Since the Apartheid era, Johannesburg tourism has come along way. There’s now plenty of day trips from Johannesburg to enjoy as you’ll discover in this article.
While tourist attractions in Johannesburg focus mainly on the history of the Apartheid and Nelson Mandela, day trips away from the city offer more variety. Joburg day trip safaris are possible, and there’s plenty of Johannesburg tours that you can book if don’t wish to hire a car.
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If you’re looking for what to do in Johannesburg, here’s a list of my favourite day trips.
To make seeing the top things to do in Johannesburg and surrounding area hiring a car is the easiest way to get around. If you don’t wish to hire you can book day trips from Johannesburg.
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Pilanesburg Tours
Most tourists who visit South Africa hope to go on a game drive during their holiday and Pilanesburg makes for a great safari near Johannesburg.
It takes just over two hours from Johannesburg to Pilanesburg national park safari reserve, and there are plenty of tours available from the city.
Pilanesburg is home to the big five African safari animals, and as the park is reasonably small, there’s a good chance of spotting all of them on a day trip from Johannesburg.
The park has well laid out routes and if you don’t visit to participate in a Pilanesburg safari tour, why not hire a car and drive there either for the day or the weekend.
You can find out more about planning a Pilanesburg self-drive safari by clicking here.
Pilanesberg Sights
The area of Pilanesburg sits on an ancient volcanic crater, and the scenery varies dramatically throughout the park. There are vast sections of grasslands, unique rock formations and dense Acacia thickets.
It’s one of the best to go on safari near Johannesburg if you want to African Wild dogs and Leopard. On a Pilanesberg, day safari it’s worth spending time in one of the photographic hides, most of which have stunning views across watering holes and dams.
Waiting patiently in the hides is likely to reward you with sightseeings of elephants, zebras, hippos and other game. There are also over 300 bird species recorded in the game reserve so don’t forget to take a pair of bird watching binoculars with you.
If you need help choosing which binoculars to buy for birdwatching and safaris, this post has all the information you need.
If you’ve been looking at day trips to Kruger national park from Johannesburg, Pilanesburg is a much better option. The drive time is much shorter; you’ll see just as much wildlife and the cost offers much better value for money.
Entry fees to the park are excellent value for money and day tours to Pilanesburg are a great affordable option.
Pilanesberg Game Reserve Rates
South African Citizens – R80
Adult Foreign Visitors. – R110
Children (6-12 years). – R30
Pensioners (SA only). – R40
Vehicles – R40
Map of Park – R40
Soweto Tours
Soweto is a place that I guarantee will take you by surprise. The township is almost a city in itself and is much bigger than you might think. Although it has a dark and troubled past associated with the Apartheid era, the area is now emerging as a hip and vibrant place to visit.
A great way to visit the city is on the Soweto tour Johannesburg hop on hop off bus as it stops at the massive football stadium. The Orland stadium or FNB as it’s now called is the fourth largest football stadium in the world. It’s an impressive sight and one which the people of Joburg are very proud of.
Another impressive sight near Soweto is the Orlando towers. They’re vibrant and covered in amazing murals that clearly distinguish them as the areas major landmark.
The 33 storey towers were once the cooling towers from the coal power station, but today they are home to extreme sports. They are the place to visit if you are looking for fun things to do in Johannesburg.
Orlando Tower Activities in Johannesburg
There are several high adrenaline activities on offer at the towers, including bungee jumping, abseiling, zip-lining and pendulum swinging. You can also go paintballing, and rock climbing here and Soweto Outdoor adventures organise quad bike tour of the area. Highly trained staff regularly test the equipment and external safety teams monitor the standards.
Nelson Mandela Museum in Soweto
After exhausting your energies on the activities, you can recuperate at Chaf Pozi which is a restaurant and bar in the base of the towers. There are vegetarian options available, and they often have bands performing live music.
Of course, Soweto was once home to Nelson Mandela, and his former residence is now a famous museum. The Soweto Management trust manage the house, and the exhibitions provide an exciting insight into the home life that he led before being imprisoned in 1962.
