Destination Guidebook for Johannesburg, South Africa
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Johannesburg has a diverse number of attractions for visitors. Johannesburg is the best destination in the country for museums, which cover a range of topics from culture, apartheid, gold mining, archaeology, transport and the military—even beer. Of these, the moving and world-acclaimed Apartheid Museum is worth at least a few hours to soak up the full story, whatever your knowledge of South Africa's history. Next door, learn another important part of Johannesburg's history at Gold Reef City, where you can watch a gold bar being poured or drop down a mine shaft. There's also plenty of action on the rides in the adjoining theme park.
A half-day tour of Soweto takes in the major sites and can be teemed with an African lunch in a shebeen (township pub). While there are many sights in the city center, such as the Newtown district, it is best explored on a guided combined minibus and walking tour, which usually finishes with a panoramic view of Johannesburg from the 50th floor of the Carlton Centre.
On a sunny day, Johannesburg's open spaces provide great spots to enjoy the trees and birdlife. Zoo Lake is an attractive park surrounding an ornamental lake, and across the road, Johannesburg Zoo has an extensive selection of animals in spacious enclosures. Beyond the city are tranquil and well-established botanical gardens, and an hour's drive to the north are the Magaliesberg Mountains, which are good for a country escape. The various wildlife centers offer opportunities to get close to African animals for those not going on safaris in South Africa's parks and reserves.
A brash, over-the-top, but nevertheless impressive complex built on the theme of a Tuscan village. It contains a casino, skateboard park, 15-screen cinema, dinner theater and a 1,000-seat theater that is Johannesburg's largest, plus dozens of bars and restaurants. The World of Birds has a number of aviaries and a stage that hosts a free-flight show of larger birds such as owls, herons and storks. Casino open 24 hours. World of Birds open 8 am-5 pm. The casino is free to enter; attraction fees vary. William Nichol Drive, Fourways, Johannesburg. Phone 011-510-7000. http://montecasino.tsogosun.co.za. | Historic Sites | Top  |
Many important archaeological finds have been made in the Sterkfontein Caves, located in the Krugersdorp region about 25 mi/40 km northwest of Johannesburg. Archaeologists continue to work there, and visitors can see the site inside the caves. An information center is also available. http://www.sterkfontein-caves.co.za. Formerly Freedom Square, this is the site where the African National Congress signed the Freedom Charter in 1955 that pledged equality for all of South Africa's citizens. Once a dusty square, it was renamed after the late former president of the ANC and revamped into an attractive paved arena. It has statues representing the 10 clauses of the original Freedom Charter that today are pillars of South Africa's constitution. Union Road, Kliptown, Soweto, Johannesburg. This modern museum takes visitors through a series of "spaces" that document the whole story of apartheid, from Afrikaner nationalism in the 1940s and '50s, segregation between blacks and whites, the rise of black consciousness, the country's first democratic election in 2004 and the new constitution. It's a moving and vivid display of old photographs, hundreds of hours of television footage, exhibits such as passbooks and armored vehicles used by the authorities to suppress demonstrations in the townships, and symbolic features such as 121 nooses hanging from the ceiling to represent the political prisoners that were killed during apartheid. Open daily except Monday 10 am-5 pm. R25 adults, R12 children. Northern Parkway and Gold Reef Road, Ormonde, Johannesburg. Phone 011-309-4700. http://www.apratheidmuseum.org. This museum was built on the site of a notorious old jail commonly known as Number Four, which closed in the 1980s. It accommodated mostly blacks, many of whom were imprisoned for not carrying their passbooks. The conditions were crowded and appalling. Nearby is South Africa's Constitutional Court, which was built from some of the bricks torn down from the old