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South Africa
NORTH WEST EXPLORER: ANCIENT MOUNTAINS TO BIG FIVE KINGDOMS
Watch the Big Five in an ancient volcanic crater, track wild dogs on safari and visit sites that rewrote human history. North West will amaze you.
≈ 11
Days
910
Km
10
Stops
Track the Big Five at Pilanesberg, then speed to Madikwe and its wild dogs at Botswana's border. Stop at Taung, where a discovery upended evolutionary history, then explore Magaliesberg ridges: an intense safari, surprisingly close to Johannesburg, perfect for living the bush without straying too far.
- Pilanesberg: volcanic crater, big five
- Madikwe: wild dog territory, border wilderness
- Taung: humanity's child, evolution rewritten
- Magaliesberg: ancient mountains, adventure activities
Your day-by-day itinerary
1
Day
2 photos
Discover
1
Arrive at Hartbeespoort Dam, a popular destination for visitors set within the dramatic Magaliesberg mountain range. The dam and surrounding area offer the region's primary destination for watersports including windsurfing, jet skiing, white water rafting, canoeing, and tubing on the Crocodile River that feeds the reservoir. Beneath the dam's surface lies one of South Africa's few inland dive sites featuring unusual attractions.
2
Visit The Elephant Sanctuary at Hartbeespoort Dam, where thrice-daily interactions with resident African elephants allow visitors to learn about these incredible animals and conservation issues affecting their survival in the wild. During guided walking tours, the elephants roam freely in the forest and allow up-close encounters where you can walk hand-in-trunk with them.
3
Explore The Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre, established in 1971 as a breeding program to help bolster cheetah populations in the wild. View cheetahs, African wild dogs, vultures, and smaller cats on guided game drives through their open enclosures. Cheetah run experiences showcase these incredible predators demonstrating their legendary speed.
Activities
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Browse Welwitschia Country Market, an eco-friendly attraction offering 40 rustic stalls in an open-air setting beneath beautiful shade trees. Discover bohemian clothing, traditional African carvings, and crafts made by local artisans. The market operates Tuesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., providing an authentic shopping experience.
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Enjoy adventure activities in the surrounding hills and mountains, including beautiful hiking trails, rock climbing, quad biking, paragliding, and hot air ballooning. The Harties Aerial Cableway offers spectacular views across the dam and mountains, while the Phaladingwe Hiking Trail winds through diverse habitats with chances to spot impala, duiker, kudu, and nyala.
Next stop
Distance:
35 km
Travel time:
40min
2
Day
2 photos
Discover
1
Explore the magical Magaliesberg mountain range, ancient peaks nearly a hundred times older than Mount Everest with fascinating historical and geological heritage. When traffic cooperates, these dramatic mountains are less than an hour from Johannesburg but feel a thousand miles away. The range contains more indigenous trees and plants than almost any comparable area in South Africa.
2
Follow the Magalies Meander, a scenic route through this peaceful region connecting farms, craft studios, and natural attractions. The mountains have witnessed countless millennia of geological and human history, their ridges and valleys sheltering unique ecosystems and evidence of early human habitation.
Activities
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Experience Magalies Canopy Tours in the Magaliesberg Biosphere Reserve, a 2.5-hour zipline adventure through mountains estimated to be over 2,500 million years old. The course includes 10 slides and 11 platforms with breathtaking scenery, offering glimpses of resident duikers and klipspringers. Bring your camera for truly spectacular photo opportunities.
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Soar above the Magalies River Valley on a balloon safari with Southern Africa's longest-established balloon airline. Sunrise flights offer views over the mountains and the Cradle of Humankind UNESCO World Heritage Site, with the world below bathed in golden light and silence interrupted only by the balloon's burners.
Next stop
Distance:
60 km
Travel time:
55min
3
Day
3 photos
Discover
1
Visit the Paul Kruger Country House Museum in Rustenburg, a historic collection of buildings that once formed the farm of Paul Kruger, former President of the Zuid-Afrikaanse Republiek and leader of Boer resistance in the Anglo-Boer War. Now fully restored, the property provides immersive insight into life for Kruger and his family, with artifacts including his rifle and bibles on display.
2
Explore Kgaswane Nature Reserve on the northern slopes of the Magaliesberg mountains, a picturesque collection of quartzite peaks and valleys, magnificent waterfalls, and tranquil swimming pools. A self-drive route with picnic sites and viewpoints allows exploration at leisure. The reserve is particularly famous for its breeding herd of sable antelope.