He did return to the home after his release, but he was so hounded by the fans, press and residents that he moved out only 11 days later. The house is small with only three rooms and a tiny, but well-kept garden. On the outside, you can still see the bullet holes from the atrocities and persecution he suffered by the authorities.
Hector Pieterson Museum
Another of Johannesburg attractions in Soweto is the Hector Pieterson Museum. Here you can learn about the protests led by local school children during the Apartheid era. Hector Pieterson was one of twenty children who died when police opened fire on a rally led by children in 1976.
They were protesting about having to use Afrikaans as a language at school which of course was not their native language. The protest was a peaceful march meant to raise awareness to the government, but the forces intervened.
A photographer, Sam Nzima at the time published a picture of a former student carrying the body of Hector with his sister Antoinette Sithole running alongside. Outside the museum is a memorial with the image printed behind. Its a poignant reminder of the tragic past that South Africa is still coming to terms with today.
One of the best Soweto tours is on a bicycle. It’s a great way to explore the area and learn about local history. You get to visit all the major sites and enjoy some local food along the way.
Hartbeespoort Dam
If you enjoy stunning scenery, the Hartbeespoort Dam at the foothills of the Magaliesburg mountains will not disappoint. Its an hours drive from Johannesburg in the Northwest Province.
The area is a great place to visit if you are looking for family outings in Johannesburg as there are lots of attractions and outdoor things to do.
To get a bird’s eye view of the area and enjoy magnificent 360-degree panoramic views start by taking a trip on the Hartbeespoort cable car. Harties Aerial cableway takes you to the top of the mountain where you can take the Dassie Loop walkway to enjoy splendid vistas of the surrounding area.
There’s a restaurant with a viewing deck over the dam, and the food is very reasonably priced. There are also some unique seating areas if you want to take your picnic and enjoy the view. Children can entertain themselves in the play area while adults relax in the seating area nearby.
Schoemansville
After admiring the views from the cable car, taking a boat ride on the dam is another way of soaking in the atmosphere. The small village of Schoemansville sits on the edge of the dam, and along the waterfront, you can enjoy a boat ride.
If you continue to drive north from Schomansville along Scotts Road, there’s a 57-meter tunnel which leads you to a great viewpoint on the dam wall.
Other activities to near to the dam include Zip lining and horse riding. You can also take a hot air balloon ride over the Magaliesburg mountain range.
If you’re looking for weekend getaways near the Johannesburg, the Hartbeesproot dam is a great place to stay.
The Cradle of Humankind is only a further 40 minutes drive away, and there are several animal attractions such as the Lion and Safari Park close by.
The best way to get to Hartbeesproot Dam is to hire a car and explore the area by yourself.
Lion and Safari Park
Things to do in Johannesburg with kids don’t come much better than a day trip to the Lion and Safari Park. It’s a great day out for adults too. Although the park is not a game reserve, you can take a Johannesburg safari tour there, or you can drive yourself around the park.
Its a fantastic way of seeing Lions, Cheetahs, Leopards and other African animals in their natural surroundings. The park is fenced, and the keepers feed the animals, but they have acres of space to roam around. Watching the lion feeding is spectacular, especially when you see how the young cubs are looked after by their mums.
The park also offers the chance to get up and close to young cubs and take a cheetah walk. While this for some may not seem ethical, the cubs are very well looked after, and the staff are knowledgeable about the animals. The park is involved in several conservation projects, and they do a lot of educational projects.
The money that visitors pay for attractions like interacting with the lion cubs funds such projects. Animals like the white lion and rhino are endangered in the wild, and without the conservation efforts of places like the Lion and safari park, the world is at risk of losing these magnificent species.
Other activities at the park include feeding giraffes, and for younger children, there’s a small animal petting area. There’s a large souvenir shop which sells high-quality gifts and a restaurant where you can enjoy lunch.
Lesedi Cultural Village
Lesedi tourist village is one of the tourist attractions in Gauteng that gives an insight into the diverse range of cultures in South Africa. You can learn here about the heritage of the Zulu people and see inside traditional homes.