jail. Open Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm, Saturday and Sunday 9 am-noon. R22 adults, R15 children and seniors, free on Tuesday. Kotze and Hospital streets, Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Phone 011-381-3100. http://www.constitutionhill.org.za. Hector Pieterson was a 13-year-old schoolboy who was shot and killed in the 1976 Soweto Uprising. Students had been peacefully marching to hand in a petition against Afrikaans being used as the primary language in education when police disrupted the demonstration by opening fire on the students. A famous photograph of Pieterson's lifeless body being carried away was flashed across the world, and he became a symbol for the contribution South Africa's youth played in the struggle against apartheid. There's a copy of the photograph hanging next to the memorial, and in the museum are photographs and television footage of that fateful day, as well as excellent exhibits on Soweto during the often-violent and tense 1970s and '80s. Around the corner is Nelson Mandela's former two-room home. Open 10 am-5 pm. R15 adults, R5 children. Khumalo and Pela streets, Orlando West, Soweto, Johannesburg. Phone 011-536-0611. Maropeng, meaning "returning to the place of origin" in the Setswana language, is an interactive museum that tells the story of the creation of our world and the evolution of mankind over a 4-billion-year period. Krugersdorp region (25 mi/40 km northwest of Johannesburg), Johannesburg. http://www.maropeng.co.za. Opened in 1947 to commemorate South Africa's role in World War II, the museum exhibits some 44,000 items from artillery, armored vehicles, medals and uniforms. There are more contemporary exhibits such as Umkhonto we-Sizwe, ANC's armed wing during apartheid. Open 9 am-4:30 pm. R20 adults, R10 children. 22 Erlswold Way, Saxonwold, Johannesburg. Phone 011-646-5513. http://www.militarymuseum.co.za. | Neighborhoods & Districts | Top |
Johannesburg's CBD is not renowned for its safety, so it is best explored on an organized tour. If departing from hotels in the northern suburbs, the first place you will likely visit is Nelson Mandela's present home in leafy Houghton. Tours go downtown to some of the more impoverished and crowded neighborhoods such as Hillbrow and Rocky Street before heading to Newtown. You should also see the attractive Mary Fitzgerald Square, the Nelson Mandela Bridge and Museum Africa, and tours often stop at a nearby muti shop (African medicine). Some tours also include a visit to Constitution Hill, the museum in Hillbrow, or the 50th floor of the Carlton Centre for panoramic views of the city. Tours last approximately four hours. R290-R350. City Center, Johannesburg. This neighborhood lies between Quinn Street to the east and Ntemi Piliso Street to the west. Located around the attractive Mary Fitzgerald Square, attractions include Museum Africa, which has exhibits covering much of the city's history; Gramadoelas Restaurant; and Kippie's and Bassline jazz clubs. Access from the north runs over the impressive Nelson Mandela steel suspension bridge that spans more than 40 railway lines. R7 toll to cross the bridge. Tour operators offer half-day tours by minibus into this historical township, including visits to the Hector Pieterson Museum and Memorial, Nelson Mandela's former home, Kliptown and the Walter Sisulu Square of Independence. Some tours also include lunch at a traditional shebeen (a township bar) specializing in African cuisine, or visitors may be taken for a walk around an informal settlement (shacks), or a visit to a school or community center. Tours last approximately four hours. R290-R350. http://www.soweto.co.za. | Parks & Gardens | Top |
There are 365 acres/148 hectares of lovingly tended gardens on the tranquil shores of Emmarentia Dam, within the confines of the city limits and easily accessible from the northern suburbs. The Rose Garden has more than 4,500 species of roses. The Shakespeare Garden contains plants mentioned in the Bard's plays. The Water Garden has terraced ponds and fountains, and the Herb Garden is dedicated to traditional African medicine. Open 6 am-6 pm. Free. Olifants Road, Emmarentia, Northcliffe, Johannesburg. Phone 011-782-7064. | Amusement Parks | Top |
