Ever wanted to reconnect with your city but could never fit it in your tight schedule? Now is the time to take your foot off the accelerator and explore some the favourite places in the city of gold.
There’s always something new to explore, something old to reflect on and reconnections to establish in the bustling city of gold that hardly ever goes to sleep. Now that you have a bit of time on your hands this festive season, and relatives from the country are glowing in the warmth of your hospitality, here are some of the interesting places you can take them to explore, experience and enjoy Joburg with all your five senses.
We need to know where we come from and the sacrifices others made to ensure our democracy. That is why the Struggle Route, a look into the country’s turbulent history, is a must for first-time visitors in Johannesburg and long-time residents alike.
Mapped by red brick to symbolise the bloodshed, the route takes visitors to the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum, the Morris Isaacson High School, the Memorial Acre and the world famous Vilakazi street which houses the Mandela Family Museum and Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, two Nobel Peace Prize winners on the same street.
A look into South Africa’s past isn’t complete without a visit to the Apartheid Museum, which illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid, Liliesleaf Farm - the headquarters of Umkhonto we Sizwe as well as Constitution Hill, the former site of the Old Fort prison and now home to the Constitutional Court.
Other must-see historical offerings include a visit to the Satyagraha House, the former home of the father of an independent India Mahatma Ghandi in Orchards, the Westcliff Stairs, Randlords and Johannesburg’s mining district.
If you would like to see the City and Soweto’s top attractions at your own pace, make sure to experience the hop-on, hop-off red City Sightseeing Bus. Guided tours are also a great way to see and experience parts of the City that you usually wouldn’t venture into but these are often treasure troves waiting to be explored.
For the ideal tour, make sure to book a Main Street Walk from the Maboneng Precinct or enjoy the sights and sounds of Soweto on bicycle tour with Lebo’s Backpackers and Bicycle Tours.
Foodies are in for a treat. Joburg has a rich variety of local, organic and niche markets throughout the City offering the most delectable, fresh and fragrant foods available. A few must-experience foodie markets include the Fourways Farmers Market, Blubird Organic Market, Bryanston Organic and Natural Market, Jozi Market, Neighbourgoods, Market on Main, the Mediterranean Market at Melrose Arch, Emmarentia’s Fresh Earth Food Store for fair trade produce as well as the freshly launched Sheds @ Fox Street.
Joburg also has an extensive range of fine dining options for every palate. From the palatial rooftop of Katy’s Palace Bar in Kramerville, Sandton, to the panoramic views at the Living Room in the Maboneng Precinct, dining out in Joburg is a sure unforgettable multi-sensory and If traditional cuisine is more your cup of tea, make sure to taste the offerings at Beirut in Parkmore, a restaurant specialising in traditional Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine or try the Curry Palace in Ferndale for delicious Indian curries.
Art fundi’s are also spoiled for choice in Johannesburg with several galleries and public artworks to be seen. The first stop on any art lovers trail should be the Johannesburg Art Gallery, a historic building designed by Sir Edwin Luytens that boasts one of the largest art collections in Other rich and varied art gallery and exhibition offerings include the Museum of African Design, the Wits Art Museum, Momo in Parktown North, Circa, Everard Read, the Goodman, Kim Sacks as well as David Krut’s galleries and bookshops in Rosebank and Maboneng.
What to do with the kids during school holidays and over the festive season is also covered by Joburg’s varied offerings which include Africa’s greatest theme park designed around an authentic 19thCentury Gold Mine at the Gold Reef City Theme Park; the 81 hectare Johannesburg Zoo which houses over 320 species; Montecasino for a day of fun as well as the Sci-Bono Centre for educational thrills galore.
For an outing with a definite Christmas and festive feel, don’t miss out on the Soweto Festival of Light, the Tree of Light at the Joburg Zoo, various Carol Singing events, the Lipizzaner’s and the annual Pantomime at the Joburg Theatre. This year, Janice Honeyman returns to the Joburg Theatre with an exquisite Odourama experience as she presents Peter Pan the Pantomime.
Until 24 December, Sandton City will also be abuzz with three exciting daily shows featuring the awesome Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as well as amazing Lego displays of Buzz and Woody from Toy Story and Star Wars’ Yoda.
With so much to see and do this festive season, Joburg is the place to be. For more information on what to do in and around the City, log onto www.joburgtourism.com or www.joburg.org.za
