Take a holiday to Gauteng, and you can go on a safari in Pilanesberg National Park, a two-hour drive from Pretoria. This national park is home to the big five and more than 300 species of bird. Take a guided walking tour or a game drive in a 4X4. With plenty of luxury accommodation, you can even stay overnight.

For a glimpse into the history of South Africa’s colonisation – and to admire stunning views of Pretoria – pay a visit to Voortrekker Monument. Dedicated to the Dutch settlers who migrated northeast from the southern colonies of Cape Town, this granite hilltop structure boasts a vast marble frieze, a vast tapestry and pretty gardens.

While in Pretoria, set aside a few hours to walk through the scenic surroundings of the city’s botanical garden. Spread across 76 hectares this garden is home to a biodiversity centre, two cafés and a bookshop. Learn about medicinal plants, visit the wetland and grassland areas and relax by the pretty waterfall.

As Johannesburg was built during the gold rush, it’s appropriate one popular attraction is an amusement park constructed on the site of an old gold mine and inspired by this vital trade. Have fun on the roller coasters and rides, learn about the Johannesburg gold rush or take an underground tour where you’ll witness a live gold pour.

Johannesburg’s most important attraction is also its most sobering. The Apartheid Museum offers a glimpse into South Africa’s apartheid past. Between 1948 and the early 1990s, South Africa segregated people of different races. At the Apartheid Museum, you can learn about the laws used to enforce this segregation and the men and women, including Nelson Mandela, who resisted.