Things to do in Gauteng
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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 …
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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.
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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.
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Café 41
A beautifully designed bistro-style restaurant serving Mediterranean fare from an extensive menu (the great big meze platters are good value). There’s a large outdoor deck, and a hidden section that makes you forget you’re in a shopping village. Service is a little on the slow side though.
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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.
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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.
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Hatfield
There are several bars and nightspots in trendy Hatfield, catering for all types. Yet again, Hatfield Square is a good place to start, but remember that 'guns, fireworks and motorbikes are strictly prohibited'. Unusually for South Africa, Burnett St offers a high density of bars, eateries and clubs, all cut through with lashings of backpacker bravado and student shenanigans.
You can wander between venues easily and safely, saving the endless taxi journeys that usually punctuate a night in a big South African city. It's the easiest pub crawl in the country.
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Union Buildings
These sweeping sandstone buildings are the headquarters of government and home to the presidential offices. They sit in an elevated position, surveying beautiful terraced gardens planted with indigenous trees and the city beyond. The gardens are often used for public celebrations and Mandela’s inauguration took place here back in 1994. Statues of a few former prime ministers inhabit the grounds, including an impressive General Louis Botha on horseback. There’s also a WWI memorial here, and a memorial to the South African police. The buildings, designed by Sir Herbert Baker, are about a 2km walk from the city centre; alternatively, catch just about any bus heading east on…
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Voortrekker Monument & Nature Reserve
A visit to the striking Voortrekker Monument is a near spiritual experience for many Afrikaners. It was constructed between 1938 and 1949 – a time of great Afrikaner nationalism – to honour the journey of the Voortrekkers, who trekked north over the coastal mountains of the Cape into the heart of the African veld. It pays tribute in particular to the Battle of Blood River on 16 December 1838, during which 470 Boers, under the command of Andries Pretorius, defeated approximately 12,000 Zulus, killing many of them.
A visit to the striking Voortrekker Monument is a near spiritual experience for many Afrikaners. It was constructed between 1938 and 1949 – a time of great A…
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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.
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Cradle Nature Reserve
About halfway between Pretoria and Johannesburg is the Cradle Nature Reserve, a more upmarket take on the wildlife experience, with wildlife walks and drives, and palaeontological tours. Home base here is the Cradle Restaurant, offering international cuisine, a cocktail bar, a log fire in winter and one of the best restaurant views in the country. Accommodation is offered in charming self-catering thatched cottages at the Forest Camp.
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Lotus Thai
The lotus-themed interior of this Thai restaurant is striking – black enamel walls are etched with white lotus motifs, there are large green-and-white lotus prints on the walls, and the black chairs have lotus-print cushions. In the centre of the restaurant is a large raised circular sushi bar with glass lily pads suspended above it. Outside you can dine in private pagodas. It’s not all about the flash design though; the food is fresh, authentic and delicious.
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Blue Crane
The Blue Crane is part of the Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary – the Roberts of the famous bird books. The restaurant overlooks a lake that is the breeding site for the endangered blue crane, South Africa’s national bird. It does Afrikaner potjiekos and the pub is great at sundown. The entrance to the restaurant is off Melk St, which is a right turn off Middle St as you head west.
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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.
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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…
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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.
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Harrie’s Pannekoek Huis
Part of a chain of very popular pancake houses offering mostly savoury pancakes with interesting fillings such as spicy chicken livers. They’re a little stodgy, but you can work off your selection at the adjacent curio shop, one of Pretoria’s best.
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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.
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Lion Park
Near Lanseria airport is a Lion Park where you can see rare white lions as well as the boring regular kind. The main attraction is the opportunity to feed giraffes or to play with baby lions at Cub World.
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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.
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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.
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Herr Gunther’s
Loud, brash Germanic answer to the Irish bar, Herr Gunther’s blares out loud chart music, and platters of chips and wurst (German sausage) are washed down with gargantuan jugs of lager.
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Brooklyn Mall Cinemas
The Brooklyn Mall Cinemas are among the most popular in Pretoria, but to save yourself time, it might be best to call Ster-Kinekor for listings and bookings.
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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.
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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).
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