The Jozi Story of Gold is built around Johannesburg's original 19th-century gold mine, with a mock-up of an early prospecting town with original shops and street entertainment, from cancan girls to gum boot dancers (an early dance put on by miners to celebrate the end of their long shift underground). Visitors can also see a gold bar being poured, and the less claustrophobic can go on an underground tour down the mine shaft. The theme park has several thrill rides, including an inverted roller coaster (the Anaconda) and the Tower of Terror. Theme park is open daily except Monday 9:30 am-5:30 pm. The casino is open 24 hours. Jozi Story of Gold: R170 adults, children R70. Theme Park: R110 adults, R60 children. Family tickets available. Northern Parkway, Ormonde, Johannesburg. Phone 011-248-6863. http://www.goldreefcity.co.za. | Wineries, Breweries & Distilleries | Top |
SAB is Africa's largest brewery. It distributes beer across the continent and owns Miller Breweries in the U.S. The World of Beer tour takes visitors through the history of the golden nectar, the growing of hops and barley, the brewing process, and finishes with two frosty beers at the bar. Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-6 pm. R25. 15 President St., Newtown, Central Business District, Johannesburg. Phone 011-836-4900. http://www.worldofbeer.co.za. | Zoos & Wildlife | Top |
Covering 133 acres/54 hectares of spacious enclosures surrounded by moats and trees, the zoo is a lovely place to spend a sunny day. It's home to more than 355 species of animals from all across the world, including the only two polar bears in Africa. The zoo is arranged in zones dedicated to the environments where its inhabitants live naturally. There are also plenty of activities for kids, including a petting zoo, and lots of conservation information published on boards. Open 8:30 am-5:30 pm (last tickets sold at 4 pm). R36 adults, R21 children. Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkview, Johannesburg. Phone 011-646-2000. http://www.jhbzoo.org.za. This 500-acre/200-hectare reserve is home to more than 80 lions that live in spacious, wooded, drive-through enclosures, including a few rare white lions. Zebras, wildebeest, giraffes and antelope can also be seen in a large, grassy enclosure. At the entrance is a restaurant, curio shop and Cub World, where there may be some lion cubs for you to pick up and cuddle. Open Monday-Friday 8:30 am-5 pm, Saturday and Sunday 8:30 am-6 pm. R85 adults, R55 children. Off the R152, near Lanseria Airport, Nietgedacht (within a half-hour drive from Johannesburg's northern suburbs), Johannesburg. Phone 011-691-9905. http://www.lion-park.com. | Other Options | Top |
Located less than an hour's drive from Johannesburg on the R512 toward Hartbeespoort Dam, Broederstroom, this mock-up of a cultural village represents four of South Africa's ethnic groups: Zulu, Pedi, Xhosa and Basotho. The tour begins with a singing and dancing display on arrival, followed by a browse in an African craft market, a walking tour of traditional villages and more entertainment over an African feast in a thatched building. The evening tour is atmospherically lit by flaming torches. Most Johannesburg tour operators can organize transport there if you don't have your own car. Tours last approximately three hours. The morning tour begins at 11 am and includes lunch; the evening tour begins at 4:30 pm and includes dinner. Reservations required. R295 with lunch or dinner; R200 for the tour only; children are half-price. Phone 012-205-1394. http://www.lesedi.com. Johannesburg residents generally enjoy indoor and outdoor sports and activities. Across the city, there are more than 40 golf clubs and hundreds of sports, gyms and fitness centers. However, many facilities are membership-only venues. Your hotel may have an agreement with a local establishment for temporary membership or have its own facilities. Just about every hotel and guesthouse has a swimming pool, even if it's just a splash pool, and public pools can be found in the larger fitness centers. Outdoor pools are open in the parks during summer. City parks may also have tennis courts. Larger parks are open to joggers and cyclists, and those with dams or lakes offer rowboats for hire. Birdwatching can be enjoyed from anywhere in the city thanks to the millions of trees.
