10 THINGS TO DO WHILE IN JOHANNESBURG

Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa and also  the second largest city in Africa, with more than 3 million people calling this bustling metropolis home. Joburg, or Jozi as some prefer to call it, offers visitors an experience as unique and diverse as the city itself. Whether you are on business, in search of a cultural encounter, and adrenaline rush or simply want to relax and unwind for a few days, the city of Johannesburg has everything you’re looking for and more. Here are the 10 things to do while in Johannesburg:

1. Soweto

Soweto Township

Observe a different side of Joburg with a visit to Soweto. This place is in the South of Johannesburg, is a city developed as a township for black people under the apartheid system.  Get the opportunity to explore what life is like in South Africa beyond the city suburbs, Soweto is a site of historical importance, featuring Kliptown, where Freedom Charter was drawn up. You will get a fascinating glimpse of bustling neighborhood life as you drive by the former residences of two South African Nobel Peace Price winners, as well as visit icons of the struggle such as the Hector Peterson Memorial, the Regina Mundi Church and Freedom Square.

2. Carlton Centre

Carlton Centre

If you are seeking for a bird’s-eye view of Johannesburg, the 50-storey Carlton Centre is the place to go. Visiting this centre you can enjoy a panoramic view of the City of Gold from the Top of Africa, as the topmost floor of the building in known. The tallest building in Africa and once the tallest building in the southern hemisphere, the Carlton Centre stands 223m high- about 40m shy of featuring on the world’s top 100 skyscrapers list. Get a view over Jo’burg from the top of the Carlton Centre, the tallest building in Africa. It costs less than a cappuccino and the view is well worth it.

3. The Apartheid Museum

The Apartheid Museum

For a sad insight in South Africa’s history, the Apartheid Museum is an essential destination, giving a thorough overview of the rise and fall of apartheid. The museum makes excellent use of multimedia exhibits to show the political and personal aspects of apartheid. The Apartheid Museum, close to downtown Johannesburg, focuses on the notorious system of racial discrimination that became synonymous with South Africa from 1948 until 1994, the year in which the country held its first fully democratic elections.

4. Lion Park

Lion Park

Nowhere can you get closer to a pride of Lions and other animals and still be completely safe. Explore the animals up close in all the activities that the Lion Park offers, whether you go on a self-drive tour, guided tour or in the new electric silent vehicle, you will get super close to the animals, not to mention special tours like the amazing cheetah walk and exclusive mesmerizing lion tour guided by world renowned animal behaviourist, Alext Larenty. Amazing photos opportunities await around every corner in the park, share your memories with friends and family by having your photos taken professionally by photographers.

5. Newtown

Newtown Mall

Newtown is positioned in Johannesburg’s central city and forms part of the city’s cultural and creative hub. The area includes theatres, houses, art galleries, museums, restaurants, book stores, craft markets, clubs and cafes. The area has politically turbulent past and due to its multiracial diversity, it was the scene of some of the first forced removals in Gauteng implemented by the apartheid government. Today, Newtown remains resolutely colour-blind with artists of all races gathering here. Take in a show at the Market Theatre, visit the Sci-Bono Centre, drop in at Museum Africa, or catch some local and international music acts at Bassline. Make sure you see a nice view of Mandela Bridge lit up at night.

6. Markets

Rosebank Mall

Have brunch with the hipsters at Market on Main on Sunday morning, and take a look at the quirky designer offering on sale. For a more relaxed feel, try the Rooftop Market at Rosebank Mall, a huge market with everything from souvenirs and handmade goods to old movie posters and antiques. You can also find traditional South African food- at prices locals will pay. If you’re still hungry, eat your fill every Saturday morning at the Jozi Food Market.

7. Sandton

Sandton

Spending time in a mall is a central part of the Johannesburg experience. If you’re into shopping, the place to be is Sandton City which is situated in one of the city’s commercial and business hubs. Sandton City hosts upmarket designer boutiques and, well, just about anything else you might want to find. Have lunch in Sandton Square, or just let your inner child run free in the fountains. Sandton City offers an unparalleled shopping experience that combines the world’s most desirable brands with everyday leisure and entertainment.

