Johannesburg attractions – museums, landmarks, gardens
Posted on 20. Mar, 2010 by admin in Johannesburg
There are enough superb attractions in Johannesburg to keep all types of visitor entertained for days. Nature lovers will love the zoo and botanical gardens while there are plenty of museums and galleries for the culture vultures amongst us. Make sure you don’t miss Nelson Mandela’s house for the full story of how this remarkable man rose to become one of the most iconic figures in world politics.
Museums and galleries
Johannesburg is a city packed with museums and galleries of every kind imaginable. Depending on your interests and tastes, some are fascinatingly interesting while others are tediously boring. We don’t like to second guess you here at Johnny Foreigner, so here’s a little taste of everything.
Johannesburg Art Gallery
Corner of Klein and King George streets, Joubert Park, Tel: +27 (0)11 725 3130, Entrance: free
The Johannesburg Art Gallery is the biggest in Africa and has a good collection of both international and local art work
Mandela Family Museum
Orlando West, Soweto, Tel: +27 (0)11 936-7754, Email: info@mandelahouse.org
The Mandela Family Museum is a great one for anyone interested in the life of the former South African President. The museum is in Mandela’s first house and boasts countless writings and artefacts from his life
The Apartheid Museum
Northern Parkway and Gold Reef Road, Tel: +27 (0)11 309-4700, [26]
The huge Apartheid Museum takes at least half a day if you want to see it all. South Africa’s turbulent history is told through a moving collection of videos, photographs and gruesome artefacts. It really is a must-see when in Johannesburg and a real eye-opener, even for people who think they know it all
Sci-Bono Discovery Centre
Electric Workshop building, Corner Miriam Makeba and President Street, Newtown, Tel: +27 (0)11 639-8400, Email: cynthia.sithole@sci-bono.co.za, Opening Times: 9am – 5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 4:30pm on weekends. Entrance fee: R20 for adults, R10 for children
The Sci-Bono Discovery Centre is a great hands-on science museum suitable for all the family. The Interactive exhibitions even keep most teenagers quite
South African National Museum of Military History
Erlswold Way, Saxonwold, Tel: +27 (0)11 646-5513, Email: milmus@icon.co.za), Opening Times: 9am – 4:30pm daily
The South African national Museum of Military History is home to one of the only ME 262 WWII jet fighters still in existence. It also has a vast collection of military hardware and a shop selling genuine military equipment
The South African Museum of Rock Art
Origins Centre, Yale Road, University of the Witwatersrand, Braamfontein, Tel: +27 (0)11 717-6051, Email: enquiries@rockart.wits.ac.za, Opening Times: 9am – 4:30pm daily, Entrance Fee: R65 for adults, R35 for students
The South African Museum of Rock Art is home to many ancient artefacts from the beginning of human kind, as well as some more modern multimedia displays. There is also a coffee shop, a book store and a curio shop here
Absa Money Museum
187 Fox Street, Johannesburg, Tel: +27 (0)11 350 4167, Opening Times: 8am – 4pm Monday to Friday, Entrance : free
Absa Money Museum has the largest haul of old South African currency in the world. The museum demonstrates how politics and social change have affected currency over the years
Green spaces and wildlife
Johannesburg is notorious for being a very hot and polluted city. As a tourist it can feel like you can never take a moment to relax in Johannesburg as you have to be constantly on your guard. There are, however, a few hidden pieces of paradise here where you can forget you’re in a city at all and enjoy some peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle among rare wildlife.
Johannesburg Botanical Gardens
Olifants Road, Emmarentia, Johannesburg, 2195, Tel: +27 (0)11 782 7064
Johannesburg Botanical Gardens is home to a rose garden of more than 4,500 varieties and a forest with more than 30,000 tress. This is a great spot for picnics and basking in the sun
Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens
Malcolm Road, Poortview, Roodepoort, Tel: +27 (0)11 958-1750 , Email: SisuluGarden@sanbi.org, Entrance Fee: R18 for adults, discounts for students and pensioners
Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens is one of the last remaining spots of green in the whole of Johannesburg. There are a number of nice picnic and braai areas here as well as a colony of endangered Black Eagles.
