fishing, boating, water-skiing and
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| complex boasts two world-famous golf
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| | yachting. There is a mine, zoo and a
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| courses, which annually host the Nedbank
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| | couple of small holiday villages,
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| 2-million golf challenge, one of the
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| | including the attractive kosmos flowers
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| richest invitational tournaments in the
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| | around the dam.Magaliesberg:For local
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| world. There is a full casino at the
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| | arts and crafts, a driving route which
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| resort, revue theatres and restaurants
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| | begins in Johannesburg and extends to the
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| for every taste. The Valley of the Waves
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| | Magaliesberg area takes in the homes or
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| is an inland sea enjoyed by all water and
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| | shops of a host of artists, potters and
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| beach enthusiasts. Different tours can be
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| | craftspeople, known as the Crocodile
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| taken including visits to the new
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| | River Ramble. There are a number of
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| cultural village and the botanical
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| | pleasant accommodation options and
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| gardens.Pilanesberg National Park:Known
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| | camping spots in the Magaliesberg
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| as "Jewel of the North West" This unusual
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| | area.Mampoer Route:Well known for the
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| reserve, the fourth largest in South
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| | quality of its mampoer, a powerful
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| Africa, is set high in the Pilanesberg
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| | home-brew made from fruit such as peaches
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| range and traverses the floor of a
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| | and apricots. The Mampoer Route is about
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| long-extinct volcano. The reserve is home
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| | 60km long and introduces visitors to the
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| to all the main African game species
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| | secrets of the distilling process and
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| including The Big Five. For the more
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| | also includes a visit to a trout breeding
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| adventurous, hot-air balloon safaris can
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| | farm and a game farm.Gerald Crawford was
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| be arranged.Mafikeng:"The place of
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| | born in South Africa, studied
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| boulders", Mafikeng offers numerous
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| | electronics, telecommunication,
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| sporting facilities including two golf
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| | eco-travel and african travel concepts.
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| courses. There is a major conference
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| | He taught responsible tourism in South
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| centre, complemented by two excellent
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| | Africa. If you have any questions or
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| hotels and a casino. The town hosted the
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| | comments please e-mail me on. E-mail
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| 2001 International Gliding Championships
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| | Address:
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| from its modern airport. Gliding
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| | southafricantravelarticles@12234455.co.
|
