North West Province – From Magaliesberg Mountain Ranges to the Vaal River
With Mafikeng as its capital city, the North West Province of South Africa is located to the west of the densely populated Gauteng Province with Limpopo Province to the northeast, Free State to the southeast, Northern Cape to the southwest, and neighboring Botswana to the north. The majestic Magaliesberg mountain range extends from Pretoria through to Rustenburg and the Vaal River winds its way along the southern border of the province. The terrain of the North West Province is primarily flat, consisting of grasslands dotted with trees and shrubs providing ideal game spotting conditions.
The mining of gold, uranium, platinum, and diamonds form the backbone of North West Province‘s economy, providing jobs for around twenty-five percent of the workforce. Farming and tourism are also important sources of income, with Sun City, an upscale entertainment and casino complex, providing jobs and bringing revenue into the province, while the “Big 5” Pilanesberg Game Reserve and a number of privately owned game farms offer an authentic South African bushveld experience. Many North West Province towns, such as Hartebeespoort, Rustenburg and Groot Marico offer city dwellers from Pretoria and Johannesburg easy access to some peace and tranquility without having to travel too far.