8. Montecasino

Montecasino

Montecasino, situated in Fourways, North of Johannesburg is known being Gauteng’s number one entertainment destination having being voted Best Casino, Best Entertainment Complex, Best Cinema Complex and Best place to take out-of-towners. With the diverse range range of attractions including accommodation- there is something for everyone at Montecasino to be enjoyed by young and old alike. Montecasino’s attractive Tuscan style appearance makes it an attractive filming destination as well as an ideal venue for events, having hosted several local and international performers. It is described as “Gauten’s Premier Entertainment Destination”, given that it’s home to cinemas, a casino, and the largest theatre in Africa, the Teatro. The Teatro has hosted a number of world-class musicals featuring South African casts, and the smaller theatres have a steady run of more intimate shows.

9. The Cradle of Humankind

The Cradle of Humankind

It only takes a short trip from Jo’burg to get back to your roots. Get in touch with your ancient ancestors in the Sterkfontein Caves, where Mrs Ples and Littlefoot were discovered, and spend time exploring the award-winning Maropeng visitor centre. The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site is one of eight South African World Heritage Sites. It is the world’s richest hominin site, home to around 40% of the world’s human ancestor fossils.

10.  The great Outdoors 

Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden

Johannesburg is also home to a number of beautiful parks, the biggest of which is the Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden in Roodepoort. Take an easy hike to the top of waterfall, and keep your eyes peeled for the resident eagles. For an even more relaxed day, go for a walk or a picnic in the sunshine at Emmarentia Dam, or indulge your inner pirate and go boating on Zoo Lake.

  

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WHY YOU SHOULD BOOK FOR A LION PARK TOUR

There is no other place than Lion Park where you can interact with lions and other animals and still be completely safe. Many activities such as self-drive tours, cheetah walk, guided tours, Alex tour and electric vehicle tour are being offered at Lion Park, and you can also get tremendous close to the animals.  Almost everyone who doesn't have phobia of getting close to animals would love to take a picture playing with a lion or walking with a cheetah or even feeding a giraffe, so that they can share their wonderful memories with friends and family.

Beside the animal interactions and tours that are being offered at Lion Park, there are many other attractions that will make you wish to visit this park. Lion Park, the Gauteng's number one tourist attractions has more attractions such restaurants, retail shops, picnic area and kiddies’ playground.

It is a home to more than 85 Lions with rare white lions. This park offers the opportunity to see lions like you have never seen them before. You will experience an amazing opportunity to amuse yourself with lion cubs. It is completely safe because they provide you with knowledgeable handlers to show you how to interact safely with these gorgeous small creatures. Wouldn't you love to take a nice picture with these amazing creatures? Taking pictures with lion cubs or other animals in the park will create an everlasting experience. You will get a once in a lifetime opportunity to have a professional photograph taken of you and the cubs.

Have you ever imagined yourself feeding a lion or a giraffe? Lion Park offers you a great opportunity to experience the natural interaction of a feeding lion pride up close. The mighty roars and sounds of lion festivity fill the game vehicle while the guides share interesting facts with you on the night drives. You will watch lions feeding from your own vehicle.

Animals in the park are divided into two categories, there are predators and herbivores. The predators include cheetah, wild dog, and striped hyena, spotted hyena while the herbivores include blesbuck, impala, ostrich and springbok.

You don’t have to worry about where to eat because the park has a restaurant that offers a selection of meals at the large outdoor family restaurant, kiosk and bar. They offer hamburgers, homemade pizza, flame-grilled chicken, sandwiches and samosas. They also have offers of a selection of cakes and milkshakes, braai lunch, halaal food and please note that Muslim prayer facility is available.

Lion Park offers a massive range of merchandise. There are retail shops in the park that sell an extensive collection of African artifacts, crafts, music, videos and books and also well-stocked children’s and adult clothing departments.

You shouldn't leave your kids behind, why leaving them while they can enjoy children activities at the park? Lion Park has a playground with a great variety of jungle gyms, jumping castles and many other entertaining rides.

A Lion Park tour is one of the everlasting experiences you can share with family and friends. Why not booking for this amazing tour? You can book by clicking here: Lion Park Tour Bookings

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FIVE GREATEST ANIMALS IN SOUTH AFRICA

South Africa has the greatest animals called the Big Five which includes lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino.  The term Big Five is originally used by hunters.

