Sightseeing in Gauteng

Gauteng is South Africa's smallest province and at the same time its business core: Johannesburg and Pretoria both sit here. Sightseeing from this base leads not into the city but into the savannah around it — the distances are short enough that a reserve fits into a single day.

The longest route is the Pilanesberg safari: twelve hours, departing from Johannesburg, tracking the Big Five in an open vehicle with a picnic inside the park, 515 dollars. Closer at hand is the Dinokeng reserve: six hours from Sandton, of which two to two and a half are the game drive itself, the rest being the road and scenic stretches; hotel transfer and water are included.

Close-contact animal programmes stand apart: a lion walk at the Ukutula reserve, supervised by handlers, takes seven and a half hours at 413 dollars, and a visit to an elephant sanctuary five hours at 467. One more format is a sunrise balloon flight over the Magaliesberg mountains, with breakfast and a certificate after landing; six hours in all, including the drive. GetExperience lists 5 sightseeing programmes in Gauteng; pages state what the price covers.