Officially founded in 1851 by Boer “burghers” who had trekked into the area a decade earlier, Rustenburg is one of the oldest towns the North West Province and sits as an axis point for areas of interest throughout the region.
Platinum Hub
Rustenburg acts as a service centre for the many industries here. These include the agricultural communities surrounding the town, the platinum mining industry and the local manufacturing and product distribution industries.
Due to the mainly dry climatic conditions, agricultural activity consists of the farming of livestock (cattle and game) and small stock (poultry for egg production). There is also large-scale cultivation of citrus and irrigated crops such as tobacco and wheat, flowers and many plant nurseries.
Most of the mining activity in the region is centred around platinum on the Merensky Reef which stretches from west of the Pilanesberg towards Marikana and Brits in the east. The two largest platinum mines in the world are to be found here, and the area also produces asbestos, tin, chrome, lead, marble, granite and slate.
No Time to Rest
Literally translated, Rustenburg means “town of rest”. It was Paul Kruger’s home town and was established long before both Pretoria and Johannesburg. But in modern days, due to this rich history, the town is a tourism hot-spot, with areas of interest for all types of tourists.
For the outdoor fanatic there are game farms, nature reserves and plenty of outdoor sporting facilities. For those more culturally minded there are some magnificent churches, including the Anglican Church (1871) and the Dutch Reformed Church (1898 -1903), plus the historic statue of the Voortrekker girl and the Rustenburg Museum.
Communities and Battlefields
There are a multitude of sites with cultural and historical significance in and around Rustenburg. This is no surprise, given the many different communities in the area, such as the indigenous Bafokeng, Bakgatla and Botswana tribes, whose totemic tribal traditions are of much interest. There is also the German community of Kroondal that traces its origins back to 1857.
Many Anglo-Boer and ethnic war battles took place in the area with the districts of Koster, Swartruggens and Rustenburg featuring prominent battlefields, memorial graves and ruined forts. The area is also an archaeologist’s dream site, with its recorded Iron Age and Stone Age.
Not-to-be-missed Nature
By far the best known attractions in this area are the major nature reserves that are all within striking distance of Rustenburg itself.
- Kgaswane Game Reserve
Situated above the town of Rustenburg across a varied habitat of quartzite mountain peaks, it is open to hikers as well as vehicle visitors. It is a 4 257 ha reserve that offers a great range of viewing experiences to wildlife enthusiasts.
- Madikwe Game Reserve and Groot Marico
A huge reserve n orth of the Pilanesberg, almost half the size of Belgium, it is a conservation and transition zone between the Kalahari sandveld and the thornveld. Madikwe hosts all the major plains species, including the ‘Big Five’ and has the 2nd largest concentration of elephants in South Africa. The reserve is one of South Africa’s great natural treasures.
- Pilanesberg National Park
This Park is one of the most accessible South African game reserves. It is located a 1.5 hour drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria and right outside Rustenburg. It is the 4th largest National Park in South Africa and is set high in the Pilanesberg range, traversing the floor of an ancient, long-extinct volcano. Pilanesberg conserves all the major mammal species including lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo.
Adventurous Fun
There are also the Sun City and Lost City resorts a bit further out of Rustenburg where visitors can lose themselves in the luxury of an imagined world, with all the modern entertainments one can ask for. The complex is set on the slopes of a picturesque valley in the Pilanesberg Mountains and captures the essence of an ancient African kingdom. Casinos, the Valley of the Waves and 2 world-renowned championship golf courses are just some of the many attractions.
The Hartebeespoort dam is another nearby attraction offering plenty of outdoor activities as well as providing irrigation for the entire region. A favoured site for water skiing, the dam has many resorts, boat clubs and picnic sites scattered along its banks. It’s also an ideal spot for air and land adventure sports.
Easily accessible Rustenburg is located on major highway routes and close to 2 major centres; and offers a wide range of activities for any kind of visitor. Far from restful - it is the pulse of the North West province.
©Photographs are courtesy and copyright of North West Province Tourism Board and Sun International
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