Twelve lanes, video games, pool tables and a bar. Open Sunday-Thursday 9 am-1 am, Friday and Saturday 9 am-2 am. R20 9 am-noon; R27 noon-3 pm; R29 3-6 pm; R33 6 pm-close. The Mall of Rosebank, Oxford Road, Rosebank, Johannesburg. Phone 011-447-9141. http://www.galaxyworld.co.za. These two 18-hole courses, a par-72 and a par-71, were established in 1909. The club frequently hosts the South African Open, which famous South African golfer Gary Player has won on numerous occasions. Facilities include a driving range, putting green and clubhouse. Open 7 am-1 pm to visitors. R380 Monday and Tuesday, R400 Wednesday-Friday. Carts are an additional fee. Fairway Avenue, Linksfield North, Johannesburg. Phone 011-640-3021. Johannesburg's nightlife is typical of any modern city. There are trendy cocktail bars, large-scale dance clubs, fashionable hotel bars, grunge hangouts and lively shebeens in the townships. Many of the restaurants and cafes get more alcoholic and crank up the tunes as the evening wears on.
Many venues are located in shopping malls, and the casino complexes also have bars and clubs. There are several live-music venues, especially for jazz. The local version of hip-hop/rap, called kwaito, is popular on dance floors. Melville is the place to go for a bar crawl, where a block of streets is home to many little laid-back bars, restaurants and cocktail lounges. Melrose Arch and Nelson Mandela Square are the places to go to people-watch. The busiest night for going out is Saturday, though Wednesday is popular, too. Friday is a popular day for Jo'burg residents to meet up for drinks after work.
| Bars, Taverns & Pubs | Top |
One of Melville's oldest bars, located in a rambling old house with a wide upstairs wrought-iron balcony.The atmosphere buzzes in the evening when shooters, cocktails and late-night snacks such as nachos and pizza make the rounds. It also has good breakfasts and light meals during the day. Open 24 hours. Corner of Third and Main, Melville, Johannesburg. Phone 011-726-8596. http://www.catzpyjamas.co.za. Jamaican and reggae-themed bar with murals on the walls, palm trees in the garden and private cubicles for groups. It offers snacks such as chicken wings, nachos and potato skins, and a long line of cocktails. Open daily noon-late. R30 Sunday past 8 pm for live comedy. Melville, Johannesburg. Phone 011-482-4789. http://www.coolrunnings.co.za. You will find bars and dance floors on three floors decorated with horror-film memorabilia, photographs and movie props. A Continental menu in the restaurant, regular DJs, live music and comedy nights. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-late. 15 Miriam Makeba St., Newtown, CBD, Johannesburg. Phone 011-838-6560. This is a very stylish and sophisticated New York-style cigar bar with subtle lighting, comfortable sofas, brick walls, cocktails, and a full range of whiskies and brandies. As the bourbon flows, a DJ spins contemporary blues and jazz to liven things up from 10 pm. An older but very trendy crowd. The nearby bar in the Park Hyatt Hotel on the other side of the shopping mall is also a popular venue. Open daily except Sunday 5:30 pm-1 am. The Firs, Oxford Road, Rosebank, Johannesburg. Phone 011-447-5162. This is an old-fashioned and very atmospheric pub, with a long wooden bar that is more than 100 years old—the original from Johannesburg's first hotel. Memorabilia of Johannesburg's early years decorates the walls. Pub grub has a Mozambique influence in such offerings as peri-peri prawns. It has beer on tap, and regular blues and jazz performances. Open daily except Sunday 10 am-midnight. R50. 282 Louis Botha Ave., Orange Grove, Johannesburg. Phone 011-728-3866. http://www.theradium.co.za. | Dance & Nightclubs | Top |
Johannesburg's biggest and best nightclub with several dance floors and bars, VIP lounges, professional dancers on podiums, local and international DJs, large projection screens and impressive technical wizardry that re-creates falling snow, lightning or a trembling volcano. Smart dress code. Open Wednesday-Saturday from 9 pm. R50 Wednesday-Friday (less for women), R70 Saturday. Emperor's Palace Casino, 64 Jones Road, Kempton Park, Johannesburg. Phone 011-928-1000. http://www.monsoonlagoon.co.za. This very stylish and glamorous nightclub attracts a sophisticated clientele on themed party nights. It has two dance floors, several bar and lounge areas, cocktails and champagne. Visit its Web site for details and bookings. Open Friday and Saturday from 10 pm. From R150. 