Before the 9 provinces of South Africa as we know them today came into being, South Africa was divided into four provinces, Cape Province, Natal, Orange Free State and Transvaal.

In 1994, at the time of South Africa’s first free elections and subsequent transformation to a free democracy, the country was divided into nine South African provinces.

These provinces received a large degree of independency, each with its own legislature, premier and executive council. South Africa’s rainbow culture shows in the incredible diversity between the provinces, almost like different countries within a country, each one with its own appeal and attractions.

Let us go and visit each province, just click on the one of your choice in the menu below.

1 WESTERN CAPE - Cape Town
2 NORTHERN CAPE - Kimberley
3 EASTERN CAPE - Bisho
4 KWAZULU NATAL - Pietermaritzburg
5 FREE STATE - Bloemfontein
6 NORTH WEST - Mmabatho
7 GAUTENG - Johannesburg
8 MPUMALANGA - Nelspruit
9 LIMPOPO - Polokwane

The Western Cape province


The Western Cape province is an area of great appeal and beauty. Few people can visit this region without falling in love with it. It is the province that has everything, plus that little bit extra that sets it apart from the other provinces of South Africa.

Towering over the peninsula is the famous Table Mountain, a spectacular backdrop to the city of Cape Town, the mother city as we South Africans fondly like to call it.

White sandy beaches, indigenous forests of ancient trees, nature reserves and beautiful valleys with vineyards and orchards between rugged mountains,…forming the scenic background to craft markets, art festivals and historic buildings,…await the explorers of this province.

Great experiences like tasting our famous wines at the wine farms, watching whales and dolphins rollick in the sea, riding ostriches, swimming with penguins, standing in Nelson Mandela’s prison cell, watching Jaws the awesome great white shark from an underwater cage and taking the cable way to the top of Table Mountain,…will make your visit absolutely out of this world.

<< Back to the Top


The Northern Cape province


Northern Cape province – jewel of South Africa. These words might raise a few eyebrows when you look at the rugged desert type countryside, wondering what fascination it could possibly hold for you. But soon one discovers that the seemingly desolation of this ancient land is but surface deep. It has its own special kind of natural beauty between the other provinces of south africa.

The jewel province is famous for its large deposits of valuable treasures underneath its rocky surface, in the form of gem stones such as topaz, jasper, garnet, opal, rose quartz, agate and especially diamonds.

Above the surface the province houses exciting nature and scenery treasures; Vast open plains and rust-red dunes tinted in the golden tones of the sun, with roaming herds of antelope,...The annual springtime explosion of brilliantly coloured flowers in namaqualand,…Four of South Africa’s major national parks, with a large variety of wildlife including the Big Five,…The mighty Orange river in the north with its famous Augrabies falls, the world’s sixth largest waterfall.

Hikers, river rafters, 4 x 4 enthusiasts, divers and wildlife tourists, seize at the opportunity to explore the unspoilt desert and dunes, river and sea. You will become entranced with the Northern Cape.

<< Back to the Top


The Eastern Cape province


Eastern Cape province - Fun in the sun. Its 800 km of astonishing and exotic Indian ocean coastline is one of the main attractions that this province has on offer. It stretches from the Tsitsikamma national park along the golden sunshine coast, through St. Francis bay, Jeffreys bay and Algoa bay, up to the Wild Coast and south eastern coast to Port Edward.

Long stretches of wide open golden beaches, secluded lagoons and rocky coves make it a paradise for s urfers riding the perfect wave, anglers reeling in king-size catches and lovers of exotic sun-drenched beach holidays from all over the world.

For those who are in the mood for something different, The Eastern Cape is home to a number of great national parks where one can view a variety of wildlife, including the Big Five, in a natural and malaria free environment. Some of the other provinces of South Africa are not entirely malaria free.

If history and culture appeal to you, then you will find that visits to Nelson Mandela’s place of birth Qunu, the rockpainting sites of the ancient Khoi Khoi people, the historic Anglo-Boer war battle sites, and the 19th century town of Graaf-Reinet with its nearby Valley of desolation, are sure winners to make your visit to the Eastern Cape province exceptional.

<< Back to the Top


The Kwazulu-Natal province


Kwazulu Natal province – The garden province. An appropriate name for the lush and green subtropical province that forms the east coast of South Africa. It stretches from Port Edward in the south right up northwards to the Mozambique border.

A melting pot of Zulu, European and Indian cultures, Kwazulu Natal is a province of vivid contrasts, similar to the other provinces of south africa. In the north is the Zulu kingdom, where you can experience the beating hart of the proud Zulu nation, when visiting them between their original dwellings, kraals and burial sites.

Adjoining Zululand are the famous battle sites where history makes you think and reflect at the exact places where Zulu warrior, Boer guerrilla and British redcoat fell during their epic three-way struggle for dominance, and yes, also survival, in the region.

The province’s subtropical paradise coast with its golden sand beaches and warm Indian ocean waters, offers many leisure activities such as snorkling, scuba diving, swimming, angling or just relaxing in the sun.

Kwazulu Natal is home to two of our four world heritage sites, the greater St Lucia national park and the uKhahlamba Drakensberg park with its impressive and magnificent mountain scenery.

