Great weekend getaways for Joburgers
Take your pick from seven spectacular sites
One of the many things that seem almost synonymous with the December holidays is a well-needed break away from the business of life. While this year has been hard on all our pockets and travelling far and wide doesn ’ t seem like a viable option, this doesn ’ t mean you shouldn ’ t have the opportunity to get away, even for a short weekend escape.
If Joburg doesn ’ t seem like an appealing option for a staycation, what does make it appealing is its easy access to many of SA ’ s small towns and beautiful national parks that do promise rich, relaxing stays. Here ’ s our pick of seven of the best.
Pilanesberg Game Reserve
Pilanesberg Game Reserve is in theNorth West, just north of Rustenburg and a three-hour drive from Johannesburg. Found in the crater of a volcano that was formed 1.2bn years ago, the national park boasts rocky landscapes and interesting formations.
It is relatively small in comparison to a game reserve like the Kruger National Park but it makes for great game viewing nonetheless, being home to the Big Five, more than 7,000 animals and 360 bird species.
What makes Pilanesberg so appealing to all types of travellers is its range of accommodation options – from down-toearth camping to luxury lodges to suit every taste and budget.
Golden Gate Highlands National Park
Located in the northeast Free State, the Golden Gate Highlands National Park is a threeand-a-half hour drive from Johannesburg.
It gets its name from the hue emanating from the sandstone rocks towering throughout the park when the sun ’ s rays hit them just right, casting a golden glow on the grasslands below.
If you ’ ve never been, the view is reason enough but hiking, horseback riding, swimming, abseiling and canoeing offer enough adventure activities for the whole family.
A variety of accommodation options are available, from the Golden Gate Highlands Hotel to rondavels and camping sites at the Glen Reenen Rest Camp, farmhouse accommodation or cabins at the Highlands Mountain Retreat, with the picturesque town of Clarens with its restaurants and shops just a stone s throw away.
Magaliesberg
Situated on the Gauteng border with and the North West, Magaliesberg is a little closer – about one-and-a-half hours from Johannesburg. It has everything a nature enthusiast needs for a good weekend away: plenty of hiking spots, waterfalls, the caves and wonders in the Cradle of Humankind, hot air balloon rides, a canopy tour between the tree tops with Canopy Tours South Africa and a visit to the town of Hartbeespoort with its restaurants and market stalls for those with a less adventurous streak.
In terms of accommodation, you will find game lodges, guest houses and self-catering cottages for every wallet size.
Kruger National Park
Sprawled across both the Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, the Kruger National Park comes in as one of the country ’ s top holiday spots.
A popular safari destination for international travellers, locals can expect to have the national park largely to themselves this December, with limited travel allowed into and out of SA at the moment.
Of the nine gates through which to enter the Kruger, the closest to Johannesburg is the Malelane Gatewhich is a fourand-a-half hour drive from Johannesburg.
Accommodation options range from budget-friendly rest camps and guest cottages to overly luxurious game lodges. Come expecting an abundance of wildlife and the kind of heat Joburgers aren ’ t used to.
Dullstroom
A three-hour drive from Johannesburg, the town of Dullstroom in Mpumalanga is often a gateway for visitors exploring the Kruger National Park, the Blyde River Canyon and the winding roads of the Panorama Route.
But for thosewho don ’ t want to venture out too far, Dullstroom on its own offers a cosy weekend escape, filled with gift shops, art galleries and restaurants serving up delicious food.
Try your hand at fly-fishing or stock up on freshly caught trout to take home.
Attracting thousands of visitors each year, accommodation options are rife but may book up quickly.
uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park
This World Heritage Site in KwaZulu-Natal is just under four hours from Johannesburg. Forming part of the Drakensberg escarpment, the park boasts green valleys, lush grasslands and dramatic gorges and sandstone cliffs that offer a perfect backdrop for hiking, horse riding, mountain biking and even boating on the rivers that run through the terrain.
Visitors can also explore the more than 20,000 San rock paintings as part of the largest concentrated collection in SA. Accommodation options include self-catering chalets and cottages, mountain cabins, bungalows and luxury lodges.
The KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
Drive a bit further south into KwaZulu-Natal and the Midlands offer a picturesque country setting for a weekend away from Johannesburg.
Four-and-a-half hours from Johannesburg, it is a bit of a drive but the road trip will be worth the rolling hills and sprawling community of entrepreneurs selling crafts, art and all manner of delicacies.
For a weekend of pampering, check into one of the spas in the area and relax into fully catered hotels and bed and breakfasts or self-catering cottages.