The Central District of the North-West Province is mostly characterised by hot, dry bushveld between life-sustaining river systems, and is sparsely populated with wide opens spaces and farms – quintessentially ‘ South African’. It includes the Marico district, around the Groot Marico river and the tiny town of Groot Marico – famous for its Afrikaans culture and literary history, and for being a bit backward (they only recently got an automatic telephone exchange).
Other attractions in the area include guest farms, hunting lodges, game reserves and arts and crafts and one of South Africa’s best birding sites at the Barberspan Bird Sanctuary. The Capital of the North-West Province, Mafikeng (also spelled Mahikeng and also known as Mmabatho) is also situated in the Central District, near the border with Botswana.