Just picture yourself watching the sun over the horizon whilst you capture the moment of a pride of lions hunting their victim. Staring at a buffalo walking to a water hole with strength. Viewing the rhino, which is almost extinct, with its extraordinary horns. And the leopard with its beauty and skill to hunt. The Big Five are the best animals to witness when visiting South Africa.

Majority of tourists will never leave South Africa without having spotted the Big Five. A visit in South Africa without going on a safari to explore the Big Five is incomplete, so make sure that you discover African greatest animals before you leave the country.

LION

Lion, the king of the jungle, is part of the well-known Big Five of the animal empire. Lions are the most common of the cat family. They live in prides consisting of one or two males, up to seven females and 14 or 15 cubs of different ages. Prides occupy territories that they defend against nomadic lions and other prides; this is made by the leading male or males, by means of guarding and smelling marking.

The female lions usually do all the hunting, regularly at night, late afternoon or early morning.

Lion's prey includes mostly wildebeest, zebra, waterbuck, kudu, giraffe and buffalo. They also tend to attack young elephant calves. In difficult times they will even go for small prey, like porcupine, with disastrous consequences for both.

RHINO

Rhino is part of the famous Big Five of the animal kingdom. There are two types of Rhinos, namely White and Black Rhinos.

Black Rhinos prefer densely wooded areas, with a lot of shrubs and plenty of water whilst the White Rhino prefers more grassland. 

Black Rhinos are very solitary animals, with bulls associating with females only for mating. Sub adults and youngsters stay with their mother only until the next calf is born, when they are driven off to find their own territories.

The Rhino bulls mark their territory by dragging their feet trough their dung, scattering it all over the place and by urinating on to bushes. They are extremely aggressive animals.

A charge by a Rhino, with is loud snorts, it's a terrifying affair. They readily attack predators including humans. They are also short sighted, but their sense of smell and hearing is very acute. Adult males can weight up to 1200 kg, females being slightly smaller. Their life span is about 40 years. Rhinos are browsers, eating leaves, fruit, flowers, but also herbs.

 

ELEPHANT

Elephants  are very clever and exceptionally social animals. They live in herds, made up of the matriarch (the oldest animal in the group), her female calves and the youngsters. The herd can comprise between 6 and 30 animals, after what they split to form new herds, always maintaining contact with each other at water holes and feeding spots. 

At 14 years of age, males leave the heard and associate with other bulls of the same age or older. 

Within the "bull area" hierarchy is well observed and understood by all bulls; if a group of bulls come across a cow in oestrus, the animal occupying the highest rank is the one to mate.

Males are much larger than females and their tusks are much longer and heavier.

Elephants have 6 sets of molar teeth; when the last set is lost, the animal is unable to feed and eventually dies. Their life span is about 50 to 60 years.

BUFFALO

Buffalo is part of the famous Big Five of the animal kingdom. They are extremely adaptable animals, being able to occupy open grasslands, wooded savanna and thickets.

They are extremely social animals, buffalo associate in herds of up to 1000 or more individuals. Although being very aggressive and extremely dangerous animals, buffaloes are very peaceful amongst themselves. 
The dominant bull normally is the oldest bull in the herd. Both sexes have horns, but those of males are more robust and heavier. Males can attain a mass of about 800 kg and they have a life span of approximately 20 years.

 Female buffalo become sexually matured at the age of 5 years. The gestation period is 11 months and one single calf is born.

LEOPARD

Leopards normally hunt at night and dusk, staying in secluded spots during the day or lying in high branches of trees. They are solitary animals by nature, only associating with a female for mating and staying with her only for a couple of days.

Leopards are masters of camouflage and they move silently through the vegetation to attack their prey at very close quarters. The victim is normally killed with a bite on the back of the neck, and then taken up a tree, where the leopard will feed at leisure, away from scavengers.

Leopards are extremely territorial animals. Their life span is about 15 years, and they can attain a mass of about 70-kg.

Leopards are the most successful hunters of the cat family. Their prey includes Impala, Bushbuck, Warthog and also the young of Wildebeest, Kudu and Waterbuck. Rodents, ground birds, monkeys, baboons, frogs and fish, also make part of its diet.

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