We’ve seen it in the movies: the denim-clad hero stares into the sky and sees a tiny dot getting closer. He watches the growing dot doubling with every second, until it blots out the entire sky. In the movies the denim-clad protagonist saves the world and gets everything and the girl. In reality the dot will cause all forms of natural disasters, (earthquakes, tsunamis) and destroy daylight for many years, along with killing you. One particular dot, a meteorite of about 10 km in diameter (bigger than table mountain), caused the greatest single energy release event, causing massive global and evolutionary changes, 2023 million years ago.   

 The deeply eroded Vredefort Dome, south-west of Johannesburg, is the largest (190km radius) and oldest meteorite impact site/crater (Astrobleme) in the world. The force of the impact opened up a crater, which is still visible, and is about 40km in diameter.

The ring of hills with beautiful valleys, are remains of a dome created by the rock below the impact site after it was hit. Eroded away, the original crater would have been over 250 kilometres in diameter.Meteorite and comet impact sites are responsible for mineral deposits, and Vredefort also sports some of the richest gold deposits in the world. 

If not being hit by a meteorite only whets your appetite for adventure, in the area also try:

Rafting/tubing – On the banks of the Vaal River, runs through the dome region.
Baboon’s Rock- For true adrenalin junkies, abseil from the rock. There’s also trails for mountain biking, horse-riding, walks, and archery.
Venterskroon - Explore the biggest wild olive forest in the country.
Wine tasting- Try some traditional ‘witblits’ (strong spirits) at the local distillery.
Don’t forget to pay a visit to Anglo Boer war sites in the area.