Emmarentia Dam
Next to the Botanic Garden, Emmarentia
The Emmarentia Dam is one of the most tranquil places in Johannesburg and a great place to get away from it all. You can picnic on the lawns here and watch the canoeist and windsurfers splash about the dam
Lion Park
R114 (close to the corner of Hans Strijdom (R512), Honeydew, Tel: +27 (0)11 691 9905, Email: lionpark@cknet.co.za, Entrance fee: R80
Lion Park allows you to drive safari-style through lion camps and the games area with giraffes, zebras and antelopes. You can also play with the new born lion cubs but it is best to come during the week for this to avoid the crowds. When driving through the enclosures, keep your windows closed and prepare to lost anything removable from the outside of the car
Montecasino Bird Gardens
Mentecasino Blvd, Johannesburg, Tel: +27 (0)11 511-1864, Opening Times: 8:30am – 5pm Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 6pm Saturday and Sunday
Motecasino Bird Gardens are home to many exotic birds and other small creatures. Flight shows are put on for the tourists throughout the day and there is a 2,500-year-old tree in the gardens
Johannesburg Zoo
Jan Smuts Avenue, Parkview
Johannesburg Zoo is one of the city’s most popular attractions. There are more than 365 species of animals here, including elephants, hippos, polar bears, gorillas and the very rare white lion. They also bread Siberian Tigers here, the largest cats in the world
Landmarks
Landmarks in Johannesburg are few and far between but it’s certainly worth having a stroll around the city centre and seeing what you can find. As crime is high in Johannesburg, however, be careful about getting your camera out in the street or you may find it’s not yours for very long!
Constitution Hill
Constitutional Court, Johannesburg, Tel: +27 (0)11 381-3100
Constitution Hill is a National Heritage site which has seen pretty much all of South Africa’s turbulent past. People have fought, been imprisoned and been freed here, and it is now the sight of South Africa’s new Constitutional Court. Guided, interactive tours are available
Nelson Mandela Bridge
From Jan Smuts Avenue, through Braamfotein Constitutional Hill precinct to Newton’s Cultural precinct
This 284m cable bridge is the largest of its kind in the country. It cost R38 million to build and was opened by Mandela himself
Top of Africa
Carlton Centre, 150 Commissioner Street, Tel:+27 (0)11 308-1331, Opening Times: 8am – 7pm daily, Entrance Fee: R7.50
The Carlton Centre is Africa’s tallest building. Enjoy a panoramic view from the 15th floor. Don’t worry, there’s an escalator!
Places to visit
There are a number of fun places to visit in Johannesburg, from modern attractions to those that exhibit the ancient traditions of South Africa. There are also a number of gold mines in Johannesburg and treats for all the family.
Johannesburg Planetarium
Yale Road, Entrance 10, University of the Witwatersrand, Milner Park, Tel +27 (0)11 717-1392, Email: planet@planetarium.co.za, Cost: from around R16 to R25.
The Johannesburg Planetarium has a number of, ever-changing but always great, spacey shows. Good for kids and adults
Lesedi Cultural Village
Route 512, Just past the Lanseria Airport on the R512, Tel: +27 (0)12 205-1394
Lesedi Cultural Village is a great place to visit if you want a slice of authentic South African life. Ndebele, Pedi, Xhosa and Zulu villages serve up food and put on traditional dances
Gold Reef City
Northern Parkway, Ormonde, Tel: +27 (0)11 248 6800, Email: info@goldreefcity.co.za
Gold Reef City is an amusement park and casino rolled into one. It also has a gold mine on site, but don’t expect the rides to be up to Disney standards
Ferreira’s Mine
Standard Bank Centre, 5 Simmonds Street, Tel: +27 (0)11 636 9111, Email: info@standardbank.co.za, Opening Times: 8am – 4pm Monday to Friday, Entrance: free
Ferreira’s Mine is an abandoned gold mine from the 19th century which was only rediscovered when the Standar Bank head offices were built here in 1980. There is a museum here under the bank and parts of the original mine can still be visited.
Rooftop Market
Rosebank Mall, 50 Bath Ave, Rosebank, Opening Times: 9am – 5pm Sundays and public holidays from 9.30am – 5pm.
The Rooftop Market in Rosebank Mall is one of the best flea markets in South Africa with more than 500 stalls selling everything from toys to antiques. See JF’s guide to shopping in Johannesburg for more details
