Johannesburg

A BUSTLING SOUTH AFRICAN METROPOLIS

Johannesburg, often called Joburg, or eGoli (meaning "City of Gold"), is South Africa's largest city and the economic heart of the continent. Established in 1886 during the Witwatersrand Gold Rush, Johannesburg has grown into a bustling metropolis that can be really fun if you know where to go! Particularly Joburg's fantastic restaurants, shops, casino’s, and local cultural influences make this city a fun & wild experience.

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FUN THINGS TO DO in the INNER CITY of Johannesburg

Sandton is Johannesburg's financial and commercial heart, known for its skyscrapers, luxury shopping, and vibrant nightlife. Visit Sandton City Mall for upscale shopping and buy some things you may need for your trip. Explore the Nelson Mandela Square for some amazing restaurants offering a variety of cuisines, cocktails and wines. The Butcher Shop & Grill in Nelson Mandela square is heaven for meat enthusiasts, but relatively pricey (maybe not so pricey for European standards). Tashas is a great restaurant for breakfast or lunch.

Visit Sandton City & Nelson Mandela Square

Go gambling & dine at MonteCasino

Montecasino, located in Fourways, Johannesburg, is a premier entertainment destination offering a blend of casino gaming, exquisite dining, and a variety of entertainment options. Designed to resemble an ancient Tuscan village, with cobblestone streets and a central piazza, walking into Montecasino is an absurd moment. It features more than 80 table games, including blackjack, roulette, poker, and craps. There is also a cinema, a lasergaming arena, and a theater. Paid parking is available and it is reachable with public transport as well. There are many restaurants, so pick your poison. Aarya is known for its traditional South African dishes, whereas John Dory's is a good place for seafood and the Hussar Grill for the meatlovers.

The Montecasino Bird Gardens, located within the Montecasino complex in Fourways, features tropical landscapes, with walkways winding through aviaries, ponds, and gardens. Home to over 60 species of birds, including parrots, flamingos, toucans, and more. Visitors can walk through large, open aviaries and observe the birds up close. It also houses a variety of reptiles such as snakes, lizards, and tortoises, and small mammals like meerkats, lemurs, and marmosets. The bird shows at 11.00 am and 15.00 pm is a highlight, showcasing the natural behaviors and skills of various bird species, including birds of prey, parrots, and hornbills. Normal tickets cost R110 rand for adults, which is around €6.

Visit the MonteCasino Bird Garden

Visit the best museums in Johannesburg CBD

Johannesburg's Central Business District (CBD) is home to several museums, such as the Apartheid Museum, World of Beer and Sci-Bono. The Apartheid Museum provides insight into South Africa’s history of racial segregation and oppression. Tickets cost around R160 per person. World of Beer is an engaging museum dedicated to the history and culture of beer in South Africa, where you can taste traditional Zulu beer and modern beers. Tickets cost around R125 per person. The Sci-Bono Discovery Centre features numerous interactive exhibits that cover various fields of science, including physics, biology, chemistry, and technology. Tickets cost around R60 per person. Note that the CBD is not the safest area, particularly for tourists, so watch your back and your stuff.

The Neighbourgoods Market in Braamfontein is a lively weekend market that brings together food, craft, music, and community in one dynamic space. It is open Saturday & Sunday. The market aims to foster a sense of community, support local businesses, and promote sustainable practices. The market is housed in a modern, multi-story building with a rooftop area that offers stunning views of the city. Enjoy local favorites such as biltong, boerewors rolls, bunny chow, and freshly baked goods. Browse through stalls selling handcrafted jewelry, clothing, home decor, and unique souvenirs. The market often features live performances by local musicians. Only street parking available, which can get crowded. Entry is free. It is located at 73 Juta Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg.

Visit the Neighbourgoods Market in Braamfontein

Go shoot some targets at a shooting range

Shooting ranges offer a variety of experiences for both beginners and seasoned shooters. Whether you're interested in honing your skills, learning about firearm safety, or just looking for an adrenaline-pumping activity, shooting is a fun day activity. Most ranges offer packages where you can shoot a bunch of different guns, such as assault rifles, shotguns and handguns. You can also opt for clay pigeon shooting outside, where a clay disk target gets launched in the air. Costs depend on the package and rounds of ammo, starting from around R500 -> €25. There is a decent indoor shooting range in Midrand, Johannesburg called Waterfall Arms.

The Oriental Plaza in Johannesburg is a vibrant shopping destination that offers a unique blend of cultural diversity, bargain shopping, and delicious dining options. Consisting of multiple connected malls, it was created for Indian traders who were forcibly removed from nearby Fietas by the apartheid government. A mix of traditional and contemporary clothes, fabrics, and food reflect the multicultural essence of Johannesburg’s Indian and Middle Eastern communities. There are also many tailors, electronics, homeware, kitchenware, jewelry and decorative items in many stores in the Oriental Plaza. Highlights regarding food include a wide variety of samoosas and currys. It is located at 38 Lilian Ngoyi Street (formerly Bree Street), Fordsburg, Johannesburg.

