South Africa 2017
14 Exploring Jo South Africa’s second-largest city and its economic powerhouse has undergone a remarkable renaissance in recent years. Once a virtual no-go zone for visitors, an impressive urban regeneration of its downtown means that Johannesburg – affectionately called ‘Jo’burg’ or ‘Jozi’ – now has a vibrant, beating heart that welcomes tourists and has plenty for them to explore. Echoing upmarket Sandton and Rosebank, central districts such as Newtown and Braamfontein now bristle with cafes, restaurants and cultural attractions while the funky Maboneng Precinct is the city’s hottest (and coolest) new urban area, featuring shops, restaurants, art galleries and entertainment venues. The 80km Gautrain rapid rail system – built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup – has made Johannesburg far more accessible. It links the city centre with OR Tambo International Airport and Pretoria, as well as Sandton and Rosebank. HISTORY COMES ALIVE Darkest hour: The intensely-moving Apartheid Museum charts the rise and fall of South Africa’s darkest chapter through photographs, videos, press cuttings and moving anecdotes. Covering a century of history, Constitution Hill its Constitutional Court built within a fort-turned-jail whose prisoners included Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Ghandi. Another key site in apartheid history is Liliesleaf Farm, tucked away in the northern leafy suburb of Rivonia. It is now a museum and heritage site but it once provided safe and secretive refuge for many ANC dissidents, including Mandela, in the early 1960s. See Johannesburg’s main sights on a hop-on, hop-off city sightseeing tour, aboard a topless red doubledecker bus with informative audio commentary. Tickets are valid for one or two days City sights: Enjoy panoramic views from the Top of Africa viewing deck, atop the 50-storey Carlton Centre, Africa’s tallest building. Then browse a huge collection of African crafts to drumbeats in the daily Rosebank Art and Craft Market. A Sunday version takes place on the rooftop of Rosebank Mall. saspecialist.southafrica.net
15 hannesburg Bargaining is expected and savvy shoppers can take home some great bargains. The Gold Reef City theme park, built around an old gold mine, can be explored on tours. It blends thrill rides with Johannesburg’s mining heritage and is where visitors can learn about the 1886 Witwatersrand Gold Rush that led to the founding of Johannesburg. Or your clients can seek their own riches at the Tuscanflavoured casino and entertainment complex, Montecasino. The complex has some of the city’s most popular bars and eateries. Soweto: Take an official tour of Soweto (an acronym for South-Western Townships) for some insights into South Africa’s past struggles and the gritty lives many lead today. A guided bicycle tour, which can last from two hours to a full day, is one of the best ways of experiencing the sights, sounds, aromas and atmosphere of Soweto on a personal level. Your clients can also opt for a tuk-tuk tour. Soweto’s Vilakazi Street is the only street in the world to have been home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners: the recently-revamped Mandela House, now a Try local beers at the SAB World of Beers, twice named the number one tourist attraction in South Africa Then visit SMACK! a craft beer brewery in the trendy downtown Maboneng precinct museum but where Nelson Mandela lived after his 27 years in prison; and the family home of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, where his family still live. The street has several restaurants and bars that make a great tour stop or somewhere to go for dinner. Another significant place in Soweto’s story is the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum, the site of the infamous 1976 Soweto uprising and located two blocks from where in 1976 the 12-year-old Hector was shot by police, leading to uprisings around the country. Beyond Johannesburg: There is plenty to see and do without travelling too far out of ‘Jozi’. Just 50km north-west of the city, the Cradle of Humankind is a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprising a 116,000- acre landscape of limestone caves where rich fossil discoveries have shed light on the dawn of man. Visitors can take tours of two key sites, the Sterkfontein Caves and Maropeng. saspecialist.southafrica.net
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14<br />
Exploring Jo<br />
<strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>’s second-largest city and<br />
its economic powerhouse has undergone a<br />
remarkable renaissance in recent years. Once a virtual<br />
no-go zone for visitors, an impressive urban regeneration<br />
of its downtown means that Johannesburg<br />
– affectionately called ‘Jo’burg’ or ‘Jozi’ –<br />
now has a vibrant, beating heart that<br />
welcomes tourists and has plenty for<br />
them to explore.<br />
Echoing upmarket Sandton and<br />
Rosebank, central districts such<br />
as Newtown and Braamfontein<br />
now bristle with cafes,<br />
restaurants and cultural<br />
attractions while the<br />
funky Maboneng Precinct is the<br />
city’s hottest (and coolest) new urban<br />
area, featuring shops, restaurants, art galleries<br />
and entertainment venues.<br />
The 80km Gautrain rapid rail system – built for the 2010 FIFA<br />
World Cup – has made Johannesburg far more accessible.<br />
It links the city centre with OR Tambo<br />
International Airport and Pretoria, as well as<br />
Sandton and Rosebank.<br />
HISTORY COMES ALIVE<br />
Darkest hour: The intensely-moving<br />
Apartheid Museum charts the rise<br />
and fall of <strong>South</strong> <strong>Africa</strong>’s<br />
darkest chapter through<br />
photographs, videos,<br />
press cuttings and<br />
moving anecdotes.<br />
Covering a century<br />
of history,<br />
Constitution<br />
Hill its<br />
Constitutional<br />
Court built within a<br />
fort-turned-jail whose prisoners<br />
included Nelson Mandela and<br />
Mahatma Ghandi.<br />
Another key site in apartheid history is Liliesleaf<br />
Farm, tucked away in the northern leafy suburb of<br />
Rivonia. It is now a museum and heritage site but<br />
it once provided safe and secretive refuge for many<br />
ANC dissidents, including Mandela, in the early 1960s.<br />
<br />
See<br />
Johannesburg’s<br />
main sights<br />
on a hop-on,<br />
hop-off city<br />
sightseeing tour,<br />
aboard a topless<br />
red doubledecker<br />
bus with<br />
informative audio<br />
commentary.<br />
Tickets are valid<br />
for one or two<br />
days<br />
City sights: Enjoy panoramic views from<br />
the Top of <strong>Africa</strong> viewing deck, atop<br />
the 50-storey Carlton<br />
Centre, <strong>Africa</strong>’s tallest<br />
building. Then browse a huge<br />
collection of <strong>Africa</strong>n crafts to drumbeats<br />
in the daily Rosebank Art and Craft Market. A<br />
Sunday version takes place on the rooftop of<br />
Rosebank Mall.<br />
saspecialist.southafrica.net
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