Just half an hour outside Johannesburg is the Hartbeespoort dam, an area of breathtaking natural beauty, is the Big Five Boma, a traditional elevated thatch rondawel built around a ‘fire that never dies’. Although open seven days a week, the place really buzzes on a Sunday when there’s live music and traditional Zulu and gum boot dancing and a wonderful carvery feast. As dusk falls the central fire is stoked and diners can bask in the warm glow while watching an idyllic African sun set.
Monthly Archives: September 2009
Umka
The children’s centre Umka offers both education and entertainment. The word Umka comes from the word ‘um’ meaning the mind or the intellect. The centre has its own planetarium, one of only two in the city, and lessons on the evolution of the universe and solar eclipses. You can visit all the exhibits – which also include a green house and a game room – for less than a dollar.
