Choose from 32 Fun Things to Do in Gauteng
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SAB World of Beer
Johannesburg's SAB World of Beer is a museum dedicated to beer, run by South African Breweries. Opened in 1995, the World of Beer is an interactive beer museum tracing the history of the drink in Africa. The exhibits begin with the earliest known references to beer, roughly 5,000 years ago in Egypt and Mesopotamia. In addition to the history of beer, visitors also learn about the beer-making process in different parts of the world.
Tours end in the Tap Room, where visitors can sample South African Breweries' beers and enjoy some snacks while looking out over Newtown.
Practical Info
SAB World of Beer is located in the Newtown neighborhood in central Johannesburg. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-6pm, with the last tour departing at 5pm. Admission is SAR95 for adults, SAR85 for seniors and students, SAR30 for children 17 and younger. Beer samples and a souvenir glass are included with the tour.
Address: Miriam Makeba Street, Johannesburg, South Africa
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10am-6pm
Admission: Adults: SAR95
From $ 16
Sun City
Sun City is a resort and entertainment complex located north-west of Johannesburg. One of South Africa's top leisure destinations, the resort complex is conveniently located on the South African Garden Route and next to Pilanesberg National Park. Highlights of Sun City include a casino, spa, water park, and golf courses.
The Basics
The casino is the heart of Sun City, and offers everything you would expect of a world-class gaming facility. Among the multitude of other attractions are a health spa, the Valley of Waves water park, and two 18-hole golf courses—one in the crater of an extinct casino, the other featuring live crocodiles in its water feature. Families with kids can stop by the Boardwalk, which hosts a slate of activities for children of all ages.
Day tours from Sun City to the adjacent (and malaria-free) Pilanesberg National Park offer a chance to spot Africa’s coveted Big Five—lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo. It’s also possible to visit Sun City and the Pilanesberg Game Reserve on a day trip from Johannesburg.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Guests must be 18 years or older to gamble in Sun City's casinos.
- The resort has six different options for accommodations, with a variety of handicap-accessible rooms available.
How to Get There
Most day trips from Johannesburg to Sun City include round-trip transportation, as the resort lies roughly three hours away by road. Flight transfers from the Johannesburg airport are also available. Sun City is a popular stop for travelers who rent a car to drive the Garden Route, and Port Elizabeth is the closest town.
When to Get There
The resort's temperate, malaria-free climate makes it suitable for visits year-round. Sun City is typically most crowded during summer (December through January) and the Easter school holidays. The dry winter season (May through September) is a good time to visit if you want to spot wildlife at Pilanesberg, when animals tend to congregate around water sources.
Pilanesberg National Park
Just three hours from Johannesburg, Pilanesberg National Park is one of South Africa's most easily accessible game reserves. Featuring the coveted Big Five, the game reserve is also attractive for the fact that it is malaria-free.
Address: Sun City Resort, 0316, South Africa
From $ 66
Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve
Just under 30 miles northwest of bustling downtown Johannesburg, this enclave of animals makes it easy to see many – giraffe, white rhino, Kruger lion, cape buffalo, hippos, flamingos, ostrich – not far from the city’s creature comforts. Six hundred individual beasts comprising more than 30 species call the 3,000-acre privately-owned slice of savanna home. The option to self-drive the reserve’s bumpy gravel roads or take an organized day or night drive in the park’s open-top vehicles makes this a popular stop with Joberg visitors without a lot of time.
Still, don’t expect a Kruger-like experience where all the animals run wild and fate and chance take their toll on the circle of life. Predators are separated by fences and easily spotted during scheduled public feeding times. A reptile house contains captive versions of creatures many would just as soon not spot in the wild, and species from around the continent and beyond also have a home here: Bengal and white tigers, three varieties of leopard and two types of jaguar. There’s even a chance for photo ops with some of the results of the reserve’s onsite breeding center – baby white lions, tigers, cheetah and more –– at the Animal Créche.
The Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve, situated within the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, makes it easy to hit multiple tourist stops such as the renowned Sterkfontein Caves and the Cradle of Humankind visitor center. The nearby Wonder Cave (operated separately), discovered by miners in 1898, has
cavernous ceilings reaching 50 feet is host to exploratory and abseiling tours. Overnight accommodations and entertainment facilities for young children are also available in the park.
Practical Info
The park is located at 520 Kromdraai Rd in Krugersdorp and is open from 8 a.m. til 4 p.m. weekdays and til 4:30 p.m. on weekends and public holidays. General day admission is R 160 for adults and R 120 for children; its possible to buy combined tickets to both the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve and the Wondercave. Reserve-run game drives are weather permitting and usually run
six days a week lasting for 2.5 hours a piece. Several tour operators make the day-trip to the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve and the Wonder Cave from Johannesburg.