There’s a cultural dance show in authentic costumes, and the local people are friendly. They will be happy to have their photographs taken with you and show you around. While this is a village built for tourists, it is one of the attractions in Gauteng that has an authentic touch.
You can stay overnight at the village in one of the huts which do have ensuite bathrooms. The dinner in the evening is buffet style, and there’s the opportunity to try local delights such as ostrich stew. There’s a bar for drinks after dinner and campfire to sit around and chat with other guests and locals.
Maropeng – Cradle of Humankind
If you want a change from attractions relating to the apartheid the Maropeng visitor’s centre is one of the places to go in Johannesburg. The centre is in the heart of the Cradle of Humankind about an hours drive from the city.
On a visit here you’re taken on a journey through time. In South Africa, some of the earliest fossils showing life forms on earth were discovered in this area.
The Cradle of Humankind is a Unesco Heritage site and was given the status due to its unique palaeontological finds and unique landscape.
Palaeontologists have uncovered almost half of the worlds hominid fossils here, and there’s evidence to suggest humans existed in the cradle 3 million years ago.
Hominids were the ancestors of modern humans and lived in Africa around 7 million years ago. The exhibition which takes through the centuries and shows how the human race evolved from the hominids is both fascinating and mind-blowing.
The displays are vibrant, and there’s plenty of interactive ones to engage with. At the end of the tour, there’s an impressive world counter that gives the current population of the human race.
As you leave the Maropeng visitors centre, don’t forget to check out the National Heritage Monument exhibition.
Next to the car park, there are almost 100 bronze statues that include all those that have been responsible for making South Africa what it is today. The sculptures include kings, chiefs, activists and of course, people such as Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo.
Sterkfontein Caves
Close to Maropeng is Sterkfontein Caves which is where some of the worlds most famous fossils of our human predecessors were found. Two of the most notable are Mrs Ples and Little Foot.
Little foot is almost a full skeleton of a human that dates back 3 million years. Perfect conditions within the cave meant that the bodies were preserved in the rock.
You can take a tour around the caves and see the sights where the fossils were discovered. Wooden walkways around the caves make access easy, and the guided tour gives lots of information on the skeletons, why and how the conditions in the cave meant that they were preserved.
Learn about human evolution in the caves
Findings within the caves also include basic stone tools and evidence that man was able to make fire over 1 million years ago. Before leaving on tour there is a small but informative exhibition centre in which you can read all about the exciting finds in the caves.
There’s also some of the fossils and bones on display which are fascinating. Palaeonthropoligist have been excavating in and around Sterkfontein Caves since 1935, which makes it the most extended dig in the world.
You can visit the current excavation site at the end of the tour. Scientists are continuing their work here in the hope of finding further fossils that will help them understand more about the evolution of man on earth.
Johannesburg day tours to the caves usually combine it with a visit to Maropeng. If you are in the area and have a car, it’s also worth visiting the Nirox sculpture park.
Nirox Sculpture Park
Only a few minutes drive from Maropeng is the Nirox sculpture park. The park is stunningly beautiful, and if you’re looking for a place to relax, walk and enjoy stunning scenery, it makes for one of the best day outings in Gauteng.
The park has 20 hectares of landscaped gardens which include ornamental lakes and sculptures. Its a green oasis in the Unesco heritage of the Cradle of Humankind. There are guided paths to follow, and some incredible pieces of artwork to admire.
The lakes are home to monitor lizards, and there’s plenty of birds to admire. The sculptures range from structures made out of bamboo to contemporary perspex coloured walls.
Some unusual characters reminded me of snow-white dressed in purple.
Nita’s kitchen restaurant with its quaint tables and exquisite views is the perfect place to go for Sunday lunch. If you’re looking for romantic day trips Gauteng why not bring a picnic and a bottle of champagne to enjoy in one the gardens hidden corners.
Nirox sculpture park is in the Khatlhampi Reserve, which is a privately owned nature reserve. It’s only open to the public on Sundays, and the entrance fee is 120 ZAR.
