West Rand, Gauteng

Gauteng Tourist Attractions

West Rand, Gauteng

Extending from Randfontein in the west to Roodepoort in the east and including the towns of Krugersdorp and Magaliesburg, the West Rand may belong to a separate municipality, but it still remains within the Greater Johannesburg metropolitan area and it is not uncommon for people to commute between the West Rand and Johannesburg on a daily basis.

The West Rand grew out of the discovery of gold in the area, although a greater part of this area remains rural and largely unspoilt, encompassing some of Gauteng’s most beautiful scenery and enviable weather. Two mountain ranges, the Magaliesberg and the Witwatersberg, grace the western fringes of the region, which, when combined with the Skeerpoort and Crocodile River valleys, makes for beautiful and interesting hikes, rock climbs and days out in nature.

West Rand, Gauteng

The appealing Crocodile Ramble that meanders in and around the Cradle of Humankind and Hartbeespoort Dam, offers a series of art studios and galleries, pubs, tea gardens, nurseries, picnic and camping spots, bird walks, 4x4 trails, hiking and horse trails and a heritage tour and starts a mere 45 minutes from Johannesburg.

On the eastern periphery of the Magaliesberg Mountains lies Hartbeespoort Dam, a major mecca for Gautengers and a hive of water activity over weekends. Despite this, there are still places of escape in around here, the small village of Magaliesberg - with its quaint little shops and vintage railway station - and beyond. This part of the world is given over largely to farms and smallholdings, many of which are now the abodes of artists and crafters; and the little village of Muldersdrift also serves as a launching pad to the Cradle of Mankind and the Sterkfontein Caves declared a World heritage site in 1999. The Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve, the Wonder Cave, fish farms, steam train rides, trips to Soweto and the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens are just a few of the wonderful attractions on the West Rand, and reason a plenty to visit.

West Rand

Destinations / Towns of West Rand

Elandsdrift

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Elandsdrift

Virtually on the doorstep of the Cradle of Humankind, Elandsdrift, just outside Johannesburg en route to the Magaliesberg, lies in a more rural part of the city, perfect for weekend getaways and popular for wedding ... Elandsdrift information

Hartbeespoort Dam

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Hartbeespoort Dam

Roughly 45 minutes’ drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria, surrounded by the beautiful Magaliesberg mountain range, Hartbeespoort dam, or Harties to locals, has become a hive of activity and is a very popular weekend ... Hartbeespoort Dam information

Krugersdorp

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Krugersdorp

Falling under the municipality known as Mogale City, Krugersdorp is essentially a mining town, regarded as the industrial hub of western Gauteng. Gold, manganese, iron, asbestos and lime are all mined in and around ... Krugersdorp information

Lanseria

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Lanseria

Lying in outer Randburg, Lanseria is virtually synonymous with the airport that lies out on this side of Johannesburg. What used to be little more than a slick executive airport for corporate travellers with their own ... Lanseria information

Little Falls

Where to Stay: Accommodation in West Rand

Little Falls is still just off Hendrik Potgieter Road en route to the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, and must have been named after water (obviously!) of some description as many of the street names here ... Little Falls information

Magaliesberg

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Magaliesberg

Stretching for over 120 kilometres and separating the highveld grasslands to the south from the bushveld savannah in the north, is the Magaliesberg, a stretch of mountains 100 times older than Everest, that extend from ... Magaliesberg information

Muldersdrift

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Muldersdrift

This particularly pretty part of the world used to be real countryside, way outside of Johannesburg, for escapees of the city lifestyle. Whilst today the small farms and smallholdings still exist, Muldersdrift has now ... Muldersdrift information

Randfontein

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Randfontein

Lying 45 kilometres west of Johannesburg, in what is commonly known as the West Rand, Randfontein emerged as a gold mining town during the late 1800s. Apart from having the largest stamp mill in the world (used in early ... Randfontein information

Renosterspruit

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Renosterspruit

Set in a valley through which the Crocodile River meanders in the foothills of the Magaliesberg, is Renosterspruit. Renosterspruit lies in a vital and natural green lung, encompassing farmland, small holdings and a ... Renosterspruit information

Roodepoort

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Roodepoort

Roodepoort is actually a city of its own, although it has now merged with the suburbs of Johannesburg to such a degree, there is barely a discernable line over which you cross, other than a sign on the side of the road ... Roodepoort information

Ruimsig

Where to Stay: Accommodation in Ruimsig

Ruimsig manages to retain much of that countryside feel and is home to the Roodepoort Country Club, said to be one of the most challenging championship golf courses in the country. As its name suggests, Ruimsig (a mixture of the ... Ruimsig information

