The concept of canopy tours - literally swinging through a forest - has become increasingly popular, and you don't have to venture far from Johannesburg to experience the thrill of it. The Magaliesberg Canopy Tour sees people whizzing along for two and a half hours down the spectacular Ysterhout Kloof in the 2 400 million-year-old Magaliesberg range. Eleven platforms built against the rock faces of the kloof are joined by steel cables that you literally slide along. Some are as high as 30m above the stream below.

This reserve in the Cradle of Humankind area is home to rhino, lion, cheetah, wild dog, vultures, crocodiles and Humphrey, an (endangered) pygmy hippo. It also runs a breeding program for white lions, jaguars, servals and Bengal tigers. You can drive yourself round the I 400ha reserve looking for the many free-roaming animals, as well as visit the three predator camps (lion, cheetah and wild dog) and vulture hide. On foot, you can view the hippo pools from an elevated platform, explore the breeding centre and visit the creche for orphaned animals.

Hartbeespoort Dam has long been a favourite for joburgers looking to escape the city and spend a day in the sun at the water's edge. Previously just a dam with one quaint and quiet village on its shores, it's now home to numerous upmarket housing developments and has something of its own millionaire's row. But despite this, it remains a popular day-trip destination and offers a host of activities both at and around it. If water's your thing, feel free to participate in the variety of watersports on offer, including a trip on the local ferry.

Just around the comer from Hartbeespoort Dam, in a pocket of untamed indigenous bush, lies the renowned Elephant Sanctuary. After a brief talk from Ignatius, our knowledgeable guide, we were joined by three beautiful African elephants in a clearing in a dense forest. Here we got the chance to meet each of the animals and hear of their daily antics and eccentricities. Thirty minutes later we were standing next to the giant beasts, patting them and, occasionally, fending off a wayward trunk or two! Their gentle natures were surpassed only by their size.

The De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre lies at the foot of the Magaliesberg and features stretches of open veld and a fantastic view of the surroundings. This non-profit organisation is renowned for its success in breeding rare and endangered species. The King Cheetah was first bred here and similar success has been achieved with wild dog, brown hyena, blue duiker, suni antelope and various species of vultures. Three-hour guided tours of the centre are conducted every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 08h30 and 13h3O.

Few villages in Gauteng look much like they did in their early days, but Cullinan (which celebrates its 109th anniversary this year) is one that does. Here you can walk down streets lined with giant oak trees and pretty little Edwardian and Victorian houses. The town itself is home to the Cullinan Diamond Mine (daily tours available for adults only), a number of museums, the dazzling Cullinan Diamond Store, and of course it's own big hole from years of diamond mining. Quaint coffee shops and all things arty (from galleries to crafts) also abound.

I've always had a soft spot for this venue, not only because of its tranquillity but also because it's home to a pair of Verreaux's Eagles. On my first trip there for a lazy summer picnic I had the good fortune to see the birds soaring above the cliffs that form the dramatic backdrop to the garden. They are the only pair of nesting Verreaux's Eagles in urban Johannesburg and a great sight to see. Their nest is above the Witpoortjie Waterfall, which babbles and burbles its way down the cliff - gushing magnificently after good rains.

Gauteng is home to a number of rivers that are great for white water rafting, including the Crocodile River. It was here with Paddle Power - an adventure tour operation run by passionate 'river ranger' and self-confessed tree-hugger David Crowley - that I got a taste of the thrill of this activity. Safety is the number one priority so it all begins with a thorough safety briefing, then it's time to hit the water - literally. A series of rapids interspersed with calmer waters, all passing through beautiful scenery, summarises the standard rafting experience, suitable for families or corporate groups.

There's surely something magical about floating through the crisp morning air, the sky tinged with the colours of dawn, while most of the world around you is still fast asleep. This is the quintessential hot air ballooning experience, as offered by the family-owned and run Bill Harrop's 'Original' Balloon Safaris. Touted as SA's longest and most established 'balloon airline', this award-winning outfit (it has several aviation safety awards to its name) operates flights over the Magalies RiverValley which, incidentally, boasts some of the best ballooning weather in the world.

The Cradle of Humankind is a 47 OOOha site in western Gauteng that has produced amazing hominoid fossils, A World Heritage Site. It features scenic routes through beautiful countryside, hundreds of tourist attractions and a host of outdoor activities. The core of the area is the Maropeng Visitors Centre and the world-famous Sterkfontein Caves. Here you can literally take a journey through time on a self-guided tour that starts in a boat on an 'underground lake' at 'the beginning of time' and ends centuries later in the high-tech exhibition hall where the fossil discoveries and modern life are examined.