Things to do in Johannesburg
-
A
Apartheid Museum
The Apartheid Museum, which illustrates the rise and fall of South Africa’s era of segregation and oppression, is an absolute must-see. With plenty of attention to detail and an unsparing emphasis on the inhuman philosophy of apartheid – visitors are handed a card stating their race when they arrive and are required to enter the exhibit through their allotted gate – this remains one of South Africa’s most evocative museums. The museum uses film, text, audio and live accounts to provide a chilling insight into the architecture and implementation of the apartheid system, as well as inspiring accounts of the struggle towards democracy, and is invaluable in understanding the …
reviewed
-
Liliesleaf Farm
Liliesleaf Farm, the secret headquarters of the African National Congress (ANC) during the 1960s, reopened as a museum in June 2008. It tells the story of South Africa’s liberation struggle through a series of high-tech, interactive exhibits.
reviewed
-
B
Moyo’s
The ‘Africa chic’ decor (Moroccan souq–style seating areas, African artefacts, candles glowing in alcoves) and entertainment (face-painters, musicians) of this busy chain is certainly crowd-pleasing, if a little touristy. Food here is pan-African with everything from Algerian chicken to Tanzanian fish curry and is good, if not exactly authentic. There’s also a top-notch wine list for oenoophiles.
reviewed
-
C
Catz Pyjamas
Eateries in New Melville are generally not as good as those around 7th St - this is where you will find the usual chain eateries - but they are generally easier on the pocket. The Catz Pyjamas can be a little sterile, but it's open 24 hours and the cheap food is welcome after a long night out.
reviewed
-
D
Museum Africa
Situated at the heart of the cultural precinct, Museum Africa is housed in the impressive old Bree St fruit market, next to the Market Theatre complex. The most interesting exhibition details the Treason Trials of 1956–61, which featured most of the important figures in the ‘new’ South Africa. The Sophiatown display is also outstanding, containing a mock up of a shebeen (unlicensed bar) as well as audio and music snippets. Other exhibits tell the story of Jo’burg from the Stone Age onwards, the development of South African music and the history of housing in the city. On the same site is the Bensusan Museum of Photography.
reviewed
-
E
Turbine Hall
Much of the area around Mary Fitzgerald Sq was once taken up by a giant power station. The huge Turbine Hall, next to SAB World of Beer, is one of the city’s more impressive buildings. The north boiler house was imploded in 2005 and now houses the impressive headquarters of AngloGold Ashanti, beautifully developed to blend in with existing architecture. The south boiler house remains empty but is used for some wonderfully creative events. The area is now known as Turbine Sq.
reviewed
-
F
Telkom Tower
Dominated by the 269m Telkom Tower, Hillbrow was once among the liveliest and most interesting suburbs in the city and was the nation’s first ‘Grey Area’ – a zone where blacks and whites could live side by side. These days, however, it also has a reputation for very real lawlessness and a trip into its guts, without an extremely savvy guide, is not recommended.
reviewed
-
G
Gold Reef City
Gold Reef City has one foot in the past, but this time provides a light-hearted and reasonably rip-roaring take on gold-rush Jo’burg. Ninety per cent Disneyland clone, this theme park only offers a token nod to historical authenticity, but provides ample means for filling a spare afternoon, especially if you have kids in tow. It features scary rides, a Victorian fun fair and various reconstructions, including a bank, brewery, pub and newspaper office. Visitors can watch a gold pour, and see an entertaining program of ‘gumboot’ dancing, a traditional miners’ choreographed dance. There are numerous places to eat and drink, plus the Gold Reef City Arts & Crafts Centre and an…
reviewed
-
H
Loft
A warm, funky spot with the feel of a New York bistro, this place is full of bright modern prints and colourful chandeliers. There’s a tiny mezzanine floor at the back with a couple of tables and chill-out sofas, and a hip crowd packs in to enjoy mostly meaty treats such as springbok wrapped in bacon, and ostrich carpaccio.
reviewed
-
I
Karma
Bringing traditional Indian cooking into the 21st century, this stylish place puts a contemporary spin on the old favourites and offers a smorgasbord of tasty vegetarian dishes for those sick of the South African meat obsession.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
J
Johannesburg Zoo
The Johannesburg Zoo has a good selection of fierce and furry critters. The Animal Mythbuster tour (R45) is good fun; take it at night (R70) and it includes snacks and fireside marshmallow-toasting.
