Johannesburg

Often referred to as Joburg or Jozi or the “City of Gold”, Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa and serves as the capital of the Gauteng province. It is a bustling metropolis and a major economic hub in Africa, and is known for its diverse population, vibrant cultural scene, and rich history. Some of the key sights in the city include Constitution Hill, a prison complex where important historical figures like Nelson Mandela and even Mahatma Gandhi were held, the Apartheid Museum, which documents the Apartheid era, the Cradle of Humankind, and the nearby township of Soweto, which has the only street in the world where two Nobel Prize winners have lived.

Johannesburg also boasts a thriving arts and cultural scene, with numerous art galleries, theaters, and music venues. The Market Theatre Complex is a notable venue that showcases diverse performing arts. Unfortunately, the city has seen a dramatic increase in crime in recent years, and visitors should exercise caution, especially during the evening hours.

Destinations

Key sights to see

Constitution Hill

Constitution Hill is a museum in Johannesburg that houses multiple prison complexes, an old military fort, and the Constitutional Court of South Africa. The three prisons at Constitution Hill, the Old Fort, the Women's Jail, and Number Four, have held some of the world's most renowned figures including Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Gandhi, and others. There is an exhibit about the time spent by both Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela in the prison. Visitors can also see the cell in the Old Fort, where Nelson Mandela was held.

Apartheid Museum

Situated at the Gold Reef City campus, The Apartheid Museum, which opened in 2001, illustrates what life was like for South Africans under the apartheid system through dramatic photographs, videos, press clips, personal artefacts and moving anecdotes. At the entrance to the museum are seven pillars, one for each of the seven values on which the South African constitution is based. Visitors can take guided tours or tour the museum on their own. The veld garden as well as the coffee and museum shops offer visitors a chance to wind down after the tour.

Mandela House, Soweto

The Mandela House on the corner of Vilakazi and Ngakane Streets was built in 1945. Nelson Mandela lived here with his first wife, Evelyn Ntoko Mase, from 1946 until their divorce in 1957. After their divorce, he was joined in the house by his second wife, Nomzamo Winifred Madikizeia (Winnie Mandela). In 1961 he was forced to go underground, until his arrest and imprisonment in 1962. He only returned to the house for a brief 11 days in 1990, after his release from the Robben Island prison. In 1997, he donated the house to the Soweto Heritage Trust, to be run as a museum.

Hector Pieterson Museum, Soweto

In June 1976, school children in Soweto peacefully protested the enforcement of Afrikaans and English as a dual medium of instruction in secondary schools. Police arrived soon and started firing shots. 10 school children including Hector Pieterson were killed, and another 250 were injured. The Hector Pieterson memorial was erected in the early 1990s, not far from where Hector was shot, to commemorate all those who died or were injured during the Soweto uprising in June 1976. On June 16, 2002, the Hector Pieterson Museum opened right next to the memorial.

Cradle of Humankind

The Cradle of Humankind, located approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) northwest of Johannesburg, is one of the world's most significant archaeological and paleontological sites. Several fossils dating back millions of years have been found here. There are two key sights in the Cradle of Humankind - the Maropeng Visitor Center, which has a series of interactive exhibits about the development of humans over the past few million years, and the Sterkfontein Caves, a series of limestone caves where several of the most important fossils were found.

Activities

Exciting and memorable things to do

Apartheid Museum & Constitution Hill – Day Tour

Visit two of the most important sites in South African history, the Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill. Learn about life under Apartheid, and South Africa’s path to democracy by exploring the interactive exhibits at the Apartheid Museum. Then, visit the prison which housed Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi, and tour the Constitution Court of South Africa at Constitution Hill.

Soweto – Half Day Tour

Explore the township of Soweto on this half day tour. Visit Vilakazi street, the only street in the world on which two Nobel laureates lived and take a tour of Mandela House, where Nelson Mandela lived from 1946 to 1961. Also visit the Hector Pieterson memorial, which commemorates the death of several students who were shot in 1976 during a peaceful demonstration. Finally, drive by the most iconic landmark in Soweto, the painted Orlando Towers.

The Cradle of Humankind – Half Day Tour

Visit the Cradle of Humankind, where fossils of our ancestors dating back over 3 million years have been found. First, tour the Maropeng Visitor Center, and learn about the evolution of humans over the last few million years through a series of interactive exhibits. Then, explore the Sterkfontein caves to see how fossils are discovered, excavated and dated, and the sites where some of the most ancient and important fossils were found.

Johannesburg

Destinations

Activities

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