Activities
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Discover dozens of antelope species at Kgaswane, from klipspringers to kudu, while birders seek out the breeding colony of endangered Cape vultures. The reserve offers a peaceful alternative to larger parks, with fewer crowds and excellent wildlife viewing opportunities just 15 minutes from Rustenburg. Scenic viewpoints reward hikers with panoramic mountain vistas.
Next stop
Distance:
55 km
Travel time:
50min
4
Day
Discover
1
Discover Groot Marico, a quaint provincial town that served as the backdrop for many tales written by Herman Charles Bosman, one of South Africa's most beloved writers. The town has embraced this literary association with a museum that is an exact replica of the local school where Bosman once taught. The annual Herman Charles Bosman Festival every October celebrates this heritage.
Activities
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Explore the charming town named after the Groot Marico River, where architecture reflects the region's rural heritage and accommodation options capture the enchanting atmosphere of Bosman's stories. The annual Marico Mountain Bike Classic draws cycling enthusiasts, while the surrounding countryside offers peaceful drives through typical North West farmland.
Next stop
Distance:
120 km
Travel time:
1h40
5
Day
3 photos
Discover
1
Explore Mahikeng, North West's provincial capital that retains small-town charm while playing a pivotal role in South African history. During the Anglo-Boer War of 1899, a small garrison of British troops famously held out here for 217 days against the much larger Boer army. Museums, historical buildings, and monuments throughout the city document this dramatic siege.
2
Discover the legacy of Sol Plaatje, the famous journalist and human rights campaigner whose life is deeply woven into the city's narrative. Plaatje was the first General Secretary of the African National Congress and a tireless advocate for African rights during the colonial era. His former home and associated sites provide insight into early 20th-century activism.
Activities
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Experience the culture of the Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela, a subgroup of the Tswana people with a long history in North West. Visit cultural villages and the cultural museum in nearby Saulspoort, about 35 kilometers from Sun City, to experience traditional hospitality and learn about customs that have survived centuries of change.
Next stop
Distance:
85 km
Travel time:
1h10
6
Day
2 photos
Discover
1
Enter Madikwe Game Reserve, one of South Africa's largest private reserves situated on the edge of the Kalahari Desert and an astonishing conservation success story. The reserve's diverse habitats are home to all Big Five animals in addition to 300 different bird species. Above all, Madikwe is famous for close encounters with its thriving population of critically endangered African wild dogs.
2
Experience specialized photographic safaris for which Madikwe is developing a premier reputation. Unique facilities include a submerged 'terrapin hide' that emerges from the middle of a waterhole just above water level, offering photographers extraordinary perspectives on wildlife coming to drink. The reserve's leopard population also draws dedicated wildlife photographers.
3
Enjoy the malaria-free environment that makes Madikwe a great alternative to Kruger National Park for families and those concerned about health risks. The reserve is only open to overnight guests staying at one of its luxury safari lodges, ensuring exclusive game viewing with minimal vehicle density on drives.
Activities
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Track African wild dogs with expert guides who know the packs' territories and habits. These endangered predators are notoriously difficult to find in most reserves, but Madikwe's healthy population provides excellent sighting opportunities. Morning and evening game drives maximize wildlife encounters during peak activity periods.
Next stop
Distance:
180 km
Travel time:
2h30
7
Day
3 photos
Discover
1
Explore Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa's most popular and accessible Big Five game reserve. Situated inside an ancient volcanic crater just 90 minutes from Johannesburg, this family-friendly, wallet-friendly park is completely malaria-free. The unique geological setting creates diverse habitats supporting remarkable wildlife density within a compact area.
2
Discover African wild dogs, 360 bird species, and unusual antelope like the roan and sable that thrive in Pilanesberg's rich ecological zone. Self-drive options allow flexible exploration in your rental car, while guided drives offer expert interpretation. Entry costs approximately 110 rands per adult, making it an affordable choice.
3
Track rhinos at adjacent Letsatsing Game Reserve, where educational activities with field guides use telemetry devices to locate wild white rhinos. When signals indicate rhinos are close, visitors leave vehicles to track, approach, and observe these magnificent animals on foot from just meters away-a unique and thrilling experience.
