Are you in Johannesburg and wondering what interesting day trips from Johannesburg you can go on? If so, you are in the right place. Let’s get right to it.
Table of Contents
Day Trips From Johannesburg/Johannesburg Day Trips/Day Tours from Johannesburg/Day Trips Out of Johannesburg
If you are interested in interesting day trips from Johannesburg, peruse a selection of them here.
READ ALSO: Daisy de Melker & City Sightseeing South Africa
Johannesburg Sightseeing Tours/Bus Tours Johannesburg/Red Bus Tour Johannesburg
Update: After a long closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, City Sightseeing Johannesburg is operating again. You can buy tickets for this tour here.
In my last post, I wrote about flying from Dar es Salaam to Johannesburg with Fastjet.
In that post, I promised to one day tell you more about what I saw and did while I was in Johannesburg.
Today, I’ll tell you about a great way I found to go sightseeing and to explore Johannesburg. Furthermore, this way enables you to do so time effectively and at a good price
Watch the video below for a brief introduction.
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I fell in love with Johannesburg almost instantly.
I loved its clean streets, cute homes, flashy cars, and organized public transit system.
The Johannesburg I saw during the first days I was there had nothing to do with the dangerous, crime-filled city of Johannesburg that I had heard so much about before I got there.
Granted I was staying in Sandton (as a taxi driver rudely pointed out one day), but could there really be another part of Johannesburg so different from what I saw?
The best way to find out, I thought, was to go on one of many Johannesburg tours.
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Comparing a few options, I settled on City Sightseeing Joburg because it seemed to offer good value for money.
From what I learned online, I knew I could join the tour at one of two places: Gold Reef City (which I had no clue how to get to) or the Gautrain Park Station (more like it).
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The City Sightseeing Joburg Johannesburg Tour
On the appointed day, I made my way to the Gautrain Park Station.
There, I easily found the City Sightseeing Joburg bus stop. The bus stop was manned by a brightly-clad-in-red uniformed attendant just like the website promised.
I also knew from the website that I would be able to buy my ticket on the bus. This would have to be by debit or credit card though.
I was glad to get on the bus and find that I could also pay for my ticket with cash. This is usually my preference.
READ ALSO: The City Sightseeing Johannesburg Tour & More on Visiting South Africa
Gandhi Square and Johannesburg Tours
The bus’s first stop was Gandhi Square, named after Mahatma Gandhi, who in the early part of his career practiced law in Johannesburg.
It’s as a result of the racial segregation that he experienced in South Africa, that Gandhi began the social activism for which he is best known.
In hindsight, there was so much to see on the tour that though I would have loved to hop off at every stop, it simply wasn’t possible.
Furthermore, I joined the tour around noon each day which just made it worse. Do not do this: start earlier!
It soon became clear to me that I would have to carefully pick and choose which stops to explore because some of them, such as visiting the Apartheid Museum, could take up to three hours to visit.
Johannesburg Tours Day Trips
If you are in Johannesburg and want to take a day trip but don’t want to leave the city then, if you are not staying in Soweto, that would be a cool thing to do for the day.
Click here to find out how you can easily do that.
Day Trips in Johannesburg
Johannesburg offers a variety of day trip options catering to different interests. Here are some popular choices:
- Soweto Tour: Explore the vibrant township of Soweto, known for its rich history and culture. Visit landmarks like the Hector Pieterson Memorial, Vilakazi Street (the only street in the world that was home to two Nobel Peace Prize winners – Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu), and the Apartheid Museum.
- Magaliesberg Mountains: Enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, mountain biking, or hot air ballooning in the scenic Magaliesberg Mountains. You can also visit attractions such as the Magaliesberg Canopy Tour for a thrilling zipline experience.
- Lion Park: Get up close and personal with lions and other wildlife at the Lion & Safari Park. Take a guided game drive to see lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, and more, or opt for a lion cub interaction experience for a memorable encounter with these majestic creatures.
- Gold Reef City: Step back in time to the days of the South African gold rush at Gold Reef City. This theme park and entertainment complex offers a range of attractions including historical exhibits, thrilling rides, a casino, and live entertainment shows.
- Johannesburg Botanical Garden: For a more relaxed day out, visit the Johannesburg Botanical Garden. Take a leisurely stroll through the beautiful gardens, enjoy a picnic by the lake, and spot a variety of bird species.
These are just a few options to consider for day trips in Johannesburg, catering to a range of interests from history and culture to nature and adventure.
Best Day Trips From Johannesburg/Day Trip from Johannesburg
Johannesburg, being centrally located in South Africa, offers several fantastic day trip options for travelers. Here are some of the best:
- Pilanesberg National Park: This park is just a couple of hours’ drive from Johannesburg and offers excellent opportunities for game viewing. You can see the Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard) as well as other wildlife species.
- Cradle of Humankind: A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Cradle of Humankind is about an hour’s drive from Johannesburg. It’s home to several caves where some of the oldest hominid fossils have been found. Visitors can explore the Sterkfontein Caves and the Maropeng Visitor Centre to learn about human evolution.
- Magaliesberg Mountains: The Magaliesberg area is known for its natural beauty and outdoor activities. You can go hiking, hot air ballooning, or visit attractions like the Magaliesberg Canopy Tour for a thrilling zip-lining experience.
- Hartbeespoort Dam: About an hour’s drive from Johannesburg, Hartbeespoort Dam is a popular weekend destination. You can enjoy water sports, visit the Hartbeespoort Aerial Cableway for panoramic views, or explore the nearby arts and crafts markets.
- Pretoria: While not technically a day trip, Pretoria is close enough to Johannesburg to explore in a day. You can visit attractions like the Union Buildings, the Voortrekker Monument, and the Pretoria National Botanical Garden.
These are just a few options, but there are many more day trips you can take from Johannesburg depending on your interests and how far you’re willing to travel.
Johannesburg Tours Tickets & Excursions
If you are interested in buying tickets for a tour or excursion in Johanneburg, you can find a wide range of those here.
Johannesburg Safari Day Trip
If you are in Johannesburg and only have a day to go on safari, find easy trips you can book to do so here.
Top Gauteng Multi Day Tours
If you are interested in multi day tours within the South African province of Gauteng, click here.
Photo Credits: SafariBookings, SA-Venues.com
The contrast between Sandton and the central business district is quite stark. I’m not a great lover of Sandton’s shopping centres and shopping malls, and prefer the open streets of the CBD. The Apartheid Museum is amazing. You’re absolutely right – there’s so much to say about the place. I visited a couple of years ago and have not quite got round to starting what would be a very lengthy blog, ditto for Robben Island…
I haven’t been on the Johannesburg city bus tour, but I did the bus tour when I was in Cape Town. What a fantastic way to see the city. You really need to go round twice tho: lap 1, plan your route and lap 2, actually do all the things you want to do! Much as I love finding my way round on my own – read “get lost at my own pace” – it’s also nice having someone point out the best places too.
Here’s my take on Joburg visit.http://muzungubloguganda.com/2011/02/johannesburg-dont-hit-the-panic-button-until-after-dinner/#.VD0WgN2UdxM
Hi Charlie,
Thanks for leaving me a comment. I enjoyed your post (and shared it on Twitter), but I can’t find the second one that you mention: “Get lost at my own pace”. Want to share a link?
That’s great advice: day 1 serves to plan your route and day 2 is when its best to do all the things you want to do! I’ll definitely do the tour if ever I visit Cape Town!
What’s it like shopping in Jo’burg’s CBD? What streets/shops do you recommend?
Biche