Overview

Johannesburg has a plethora of attractions available, from museums and galleries to theme parks and zoos. Some of the museums are dedicated to showcasing the colourful history of the country such as the Apartheid Museum located near to the city centre. The Johannesburg Art Gallery was the first in the city and has an extensive collection of international and local artworks. The Johannesburg Zoo is a great attraction to take the whole family, with a plethora of wonderful animals to see.

Johannesburg Zoo

Established in 1904, the Johannesburg Zoo is dedicated to education, conservation and research of a variety of wild animals. The zoo is home to rare white lions and has been successful in breeding them. There is an array of African animals including giraffe, zebra, gazelle, tigers and rhinos. The zoo offers special children tours, which take a group of kids through the zoo teaching them about the animals and also gives them some hands-on experience with some of the tamer species. The zoo has restaurants and cafés as well as numerous picnic areas, making it a perfect place for the whole family to enjoy the day.

Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum

Situated in Orlando West in the township of Soweto, the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum was built in memory of the 1976 student demonstration, which saw police shoot and kill hundreds of innocent school children. The museum has numerous displays of photos, literature and videos of the events leading to the awful event. The memorial is a popular attraction that is seen by thousands of visitors each year. There are numerous tour companies that offer transport into the township to see the museum and monument.

Johannesburg Art Gallery

The impressive Johannesburg Art Gallery was the city's first of its kind and was established in 1904 by Lady Phillips, who was married to a diamond mine tycoon. The collection began with three Wilson Steer paintings and grew from there. The building that houses the art was designed specifically by Sir Edwin Lutyens. There are extensive Dutch and Flemish collections alongside some fantastic local South African artwork. Some of the more notable African pieces include sculptures by Jackson Hlungwani and paintings by the likes of Gerard Sekoto, Helen Sebidi and Alfred Toba.

Constitution Hill

Overlooking the city of Johannesburg, Constitution Hill houses a museum as well as the country's Constitutional Court. The site is home to the 19th century Old Fort commonly known as Number Four, which is where many brutalities and injustices were carried out during apartheid. Prisoners, including the famous Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, have been detained at the prison. There are guided tours that take visitors through the site explaining the painful history and showing the speedy transition to the democracy seen in the city today.

Apartheid Museum

Situated just six kilometres south of the central district of Johannesburg is the interesting and educational Apartheid Museum, which is filled with information and displays of the history of South Africa's apartheid story. The museum was first opened in 2001 and was created by a group of historians, filmmakers and curators. There are hundreds of photographs, video displays and also recreations of such conditions as the solitary confinement cells that were used to hold prisoners awaiting trial for, in some cases, years.

Overview

The natural and scenic surrounds of Johannesburg provide the perfect conditions for a wide array of sports and outdoor activities to enjoy. There are numerous cycling paths around the city as well as in the surrounding valleys and mountains that are great for off-road mountain biking. With several golf courses within the city area, golfing in the capital is another popular pastime. The River Vaal has numerous boating activities including sailing, cruises and powerboat fun.

Cycling

The beautiful and scenic surrounds of Johannesburg are perfect for enjoying cycling. There are numerous tracks and paved pathways around the city that lead through green parklands. For serious riders there are some great off-road trails that will challenge even the best bikers. The great trails around the Mpumalanga provide some scenic rides as well as adrenalin pumping downhill runs. Both mountain and road bikes are available for hire from a selection of shops around the city. Bicycle tours are also available and provide a good choice with local guides showing some of the sights along the way.

Hot-air Ballooning

Just 45 minutes from the centre of Johannesburg are several hot-air ballooning companies offering unforgettable rides high above the beautiful surrounding valleys, mountains and lakes. Typical take off time is early morning, which is provides perfect conditions with gentle winds and crisp clean air. Bill Harrop's Balloon Safaris is one of the city's best companies, with nearly 30 years experience in the region. After your flight you can enjoy a champagne brunch at their country balloon safari base.

Golf

The temperate climate of Johannesburg provides the perfect environment for lush green golf courses and fantastic year round playing conditions. There are numerous courses located around the city and surrounding areas, some of which are at a world-class standard. Glendower Golf Course is rated as one of the city's finest with excellent greens, soft fairways and challenging sand traps. The course is located near to Johannesburg International Airport and reservations are recommended. Another great course is Royal Johannesburg Golf Course, which has two championship courses. Royal Johannesburg hosts the annual South African Open and is listed in the World Atlas of Golf.

Climbing

With an abundance of nearby national parks, Johannesburg offers some great climbing opportunities for both beginner and advanced climbers. Located in Roodepoort is the spectacular Struben's Valley, which is a climber's paradise with numerous challenging climbs. There are pre-bolted climbs and some other cliffs that are perfect for abseiling. Several other areas are available within close proximity to the city, including Northcliff and the Melville Koppies. There are numerous tour companies that offer climbing packages including transport from your hotel, lessons, equipment and lunch. Some companies offer overnight camping trips, which can be a lot of fun.

