Most outsiders view Gauteng as a business stop-over rather than a holiday destination, but the locals who have insight into this powerhouse region can give you the inside story on a dizzying array of active options available to adrenaline seekers.

Dig a bit deeper than the obvious history presented by the gold rush veneer and Gauteng’s hard core business bite, and you’ll uncover a surprising list of leisure and adventure destinations. The beauty of the tiny province is that just about everything is within easy driving distance (and yes, there are ways and means of dodging the traffic).

Pretoria and Johannesburg are the obvious urban centres anchoring the northern and southern sub-regions, but Soweto has become an adventure destination in its own right. And once you explore beyond the edge of the urban jungle, the Highveldt grasslands envelops outdoor gems such as the Cradle of Humankind (including the Sterkfontein Caves) and the Magaliesberg ranges towards the west.

Head south if you want to play within the catchment of the Vaal River (Sedibeng sub-region) or go play in the Dinokeng tourism region north beyond Pretoria. This area plays home to the diamond mining village of Cullinan as well as the vast savannah and numerous game reserves beyond.

Visit www.joburgtourism.com or www.gauteng.net for more information.