Transvaal

Overview

Transvaal corresponds to the northern/northeast part of the country and roughly to the former eponymous province, which was dismantled in 1994 to make way for four new ones (Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West). It is the region of Johannesburg and Pretoria, with mines (gold, platinum, etc.) and agricultural areas in its northernmost part. But it is also, and above all, where the country's most famous parks and reserves are located in terms of tourism, starting with the renowned Kruger Park. Among its other attractions, Transvaal is also home to the Blyde River Canyon, the third-largest canyon in the world, where you can hike or horseback ride, and Sun City, the Las Vegas of Southern Africa.

Main cities

With Pretoria and Johannesburg, the region has a megalopolis of over 6 million inhabitants, whose appeal lies more in its role as a hub for services and transport than in its tourist attractions. The same goes for the other cities in the region, which primarily serve as bases for exploring the parks, reserves, and other natural sites in this part of South Africa.

Tourist attractions

Cities and their heritage

Nature and activities

Climate and weather

Johannesburg (1,650 m) and the Transvaal region enjoy generally pleasant temperatures during the southern summer, with relatively abundant rainfall that typically falls as late-afternoon thunderstorms. Winter is dry and sunny, though nights can be very chilly, and snow may appear in mountainous areas like the Drakensberg, where temperatures drop with altitude.

Climate in Johannesburg