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North West is one
of nine provinces in South Africa. It was formed
after the first free elections in 1994 from the
western parts of the former Transvaal province and
most of the former Bophuthatswana Bantustan.
Covering 118,797km², much of the province
consists of flat plains of scattered trees and
grassland. The Magaliesberg mountain range in the
northeast extends about 130km from Pretoria to
Rustenburg. The Vaal River flows along the southern
border of the province.
With a population of 3.7 million, 65% of people
live in the rural areas. 92% of the population are
Black and 7% White. The majority of people are
Tswana who speak Setswana (65%). Smaller groups
include Afrikaans (7%),
Sesotho (7%), and isiXhosa
(7%) speaking people. English is spoken primarily as
a second language.
The major cities and towns include Brits, Klerksdorp,
Lichtenburg, Mafikeng,
Potchefstroom
(Tlokwe), Rustenburg,
Shweizer Reneke, Vryburg, Ventersdorp, Wolmaransstad
and Zeeruts. Mafikeng (previously called Mafeking)
is the capital city of the North West.
Summer (October to April) brings hot, sunny days
with temperatures ranging from 17° to 31°C. Annual
rainfall totals about 360 mm (about 14 in), with
Almost all of the annual rainfall (360mm) falls
during the summer months. The winters (May to
September) are relatively warm during daylight hours
(15° to 22°C), but the evenings can get somewhat
chilly.
Important historical sites in the province
include Mafikeng, the traditional capital of the
Barolong people, where a British garrison was placed
under siege by Afrikaners during the Boer War
(1899-1902).
The Lotlamoreng Cultural Village near Mafikeng
re-creates a traditional African village; and
Boekenhoutfontein, the farm of Paul Kruger, the
last president of the former Transvaal South African
Republic (1883 to 1902).
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Related pages
Brits, Klerksdorp, Lichtenburg,
Mafikeng,
Potchefstroom
(Tlokwe), Rustenburg, Shweizer Reneke, Vryburg,
Ventersdorp, Wolmaransstad and
Zeeruts.
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Shimmering in the African sun, the
fantastic Sun City Resort Complex could be
mistaken for a mirage. Sun City is one of
the world's largest adult entertainment
centres, a luxury theme park for grown-up
kids. Here you can go gaming on the casino
tables, golfing on the 18-hole course,
watching performances by some of the world's
most popular stars and artists, or simply
lazing in the plush ambience of the complex.
And when the day's play is over, there are
beds for more than 2000 guests.
Next door to Sun City is the Pilanesberg
Game Reserve. This park is home to the best
of Africa's game, including the 'Big Five' -
elephants, rhino, buffalo, lions and
leopards. Here you will also see giraffe,
zebra, hippo and a wide variety of antelopes
including able, eland, kudu and gemsbok. The
park exists within the transition zone
between the dry Kalahari and wetter Lowveld
vegetation, commonly referred to as
"Bushveld". Unlike any other large park,
unique overlaps of mammals, birds and
vegetation occur because of this transition
zone.
Some of the other major game reserves
include; the Botsalano Game Reserve near
Mafikeng, renowned for its rhino and tented
camp;Molopo Game Reserve famous for its
raptor breeding; the Madikwe Game Reserve,
home to the Big Five; and the Mafikeng Game
Reserve with fantastic plains game viewing
around the Molopo River.
Other attractions include the Barberspan
Bird Sanctuary, one of the largest waterfowl
sanctuaries in Southern Africa and a RAMSAR
Convention accredited wetland. The Kgaswane
Mountain Reserve is located in the scenic
Magaliesberg. The Baviaanskrans & Summit
Hiking Trails meander through waterfalls and
natural pools and are among the best in
South Africa. And the endless blue of the
Bloemhof Dam Nature Reserve offers the best
fresh water angling dam in South Africa and
annually hosts international as well as
national championships.
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