Places of interest
Johannesburg – Gauteng province
Joburg Luxury Suites is within easy reach of a number of places of interest and sightseeing destinations.
History
Liliesleaf
Once the nerve centre of the liberation movement and a place of refuge for its leaders, today Liliesleaf - external link is one of South Africa’s foremost, award–winning heritage sites, where the journey to democracy in South Africa is honoured.
Apartheid Museum
The Apartheid Museum - external link illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid through film footage, photographs, text panels and artifacts illustrating the events and human stories that are part of the epic saga, known as apartheid. A series of 22 individual exhibition areas takes the visitor through a dramatic emotional journey that tells a story of a state sanctioned system based solely on racial discrimination.
Constitution Hill
The Constitutional Court - external link of South Africa is a unique architectural symbol of South Africa’s democracy. On this site, once the Old Fort Prison Complex, commonly known as Number Four, political prisoners and common criminals awaited trial and sat out their jail sentences. Today, the elegant Constitutional Court presides over this once–reviled place and stands as a proud monument to South Africa’s hard-earned freedom.
Hector Pietersen Memorial
Commemorative memorial to student Hector Pieterson - external link who died during the 1976 Sowetan school protests against being taught in the medium of Afrikaans. The memorial is situated 600 m from the actual shooting site.
Heritage
Cradle of Humankind
The Cradle of Humankind - external link Site comprises a strip of a dozen dolomitic limestone caves containing the fossilised remains of ancient forms of animals, plants and most importantly, hominids. At least seven of the twelve sites have yielded hominid remains. In fact, together these cave sites have produced over 850 hominid fossil remains, so that to date they represent one of the world’s richest concentrations of fossil hominid bearing sites.
Maropeng
Maropeng - external link, the visitor centre for the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site – meaning ‘returning to the place of our origins’ in Setswana – takes you back in time through a series of interactive exhibits and experiences. See fossils, learn about the origins of humankind, view stone tools dating back a million years old, and much more.
Gold Reef City
Formed after the gold rush which saw pioneers flock to the region in search of the precious metal, Johannesburg is known affectionately as Egoli, City of Gold. Gold Reef City - external link gives you the opportunity to experience an underground mine visit and how the early settlers lived in this reconstructed mining town.
For more heritage information
For more heritage information, visit the Gauteng Tourism Authority website - external link.
Parks
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens
About 10 km away, the Botanical Gardens - external link are most well-known for a pair of majestic Verreaux’s Eagles which nest on the cliffs alongside the waterfall.
Wildlife
Johannesburg Zoo
The Joburg Zoo - external link is one of the most popular local and tourist attractions situated in Rosebank, Johannesburg. The Zoo covers 55 hectares of land and houses over 320 species of animals, totalling about 2,000 animals.
Lion Park
Only 30km from Joburg, the Lion Park - external link comprises 200 hectares of grassland and forests, many species of game can be sighted here. See prides of lions in the lion enclosure their cubs.
Elephant Sanctuary Hartbeestpoort
The Elephant Sanctuary - external link has African elephants and offers an interactive elephant experience, elephant back riding and overnight accommodation.
Art
African Feelings Gallery
This commercial space specialises in Southern African and African art with occasional curated exhibitions.
- Tel: (011) 884 1148
- Address: 154 Linden Street, Sandown, Sandton
Everard Read
Established in 1913, Everard Read - external link is Africa’s oldest commercial art gallery. Since its inception Everard Read has been associated with pre-eminent artists working in Southern Africa. Everard Read has also been involved in sourcing Fine Art from acclaimed international artists and continues to do so.
African Curios
Art Africa
Art Africa offers a fine collection of ethnic arts, crafts and artefacts from around Africa. The shop is split into a front section that carries funky, contemporary and often recycled items from self-help groups in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. The back section has an amazing selection of wooden games, head rests, wooden statues and sculptures, wooden and grass bowls and bright African fabrics.
- Tel: (011) 486 2052
- Address: 62 Tyrone Ave, Parkview, Johannesburg
African Craft Market
The African Craft Market - external link is a unique African cultural shopping destination. This initiative formalised the hawker trade in the area and is now a bustling market known for its quality exotic African artifacts. The vendors from Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Congo, the Ivory Coast and many more offer a diverse range of fabric, jewellery, clothing, carvings, beadwork, ceramics and other décor and art items.
Other useful websites
Other provinces
List of things on offer
For a comprehensive list of things on offer in other provinces, visit: