Discover Johannesburg and all the best things to do!
Johannesburg, South Africa’s biggest city and capital of Gauteng province, began as a 19th-century gold-mining settlement. The city is rapidly evolving from an edgy safari stopover to a vibrant hub for arts and culture. Let’s take a trip through Johannesburg with this 2021 travel guide!
THE APARTHEID MUSEUM
The Apartheid Museum graphically portrays the apartheid story through photos, artifacts, newspaper clippings, chilling personal accounts, and film footage. The sights and sounds of the apartheid era assail visitors as they move through the thought-provoking permanent exhibits on an emotional journey through South Africa‘s history.
CONSTITUTIONAL HILL
Constitution Hill is a former prison, which provides a fascinating insight into South Africa’s history. At the site, you can explore provocative exhibits at the Number Four museum, the Women’s Gaol museum, and the Old Fort museum. Together, the precinct was once known as The Fort, and it forged a reputation for its brutal treatment of political prisoners, common criminals, and passive resistors; famous former prisoners include Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi.
Want to find out more about Nelson Mandela? Check out our blog post on following the footsteps of Nelson Mandela here!
GOLD REEF CITY
Gold Reef City, eight kilometers from the city center, takes you back to the gold rush days. It is a theme park.
Children love the trampoline park, ten-pin bowling alley, and exhilarating theme-park rides, including the twisting and turning Anaconda roller coaster. The park also offers dedicated rides for young children, as well as a petting zoo.
Are you an adrenaline junkie? If the Gold Reef City doesn’t satisfy check out the best amusement parks you MUST visit here.
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SOWETO AND THE MANDELA MUSEUM
A knowledgeable guide will take you into the shanty towns to meet the residents, and you’ll have the chance to visit the famous Vilakazi Street and the former homes of two Nobel Peace Prize winners, Nelson Mandela
and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
LION SAFARI
At the Lion & Safari Park, you can get up-close with some of Africa’s famous wildlife less than an hour’s drive from downtown Johannesburg. Animal interactions are the highlight here. You can cuddle a lion cub, take the Cheetah Walk, and hand-feed giraffes. Self-guided tours are permitted, but you can also join a guided game drive in the park’s vehicles to see lions, cheetahs, zebras, ostriches, wild dogs, hyenas, and various species of antelope. Night-time feeding tours and river rafting tours are other popular things to do.
Make sure to also check out how to sustainably support animal tourism here!
CRADLE OF HUMAN KIND DAY TRIP
The Cradle of Humankind is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most productive and important paleo-anthropological areas.
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PILANESBERG NATIONAL PARK
An easily accessible 2.5-hour drive from Johannesburg, Pilanesberg National Park is one of the most popular game reserves in South Africa. You have a chance to see Africa’s Big Five here (lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant, and rhino), and the park is known for its extraordinarily rich ecosystems and diversity of wildlife.
WALTER SISULU NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDENS
Managed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute, the garden is one of nine national botanical gardens in South Africa, and this particular location offers plenty of space and beautiful views of red-rock cliffs.
SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MILITARY HISTORY
Exactly as its title states, the South African Museum of Military History traces the story of all the country’s military conflicts. Highlights here include the World War II fighter planes and bombers, as well as exhibits of tanks, ammunition, arms, and medals.
WITS ART MUSEUM
Opened in 2012, this impressive museum hosts a superb collection of African art with many works from South Africa as well as West and Central Africa. The museum is part of the Wits University Cultural Precinct in the trendy area of Braamfontein, which buzzes with students and university professors.
MARKET THEATRE
The Market Theatre complex housed in a converted market building plays a major part in Johannesburg’s cultural life. It has four live theater venues where some of the finest productions in South Africa are presented. The complex also includes a bookshop, art and photographic gallery, and restaurants.
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