Address: 520 Kromdraai Road, Krugersdorp 1739, South Africa
Hours: Open from 8 a.m. til 4 p.m. weekdays and til 4:30 p.m. on weekends and public holidays
Admission: Adults: R 160; Children: R 120
From $ 97
Satyagraha House
You’ve probably heard the phrase ‘walk in the footsteps of Ghandi,’ as an expression to live your life a certain way. But if you ever wanted to take that expression literally, you can in the leafy Orchards suburb north of downtown Johannesburg. The Satyagraha House, also called the Ghandi House, was the Indian non-violence activist’s residence between 1908 and 1909. From this place, Ghandi developed his ideas of Satyagraha, or passive resistance, that drove his activism in India; “After leaving South Africa, I became what I am now,” he said. The restored stucco-walled and thatched roof abode has had some additions – including a new wing and a cottage out back – that allow it to function both as a seven room guesthouse and a modern mini-museum of Ghandi’s time in South Africa.
Museum exhibitions are woven throughout the living space: Images and information about the man wrap the curved front foyer walls and black and white photographs surround the guesthouse’s simple dining room with a wooden table and white cloth lampshades. Copies of letters written between Ghandi and his close friend (and architect of the home) Hermann Kallenbach are bound for reading from fireside couches in the main living space. Each guestroom’s sparse and clean white décor evokes the simplicity with which Ghandi lived. Though you don’t have to stay overnight to visit, a dark and quiet evening in Satyagraha House was designed to inspire contemplation and afford a truly immersive experience.
Practical Info
Satyagraha House is located at 15 Pine Road in Orchards, Johannesburg. It is free to visit; overnight stays are from R 2270. Adhering to the principles and spirit of the Satyagraha philosophy, overnight guests can book yoga in the garden and all meals served here are organic and vegetarian meals (dinner available with advance notice only). TVs, cigarettes and alcohol are not allowed.
Address: 15 Pine Road, Johannesburg, South Africa
From $ 202
Workers Museum
Johannesburg's Workers Museum, as the name suggests, exposes the conditions in which the city's substantial migrant population lived and worked in the 20th century. The museum occupies a former workers' compound, where hundreds of men lived in cramped and dirty conditions. These men worked for the city's sanitary and power departments, and lived under what amounted to little more than slave-like conditions. The compound was built in 1913, and it was used until the 1980s.
Today, the compound houses the Workers Museum (opened in 2010), offering a poignant reminder of a dark period in Johannesburg's past through exhibits illustrating the horrid life a migrant worker lived. In addition to rooms such as bunk rooms and toilets, the museum also has a workers' library and resource center.
The Workers Museum is managed as a branch of Museum Africa (its entrance is on Newtown Park, in the Newtown Cultural Precinct). It tells the story of migrants who came to Johannesburg from across Southern Africa, leaving behind their homes and families. Centrally located in the Newtown Cultural Precinct, the original dormitories, concrete bunks, and punishment room at the old compound building reveal the workers' hardships under the migrant labour system. This was a cornerstone of the economy from the early 1900s to the 1970s, when at last the system of job reservation began to break down.
Practical Info
The Workers Museum is part of MuseumAfrica, located in the Newtown area of Johannesburg, though it has a separate entrance on Jeppe Street. It's open Tuesday-Sunday from 9am-5pm. Admission is SAR10 for adults, SAR7 for students, and SAR5 for children.
Address: Jeppe Street, Johannesburg, South Africa
Admission: Adults: SAR10
From $ 18
Victoria Falls
UNESCO World Heritage Site Victoria Falls, on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, represents the world’s largest sheet of falling water, though not the widest or tallest. Dr. David Livingston named the falls after the Queen of England. On a clear day, you can see the mist generated by the falls from up to 30 miles (48 kilometers) away.
The Basics
While it’s possible to access the falls from both sides of the border, the Zimbabwean side typically offers the better experience, including the Devil’s Cataract and plenty of viewpoints. There’s plenty to see and do within the national park, such as swimming in the waters of the gorge beneath the falls or cycling to the falls along the Zambezi River.
Visits to Victoria Falls, along with Chobe National Park, are often included in multi-day tours from the town of Victoria Falls or Johannesburg.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Victoria Falls are a must-see for adventure travelers, photographers, and first-time visitors.
- Don’t forget to bring a raincoat or umbrella, especially during the high-water season.
- Bring waterproof protection for your camera and other electronics to protect them from the spray.
- Many of the viewpoints on the Zimbabwean side of the falls are wheelchair accessible.
