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Johannesburg Maps & Attractions Guide
Johannesburg maps & Attractions - Things to do
in Johannesburg
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Johannesburg
Attractions - Things to do
1. Kruger National Park
www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger |
What is it? The Kruger National Park is South Africa's
oldest, largest and best-known wildlife conservation area, home to
a huge variety of wildlife and most famous for its 'Big Five'
viewing opportunities. Visitors have an excellent chance of seeing
lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhino among the enormous
variety of wildlife, including over 140 species of mammals, 500
species of birds, reptiles and amphibians. Situated on South
Africa's north eastern border, Kruger is a primary destination for
international tourists, and is visited by more than half a million
local and international people every year who are attracted by the
different safari options as well as the park's excellent range of
visitor facilities and choice of accommodation, from luxurious game
lodges to cottages and camping.
Hours of Operation: Park gates: daily 5.30am to 6.30pm (January,
February, November and December), 6am to 5.30/6pm (March to
October). Camp gates open 4.30am (January), 5.30am (February, March
and October to December), 6am (April to September); closing times
same as park gates
Phone: |
2. Gold Reef City
www.goldreefcity.co.za |
What is it? This entertainment complex is essentially a
theme park full of thrill rides, but was designed to be a
re-creation of Victorian Johannesburg during the gold-rush era. The
park, four miles (6km) south of the city centre via the M1
motorway, was built around the No.14 Crown mineshaft that began
operations in 1887 and closed in 1975. During its production years
1,400 tons of gold came out of the shaft. Visitors can now descend
into the old mine shaft to experience life at the rock face, and
watch gold being poured and minted. Gold Reef City also houses a
number of museums, and offers performances by traditional gumboot
dancers. Youngsters particularly enjoy the rides like the Anaconda
roller coaster and Thunder Mountain River Rapids. There are also
plenty of restaurants, bars, a massive casino, and a Victorian
hotel for those wanting to stay the night.
Hours of Operation: Theme park: Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am to 6pm; open
daily during Gauteng school holidays; closed on Christmas
day
Phone:011 248 6800 |
3. Newtown Cultural Precinct
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What is it? This complex of buildings in the city centre
has been upgraded and restored as part of the city fathers' urban
renewal policy and provides several attractions. The Market Theatre
and Museum Africa, for instance are housed in a Victorian building
in Bree Street that was originally Johannesburg's fresh produce
market. The Museum Africa is particularly worth a visit with its
exhibits that tell the story of the city from its beginnings to the
present day, including an interesting section about the Treason
Trial of the 1950s in which Nelson Mandela and other activists were
accused of plotting against the state. The same building houses a
photography museum and the Museum of South African Rock Art. At its
eastern end is the Market Theatre, famed for being the venue for
many protest theatre productions in the Apartheid era. Also in the
area, in President Street, is the South African Breweries Centre,
which offers a tour detailing brewing history through some
reconstructed gold-rush pubs and shebeens (township bars). Along
Jeppe Street is the Oriental Plaza, the commercial centre for the
Indian community.
Hours of Operation: Museum Africa open daily 9am to 5pm
Phone: |
4. Johannesburg Zoo
Jan Smuts Avenue, main public entrance on Upper Park
Drive, Parkview
www.jhbzoo.org.za |
What is it? The Johannesburg Zoo is a favourite place for
locals to take a stroll among the numerous enclosures that house
more than 3,000 species of animal, including polar bears that can
be viewed underwater in their pool. Of course the Big Five are all
in residence too. A tractor-tram does circuits of the zoo for those
who don't fancy walking. On the eastern edge of the zoo is the
Museum of Military History, which has some interesting exhibits
like tanks, fighter aircraft and
submarines.
Hours of Operation: Zoo opens daily 8.30am to 5.30pm; the museum opens
from 9am to 4.30pm
Phone:011 646 2000 |
5. Sterkfontein Caves
Kromdraai Road, seven miles (12km) north of
Krugersdorp
www.sterkfontein-caves.co.za |
What is it? The ancient dolomite caves with an
underground lake, situated a few miles north of Johannesburg, form
part of what archaeologists call the 'Cradle of Humankind'.