reviewed
-
K
Vida e Caffé
Considered by many the best coffee fix in town, with tasty snacks and beautiful people moving in and out all day. Come just after closing time (17:00) and score a free leftover muffin; they're huge.
reviewed
-
L
Ant Café
This hole-in-the wall Italian eatery has a distinctly Bohemian edge to it and whips up tasty pizzas in snug surrounds. Note that only cash is accepted.
reviewed
-
M
Ratz Bar
This dark, cubby-like bar has rats daubed on the walls rather than running across the floors. Try one of its tasty and well-priced cocktails (R25).
reviewed
-
Taste of Africa
Offers something different from the zoolike township tours. It offers tours where you can explore Soweto on foot or by minibus with a local guide, hang out with locals in a shebeen, and visit areas far from Soweto’s beaten tourist track for a more authentic experience. Staff can organise rooms in guest houses in less-visited parts of the township as well as shack accommodation (R100 per night).
reviewed
-
Queer Johannesburg Tour
Run on the first Sunday of the month by the Gay & Lesbian Archives of South Africa at Wits University. Gay or straight, the tours offer a fascinating insight into gay Jo’burg, taking you deep into the heart of Hillbrow and Soweto, and providing plenty of background on the role homosexuality played in the gold mines and the struggle against apartheid. Tours start at 9am, last four hours and cost R300 per person.
reviewed
-
N
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, more commonly known as Wits (pronounced vits) University, dominates the quiet suburb of Braamfontein. Wits University is the largest English-language university in the country, with more than 20,000 students. Worth a look here are the Gertrude Posel Gallery; Jan Smuts House to see Smuts’ study; and the Planetarium, which you can look around for free, or attend shows on Friday (8pm), Saturday (3pm) and Sunday (4pm).
reviewed
-
O
Planetarium
reviewed
-
P
Gertrude Posel Gallery
reviewed
-
Lekgotla
Traditional huts are a big theme at this super-stylish Afro-chic restaurant. It has huge wood-and-canvas domed ceilings, like several interconnected super huts, with the odd table under its own individual dome of leather straps and metal. White lanterns hang from the ceiling and the staff match nicely in all-white outfits with the odd splash of print. Outside on the square are cushion-strewn sofas instead of tables, and the unisex toilets have a long wooden canoe as the communal sink. As for the menu? It draws influence from all over the continent – from Tunisian curries to steak marinated in Ethiopian coffee.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
Q
SAB World of Beer
The SAB World of Beer offers a ridiculously good-value 90-minute jaunt through the history of beer, as narrated on video by hokey characters including a Bavarian brew master, an Egyptian explorer and Charles Glass, the founder of Castle breweries. On your journey through the beer-making process you’ll wander through a fake Egyptian temple, taste chibuku in a mock African village and sample a cheeky half pint at a re-created Victorian pub. If that weren’t enough your ticket also includes two pints in the bar afterwards.
reviewed
-
R
Montecasino
Jo’burg’s answer to Las Vegas, Montecasino, a shopping and entertainment centre based around (surprise) a large casino, is cheese personified. It includes a recreated Tuscan village complete with an artificial early-evening sky, fake trees, cobbled pavements, hilltop towers and even a vintage Fiat. It also includes the Pieter Toerien Theatre and the earthy Montecasino Bird Gardens, where you can get a blast of country air in the heart of the city.
reviewed
-
Kruger, Coast and Cape
17 days (Johannesburg)
A quality accommodated tour through South Africa, from Johannesburg to Cape Town, visiting Kruger National Park, Swaziland, Zululand, Drakensberg Mountains and the Garden Route..
Not LP reviewed
from USD$3,290 -
Kruger Express Camping
4 days (ex Johannesburg/Kruger National Par)
by Intrepid
Learn the secrets of tracking game, See the spectacular Blyde River Canyon, Camp under a starry African sky, Go in search of Africa's Big Five, Take a memorable…Not LP reviewed
from USD$905 -
Kruger Experience Lodge (4 Days)
4 days (ex Johannesburg/Greater Kruger Nati)
by Intrepid
Experience the park after dark, Visit the awesome Blyde River Canyon, Enjoy traditional South African cuisine, Try to spot the Big Five in Kruger National Park,…Not LP reviewed
from USD$1,190