How to Get There
Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe and Livingston in Zambia serve as the gateways to Victoria Falls. You can easily walk to the falls themselves from the center of Victoria Falls town. The most convenient way to see the falls is to join a guided tour.
When to Get There
While the falls are spectacular no matter when you visit, they’re at their most stunning during the rainy season (April to June) when waters swell the river and some 2 million gallons (7.5 million liters) of water cascade over the edge each second. Plan your visit during a full moon, and you might get lucky and see a moonbow (lunar rainbow).
Swimming in Devil’s Pool
While the Zimbabwean side is the more popular, the Zambian side offers one of the most thrilling experiences available at the falls—the chance to swim in Devil’s Pool. Situated on Livingston Island, this natural infinity pool leads right to the edge of a sheer drop. The pool is only safely accessible during the dry season, between mid-August and mid-January.
Address: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
From $ 175
Voortrekker Monument
The Voortrekker Monument stands proudly on top of a hill near Pretoria, dedicated to the thousands of Afrikaner settlers of inner South Africa in the mid-1800s. The huge granite monument was built from 1937-1949, and declared a National Heritage Site in 2011. It's 130 feet tall, and inside the structure is the Hall of Heroes. There, the main feature is a marble frieze with 27 panels showing historical moments of that trek into what is now the middle of South Africa.
In the center of the monument is the Cenotaph (an empty tomb) meant to honor all those who died during the difficult journey. There is also a wagon fort made of granite representing the fort of actual wagons assembled during the 1838 Battle of Blood River.
Practical Info
The Voortrekker Monument is just under 6.5 miles from central Pretoria, and it's inside what is a 240 hectare park and nature reserve. Admission is SAR60 for adults, SAR30 for students, SAR 120 for families. The site is open May-August from 8am-5pm, September-April from 8am-6pm.
Address: Eeufees Road, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa 0027, South Africa
Hours: Open May-August 8am-5pm, September-April 8am-6pm
Admission: Adults: SAR60; Students: SAR30; Families: SAR 120
From $ 49
Soweto
Formally known as the South West Township, Soweto has historically been synonymous with resistance to apartheid, South Africa’s former policy of racial segregation. In the 1970s and '80s, the sprawling district on the edge of Johannesburg was frequently in the news, especially as the Soweto Uprising of 1976, a series of protests led by black schoolchildren, produced one of the world’s most iconic news images: that of child Hector Pieterson, shot by police, dying in another protester’s arms. This complex history has shaped the township, where its cultural richness and important political significance now shine through in its moving museums, historical monuments, and strong traditions held by its some 3 million residents. Read on to learn how to visit Soweto, one of the largest black urban settlements in South Africa.
Best Ways to Visit Soweto
Take a guided tour to learn about the rich history, culture, food, and modern life in the township. For any Soweto tour, your tour guide will most likely meet you in central Johannesburg or Pretoria and provide roundtrip transportation by car; both full-day and half-day tours are available. A visit to the community can also be combined with a general Johannesburg city tour or a short Pretoria tour. Otherwise, it’s a 15-mile (25-km) drive along N17 to reach the South Western Township from downtown Johannesburg. While it’s possible to drive yourself, the township’s layout can be confusing.
What To See in Soweto
Johannesburg’s most famous district features a number of well-known tourist attractions, including the history-rich Apartheid Museum and the Hector Pieterson Museum, where Soweto Uprising victims are honored. The emotional Nelson Mandela House (Nelson Mandela National Museum), set on Vilakazi Street, is dedicated to the history and mission of the famous South African leader, while the former home of another Nobel Prize winner and social rights activist, Desmond Tutu, can be found just down the street. Visitors can learn about other local leaders through stops at buildings that honor their memories: the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Diepkloof and the Regina Mundi Church, one of South Africa’s largest Roman Catholic churches.
Kliptown, the oldest settlement in Soweto and home to Walter Sisulu Square, is visited for the role it played as the site of the 1955 Congress of the People. This unprecedented meeting produced the Freedom Charter, one of the first documents of resistance during the apartheid era. Also of note is the FNB Soccer Stadium on the border of Soweto, where many South Africans spend their leisure time watching games; and the Orlando Towers, prominent Soweto landmarks that were once cooling towers for a coal-powered plant but are now popular bungee-jumping sites covered in murals by local artists.