<< Back to the Top


The Free State province


Free State province – The granary province. Embraced by several of the other provinces of South Africa, the Free State lies in the geographic heart of South Africa, between the Vaal river in the north and the Orange river in the south. It is locally known as South Africa’s bread basket, with more then 30.000 farms, that produce over 70% of the country’s grain consumption.

Crossing the Orange river into the free State, the sight that will meet your eyes is one of immense grassy prairies and endless fields with maize, sunflowers and wheat, chequered with farmsteads and windmills.

The scenic beauty of the eastern highlands reaches a climax when you come to the Golden Gate national park with its spectacular sandstone formations, an area of extraordinary scenic beauty.

Close to 340 days of sunshine per year makes this province a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering activities such as horse riding, mountaineering, 4 x 4 trails, game viewing, mountain biking, to name a few.

The rivers and dams provide many water sport opportunities, like angling, river rafting and canoeing. From the major cities to the rural village townships, the friendliness and hospitality of the people are overwhelming.

<< Back to the Top


The North-West province


North West province – The platinum province. Aptly named, because this member of the nine provinces of South Africa produces more platinum from its rich resources then any other single area in the world. For those drawn to the Africa wilderness, North West is all about the authentic African bushveld experience, with its all year-round sunshine and hot dry African climate.

The province boasts two of South Africa’s major national wildlife parks, the Pilanesberg national park and the Madikwe game reserve, worlds of endless African savannah and breathtaking wildlife scenery.

A journey trough the wild Pilanesberg mountains brings you into the bowl of the crater of an extinctive volcano, where you will find one of our country’s world renowned attractions. Sun City and Lost City, South Africa’s answer to Las Vegas, a fabulous resort complex in the middle of an uncultivated African savannah landscape where the Big Five are roaming.

The province is home to a well known World Heritage site at the Sterkfontein cave complex, known as the Cradle of Mankind. A wealth of hominid fossil remains were found here, dating back more then two million years according archaeologists.

<< Back to the Top


Gauteng province


Gauteng province – Place of gold. In 1886 an unemployed miner stumbled upon a stone bearing traces of gold. It started the Witwatersrand gold rush. The history of gold in South Africa became the history of Gauteng.

Gold rush shantytowns developed into some of Africa’s largest metropolitan cities; Johannesburg, the capital of the province,…Soweto, the heart of the freedom struggle,…Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa,…and the Vaal Triangle, Industrial heartland. Together they form the small and densely populated province of Gauteng, the seSotho word for "place of gold".

Gauteng is the economic heart of South Africa. Although it is the smallest, richest, loudest and most urbanised of all the provinces of South Africa, you will still find a wide variety of holiday destinations.

The province is home to the famous world heritage site known as the Cradle of Humankind at the Sterkfontein cave complex. A wealth of hominid fossils were found here, dating back more then two million years according to archaeologists.

There is the old mining town of Cullinan, where the world’s largest diamond, the Cullinan diamond of 3106 carats was found. Gauteng is also a shopping mecca, offering some of the world’s best shopping in the southern hemisphere.

<< Back to the Top


Mpumalanga province

Mpumalanga province - Northern Drakensberg escarpment
Mpumalanga province – The place of the rising sun, when one translates it from the local SiSwati language into English. This province with the sheer splendour of its immense natural beauty and some of South Africa’s most diverse and vibrant cultures, has it all. From one of the most exhilarating wildlife areas in Africa, to spectacular mountain retreats, ancient ruined cities and villages and wild water sports.

Mpumalanga is blessed with the spectacular northern Drakensberg escarpment with its sheer cliff faces plunging straight down to the Lowveld, nearly a 1000 meters below. Extraordinary impressive, compared with the other provinces of south Africa.

Its lowveld African savannah landscape is known as one of Africa’s most astonishing and exciting wildlife and game viewing areas, with many wildlife reserves, provincial and national parks, including the southern half of the famous Kruger National Park.

The province is home to vast forestry plantations of exotic trees such as pine, gum and wattle that cover the mountain slopes.

It is rich in history with a legacy of historical well preserved gold rush towns and the Sudwala caves with their astonishing archaeological discoveries, to name but a few. Mpumalanga will fulfil anyone’s dream of the true and genuine African experience.

<< Back to the Top


Limpopo province


Limpopo province – The great north. This province is named after the Limpopo river that forms its western and northern boundary. If you look beyond the surface of a boundless landscape, baking in the heat of the African sun, you will discover the great natural beauty of the true African bushveld with its awe-inspiring wildlife heritage.

Limpopo houses a large number of game farms, private and provincial game reserves, with the northern half of the famous Kruger National Park forming its eastern border. The Africa experience of game viewing and tracking the Big five is absolutely fantastic here, probably the best of all the nine provinces of South Africa.

But there is more. The Makapans valley with its historical and cultural heritage sites that range in age as far back as three million years according to the scientists,…The land of Modjadji the mysterious Rain Queen with her legendary rainmaking powers,…And great mountain ranges with indigenous forests rising out of the vast expanses of bushveld wilderness.

Then there are the famous hot spring resorts where one can have the heat quenched and the muscles soothed in the comfort of warm and tranquilizing mineral baths. For those who want to experience the true Africa sensation, Limpopo province is the place to go.

<<< Back to the Top of this Page

Return from 9 the provinces of South Africa page to the home page.