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What to see and do - Johannesburg/Pretoria and surrounds

The following list contains some of the places to visit in and around Johannesburg and Pretoria.
The list has not been updated for some years but very little, if anything, has changed.

PILANESBERG ( 2 hours drive from Johannesburg)
Pilanesberg National Park
Sun City

NORTHERN TSHWANE
Tswaing Meteorite Crater

PRETORIA CITY
Voortrekker Monument and Fort Schanskop
Union Buildings
Kruger House Museum
Melrose House
Church Square and Kruger Statue
State Theatre
Pretoria City Hall
Transvaal Natural History Museum
Smuts House
Sammy Marks House

HARTBEESPOORT
Bill Harrop's "Original" Balloon Safaris
Van Gaalens Cheese Factory
Welwitschia Country Market and Chameleon Village
Cableway (Check whether the cableway is operating.)
De Wildt Cheetah Research Centre
Lesedi Cultural Village
Elephant Sanctuary

MIDRAND
S A Mint - Coin World
African Reptiles and Venom
Lipizzaners

CRADLE OF HUMANKIND
The Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve and the Wonder Cave
Sterkfontein Caves and the Maropeng Interpretation Centre
Old Kromdraai Gold Mine
Heia Safari Ranch (Tribal Dancing)
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens (scroll down the page)
Krugersdorp Game Reserve

JOHANNESBURG (NORTH)
Lion Park
Ngwenya Glass Village
Sandton City
Montecasino

JOHANNESBURG CITY
Constitution Hill (including Johannesburg Fort)
Top of Africa
Museum Africa
Diagonal Street and the Muti Shop
Oriental Plaza
Mai Mai Market
Santarama Miniland
SAB World of Beer
Planetarium
War Museum
Johannesburg Zoo

JOHANNESBURG (SOUTH-WEST)
Apartheid Museum
Gold Reef City

SOWETO
Regina Mundi Church
Hector Peterson Memorial
Mandela House Museum
Wandi’s Tavern
Freedom Square
Credo Mutwa Village and the Oppenheimer Tower

EASTERN GAUTENG
Premier Diamond Mine (Cullinan)
Nan-Hua Buddhist Temple (Bronkhostspruit)
Kghodwana Ndebele Village
Loopspruit Wine Cellars
Site of Battle of Bronkhorstspruit

SOUTHERN GAUTENG
Rondebult Bird Sanctuary
Marievale Bird Sanctuary
Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve
Heidelberg Motor Museum

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The above post covers your Johannesburg stay.

I have never been to the Serengeti, so cannot compare it to Kruger. However, while in Johannesburg, you could easily include a visit to Pilanesberg Game Reserve (2 hours drive away) if you do want to do a short safari. Personally I love Kruger and would definitely spend some 4 nights in that park, but I sadly accept that not everyone wants to spend every waking moment in game reserves.

I would spend 3 nights (maybe 4) at Vic Falls and then return to Johannesburg and take the luxurious Blue Train to Cape Town if you have not been there before. (Alternatively fly down to CT).
I believe that shark cage diving is at its best during the winter months (mid-year), but once in Cape Town you could find out what the conditions are like before going to Hermanus and Gansbaai.

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Hey Shannon,

I'm from Cape Town so I don't really have any advice regarding travelling to Joburg, however, I can advise you with regards to Cape Town shark cage diving. I work with a lot of travel companies and establishments so I can give you sound advice on which tour operators to use.

Extreme Scene is the most popular Cape Town adventure tours company so I'd highly recommend using them if you decide to travel to Cape Town. They offer just about every activity you can imagine (helicopter flights, safaris, whale watching, scuba diving, bush dinners, ballooning, tandem paragliding, Cape tours, sunset cruises, bungee jumping, sea kayaking etc.) however, their most popular option is undoubtedly Cape Town shark cage diving

If you're interested in travelling to Cape Town, and you're looking for a reputable tour operator with a great reputation and a huge selection of tours and activities, I'd highly recommend checking out the Extreme Scene website.

Cape Town is truly one of the most beautiful and exciting cities in the world, so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend travelling there.

Good luck planning your trip. I hope this helped.

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Of the 2 'wildlife experiences'I'd say that Kruger was by far the best...an absolutely amazing place....I actually saw a far greater variety of wildlife in Kruger than in the Serengeti/Mara

On the other hand,shark diving is fun and provides you with an endless source of amusing stories to tell your friends.....and CT is a great city.

Tough decision ;-)

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As for Joberg.....the 2 things I wouldn't miss are a tour of Soweto (with a local guide-not a tour bus)and a visit to the Apartheid Museum.

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As you may have picked up on the news, the Kruger Park has, in the last few days, been subjected to major flooding affecting most of the park. The park is already open and operational again. The animals will not have been affected much and hopefully the facilities for visitors will be fully restored in all respects by March. However, once you are here in Johannesburg, contact the SA National Parks Board and enquire about conditions, should you decide to visit Kruger. Also book in advance.
See http://sanparks.org.za/parks/kruger/ and check the news items to read about the latest position regarding the floods.

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Personally, I have found that once you've done one safari/game drive you've kind of done them all. I would go for something a little different. A trip to Vic falls would be amazing - it certainly is a sight to behold. You could take a helicopter ride of the falls for some extra fews and do not miss dinner in the Boma restaurant. What an experience!

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OP...as you can see,it depends on how much you like safaris/animal viewing trips

For some people one is enough,others could never get enough............I must have done 30-40 different ones between Africa,India,South America etc.and will be doing more in the future.......

Vic falls on the other hand is just another waterfall for me......less spectacular than Iguazu or Angel Falls,but pretty enough to look at for 20 minutes ;-)

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Or fly to Port Elizabeth, visit Addo NP or a private reserve, drive the Garden Route to Cape Town.

There are many shark diving outfits, most are at Gansbaai but this is about 1½ hrs drive from CT & a very early morning pick up unless you stay in Gansbaai or there is a closer one in Simon's Town about 50 mins from the city & could combine with a trip to Boulders Beach for the penguins & Cape Point peninsular tour.

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See: http://www.apexpredators.com/

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Thanks for adding the link RudiK

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Along with that lovely list from RudiK, I would also suggest when in JHB, spend some time in town visiting the Market Theatre for a local productions and then perhaps popping through to the Neighbour Goods market in Braamfontein.

Sarah Nelson,

http://rentalsincapetown.com/

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THANKS ALL. This is very helpful!

We have decided to stay in SA:

Most likely will take garden route to CT --> on way stop at Soweto--> possibly shark dive (depending on likelihood of seeing great white) --> Fly to Vic Falls for a couple days!

Thanks again,
Shannon