Address: Johannesburg, South Africa
From $ 30
Paul Kruger House Museum
For visitors from outside of South Africa, Stephanus Johannes Paulus “Paul” Kruger’s name may ring a bell – the country’s most popular National Park is named for him. South Africans and world history buffs also know Mr. Kruger as the popular one-time President of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR), an independent state that persisted for 50 years in the late 19th
and early 20th centuries, battling the British during the Anglo Boer Wars. It was Kruger who signed the Pretoria Convention treaty that ended the First Anglo Boer War in 1881. Three years later, he built his private home in downtown Pretoria – today the site is open to the public as a museum tribute to the politician. The reflective museum lies just a few blocks south of the National Zoological Gardens and west of Church Square in busy downtown Pretoria.
Three buildings – including the single-story white cement Paul Kruger House – and Kruger’s old private railway car, used on the campaign trail and for official visits, comprise the Kruger
Museum. The home, guarded by stone lions, has been refurbished to look as it did during Kruger’s occupancy and features carpeting, wall décor and furniture from the period. The other two buildings house exhibits on the various periods of his life, including the knife that he used to amputate his own thumb after a shooting accident went awry.
Practical Info
The Paul Kruger House Museum is located at 60 WF Nkomo Street in Pretoria and open daily – weekdays from 8:30 a.m. til 4:30 p.m. and weekends and most public holidays from 9 a.m. til
4:30 p.m. The museum stays open an extra hour between September and November. Admission is around $3.40 (40 ZAR) for international adult visitors ($4.40, 65 ZAR for tours with a museum guide) and $1.70 for children (25 ZAR).
Address: 60 WF Nkomo Street, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
Admission: Adults: 40 ZAR; With Guide: 65 ZAR; Children: 25 ZAR
From $ 56
Union Buildings
South Africa's national government is split between three cities, and in Pretoria, the government is housed in the Union Buildings, which were built in the early 1900s after Pretoria became the administrative capital of the newly united Union of South Africa. The two wings of the structure represent English and Afrikaans, with the court between the two representing the Union of South Africa.
The offices of the president of South Africa is still in the Union Buildings, and the country's flag flies over the left wing if the president is there. The amphitheatre was renamed in 2013 as the Nelson Mandela Amphitheatre, and a 29.5-foot-tall statue of Mandela stands in front of the Union Buildings now.
Practical Info
The Union Buildings are not open to the public, but the gardens that surround them are.
Address: Government Ave., Pretoria, Gauteng 0002, South Africa
Hours: Gardens - 24hrs
From $ 49
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Founded in 1982, Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden comprises 74 acres (30 hectares) of grassland and savanna, home to more than 600 native plant species and over 220 species of birds, including a breeding pair of Verreaux’s eagles who nest near the park’s waterfall.
Considered among the world’s most beautiful botanical gardens, Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens offers visitors the chance to picnic, bird-watch, stroll through the themed gardens or attend various events hosted throughout the year — all far from the noise of Johannesburg’s city center. The garden also offers guided tours and workshops on topics like geological formations or butterflies for guests interested in learning more.
Eagles Fare Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and tea, while Nursery @ the Garden sells some of the same native plants on display within Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden.
Practical Info
Spring (September to November) is one of the best times to visit the garden, as many of the flowers will be in bloom.
Address: Malcolm Road, Johannesburg, Roodepoort, South Africa, South Africa
Hours: Daily 8am-5pm
Admission: R35
From $ 222
Pilanesberg National Park
Among the many options for going on a safari near Johannesburg, the Pilanesberg National Park offers all of the Big Five on a reserve that shares a border with the popular resort Sun City.
The park, most often known as the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, stretches over nearly 221 square miles and is essentially contained within the crater of a long extinct volcano (hence its roughly circular shape). Inside the park there are more than 116 miles of roads – these are not paved, but they're maintained well enough that visitors can do self-guided driving tours through Pilanesberg National Park as well as go on guided safari drives. There are even “hides” where you can get out of your car and watch for animals in a safe and camouflaged spot.
Because of the volcanic setting, Pilanesberg National Park is as interesting to geologists as it is to animal lovers. Several rare minerals can be found inside the park, as well as evidence of human existence dating from the Iron Age and Stone Age. This is, of course, in addition to the abundant wildlife on display.
Practical Info
Pilanesberg National Park is open March-April from 6am-6:30pm, May-September from 6:30am-6pm, September-October from 6am-6:30pm, and November-February from 5:30am-7pm. The entry fee is 20 SAR per vehicle (if you're on a self-drive tour), plus an additional 65 SAR per adult in the vehicle. Children and seniors are an additional 20 SAR.
Address: Johannesburg, South Africa
Hours: March-April from 6am-6:30pm, May-September from 6:30am-6pm, September-October from 6am-6:30pm, and November-February from 5:30am-7pm
Admission: 20 SAR per vehicle, (for self-drive tour), 65 SAR per adult in vehicle. Children/seniors 20 SAR
From $ 52