24 Central, Sandton (corner of Fredman Drive and Gwen Lane), Johannesburg. Phone 011-783-2200. http://www.taboo.co.za. A quality casino-restaurant with live traditional and contemporary jazz, and dinner and dancing. It has a long menu of grills and seafood on a set menu at a good value. Open Tuesday-Saturday for lunch and dinner. R25. Gold Reef Casino, Northern Parkway, Ormonde, Johannesburg. Phone 011-496-1423. http://www.backofthemoon.co.za. Johannesburg's most established live jazz club has the capacity for 1,000 people. It features regular performances from South Africa's top jazz musicians and visiting groups from overseas, and also hosts local kwaito artists. A smaller venue and bar is popular for comedy acts. 10 Henry Nxumalo St., Newtown, CBD, Johannesburg. Phone 011-838-9145 for information; 011-838-9145 for tickets. http://www.bassline.co.za. An atmospheric American-style restaurant and bar with a varied menu, cool, low-blue lighting, blues memorabilia on the bare-brick walls and a small dance floor. Live music nightly from 7 pm, mostly blues but also rock 'n' roll. Open Tuesday-Saturday. R50-R60 cover. Village Walk, Sandton (corner of Rivonia and Maud streets), Johannesburg. Phone 011-784-5527. http://www.bluesroom.co.za. | Performing Arts | Top  |
Johannesburg has a number of performing-arts venues across the city, and it also hosts various annual arts festivals. The Civic Theatre in the City Center hosts opera and mainstream theater including imported musicals. The Market Theatre in Newtown shows series plays, and community and dinner theaters host everything from revues and cabaret to stand-up comedy and pantomime.
Johannesburg's largest theater is at Montecasino, which seats 1,900 people and was built to accommodate a lavish local production of The Lion King.
Performances of traditional African singing and dancing can be seen at popular tourist attractions. These include the Rosebank African Craft Market, Gold Reef City and Lesedi Cultural Village. Cinemas are found in shopping malls and typically have multiple screens. The two cinema chains in Johannesburg are Nu-Metro and Ster-Kinekor. Live music is popular in Johannesburg, especially jazz, and among the younger generation, kwaito, a kind of township hip-hop. South Africa is becoming a popular tour stop for big-name musicians, and its stadiums now host rock and pop stars such as Robbie Williams and U2.
Kippies occupies a former milling factory. There's a stage, bar and restaurant, and regular live jazz. Corner of Carr and Quinn streets, Newtown, CBD, Johannesburg. Phone 011-856-1805 for information and tickets. http://www.kippies.co.za. This 26-person-strong gospel choir is incredibly powerful. The Grammy-Award-winning choir has performed throughout the world and draws on the best talent from churches across Soweto. When they are not on tour, they regularly perform in the city. Johannesburg Civic Theatre, Soweto, Johannesburg. Phone 011-802-6527. http://www.sowetogospelchoir.com. The Market Theater Company was founded in 1976, and during apartheid, was known for its controversial performances that had a strong antiapartheid protest element. Today, the theater, which is housed in the city's old fruit and vegetable market, has a charming atmosphere and promotes new South African writers, directors, actors and designers. Visit its Web site to see who's performing. 56 Margaret Mcingana St., Newtown, CBD, Johannesburg. Phone 011-832-1641, ext. 4 for information and tickets. http://www.markettheatre.co.za. | Ticket Brokers | Top |
All tickets for performing arts can be booked online through national booking system Computicket, which also has kiosks in all the shopping malls. http://www.computicket.com. Three auditoriums showcase a variety of performances from opera, ballet and gospel choirs, to pantomime, musicals and plays. A coffee shop serves light meals and theater bars. The South African Ballet Company is based there. Loveday Street, Braamfontein, CBD, Johannesburg. Phone 011-877-6800 for information and tickets. http://www.showbusiness.co.za. This is a friendly, 200-seat theater for comedy, plays, musicals and lunchtime concerts. The venue is centered among many good restaurants. R100 for tickets. Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton City, Johannesburg. Phone 011-883-8606 for information and tickets. http://www.at.artslink.co.za. | Spectator Sports | Top |
South Africans are sports-mad, and the most popular events are rugby, football (soccer) and cricket. When an important match is on, everything else seems to stand still. Many restaurants and bars have wide-screen TVs, and Saturday afternoons are especially popular and social.