Hop on Hop Off Johannesburg bus tour
The hop on hop off bus Johannesburg sightseeing tour is a safe and friendly way to explore the city. It has 16 stops and offers plenty of things to do in Johannesburg.
You can visit places in Johannesburg such as the Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill, and the bus provides an easy way to get around the city.
There are three-city sightseeing Johannesburg routes, including one around Soweto. Onboard there’s a running commentary that points out places of interest on the Johannesburg city tour. Along the way, you’ll pass Nelson Mandela’s house, fabulous street art and spectacular lookout points across the city.
You can book tickets for the City Tour Johannesburg Sightseeing Bus here.
Sunday Markets
On Sunday’s one of the best things to do in Joburg is to visit one of the Sunday markets.
Rosbank market in the carpark of Rosebank Mall is one of the hip and vibrant places to visit in Johannesburg. The stalls mostly sell African crafts, vintage clothing and artisan products. The atmosphere is always electric with live music and entertainers providing plenty of fun.
There are food vendors and its great place to buy African fabrics and souvenirs. To get there, follow the signs from the Rosebank Mall or ask the staff who are very helpful at pointing you in the right direction.
Market on Main- Maboneng
An alternative to the Rosebank market is the Market on Main in Maboneng. It’s open between 10 am and 3 pm on Sunday’s, and there’s plenty of stalls to peruse.
One of the best ways to explore the market here is on a walking tour of the city as you’ll also get to see some of the best street art in the area.
The market is part of Arts on Main, which has some unique shops. One of the best is I got shot in Johannesburg, which was a project set up to help street children learn about expressing themselves through photography.
If you get tired of walking around, there’s several cafes and rooftop bars to relax and recuperate. Check out the Living Room at the top end of the street, which has spectacular views of the city and delicious food.
If you’re visiting Maboneng, it’s worth noting that this downtown part of Johannesburg is not safe if you wander away from the main street. There are plenty of security guards, and they’ll point you in the right direction if you are unsure.
As with all tourist attractions around the world, pickpocketing can be a potential threat. If you’re visiting the markets, remember not to take expensive belongings and keep your money safe.
It’s best to carry only enough money for the day and [easyazon_link identifier=”B01C2R3TZG” locale=”US” tag=”passportand0e-20″ cart=”n”]wear a money belt[/easyazon_link] or [easyazon_link identifier=”B01NBR3Y5D” locale=”US” tag=”passportand0e-20″ cart=”n”]carry an anti-theft bag[/easyazon_link].
Pretoria
Pretoria makes for one of the great places to visit near Johannesburg. It’s under an hours drive from Joburg, and it’s connected to the city by the Gautrain.
South Arica has three capital cities, and Pretoria is one of them. The Afrikaans founded the town, and the history around Pretoria is mostly to do with their past.
One of the top sights is the Voortrekker Monument which signifies the suffering by Afrikaaners when the British Colonisation caused many of them to escape the city. Another site worth seeing in Pretoria is the Union Buildings.
Jacaranda Trees
Pretoria is known for its Jacaranda trees and its one of the best places to visit around Johannesburg in spring. These magnificent trees are spectacular when they are in blossom. The purple flowers fill the trees and almost provide a flowered arch down numerous streets in Pretoria.
Sadly the trees won’t be around for that much longer as they are under threat from disease. Due to the amount of water, they consume and to eliminate the spread of infection; you can no longer plant them.
Further Reading
I hope this post has been useful in helping you plan things to do in Johannesburg South Africa. If you are visiting Cape Town as well you may be interested in reading about the Waterfront here.
Wine tasting is one of the star attractions in South Africa and if you are looking for the best region to visit, take a read here about Franschhoek. The town is stunning and personally I think the wine produced here is some of the best.
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Hi, I’m Fiona Berry- I live in Lancashire in the North of England, but my job as an instrumental music examiner takes me all over the world. Travel has enriched my life in so many ways and allowed me to experience different cultures, make new friends and see extraordinary sights. Through this blog, I share my knowledge and expertise so that my readers have all the resources they require to ensure their travels provide unique and unforgettable memories to destinations that are beyond the ordinary.
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