Hi All
As part of an around the world trip, my girlfriend and I will have a week in the Johannesburg area in mid-January before flying upto Dar es Salaam to do an overland trip to Vic Falls. When that ends, we're planning on doing the Garden Route, a few weeks in Namibia and another trip across Botswana back to Jo'burg.
I'd really appreciate if anyone any suggestions on what we could do in a week around the Jo'burg area?
Are Kruger or other South Africa game-parks worthwhile for us... bearing in mind that we will probably see lots of wildlife in the rest of our trip?
Thanks in advance for your comments!
Ed
edmulrooney
1
kelstarama
Hi Ed,
Do a search for posts from RudiK and you will find info on plenty of things to do in and around Joburg.
Kel
2
colleenj
Kruger is about 6-8hrs drive away. If you wanted more game viewing, Pilanesberg may be a better option - smaller but closer and a bit cheaper and still good viewing.
The Drakensberg is lovely if you like mountains and walking (short or long). About 2-3 hrs drive from jhb.
I never get sick of seeing African wildlife!
3
rudik
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. Some of them have links to their own web-sites, others not.
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
Enjoy.
4
evra
I would recommend a guided tour of Joburg and Soweto - a great way to learn the history and culture in a secure situation. Check out http://www.tktours.co.za/main.html TK is an excellent guide - best to call him to make arrangements if you're interested. We had some trouble with the onlie bookings. Also, if you go it's a good idea to take a bit of extra cash as there are crafts to buy and it's nice to tip the people who show you into their homes etc.
Have a great time!
5
tc_sebba
hm, and spend some days in Pretoria, get drunk in Hatfield, and get back to Jozi ;-)
joking apart, if you need to get visas etc for your travels around the world, Hatfield, Pretoria, is probably the place to be for you. Almost all the embassies etc. are in this part of Pretoria.
Seb
Pro tip
Lonely Planet
trusted partner
trusted partner