All tickets for spectator sports are booked online through national booking system Computicket, which also has kiosks in all the shopping malls. http://www.computicket.com. | Other Options | Top |
This is the principle stadium for South African rugby. The national team, the Springboks, play at Ellis Park regularly. With a capacity of 60,000, it will host one of the semifinals in the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup. The complex's smaller stadium is home to the popular Johannesburg soccer team the Orlando Pirates. Corner Currey and Staib streets, Doornfontein, Johannesburg. Phone 011-402-8644. http://www.ellispark.co.za. This is one of the world's best cricket stadiums. It seats 34,000 and was fully refurbished when Johannesburg hosted the 2003 Cricket World Cup. Illovo neighborhood, Johannesburg. Phone 011-340-1500 for information, 011-340-1509 for tickets. http://www.wanderers.co.za. Johannesburg has a wide variety of shopping options for visitors. Items to look for include a diverse range of African art and curios from across the continent, beaded jewelry, wooden sculptures, baskets, masks, drums, cloth, local paintings, sculptures, and items crafted from wire and other recycled materials (usually made by local people living in the townships). These are sold in galleries, upmarket souvenir shops, and flea and curio markets. The best of these is the African Craft Market in The Mall of Rosebank, though there are several others around the city.
Johannesburg's Fresh Produce Market, offering fresh fruits and vegetables, attracts some 10,000 shoppers from all over southern Africa each day.
There are more than 20 mega-shopping malls around Johannesburg that feature South African chain stores, supermarkets and entertainment facilities such as cinemas and bowling alleys. These include Sandton City in Sandton, the Mall of Rosebank, Rosebank and Hyde Park Corner, and Craighall, all in the northern suburbs. Most are quite luxurious with a superb collection of international brands, designer boutiques, and gold and diamond stores. Diamonds and gold are good buys in South Africa.
Other shops of note are The Brightwater Commons, and Fourways, Cresta and Eastgate malls. Since the malls include banks, post offices, restaurants and cafes, you could easily spend the whole day shopping in one.
Dotting around the suburbs are smaller malls catering to the needs of the local community, though some specialty shops can be found at these, too. | Shopping Hours | Top |
Standard shopping hours are Monday-Friday 9 am-5 pm and Saturday 9 am-1 pm. Malls usually have longer hours, generally Monday-Saturday 9 am-5 or 6 pm, Sunday 9 am-1 pm. | Department Stores | Top |
Opened in 1892, Thrupps, "the grocers of distinction," is Johannesburg's oldest shop, although it's moved locations from its original site on President Street from when Johannesburg was an early mining town. Today, it's an emporium of fine food and wine sourced both locally and from all over the world. Find deli items, seafood, caviar, smoked salmon, Italian hams and cheeses and French champagne. There's also an excellent butcher's shop where you can get a quail or goose. Thrupps imports original Gentleman's Relish from the UK. Open Monday-Friday 7:45 am-6 pm, Saturday 8 am-2 pm, Sunday 9 am-1 pm. Illovo Centre, corner of Oxford and Rudd roads, Illovo, Johannesburg. Phone 011-268-0298. http://www.thrupps.co.za. Although African curios can be found at the markets, Kim Sacks Gallery has carefully selected top-quality art pieces, many from acclaimed African artists. The shop is a treasure-trove of beautiful hand-made cloth, prints, polished wood and metal statues, ceramics and antique furniture. Kim is on hand to explain the origin of items and can organize international shipping. Open Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday by appointment. 