Jo'burg on the move
Ever since the great gold rush of 1886 in the Witwatersrand, Gauteng has been South Africa's foremost industrial centre. Gauteng houses one of the world's great cities - energetic, inventive, endlessly creative, sybaritic, vibrant Johannesburg. Jo'burg, Jozi, Egoli - call it what you will - it's vibrant and dynamic with a throbbing pulse and an awesome sense of rhythm. It's the place to go for a real urban buzz. Everyone is on the move - doing business, making money, making music, jogging, "gymming", cycling, partying till late, eating out, watching shows, movies and exhibitions - and shopping, shopping, shopping! The older part of the city is developing an interesting character that hums with a new kind of vibrancy - thanks to visionary inner city renewal projects. There are interesting nightlife venues in the centre of Johannesburg, which offer restaurants, theatres, museums, craft markets and much more.

The northern suburbs radiate a sense of opulence and prosperity. The many shopping malls carry a vast range of high quality consumer goods, including many luxuries, and the hundreds of restaurants and coffee shops offer a wide range of fashionable cuisines.

Soweto, one of Johannesburg's "satellite cities" is home to two million people living in an array of dwellings from large, modern homes to makeshift shanties and "matchbox" houses. A tour of Soweto is unforgettable for most visitors who will drink with the locals in a "shebeen", try the latest dance moves at upmarket nightclubs, soak up the national passion at a football stadium, or visit sites where epic struggles for freedom once raged.

Day-trips out of Johannesburg are very popular. There are some beautiful landscapes just an hour away - such as the Magaliesberg Mountains and the Hartbeespoort Dam. There are wonderful country hotels and leisure pursuits such as horse riding, hiking, luxury spas, or hot air ballooning in this area.

Pretoria - city of jacarandas
Known as the Jacaranda City for all the purple blossom-bedecked trees which line its thoroughfares, Pretoria is a lovely, quiet city. It has a long, involved and fascinating history.

Here you will find many significant old buildings and some fascinating museums. The Transvaal Museum has wonderful natural history displays and is the home of Mrs Ples, the australopithecine fossil found at Sterkfontein in the Cradle of Humankind. Also worth visiting are the Cultural History Museum and the Smuts Museum, just outside town.

It's a great town - there are quite a few open spaces where you can walk or mountain bike. Nearby is the Premier Game Reserve, next door to the Cullinan Diamond Mine, where the largest diamond in the world was found.

Bloemfontein - flower of the Free State
Bloemfontein is the capital of the Free State. A pretty, medium-sized city, it lives up to its name which means "spring of flowers". There are thousands of rose bushes lining the streets, which create a wonderful spectacle most of the year, but especially in spring.

Bloemfontein was the capital of the independent Boer republic of the Orange Free State until the Union of South Africa was declared in 1910, when it was made the judicial capital of South Africa. It is still the site of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

There are a number of museums dedicated to subjects ranging from natural history to warfare. Probably the most poignant memorial is the Women's Monument, erected to commemorate the tens of thousands of women and children who died in British concentration camps during the South African war (Anglo-Boer War). Bloemfontein is very conveniently situated as a stopover point if you're driving between Cape Town and Johannesburg, and it is the closest major city to the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Destination Durban
Durban, South Africa's third-largest city, is Africa's busiest port. It is famous for its wonderful climate, holiday attractions, subtropical landscapes and laid-back beach culture and water sports. This lovely city has something for everyone. Take the time to discover its eclectic cultural mix, live music venues, the Golden Mile on the city waterfront, the Victorian, Edwardian and art deco architecture, fabulous Oriental and African cuisine and seafood, state-of-the art shopping malls, craft markets, flea markets and casinos.

Cape Town - The Mother City
Cape Town is one of the world's top destinations. Reminiscent of other stunning coastal cities (such as Monaco and San Francisco) with its spectacular scenic drives, the Cape offers a fantastic assortment of irresistible experiences. Much of the province's appeal lies in its geography and topography. This creates a stunning diversity of regions within the Western Cape, each with its own special character.

Lying in the shadow of Table Mountain, broadly cosmopolitan, this incredible city is many things to many people. But whether it's culture, wine, scenery, the home of our parliament, the beach, or the many wonderful leisure activities available here - Cape Town will capture the heart and soul of all who visit.

Cape Town offers visitors what few other cities can, from picturesque mountains and pristine beaches, to Cape Dutch estates surrounded by vineyards. Cape Town is the melting pot of the nation, which offers a cultural experience that is rich in diversity, warm and truly South African.

Peaceful Port Elizabeth
This is the largest city in the Eastern Cape , and probably one of South Africa's best-kept secrets. It has a wide range of beaches to choose from, from lively activity-driven beaches to long and deserted ones. The architecture reflects Port Elizabeth's colonial past and the many cultural activities offer an insight into the lives of the people of this friendly city. A visit to the cell in which Black Consciousness activist and freedom struggle martyr Steve Biko was held before his death is an eye-opener. Port Elizabeth is a great base for day trips to Addo Elephant National Park, Shamwari, the Baviaanskloof, Port Alfred, Jeffrey's Bay or Grahamstown. Within the city limits are lovely walks, some fantastic mountain bike trails, good surfing and sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, and great diving. There are some excellent golf courses, most notably Humewood, which is the only true links course in South Africa.