The West Rand Region, 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.
Did you know? The ‘place of gold’ in the north-east of the country may not have any sea or major river about which to boast, but it is uniquely placed for easy weekend escapes into North West, Limpopo and the Free State provinces. And although small, it has at its heart enough of its own natural attractions to keep visitors content to remain within its borders.
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.
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 stunning Magaliesberg Mountains you will find 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.
Find accommodation in the West Rand
South Africa Accommodation / Gauteng Accommodation / West Rand Accommodation
The Pecan Lake Guesthouse
The Pecan Lake is a holiday home with five en-suite bedrooms (sleeps 10). The meticulously designed spaces ensure that your stay is characterised...
Lethabo Estate
Lethabo Estate in Lanseria is set on the banks of the Crocodile River, centrally positioned very near Lanseria International Airport and a short ...
Lethabo Estate Farmhouse
Lethabo Farmhouse is a relaxed haven of easy country living with tranquil, uninterrupted views to the horizon over the pond, pool and rolling hil...
African Hills Safari Lodge
Situated on the Plumari Private Reserve in the Magaliesberg, just over an hour from Johannesburg or Pretoria, African Hills Safari Lodge offers g...
Sibani Lodge
Sibani Lodge is an exclusive wilderness lodge nestled in the idyllic nature reserve of Mt Savannah. Stay in one of our luxurious suites or cottag...
Kloofzicht Lodge & Spa
Guests entering the luxurious Kloofzicht Lodge are greeted with the stunning vista of endless stretches of water as the infinity pool spills over...
Stay Harties Unit Five
Stay Harties Unit Five offers accommodation in Hartbeespoort in an apartment on a lovely, private estate. Harties is the perfect holiday destinat...
Stay Harties Unit Four
Stay Harties Unit Four offers self-catering accommodation in Hartbeespoort Dam on a private estate just outside Pretoria. Stay Harties Unit Four ...
Destinations in the West Rand Region
Carletonville
Overnight? Carletonville accommodation
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 major mines, Western Dee...
Constantia Kloof
Overnight? Constantia Kloof accommodation
Lying just south of Allen's Nek in the crook of Christian de Wet Road to the west of Johannesburg, Constantia Kloof is a small and quiet suburb that lies in an indentation of Constantia Ridge, hence its name.
It's a pretty little suburb perched on the ...
Elandsdrift
Overnight? Elandsdrift accommodation
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 venues and business breakaways.
Elan...
Florida Hills
Overnight? Florida Hills accommodation
The gorgeous town of Florida Hills is part of the West Rand in the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. This is, of course, part of the South African province of Gauteng. This means that, although being relatively small, it is a significant mem...
Fochville
Overnight? Fochville accommodation
Booking accommodation in Fochville allows visitors to see a completely different side of South Africa. This little mining town is rural, originally being established as an agricultural centre in 1920. It is perched between Johannesburg and Potchefstroom, ...
Hartbeespoort Dam
Overnight? Hartbeespoort Dam accommodation
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 getaway for the two cities. The beauty ...
Kloofendal
Kloofendal is a suburb in Roodepoort, which is part of the West Rand of the Greater Johannesburg region. It is less than 30 kilometres from the city centre, which is constantly abuzz with shops, galleries, boutiques, entertainment centres, corporate hubs ...
Krugersdorp
Overnight? Krugersdorp accommodation
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 and its history is steep...
Lanseria
Overnight? Lanseria accommodation
To get the most out of Johannesburg, book overnight accommodation in Lanseria on the outskirts of the city centre. Lying in outer Randburg, Lanseria is virtually synonymous with the airport that lies out on this side of Johannesburg. What used to be littl...
Little Falls
Overnight? Little Falls accommodation
Once upon a time, Little Falls was to 'doer and gone' (local speak for 'to hell and gone') out in the country and you had to travel some way from the centre of Johannesburg to reach it. After you had put the city behind you, you got that true open road fe...
Magaliesberg
Overnight? Magaliesberg accommodation
The Magaliesberg mountains are of the oldest in the world. They extend across Gauteng and the North West provinces west and north from Pretoria to just south of the Pilanesberg, and east of Pretoria to the Bronkhorstspruit Dam.
Formerly known as the Ca...
Muldersdrift
Overnight? Muldersdrift accommodation
For the ultimate in authentic South African getaways, choose to stay in the boutique hotels and accommodation in Muldersdrift. This particularly pretty part of the world used to be real countryside, way outside of Johannesburg, for escapees of the city li...
Randfontein
Overnight? Randfontein accommodation
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 paper making for preparing the ...
Renosterspruit
Overnight? Renosterspruit accommodation
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 number of reserves and conservancies - s...
Roodepoort
Overnight? Roodepoort accommodation
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 indicating that you have now entered...
Ruimsig
Overnight? Ruimsig accommodation
Not that long ago (certainly its measurable in decades rather than centuries) driving out on the M47 (Hendrik Potgieter) towards Little Falls from the centre of Johannesburg felt like a drive in to the countryside that took hours.
Today, Little Falls...
Tarlton
Gauteng might be the smallest province in the country, but it is home to an enormous variety of attractions, activities and towns that are well worth the visit. These include the epicentre, Johannesburg, as well as the historically and politically relevan...