You Cannot Leave Johannesburg Without Seeing These 10 Places

Ever returned from a well-planned trip and regretted not having visited places because you never knew about them? The Apartheid Museum, Constitution Hill, Gold Reef City and Mandela Museum will seem boringly mainstream once you discover the secret pleasures the beautiful city of Johannesburg has to offer.

1. Bungee Jumping at Orlando Tower

The two towers in Orlando, 8 miles from Jo’berg, are quite a striking sight with their cool and whacky designs. A must-visit for adrenaline junkies, this is your spot for some amazing photography, bungee jumping and walking across the narrow bridge between the two structures. Apart from these, you can also abseil, freefall or power swing from the top of the towers.

2. Arts on Main

To soak in local flavours - people, produce, wares – hit Arts on Main. The place has a patio bar and with abundant finger-licking food. The crowd here is always a mix of people bonded by a common love for drinking and dancing. Needless to say, the energy is contagious.

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3. Pilansberg Nature Reserve

Going to Africa and not making a stop at a national park is pure blasphemy. It doesn’t have to be a regular one though. We suggest Pilansberg Nature Reserve which is on an ancient volcanic crater and dates back to the Stone and Iron ages. Located between Kalahari and Lowveld, you can spend the night in beautiful cottages relishing the ecological richness around you. The place is bursting with history, wildlife, and photogenic locations.

4. The Ka’Ching Tour

Among the many themed walks across the city, the Ka’ching Tour takes you back in time to 1886 and the days of early mining when gold was discovered here. You will be taken to some of the oldest buildings in the city where you can witness public arts and architecture.

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5. Hennops Hiking Trail

South Africa has abundant greenery and it would be a crime to not spend a day in the lap of nature. If you are up for some outdoor adventure, the Hennops Hiking Trail will keep you enchanted with easy going grasslands, clusters of small trees, gorges and rocky plateaus.

6. Priscilla - Queen of the Desert

This delightful, multi-award winning musical will leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy. Join Priscilla (who is actually a bus) and her three friends as they take you on a journey of a lifetime. The shows are held at different times in different cities, so do check out their website to fit it into your schedule.

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7. Cradle of Humanity

Some places trigger your imagination and the Cradle of Humanity is one of them. This is where the human race is believed to have originated, and you get to see a 2.3 million years old fossil called Australopithecus africanus or Mrs Ples. The museum was given the World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999 and is located at Gauteng, about 50 odd kilometers from Johannesburg.

8. Satyagraha House

It is always a pleasure to bump into someone from back home when in a foreign land. Imagine walking into a house where Mahatma Gandhi once stayed! Named 'The Kraal', this place has been converted into a museum-cum-guesthouse and this is the place where seeds of the Satyagraha movement were sown. Well worth a look and definitely a matter of pride.

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9. Northcliff Ridge

Not your regular touristy view-point, Northcliff Ridge lets you soak in the best 360 degree view of Jo’berg without pushing your way through crowds. All in all, a nice spot to get away from the city without actually getting away from it.  

10. Alexandra

A small township in Johannesburg, Alexandra is one of the poorest urban localities in the country and was home to a lot of famous people like Nelson Mandela, tennis player and author of the autobiography Kaffir Boy Mark Mathabane, Former President of Mozambique Samora Machel, poet Wally Serote, musician and trumpeter Hugh Masekela.  The vibe of this place will surely entice the history buff in you.

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