North West
Taung and its
attractions
Brand Taung Tourism was founded by Bahedile Dichaba, a trained and registered tourist guide who is also a director of Ghaapview Adventures. He was inspired by his love for tourism to create a Facebook page to make tourism information about Taung more easily accessible to all, since little is known about Taung and what it has to offer. Compiled by Bahedile Dichaba, Ghaapview Adventures for Brand Taung Tourism.
Taung is small town situated about 139km north of Kimberly and about 248km southwest of Mahikeng, along the N18. It is a predominantly rural, with more than 106 registered villages. It is not clear when the town was founded, but it seems to have started during the era of the construction of the Cape to Cairo railway line. Taung villages form a big part of the Greater Taung local municipality, in the 76 | March 2021
Dr Ruth S Mompati district of the North West province. All its villages fall under the traditional leadership of chiefs, ruling the Batlhaping tribe. Taung is made up of three main chieftaincies (tribal authorities), namely Batlhaping Ba Ga Phuduhucwana (central), Batlhaping Ba Ga Mothibi (south) and Batlhaping Ba Ga Maidi (east). The Batlhaping tribe is an off-shoot of the Barolong tribe, and it is for this reason that they share Tholo (Kudu) as their totem.
The key economic driver of the area is farming, both subsistence and commercial, in animal production and crop production. It is supported by retail and government. The level of literacy is moderate. The population is around 200, 000. The general behaviour of the people of Taung can be classified as “laid back” and warm. Taung people are always eager to welcome visitors in the area. www.rovesa.co.za