Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg

Visit the Johannesburg Art Gallery in Joubert Park to see a vast collection of works by a host of famous artists, both local and international. Some of the exhibits date as far back as the 15th century and there are also a number of contemporary pieces on display.

Opening Times:
Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm

Admission:
Free

Color Café, Johannesburg

Children can let their creative tendencies run rampage at Color Café, which has a selection of pottery items just waiting to be painted. From plates, mugs and vases to money boxes and fairy ornaments, the choice of ceramics is vast, and painted items will be glazed and collectable in a week. The cakes and muffins at the café are also great!

Opening Times:
Daily, 9am to 5pm

Market Theatre, Johannesburg

Market Theatre is a popular Jo'burg entertainment complex offering live theatre venues (boasting the first production of Sarafina), bookshops, galleries and restaurants, as well as a flea market on Saturdays. The adjoining Museum Africa showcases the lives and cultures of the South African people. The theatre hosts a variety of local productions throughout the year that can enhance a visit to Johannesburg. Information on upcoming productions can be found on their website.

Opening Times:
11am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, 11am to 6pm on Saturdays; Closed on Sundays

Sun City, Johannesburg

In Sun City, 'where the sun always shines', kids will love the various activities and attractions. A must-see is the Valley of the Waves, its fantastic 2m surf breaking onto a artificial beach. Fun activities include horse riding, elephant rides, quad biking and archery. There is also a great games arcade to enjoy.

Unicorn Wish, Johannesburg

Kids will be enchanted by the wonderful world of unicorns, fairies and gnomes to be found at Unicorn Wish. While all the kids enjoy the pony rides, the fairy garden is a favourite for little girls and the boys love seeing the exotic llamas and camels. Fun children's crafts include candle making and fabric painting.

Opening Times:
8am to 5pm weekends, 10am to 5pm weekdays (closed on Wednesdays)

Hector Pieterson Memorial Site and Museum, Johannesburg

Hector Pieterson became the iconic image of the 1976 Soweto uprising during apartheid South Africa, when a news photograph of the dying Hector being carried by a fellow student was published across the globe. He was just 12 years old when the police, unprovoked, opened fire on school children who had gathered to protest the imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in township schools. The museum fuses memorabilia with modern technology and cultural history and is located two blocks away from where Hector was killed. In 2007 Hector's sister Antoinette, who is seen in the famous photograph holding her hands held out in panic, was working at the museum as a tour guide and today 16 June is a public holiday named National Youth Day to honour young people.

Opening Times:
Monday to Friday from 10am-5pm; Weekends 10am-4:30pm

Admission:
Adults: R25, students: R5

Cradle of Humankind and Maropeng Visitor Centre, Johannesburg

The Cradle of Humankind is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains a complex of dolimitic limestone caves, including the Sterkfontein Caves, where the fossil, Australopithecus africanus(nicknamed Mrs. Ples) was found in 1947 by Dr Robert Broom and John Robinson. 'Mrs Ples' is estimated to be between 2.6 and 2.8 million years old and ranks high on the long list of australopithecine discoveries for which Sterkfontein is now famous. At present only the Sterkfontein Caves and the Wonder Cave are open to the public. The Maropeng Visitor Centre is a stirring, world-class exhibition space, focusing on the development of humans and our ancestors and evolution over the past few million years.

Opening Times:
Daily from 9am to 5pm

Admission:
R115. R190 combination ticket (Maropeng and Sterkfontein Caves). Concession available.

The Apartheid Museum, Johannesburg

South Africa's history of black oppression is chronicled in this building, situated near Gold Reef City. Relics of the Apartheid system, which banned non-whites from certain areas and from receiving an education, as well as forbidding interracial relationships, can be found here, right down to a bench marked for 'Whites Only'. Visitors often describe the experience of the Apartheid Museum as 'heart wrenching', but at the same time find the story of the struggle over adversity inspirational. Due to graphic content, the museum does not allow children under the age of 11.

Opening Times:
Tuesday to Sundays, 10am to 5pm

Admission:
R50 Adults, concessions available

Constitution Hill, Johannesburg

A guided tour of the National Heritage Site of Constitution Hill takes visitors on a journey through South Africa's turbulent past, but also illustrates its incredible transition into democracy. Visitors are guided through the Old Fort Prison Complex where the peeling walls and rusty barred cells have many a story to tell of South Africa's past 100 years; from British soldiers in the Anglo Boer War and rebellious youths caught in the Soweto uprising to Nelson Mandela, Joe Slovo and infamous murderess Daisy de Melker. The tour concludes with a look at South Africa's Constitutional Court, the keeper of the basic rights and freedom that those imprisoned here had struggled to win.

