Carletonville
Description
Situated in one of the richest gold-producing areas in the world, Carletonville is a busy mining town in western Gauteng. One of the town’s major mines, Western Deep Levels, goes down a staggering 3,749m, making it one of the deepest mines in the world. Other popular activities include skydiving, golf, and picnics in the nature reserve. Book your accommodation today and discover why this region is a South African treasure.
Carletonville lies just off the N12 Treasure Route that runs from the North West Province, through the goldfields, to the Northern Cape. The route is an exciting tourism development that was created to bring a range of wildlife, cultural, scenic, industrial, and eco attractions to travellers. When you pass through the goldfields, it’s easy to see how the sheer number, size, and extent of gold mines have deemed this region to be a South African treasure.
Carletonville alone has no fewer than seven mines surrounding the town. But the town isn’t pure industry. The Abe Bailey Nature Reserve lies on the outskirts of Carletonville and provides a tranquil sanctuary of grassland and wetland. The reserve is home to around 60 species of birds, including the greater and lesser flamingo, crake, swamp hen, heron, the African fish eagle, and korhaan. It is a wonderful spot for bird watching and day visitors can enjoy relaxing at a number of shady picnic spots.
There are plenty of adventurous outdoor activities around Carletonville. By hiking the Losberg trail, you’ll have the unique opportunity to walk through the Iron Age settlement of Tolokwe ruins. A visit to Lepalong, on Kleinfontein farm on the outskirts of town, takes you through a system of caves where you can explore the original habitat of the Kwena people from the early 1800s.
The Carltonville Airfield is home to the Johannesburg Skydiving Club (JSC) and offers a variety of sky diving jumps and courses. Even if you don’t jump, the club has a great vibe and is a great spot to relax with a drink while you watch the other adrenaline junkies coming in to land. The Goldfields West Golf Course also offers hours of leisure activity. Designed by Bob Grimsdell, it is a relatively short 18-hole course that meanders through a completely unspoiled nature reserve with free-roaming buck and an abundance of birdlife. The fairways are fairly wide and the greens are big and receptive, making for a superb day on the course.