153 Jan Smuts Ave., Parkwood, Johannesburg. The African Craft Market houses former street stalls, now all under one roof. You can pay by credit card, and international shipping is available. Two levels of stalls are crammed with souvenirs from all over Africa, and there's a wonderful selection of wood carvings, including the infamous giraffes. Also find colorful cloth and beads, drums, masks, stools, bowls, baskets and tribal clothes. You might be there for an impromptu display of traditional singing and dancing. On Sunday, the mall's car park becomes an additional rooftop market. Open daily 9 am-6 pm. Corner of Cradock and Baker streets, The Mall of Rosebank, Johannesburg. Phone 011-880-2906. http://www.craft.co.za. A huge market with some 600 stalls selling everything imaginable, including African curios and famous brands at knockout prices. You can change foreign currency there, and there are plenty of fast-food joints and tasty Indian snack stalls. Open daily except Monday 9:30 am-5 pm. Corner of Marcia and Ernest Oppenheimer roads, Bruma, Johannesburg. Phone 011-622-9647. http://www.brumamarketworld.co.za. | Shopping Areas | Top |
A cross between a mall and a market, it is most reminiscent of an Indian bazaar. It is tightly packed with 360 shops and stalls selling every imaginable import from Asia. Reams of fabric, kitchen utensils, cheap clothes and shoes, and electronics. Look for the stalls selling spices and tasty Indian snacks. Open Monday-Saturday 8:30 am-5 pm (Saturday till 2:30 pm). Margaret Mcingana Street, Fordsburg, Johannesburg. Phone 011-838-6752. http://www.orientalplaza-fordsburg.co.za. | Specialty Stores | Top |
It is part of a national chain that sells CDs, DVDs and games, but the largest and best branch is Johannesburg's Musica Megastore. There's a full range of international commercial and world music, and it has a comprehensive range of South African artists from popular rock bands and kwaito to gospel and Afrikaans. Open daily 10 am-10 pm. Zone@Rosebank, The Mall of Rosebank, Oxford Road, Johannesburg. Phone 011-788-9613. Toll-free 0860-687-422. http://www.musica.co.za. This unique South African store works to encourage young fashion designers. You will find great clothes, jewelry, lingerie, swimwear and accessories for both men and women. Open Monday-Thursday and Saturday 9 am-6 pm, Friday 10 am-7 pm, Sunday 10 am-5 pm. Nelson Mandela Square, Rivonia Road, Sandton City, Johannesburg. Phone 011-883-8812. http://www.yde.co.za. To Pretoria. South Africa's capital city of Pretoria is also known as Jacaranda City, thanks to the beautiful mauve flowering petals of the thousands of jacaranda trees that line the city's streets.
A day tour covers Pretoria's historical sights. The Union Building is an impressive sandstone complex built in 1913 as the seat of South Africa's government and the site where Nelson Mandela made his famous speech after being inaugurated as president in 1994. Around Church Square are some early 19th-century banks and government offices surrounding a statue of Paul Kruger, former president of the Transvaal from 1880. In the Melrose House, which is now a museum, the Treaty of Vereeniging was signed in 1902 to end the Anglo-Boer War.
The most impressive structure in Pretoria is the Voortrekker Monument, a 430-sq-ft/40-sq-m sandstone cube built in 1949 on a hill overlooking the city. It's a monument to Afrikaner history and the Great Trek, when thousands of Voortrekkers made their arduous way by ox wagon from the Cape to the Transvaal in the 1830s. Inside are 27 marble friezes depicting the story. You can climb to the top of the monument for great views.
Most of Johannesburg's tour operators offer four-hour tours of Pretoria for about R400 per person. The city is currently undergoing a name change, and in the future it will be known as Tshwane, meaning "we are all the same" in a local language. 31 mi/50 km from Johannesburg's northern suburbs.