Boating

Johannesburg is home to the beautiful Vaal River and Dam, which provide perfect conditions for boating activities. There are wonderful boat cruises available that include lunch or dinner whilst you enjoy the scenic waterways. Several adventure companies offer fun and exciting powerboats for water skiing and wakeboarding. The Vaal River and Dam are also perfect for sailing, with consistent winds blowing in from the north. There are large sailing boats to charter as well as smaller Hobie catarmarans, which are lots of fun.

Dining and shopping

The bustling city of Johannesburg provides a wide array of dining options with numerous restaurants, cafés and eateries serving flavours and cuisines from around the world including Italian, French, Turkish, Chinese, Japanese, Thai Vietnamese and Indian. There is also and abundance of restaurants serving local South African cuisine.

There are several dining areas of the city including Sandton, Melville and Greenside. Melville has a wide choice of restaurants of varying tastes and budgets. Stanley Avenue has a newly built food complex which is home to several restaurants serving different cuisines. Sandton has some fine dining options, with award winning restaurants serving modern contemporary dishes. You will also find a host of alfresco cafés that serve excellent coffee and lunchtime snacks.

Some of the local specialties include biltong, which is air dried and salted beef, and also frikkadel, which is minced meat balls made with various herbs and spices then cooked in a tomato and onion sauce. Fast food is popular in Johannesburg with a large number of different restaurants located all over the city. In the townships, the locals enjoy large bread rolls with various flavoured sausages mixed with potato chips. Different sauces can be added to increase the flavour and heat.

Shoppers will love the large variety of options available in the city of Johannesburg. There are over 20 shopping malls within the city with large department stores, specialty shops and designer boutiques. African artwork is also found in the city's numerous galleries. The city has some great markets where you will find a host of hand made arts and crafts, perfect for souvenirs.

Centrally located is the Rosebank Shopping Centre, which has an impressive selection of shops. There are two large department stores and hundreds of small retail outlets selling everything from clothing to sporting goods. The shopping centre also hosts a weekend market on the rooftop with fantastic bargains available.

Near to Rosebank Shopping Centre is the famous African Craft Market, which is a must for every visitor to Johannesburg. The market is filled with an array of handmade goods at incredibly cheap prices. You will find local artists selling brilliant art pieces, sculpture and wooden carvings.

For upmarket shopping, Sandton in the city's north provides an array of designer brand boutiques and expensive specialty shops. The newly built Sandton Square many name brands including Prada, Versace, Gucci, Polo Ralph Lauren and Christian Dior.

Within the city centre there are various flea markets that are held throughout the week. Some markets specialise in arts and crafts while others have inexpensive clothing and consumer goods for locals. It is worth exploring the markets as there are some fantastic bargains available.

Johannesburg has wide variety of great restaurants to try whilst visiting the charming city. You will find a host of restaurants serving flavours and cuisines from around the world. There are numerous modern contemporary eateries serving local flavours and produce such as prime beef.

Overview

Visitors arriving in Johannesburg generally fly in through the international airport located just 35 minutes' drive from the city centre. There are train and bus services also available from other areas of the country. Hiring a car and self-driving is a popular and exciting option. Getting around downtown Johannesburg is best by metered taxi but there are also bus services available.

Airports

Situated just 19kms from the city centre is Johannesburg International Airport, which serves a plethora of carriers with connections to most major cities around the world. The airport is relatively small yet handles over 11 million passengers each year.

The airport has a variety of facilities available including money exchange, ATMs, tourist information desks, car hire companies, restaurants and eateries, bars, post office, hotel and duty-free shops. With the upcoming World Cup football event the South African government is spending billions of rand upgrading the facilities.

Transport to the city from the airport is limited to bus services, minibuses and metered taxis. The airport bus service is called Magicbus and there are connections every 30 minutes. The minibus service is the cheapest option although travel time can be long. Metered taxis are the most convenient mode of transport and are relatively inexpensive when compared to other international cities.

Public transportation

With extensive road and rail networks throughout South Africa, getting to Johannesburg by bus, train or car is a viable option. The national rail system is a popular mode of transport with comfortable and affordable services that pass through scenic countryside. More luxurious cabins and seating are available for an extra cost.

Bus travel in South Africa is generally uncomfortable and crowded and is coupled with unsafe driving. Some of the private coach companies offer safe and comfortable services from other cities including Cape Town on the country's west coast.

Renting a car and self-driving is an excellent option, with numerous international car hire companies available including Hertz, Budget and Avis. The national highways and motorways are world-class with wide double carriageways. The scenery is spectacular along the way and by driving yourself you have the option to stop off to take some pictures or see some sights.

Within Johannesburg there are limited public transport options available. The city train network is mainly used by locals and not recommended for tourists as there is a high incidence of theft and crime. The city has an extensive bus network that covers most central locations as well as some popular outer suburbs. Tickets can be bought in advance and the price depends on how many zones you travel.

Johannesburg has a large collection of minibus taxis that drive to certain districts and suburbs. The service is inexpensive but not particularly easy to use as it mainly caters to locals. Metered taxis are by far the best and safest option for travel around the city. You will find taxis available at major locations such as shopping and entertainment centres, otherwise you will need to phone a taxi company.