Opening Times:
Monday to Friday 9am-5pm (last tour at 4pm); Saturday 10am–3pm. Closed Sunday

Admission:
Guided tours adults: R30. Concessions available

Johannesburg Zoo, Johannesburg

The Johannesburg Zoo is a favourite place for locals to take a stroll among the numerous enclosures that house more than 3,000 species of animal, including polar bears that can be viewed underwater in their pool. Of course the Big Five are all in residence too. A tractor-tram does circuits of the zoo for those who don't fancy walking. On the eastern edge of the zoo is the Museum of Military History, which has some interesting exhibits like tanks, fighter aircraft and submarines.

Opening Times:
Daily 8:30am to 5:30pm

Admission:
R50 (adults), R30 (children 3-12); other concessions available

Soweto, Johannesburg

Soweto's history goes back to 1903, when the town of Kliptown was established as the first black settlement on the outskirts of Johannesburg. An abbreviation for South-Western Township, Soweto has had a turbulent history at the centre of the Apartheid struggle in South Africa: the ANC and other organisations adopted the Freedom Charter in Kliptown in 1955, and the Soweto Uprising of 1976 was one of the pivotal events in the struggle.

Soweto is home to several famous landmarks, including Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Diepkloof, Walter Sisulu Square in Kliptown, Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Rockville, and the Freedom Towers. In Orlando, tourists can visit Vilikazi Street, which is the only street in the world to have been the home of two Nobel Peace Prize winners (Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu); the Mandela House has been restored to its state when the former president lived there. A number of historic museums are also popular attractions in Soweto, including the Hector Pieterson Museum, the Kliptown Open-Air Museum, and the Apartheid Museum.

A fun and popular Soweto Attraction is the Orlando Cooling Towers. Part of a decommissioned coal-fired power station, the towers have been brightly painted and offer rap jumping opportunities.

Tours of Soweto are a must for any first-time visitor to Johannesburg and South Africa, and a number of tour operators offer trips into Soweto; the most popular are the historical tours, stopping at museums and famous sites, and the nightlife tours, which include stops at local shebeens. Soweto is also home to some excellent restaurants ranging from five-star to back-alley, which serve local African cuisine.

Although many tourists have concerns about whether it's safe to visit Soweto, most incidents are trouble-free when organised by a reputable tour operator.

Newtown Cultural Precinct, Johannesburg

This complex of buildings in the city centre has been upgraded and restored as part of the city fathers' urban renewal policy and provides several attractions. The Market Theatre and Museum Africa, for instance are housed in a Victorian building in Bree Street that was originally Johannesburg's fresh produce market. The Museum of Africa is particularly worth a visit with its exhibits that tell the story of the city from its beginnings to the present day, including an interesting section about the Treason Trial of the 1950s in which Nelson Mandela and other activists were accused of plotting against the state. The same building houses a photography museum and the Museum of South African Rock Art. At its eastern end is the Market Theatre, famed for being the venue for many protest theatre productions in the Apartheid era. Also in the area, in President Street, is the South African Breweries Centre, which offers a tour detailing brewing history through some reconstructed gold-rush pubs and shebeens (township bars). Along Jeppe Street is the Oriental Plaza, the commercial centre for the Indian community.

Opening Times:
Museum Africa open Tuesday to Sunday from 9am to 5pm

Admission:
Free

Gold Reef City, Johannesburg

This entertainment complex is essentially a theme park full of thrill rides, but was designed to be a re-creation of Victorian Johannesburg during the gold-rush era. The park, four miles (6km) south of the city centre via the M1 motorway, was built around the No.14 Crown mineshaft that began operations in 1887 and closed in 1975. During its production years 1,400 tons of gold came out of the shaft. Visitors can now descend into the old mine shaft to experience life at the rock face, and watch gold being poured and minted. Gold Reef City also houses a number of museums, and offers performances by traditional gumboot dancers. Youngsters particularly enjoy the rides like the Anaconda roller coaster and Thunder Mountain River Rapids. There are also plenty of restaurants, bars, a massive casino, and a Victorian hotel for those wanting to stay the night.

Opening Times:
Theme park: Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am to 5pm; open daily during Gauteng school holidays; closed on Christmas day

Admission:
R150 adults. Concessions and family tickets available

Melville, Johannesburg

This trendy suburb is a hive of activity on any given night of the week; it is the place to go out and carouse in Johannesburg, offering anything from hip and upmarket to just plain odd coffee shops, bars and dance venues throng the streets. The bohemian Seventh Street is a great place to start with its collection of book and antique shops, cafes, and other interesting storefronts. Partygoers barhop into the small hours, but tourists should refrain from walking around too much, and be aware of pickpockets as crime has risen in the area in the last few years.

