Knowing South Africa: Gauteng

Wednesday, 20 June 2012

My ride on the Gautrain

My first time on the Gautrain was quite an experience. I caught the train with my mom, sister and little daughter.

Gautrain Platform

The Stations are user friendly and there is always someone to assist you if you get lost or not sure what to do.

Once you have out money on your Gautrain Card, you swipe and walk to the Platform where you will catch the train. Throughout your trip, there is always information on where you going, where the train is stopping and if you swopping over to the train to the OR Tambo International Airport.

My trip started at the Gautrain Hatfield Station.

Once the train arrived the excitement was incredible.

We boarded the train and took our seats and off we go.

Inside the Gautrain

We stopped by Pretoria, Centurion, Midrand, Marlboro and my stop was Sandton.Once we stopped in Sandton, you go up the escalators and exit the station.

Midrand Station

Nelson Mandela is not even a 5minute walk from the station. There are several taxi services outside which offer assistance and transport in and around Sandton.

If you visit the Gauteng area make sure to catch the train, its a definite must.

Visit their website: www.gautrain.co.za

Wednesday, 13 June 2012

7 World Heritage Sites

Did you know South Africa is home to 7 World Heritage Sites?

Here they are:

Cradle of Humankind, Johannesburg, Gauteng

1. The Cradle of Humankind

The discovery of early human activity dating back 3 million years ago. The most popular cave is Sterkfontein where over 500 fossils and over 9000 stone tools artifacts were discovered.

Australopithecus sediba was discovered two years ago.

2. The Greater St Lucia Wetland Park

iSimangaliso Wetland Park, KwaZulu-Natal

It is now known as the iSimangaliso Wetlands Park. The Park was declared a World Heritage Site on the 1st of December 1999. The Wetlands is home to the largest Hippo population and over 1000 crocodiles. the Wetlands has a very special visitor during November, the Leatherback Turtle and the Loggerhead Turtle uses the protected beaches to lay their eggs.

The Leatherback Turtle

3. Robben Island

Robben Island, Cape Town, Western Cape

Famously known as the prison where President Nelson Mandela was held for 27 years. The Prison was used for many reasons such as training and defence station in World War II (1939-1945) and a hospital for people with leprosy, and the mentally and chronically ill (1846-1931).Political and common-law prisoners were kept on the Island during this time.

Nelson Mandela

4.Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park

Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park, KwaZulu-Natal

SA-Venues describes it in perfect detail:

"The Ukhahlamba Drakensberg Park has exceptional natural beauty in its soaring basaltic buttresses, incisive dramatic cutbacks, and golden sandstone ramparts. Rolling high altitude grasslands, the pristine steep sided river valleys and rocky gorges also contribute to the beauty of this world heritage site."

Visit their site: http://www.sa-venues.com/game-reserves/kzn_drakensberg.htm

Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape, Limpopo

5. Mapungbwe Museum, Limpopo

The two main sites, Mapungubwe and K2, were proclaimed National Monuments in the early 1980’s. Boundaries are being set for the creation of a cross-border peace Park, named Mapungubwe National Park, this is also now a World Heritage Site.

6. Cape Floral Kingdom

Cape Floral Kingdom

The famous Fynbos region is found here. It is one of the richest areas for plants in the World. It is home to 20% of the continent's flora.

7. Vredefort Dome

This is the biggest meteorite impact that geologists have yet found on Earth and it is nearly twice as big as the impact that killed the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. It is also the oldest impact crater that has been found on Earth. It is mainly for these reasons that it has been made a World Heritage Site.