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Province: Northwest Province

The Northwest province is centrally located in the subcontinent with direct road and rail links to all of the southern African countries and its own airport. The province borders on Botswana and is fringed by the Kalahari desert in the west and the Witwatersrand area in the east. 

The province is divided into five regions, namely the Central, Bophirima (towards the west), Southern, Rustenburg and Eastern regions. 

Most economic activity is concentrated in the Southern Region (between Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp), Rustenburg and the Eastern Region, where more than 83,3% of GGP of the province is produced. 

The Klerksdorp and Rustenburg regions together produce about 67% of the province's GGP while covering 33% of the surface area. Forty-eight per cent of the population reside here. 

The people 
Of the 3,6 million people in the Northwest, 65% live in the rural areas. In spite of its small population, it is estimated that 9% of all the poor people in the country live in the Northwest The poverty rate is estimated at 57%. As far as educational attainment and skills availability are concerned, the Northwest lags behind the South African average. The literacy rate is in the region of 57%. The Northwest has two universities. 

Mining 
Mining contributes 35,5% to the economy and 17,8% of total employment in the Northwest It makes up 15,5% of the mining GDP in South Africa. The Northwest is also the dominant province in mineral sales with a contribution of 17,8% to the South African mining sector. Diamonds are mined at Lichtenburg, Koster, Christiana and Bloemhof, while Orkney and Klerksdorp have gold mines. 

The area surrounding Rustenburg and Brits boasts the largest single platinum production area in the world. Marble is also mined here. Fluorspar is exploited at Zeerust. 

Manufacturing 
Manufacturing contributes 12,8% of the province's GDP and 9% of its employment opportunities. 

It provides 1,6% of the South African manufacturing sector's contribution to GDP. Industrial activity is centred around the towns of Brits, Klerksdorp, Vryburg and Rustenburg. 

The Brits industries concentrate mostly on manufacturing and construction, while those at Klerksdorp are geared towards the mining industry, and those at Vryburg and Rustenburg towards agriculture. 

Manufacturing is almost exclusively dependent on the performance of a few sectors in which the province enjoys a competitive advantage. These are fabricated metals (51%), food sector (18%) and non-metallic metals (21%). 

Agriculture 
Agriculture in the Northwest is the second most important sector, contributing about 8,6% to provincial GDP and 16,7% to employment. Some 5,3% of the South African GDP in agriculture and 16,96% of total labour in agriculture are based in the Northwest

The province is an important food basket in South Africa. Maize and sunflowers are the most important crops. The Northwest is the biggest producer of white maize in the country. 

Some of the largest cattle herds in the world are found at Stellaland near Vryburg, which explains why this area is often referred to as the 'Texas of South Africa'. Marico is also cattle country. The areas around Rustenburg and Brits are fertile mixed-crop farming land. 


Tourism
The space and tranquillity of the North West provides a welcome change of pace... is a relatively peaceful province which poses no malaria threat and has a year round, sunny climate. It is undoubtedly a rewarding holiday destination that translates into exciting wildlife and adventure encounters, not to mention the opportunity to participate in enriching cultural and historical interpretations.

Here you will realise that there is far more to a nature experience than the big five... our magnificent animal kingdom includes an abundance of lesser known animals and a wide spectrum of bird life. 

Our arrestingly diverse landscape is occupied by charming people whose responsibility to the land parallels their strong sense of tradition. This is a province blessed with several cultural villages that entertain and enrich as they interpret South Africa's people in their own unique manner. Plan your journey along one of the tourism routes that will give you a taste of what our magnificent Province has to offer ... 


The North West Province offers an escape route to the real Africa... a land of peace and tranquility where nature's wild creatures roam vast plains of scenic African bushveld. For more attarctions link to;
Barberspan NR Bloemhof Dam NR Borakalalo GR
Boskop Dam NR Botsalano GR Madikwe GR 
Mafikeng GR Molopo GR Pilanesberg GR
Rustenburg NR SA Lombard NR Vaalkop Dam NR 
Wolwespruit Dam NR 

Routes:
N12 Treasure Route
3 Day Heritage Route
5 Day heritage Route
Crocodile Ramble
Cradle of Humankind Route

REGION: EASTERN REGION 
Towns:
Brits | Hartebeespoort | Broederstroom

REGION: RUSTENBURG REGION 
Towns:
Groot Marico  |  Koster  |  Rustenburg  |  Sun City  |  Lost City  |   Swartruggens

REGION: CENTRAL REGION 
Towns:
Coligny  |  Delareyville  |  Lichtenburg  |  Mafikeng/Mmabatho  |  Ottosdal  |  Sannieshof  |  Zeerust

REGION: SOUTHERN REGION 
Towns:
Bloemhof  |  Christiana  |  Fochville  |  Klerksdorp  |  Orkney Potchefstroom  |  Stilfontein  |  Ventersdorp  |  Wolmaranstad 

REGION: BOPHIRIMA 
Towns:
Bray  |  Reivillo  |  Schweizer Reneke  |  Stella  |  Taung  |  Tosca |  
Vryburg