Kruger National Park, Johannesburg

The Kruger National Park is South Africa's oldest, largest and best-known wildlife conservation area, home to a huge variety of wildlife and most famous for its 'Big Five' viewing opportunities. Visitors have an excellent chance of seeing lion, elephant, leopard, buffalo and rhino among the enormous variety of wildlife, including over 140 species of mammals, 500 species of birds, reptiles and amphibians. Situated on South Africa's north eastern border, Kruger is a primary destination for international tourists, and is visited by more than half a million local and international people every year who are attracted by the different safari options as well as the park's excellent range of visitor facilities and choice of accommodation, from luxurious game lodges to cottages and camping. Because of the park's popularity, it is advised to book ahead for both day visits and extended stays. Bookings can be made through the park's website.

Opening Times:
Park gates: daily 5:30am to 6:30pm (November-February), 6am to 5:30/6pm (March to October). Camp gates open 4:30am (January), 5:30am (February, March and October to December), 6am (April to September); closing times same as park gates

Admission:
R180 (foreign adult), R90 (foreign child under 12) per day; R45 per day for South African residents

Palace of the Lost City, Johannesburg

Situated in the Bojanala region of the North West Province, the 'Las Vegas' of South Africa is one of the largest adult entertainment centres in the world, with casinos, golf, live shows, and the architectural wonder of the Lost City. The vast resort complex is one of South Africa's top attractions for gambling, entertainment and opulence, a luxury theme park for adults that was the multi-million dollar dreamchild of South African entrepreneur, Sol Kerzner. The Lost City, with its African theme of life-size animals, has at its centre a luxurious 'palace' decorated with mosaics, frescoes, palm fronds and elephant tusks. Surrounding it are lakes, forests and a tropical beach. There are a variety of watersports and The Valley of the Waves, the most advanced waterpark in the country, has among other things a wave machine capable of generating almost seven-foot (2m) waves. The resort complex also borders on the Pilanesberg National Park, home to the 'Big Five' and a popular game-viewing destination.

Getting There:
The resort offers a daily shuttle express service between Sun City and Johannesburg (from the airport, Eastgate Shopping Centre, Sandton Sun Hotel and Fourways Mall)

Warmbaths, Johannesburg

On the national road north towards Zimbabwe is the flat area known as the Springbok Flats, part of the Great Rift Valley. About 80 miles (125km) north of Johannesburg on the edge of the Flats lies the town of Warmbaths, named for the hot mineral springs that rise to the surface there. The spring yields about 20,000 litres of water, enriched with sodium chloride, calcium carbonate and other minerals every hour. The town has now become a popular spa and holiday resort, considered to be one of the most modern of its kind in the world. It has a large indoor pool with underwater jets, outdoor hot and cold swimming pools, wave pools, and water slides.

Hartbeespoort Dam, Johannesburg

North of Johannesburg lies one of South Africa's oldest dams, built in 1923, which provides a favourite day trip for city dwellers set against the Magaliesberg mountain range. A scenic road encircles the dam, culminating in a tunnel just before it reaches the dam wall and the Hartbeespoort village. The village offers a small zoo and snake park, cableway, bird park, aquarium and several restaurants and curio shops.

Sterkfontein Caves, Johannesburg

The ancient dolomite caves with an underground lake, situated a few miles north of Johannesburg, form part of what archaeologists call the 'Cradle of Humankind'. Sterkfontein is recognised as one of the world's most important palaeontological sites, having yielded fossil deposits dating from up to three and a half million years ago, spanning the development of hominids. Among the most famous finds are the 'Taung child', 'Little Foot' and 'Mrs Ples'. Because the cave environment is fragile, visitors are not allowed into certain areas, particularly those that scientists are working on. There are however guided tours of one of the sections, which include the massive Hall of Elephants. A visitor centre includes the Hominid exhibition, conference facilities and a restaurant.

Opening Times:
Daily 9am to 5pm; tours run every 30 minutes until 4pm

Admission:
R120 (adults), R70 (children)

Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens, Johannesburg

Not known for being an especially green city, this oasis in the west side of Johannesburg covers 741 acres (300ha), offering lush gardens and scenic hiking trails. The gardens are a terrific place for bird watching (over 200 species) and garden-enthusiasts interested in seeing a variety of flora and fauna (over 600 species). After a walk or hike, it is common practice to enjoy a picnic on the lawns at the foot of the breathtaking Witpoortjie waterfall.

Opening Times:
Daily 8am to 6pm, no entry after 5pm.

Admission:
R25 for adults, concessions available.

SAB World of Beer, Johannesburg

SABMiller started in South Africa and has expanded to become one of the world's largest brewers of beer. The World of Beer offers a fun short tour, which summarises the history of the company, beer in general and details the brewing process. Afterwards visitors can enjoy a draught or two on the house in the resident pub.

Opening Times:
Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am, last tour at 5pm.

Admission:
R30