Sterkfontein is recognised as one of the world's most important
palaeontological sites, having yielded fossil deposits dating from
up to three and a half million years ago, spanning the development
of hominids. Among the most famous finds are the 'Taung child',
'Little Foot' and 'Mrs Ples'. Because the cave environment is
fragile, visitors are not allowed into certain areas, particularly
those that scientists are working on. There are however one-hour
guided tours of one of the sections, which include the massive Hall
of Elephants.
Hours of Operation: Tours run Tuesday to Sunday, every 30 minutes, from
9am to 4pm
Phone:011 956 6342 |
6. Pretoria
www.pretoria.co.za |
What is it? Only half an hour's drive beyond
Johannesburg's northern suburbs lies South Africa's administrative
and diplomatic capital city, Pretoria, founded by the pioneering
Afrikaans Voortrekkers who built the city as the capital of their
Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek in the mid-19th century. Pretoria is an
attractive, green city, with purple-hued Jacaranda trees lining its
streets that are presided over by the Union Buildings, designed by
Sir Herbert Baker. They perch like an acropolis on a hilltop and
house the offices of the President and senior government officials.
There are numerous other historic buildings too, including the
Voortrekker Monument, a memorial commemorating the pioneers'
penetration of the interior. Pretoria is also home to South
Africa's National Zoological Gardens, which is one of the world's
finest zoos.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
7. Hartbeespoort Dam
www.hartbeespoortdam.com |
What is it? North of Johannesburg lies one of South
Africa's oldest dams, built in 1923, which provides a favourite day
trip for city dwellers set against the Magaliesberg mountain range.
A scenic road encircles the dam, culminating in a tunnel just
before it reaches the dam wall and the Hartbeespoort village. The
village offers a small zoo and snake park, cableway, bird park,
aquarium and several restaurants and curio
shops.
Hours of Operation:
Phone:012 253 1567 |
8. Warmbaths
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What is it? On the national road north towards Zimbabwe
is the flat area known as the Springbok Flats, part of the Great
Rift Valley. About 80 miles (125km) north of Johannesburg on the
edge of the Flats lies the town of Warmbaths, named for the hot
mineral springs that rise to the surface there. The spring yields
about 20,000 litres of water, enriched with sodium chloride,
calcium carbonate and other minerals every hour. The town has now
become a popular spa and holiday resort, considered to be one of
the most modern of its kind in the world. It has a large indoor
pool with underwater jets, outdoor hot and cold swimming pools,
wave pools, and water slides.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
9. Sun City and the Palace of the Lost City
www.suninternational.com/resorts/suncity |
What is it? Situated in the Bojanala region of the North
West Province, the 'Las Vegas' of South Africa is one of the
largest adult entertainment centres in the world, with casinos,
golf, live shows, and the architectural wonder of the Lost City.
The vast resort complex is one of South Africa's top attractions
for gambling, entertainment and opulence, a luxury theme park for
adults that was the multi-million dollar dreamchild of South
African entrepreneur, Sol Kerzner. The Lost City, with its African
theme of life-size animals, has at its centre a luxurious 'palace'
decorated with mosaics, frescoes, palm fronds and elephant tusks.
Surrounding it are lakes, forests and a tropical beach. There are a
variety of watersports and The Valley of the Waves, the most
advanced waterpark in the country, has among other things a wave
machine capable of generating almost seven-foot (2m) waves. The
resort complex also borders on the Pilanesberg National Park, home
to the 'Big Five' and a popular game-viewing
destination.
Hours of Operation:
Phone:014 557 1000 |
Johannesburg Holidays guide
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Transport -Johannesburg is a sprawling city and the
lack of convenient and safe public transport is often an obstacle
to visitors.
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