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The City of Potchefstroom in the North West Province of South Africa, was founded in 1838 and served as the capital of the Transvaal until 1860. Potchefstroom is known today as The City of Expertise, home to four tertiary institutions and 30 schools, numerous research bureaus and training centers which has assisted Potchefstroom into the new millennium.

In 1933 gold was discovered close to Potchefstroom, which started the main growth period for the town.  Today it is recognized as a city – the City of Potchefstroom.

It is slap bang in the centre of one of the richest gold mining districts in the world, and also located in a very fertile farming region.

Potchefstroom, or just Potch as it is known by most South Africans, is located very conveniently on the main route to Cape Town, as well as Namibia and Botswana. It also boasts a very good airfield with a tarred landing strip of almost 1.5 km long which can accommodate a variety of larger aircraft as well.

Situated 1343 meters above sea level, the average maximum and minimum temperatures are 29.83 and 1.56 degrees respectively. Yes – cold winters abound!

Potchefstroom forms an important industrial growth point for the NW province, and Potchindustria houses, inter alia, steel, food and chemical industries, which concentrate on delivering locally, nationally and internationally.

It is also widely known for it’s lively student community, mostly in and around an area know as The Bult, with a variety of business centre’s, restaurants and community centre’s.

Aardklop Arts & Culture Festival

Potchefstroom is widely known for the yearly Aardklop National Arts Festival.

The 2009 festival is planned from 29 September to 3 October. This cultural festival attracts large amounts of visitors every year – in excess of 130 000 - and has shown tremendous growth and has since established itself as one of South Africa’s main arts & culture festivals.

It incorporates Afrikaans theatre, music, cabaret, dance and visual arts, with open air performances, pubs, coffee shops and craft markets enhancing the open areas in and around The Bult.

Attractions

Potchefstroom Oak Avenue – Potchefstroom has the longest oak avenue in Southern Africa – 6.48km  - streets planted with beautiful oak trees – it comprises Botha, Retief, Van Riebeeck, Kock, Kruger and Tom streets as well as Calderbank Avenue. It stretches from the Agricultural Centre to the Lakeside Resort.

The oak trees were planted in 1910, and the oak avenue declared a national monument in 1975, with a bronze plaque erected on the corners of Lombard and Kruger streets, on stones from the old North Bridge.

OPM Prozesky Bird Sanctuary – lies on the Southern side of Potchefstroom on the banks of the Mooi River. Established in the 1980’s,and named after well known ornithologist Dr O.P.M Prozesky, who was based at the Transvaal Museum and championed the reserve’s cause.

The sanctuary offers wonderful bird watching opportunities to avid birders, with almost 200 species sighted to date.

Other Attractions include:

  • Boskop Dam
  • The Vaal River
  • Rooihaas Hiking Trail situated in the Vredefort Dome which incorporates the erstwhile farmhouse of Totius - Krugerskraal.
  • The botanical garden and Science Centre of the Potchefstroom University for CHE
  • A wide variety of sports facilities offer a host of opportunities for relaxation