Carletonville

Where to Stay: Accommodation in West Rand

The mining town of Carletonville lies west of Johannesburg, out beyond Westonaria close to the N12. The town is busy, due in no small part to the fact that it lies in one of the richest gold-producing parts of the world One of the... Carletonville information

West Rand

Featured and "Must See" Attractions in West Rand

Cradle of Humankind

The Cradle of Humankind Site comprises a strip of a dozen dolomitic limestone caves containing the fossillised remains of ancient forms of animals, plants and most importantly, hominids. The dolomite in which the caves formed, started out as coral reefs growing in a worm shallow sea about 2.3 billion years ago ... more information

Shades of Ngwenya

Shades of Ngwenya is a glass factory situated at the Ngwenya Glass Village, where you can watch a group of local glass blowers creating an enchanting array of glassware, and a range of animals and birds of Africa. And all of this in the pretty area of Muldersdrift, about 20 minutes drive from Johannesburg, Gauteng ... more information

Krugersdorp Game Reserve

The habitat is mainly grassveld with small dams and reedbeds at the northern-most end. The vast areas of open grassland in the reserve provide the visitor the opportunity to observe many of the grassland species of Gauteng. West of Johannesburg, on the outskirts of the suburban area, is the... more information

Lion Park

If you are pressed for time, or your trip does not include a journey to one of the major game reserves in South Africa, then it follows that you might still want to view lions 'up close and personal' in a wildlife conservation enclosure. Infact, if you've just jetted in via Lanseria Airport, you could make it one of the first ... more information

Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve

Set in the heart of the Cradle of Humankind, the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve lies roughly 40 kilometres north-west of Johannesburg; a chance to see white rhino, lion, buffalo, hippo and other species of game up close and within half an hour of the major metropolis. If you get to the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve... more information

Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens

One of the great escapes of Johannesburg, the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden in Roodepoort, is almost 300 hectares of landscaped and natural veld that is a haven for birds and a popular picnic spot for Gautengers. Despite development that is threatening encroachment on this beautiful garden ... more information

Croc City Crocodile Farm

Croc City Crocodile Farm provides the opportunity for the public to observe one of the world's most spectacular predators at close range. Croc City is home to more than 800 crocodiles, ranging from hatchlings, to large adults of over four metres in length. Croc City is the first ... more information

Heia Safari Game Reserve

The 650 ha Game Reserve is nestled at the foot of the Swartkop Mountains, where game found their home in African bushveld. On our 1.5 hours guided game drive find peace and tranquillity by watching 22 varieties of South African Wildlife. Game you can expect to see at Heia Safari Ranch include ... more information

Nooitgedacht Nature Reserve

An hours drive from Johannesburg, Pretoria or Rustenburg you will find the 20,000 ha / 5000 acre Nooitgedacht Nature Reserve. Game drives in open safari vehicles allow for excellent game viewing. The more than 20 different species of game include giraffe, zebra, wildebeest... more information

Lanseria Airport

When kulula began operating daily flights to and from Cape Town and Durban from Lanseria Airport in 2005, Lanseria Airport, formerly regarded by all and sundry as merely a grass airstrip somewhere in the northern reaches of Johannesburg, began to play a more serious role in the minds of travellers in ... more information

Oori Nature Reserve

Lying in the beautiful Crocodile River Valley some 40 minutes from Johannesburg, to the south of the Magaliesberg Mountains, lies the Oori Nature Reserve (Oori is Tswana for Crocodile). The total area of about 750 hectares is made up of roughly 40 properties, all of which have done away with... more information

Plumari Game Reserve

Plumari Ranch Game Reserve comprises a pristine malaria free wilderness area of over 2000 hectares. The ranch boasts an amazing natural African bushveld with an abundance of wildlife. Guests can expect to see leopard and expect to see white rhino, buffalo, hippo, giraffe, zebra, waterbuck... more information

Roodepoort Museum

Set in the Roodepoort Civic Centre on Christiaan de Wet Road, the Roodepoort Museum capably covers Roodepoort’s long and diverse history, which dates back to 1884, despite having had to shut its doors briefly in 2006 due to budgetary constraints. Re-opened due to the local community’s tireless ... more information

Sterkfontein Caves

The Sterkfontein Caves are a series of limestone caves 50 kilometres north west of Johannesburg that are not only the richest, but most productive palaeo-anthropological sites in the world. They form part of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, named by UNESCO in 1999 and part of over 47 000 hectares of ... more information

West Rand Attractions

Things To Do in West Rand

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West Rand

Holiday Accommodation in West Rand

For accommodation in West Rand see:
• Krugersdorp Accommodation • Lanseria Accommodation • Muldersdrift Accommodation
• Randfontein Accommodation • Magaliesberg Accommodation • Roodepoort Accommodation

Or to see all accommodation in this region, visit West Rand Accommodation.

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