Shop & eat at the Oriental Plaza

FUN THINGS TO DO/DAY TRIPS

close to Johannesburg & Pretoria

The Lion & Safari Park is a popular wildlife park located near the Hartbeespoort area, about 45 minutes north of Johannesburg. The park is home to numerous lions, including rare white lions, and a range of other African animals, including cheetahs, hyenas, zebras, giraffes, and various antelope species. Note that this park does not offer a true safari experience where lions roam free and hunt for their food. A self-drive through the park means driving through various enclosures where lion herds are kept. You have a number of other 'safari' options, such as a guided gamedrive, a walking safari, or on a quadbike or on horseback. They offer an option to pet young lion cubs and take photos with them - this is not recommended. Petting or interacting with big cats is considered unethical due to the exploitation and harm it causes the animals, the potential links to canned hunting and the lion bone trade, and the lack of real conservation benefits.

Visit the Lion & Safari Park

Take a trip to Hartbeespoort

Hartbeespoort, often called "Harties," is a popular holiday destination located in the North West Province of South Africa, approximately an hour’s drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria. It is situated around the Hartbeespoort Dam, a stunning body of water surrounded by the Magaliesberg mountain range. Boating, sailing, jet skiing, and fishing are popular activities on the dam. The surrounding area also offers picnic spots and walking trails. Other highlights in this area include the Hartbeespoort Arerial Cableway, the elephant and monkey sanctuary, and reptile parks - some with questionable ethics. There is also a cheetah conservation and research centre, called the Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre, where you can do a tour to observe cheetahs up close.

Pilanesberg National Park offers an excellent opportunity for a self-drive safari. The park is approximately 200 km northwest of Johannesburg, about a 2,5 hour drive, past Hartbeespoort and near Sun City. The park covers around 572 square kms, and is known for its rich biodiversity, scenic landscapes, and the chance to see the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo). Pilanesberg is home to more than 7,000 animals. It is situated within an ancient volcanic crater, offering diverse landscapes, including savannah, grasslands, forests, and rocky outcrops. For a self-drive safari, a 4x4 is not necessary, but a vehicle with good ground clearance is recommended. Ensure your vehicle has a full tank of fuel, as there are no petrol stations inside the park. Bring snacks and water. Entrance is R140 per person for foreigners.

Do a self-drive safari at Pilanesberg National Park

Spend the day at Sun City Resort & Casino

Sun City, next to Pilanesberg National Park, is a luxury resort and casino complex that offers a wide range of activities and attractions for visitors of all ages. The resort features from 5 star to 3 star accommodation, which is still relatively pricey. The resort has a lot to offer, such as the Valley of the Waves, featuring a wave pool, swimming pools, bars, and slides. You can go here as a day visitor as well for around R400 per person. A good option as a day visitor would be to stay in the Kingdom Resort nearby. There are a number of other fun things to do, such as the fastest zipline, an outdoor maze, golf courses, an arcade, gambling, and several water sports.

Bothongo Lion & Rhino Nature Reserve, located in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site is a sprawling wildlife sanctuary dedicated to the conservation of endangered species. Covering approximately 1,600 hectares, the reserve is home to a diverse array of wildlife, including the Big Five. You can also book a self-catering cabin here, with a jacuzzi. Especially during the week, these are not badly priced. Bring water and snacks for in the car if you are going to do a self-drive safari through the reserve. You can also explore the Wonder Cave, one of the largest caves in South Africa, with impressive stalactites and stalagmites. Check the button below for safari options & prices. You can also review these & pay on site.

Spot wildlife at the Bothongo Nature Reserve

Explore the Cradle of Humankind

The Cradle of Humankind is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located about 50 kilometers northwest of Johannesburg. Covering approximately 47,000 hectares, this site is known for its wealth of hominid fossils that provide critical insight into human evolution. The Cradle of Humankind has produced some of the oldest and most well-preserved hominid fossils, including famous discoveries. Watch 'UNKOWN: Cave of Bones' on Netflix if you want more info on this topic! Visitors in the Cradle of Humankind can go to the Maropeng Visitor Centre, which is a museum on this topic. Tickets are R125 per person. You can also explore the Sterkfontein Caves, however, last I checked the caves were flooded and you could not get in, so check before you go.

The Magaliesburg Mountains, located just an hour's drive from Johannesburg and Pretoria, offer a serene escape from city life. Explore this UNESCO-designated biosphere, not only known for its natural beauty and outdoor activities but also for its luxurious spa retreats. Popular spa retreats include Mount Grace, African Hills Safari Lodge & Whispering Pines Country estate. Popular hiking trails include those in the Rustig and Mountain Sanctuary Park areas. Other fun activities in this area include hot air balloon rides, ziplining tours through the treetops, abseiling, rock climbing, and horse riding. The Blaauwbank Historic Gold Mine is also worth a visit!

Relax in the Magaliesburg Mountains

Go river rafting on the Vaal or Crocodile River

River rafting is a fun adventure for the thrill seekers. Both rivers are around 1-1.5 hours drive from Johannesburg. The Vaal River rafting starts from Parys, and is a fun & challenging route where we actually managed to flip the raft. The Crocodile River is close to Hartbeespoort, and did have loads of plastic in it, but we saw some beautiful scenery and a huge water monitor lizard. This route requires some teamwork.

Check out our video at Pilanesberg National Park!

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