Activities
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Experience hot air balloon safaris-Pilanesberg is the only national park in South Africa offering this unique perspective on wildlife and landscape. Dawn launches carry passengers over the volcanic crater, ancient geology, and roaming herds for an unforgettable aerial safari experience that reveals the park's full majesty from above.
Next stop
Distance:
15 km
Travel time:
15min
8
Day
4 photos
Discover
1
Experience Sun City, the famed mega-resort on the border of Pilanesberg National Park offering entertainment for all ages. Adults enjoy a world-famous golf course and one of Africa's largest casinos, while families delight in the variety of rides, outdoor activities, and the famous Valley of the Waves water park with its palm-fringed beach.
2
Play a round on Sun City's two Gary Player-designed golf courses. The Gary Player Country Club was ranked third in the country by Golf Digest South Africa and hosts the annual Nedbank Golf Challenge with professional players. The desert-style Lost City Golf Course features 300,000 square feet of water features including live Nile crocodiles at the 13th hole.
Activities
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Soar above the resort in a hot air balloon, try your luck at the casino, or catch world-class musicians at the Superbowl entertainment venue. Accommodation ranges from family-friendly Cabanas to the five-star Cascades and the extravagant Palace of the Lost City. Live music venues and numerous dining options complete the entertainment offerings.
Next stop
Distance:
180 km
Travel time:
2h30
9
Day
Discover
1
Discover Barberspan Bird Sanctuary, an Important Bird Area and Ramsar wetland site that is a must-visit for avid birders. This 2,000-hectare reserve near Delareyville has recorded 365 species, many of them waterbirds or rare migrants. Globally threatened species include the lesser flamingo, black-winged pratincole, maccoa duck, and chestnut-banded plover.
2
Observe waterbirds congregating in large numbers during the April to October dry season, when other water sources in the region are drought-stricken. The sanctuary's hides and observation points provide excellent viewing opportunities for photographers and birders seeking species difficult to find elsewhere in South Africa.
Activities
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Cast a line on the mighty Vaal River, which forms the province's southern border with the Free State. Species including barbel, carp, mudfish, and largemouth bass can be caught, though the prized yellowfish provides the best fight when caught on fly. The river's banks offer peaceful settings for fishing expeditions.
10
Day
Discover
1
Follow the Taung Heritage Route, a fascinating 45-kilometer journey through archaeological sites that illuminate significant gaps in human evolution. This route includes the UNESCO-listed site where a 2.5-million-year-old fossilized skull of a hominid child was discovered in 1924. The Taung Child has been labeled the most important anthropological fossil of the 20th century.
2
Explore natural wonders along the heritage route including a limestone waterfall and natural rock basins, streams, and caves collectively known as the Blue Pools. You can also venture inside an abandoned mine tunnel that provides insight into the region's geological and mining history. The landscape reveals layers of Earth's ancient past.
Activities
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Connect this visit with the broader Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, of which Taung is officially part. The heritage route provides essential context for understanding human origins and the painstaking scientific work that has reconstructed our evolutionary story from fossil evidence found in these ancient landscapes.
Next stop
Distance:
180 km
Travel time:
2h20
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❓ Frequently asked questions
What weather should you expect?
Autumn (March-May): Perfect weather with comfortable temperatures (18-26°C), minimal rainfall, and ideal conditions for safari and outdoor activities. Excellent wine harvest season, beautiful landscapes, moderate tourist numbers, reasonable accommodation rates.
Spring (September-November): Excellent weather with warming temperatures (16-24°C), blooming wildflowers, and perfect conditions for wildlife viewing. Whale watching season, jacaranda blooms, moderate prices, excellent photography opportunities.
Summer (December-February): Warm temperatures (20-30°C) with occasional rainfall, peak holiday season, and vibrant outdoor atmosphere. Beach season, highest accommodation rates, school holidays, excellent for coastal activities.
Winter (June-August): Cool, dry weather (8-20°C) perfect for safari with excellent wildlife viewing and clear skies. Peak safari season, whale watching, cozy wine estates, moderate accommodation rates.
How many days should I plan?
We believe you will enjoy this itinerary best by dedicating between 9 and 13 days. The next step will allow you to adjust the duration of your stay.
What to discover in South Africa?
Rainbow nation with incredible wildlife, stunning landscapes, and diverse cultures. Experience safari adventures, wine regions, and authentic African experiences from Cape Town to Kruger. The country offers wildlife encounters with cultural diversity and natural beauty. South Africa provides comprehensive African experiences with modern amenities and cultural richness.