To Hartbeespoort Dam and the Magaliesberg Mountains. Hartbeespoort Dam is a lovely country region surrounded by the Magaliesberg Mountains. The lake at Hartbeestpoort is created by a dam built on the Crocodile River, which cuts through the mountains. The best way to explore is by hiring a car for the day to enjoy the scenery, birdlife, country markets and teashops. The region is supported by an excellent tourism initiative, the Magaliesberg Meander, which provides a list of attractions, and maps can be picked up at the tourist offices in the region. http://www.magaliesmeander.co.za.
There's a zoo on the lake's edge at Hartbeespoort, though it's fairly old-fashioned. More worthy wildlife projects to visit include the Elephant Sanctuary (phone 012-258-0423; http://www.elephantsanctuary.co.za), which has a number of daily programs that let you interact with six tame elephants. You can walk through the bush with them, hold their trunks or even go for a short elephant-back ride through the bush. The De Wildt Cheetah Farm (phone 012-504-1921; http://www.dewildt.org.za) offers visitors the rare opportunity to get up-close-and-personal with one of Africa's most impressive big cats, and it's an important center for cheetah conservation and breeding. Tours visit the enclosures, and guides tell you all about the genetics of the cheetah. If there are cubs, it may be possible to pet one. Other resident species include brown hyena, wild dog, suni antelope and the rare Egyptian vulture. 37 mi/60 km northwest of Johannesburg.
To Sun City and the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. Sun City is South Africa's miniature Las Vegas. Adjoining Sun City is Pilanesberg, one of the country's best game reserves. Both can be visited on a long day trip by car or with a tour operator (about a 10-hour trip), or stay overnight in either a glitzy Sun City resort hotel or a rustic safari lodge in the reserve.
Sun City has a range of facilities including a casino, a man-made lake for a variety of watersports, two championship 18-hole golf courses, a crocodile farm, a bird sanctuary, a gym and spa, 10-pin bowling, a cinema, and numerous swimming pools and sports activities. The Valley of the Waves has a white-sand beach, a large pool with a wave machine and waterslides. Despite being built in the middle of dry bush, the impressive 61-acre/25-hectare man-made tropical forest is a lovely addition to the resort, with creepers, orchids, giant trees and flowering shrubs. There are a number of peaceful paths to walk.
Pilanesberg covers 2,202 mi/5,502 km of typical African bush studded with acacia trees and grassy plains. It's home to the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino—as well as a full range of African animals and birds. Visitors have a good chance of seeing a number of the Big Five in just a few hours on a game drive. The park was built in the 1970s, and animals were relocated there from all over southern Africa by a hugely ambitious and successful project called Operation Phoenix. In the center of the park is Mankwe Dam, home to hippos and crocodiles, and at various locations, walk-in hideaways have been built at water holes for a bird's-eye view of the animals going to drink. For more information, visit http://www.suninternational.com/resorts/suncity and http://www.pilanesberg-game-reserve.co.za. 87 mi/140 km northwest of Johannesburg in the Northwest Province.
To the Cradle of Mankind. The region is dubbed the Cradle of Mankind thanks to thousands of humanoid and animal fossils unearthed in recent decades. The 1,802-mi/4,702-km area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Full-day tours take in the Sterkfontein Caves, Maropeng and often the nearby Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve for a game drive. Expect to pay around R900 for a tour. http://www.cradleofhumankind.co.za. Krugersdorp region, 25 mi/40 km northwest of Johannesburg. Johannesburg offers a number of interesting day tours. These cover museums, the city center, Soweto and other townships, and attractions such as Gold Reef City. On all of them, knowledgeable tour guides give visitors the low-down on the city's history. There are dozens of good tour operators that run half-day or full-day tours, often combining at least two attractions with the added benefit of a running commentary. For example, a combined guided day trip to both Soweto and the Apartheid Museum gives visitors a fascinating insight of how this period of South African history affected Johannesburg. Any hotel can recommend a tour operator, or you can find a comprehensive list on the city's Web site, http://www.joburg.org.za/tourists/tours.stm. Expect to pay R270-R350 for a half-day tour.
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Editor's Choice of Luxury, Deluxe, and Value priced hotels in Johannesburg, South Africa:
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