As I am headed back to South Africa I’m researching what to explore in the Johannesburg area and discovered I can learn about the culture and visit caves.
During the last visit two years ago I may have landed in Johannesburg but immediately headed north to Pretoria with my friend, fellow blogger and nature lover Joan. I hardly felt like I’d left my US home with the familiarity of Mcbusinesses and suburban residential areas. Other than hunting down the correct electrical conversion box to charge my camera and netbook we visited the gardens around the Union government buildings, the Voortrekker Monument plus explored The Cradle of Humankind Museum. Yet I’m sure there are other places to explore.
Johannesburg
I hear the traffic is terrible in Johannesburg but that’s true of every major city in the world. And although I’m not really a city gal could learn a bit about this provincial capital of Gauteng considered the wealthiest province in South Africa. And while Joburg, as it’s called for short, is not one of the three capital cities it is the seat of the Constitutional Court which has the final word on interpretation of South Africa’s post-Apartheid constitution.
Tours are offered at Constitution Hill, formerly the site of a fort and later used as a prison. Plus the court itself opens to the public to attend court hearings (probably not my thing) or view the gallery of over 200 artworks.
I’m definitely interested in the Origins Centre, a museum about the oldest people on the planet, the San (Bushman) and their rock art. Would be wonderful to know something about these people before visiting some of the rock art sites near the Drakensberg Mountains.
And I read that the views over the city from the Carlton Center observation deck are outstanding as this is the tallest building in Africa even if only half the height of the Willis Tower in Chicago.
But the best tour I’ve discovered so far, and I think you’ll agree, includes a little beer drinking while visiting the South African Breweries World of Beer. I’m a bit of a light weight but wouldn’t mind a sample or two, or….
Soweto
Another place to tip a few while eating something fresh off the Braai (BBQ) and enjoying some unique “kwaito,” a form of hip-hop South African music is the recommended Soweto township. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the cultural food found in townships near Jonker in Port Elizabeth so I’m really curious.
Not all about food and fun, Soweto, named in 1963 for SOuth WEstern TOwnships, has a long history of strife with over 100 years of oppression. Soweto caught the world’s attention in 1976 during an uprising of mass protests against a government policy to enforce education in Afrikaans instead of English. An independent municipality since 1983, Soweto was incorporated into the City of Johannesburg in 2002. Now it is a popular tourist destination with sites such as Kliptown (where the Freedom Charter was drawn up), the home of former President Nelson Mandela, restaurants and shopping malls.
Pretoria
During my last visit Pretoria felt like any-big-town USA, lots of streets, buildings and people. Maybe if I’d been there in the spring when the Jacaranda trees line the streets with their purple colored blooms it would have been more appealing. As one of South Africa’s three capital cities, serving as the executive (administrative) and de facto national capital, there has to be something to explore, but my research hasn’t turned anything up yet.
Sterkfontein Caves
I caved twice in South Africa. Sudwala Cave was a short walking tour with Joan that wet my appetite for the longer Cango Caves which included some crawling and tight squeezes. Yet Sterkfonten is where some of the oldest humanoid fossils have been found and is the most famous of 13 excavated fossil sites in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. I visited the museum and would like to explore that whole area more.
Pilanesberg National Park
I need to renew my Wild Card, like the US National Parks card, so why not start off with the nearby Pilanesberg National Park. Having seen the Big 5 and more at Kruger doesn’t diminish my desire to see more wildlife. The park area features a rugged landscape in an eroded alkaline volcanic crater plus well-watered valleys making it a preferred site for human settlement for thousands of years. Yet this habitation caused the degradation and depletion of wildlife populations. Once proclaimed as a reserve in 1979 the land was restocked with game and is now considered the most popular public game reserve in South Africa. Could be because of its close proximity to Johannesburg which is where I’ll start my journey through South Africa.
I’ve barely left the computer for weeks researching and getting more excited every day. Yet I’m also antsy to go, travel, get out of the house. And I don’t leave until February. Hope you’re not tired of hearing about South Africa because I’m learning a lot.
Have any more suggestions about what I can explore in the Johannesburg area?
Never tired of your love of the investigation part. Just be careful around Yoohanesberg:) While in the Peace Corps, it seemed all the volunteers would experience some sort of crime there…..mostly theft. Looks like an interesting selection of awesome:)
Thanks for your concern. I don’t plan to stay in Joburg too long.
I know you’ll be safe, but I’d feel better if I was there with you:)
What’s stopping you?
Not sure if you’ve looked at this yet or not, but 2 RVing bloggers I follow made trips to South Africa late last year– Howard and Linda of
RV-Dreams.com, and photographers Karen & Ben of ThePixelDiaries.com (the only stopped in SA briefly, though, on their way to other countries). You might take a look at their blogs and email them for some ideas too.
Sure looks like an amazing trip you’re brewing up!
Thank you. I’m checking them out.
Hi Gaelyn, I see you’ve made a decision for your winter trip. Have fun dreaming and planning.
It looks like there is a lot to see in J. If you run out of time make sure you see the breweries and the caves at a minimum!
Priorities.
Sterkfontein caves are fantastic. They are my favourite, but I saw them many years ago. I hope that they have not got the tourist bug and have spoilt them! You are going to have a fantastic time but Joburg you can keep. We had not been into the city for many years even before we left in 2001. Keep well Diane
I’m really looking forward to Sterkfontein but not too overly excited about Joburg other than a township tour. Now Pilanesburg sounds really great and I’ll probably return to Kruger too. Bought my plane tickets yesterday.
Forgot to add we had time share at Buakubung, Pilanesburg Game reserve. Nigel was involved with the building of it and we bought early when it was very cheap. We had some fantastic weeks there and the game is excellent. One of the things I really do miss from over there….. Diane
I’m not a huge fan of Johannesburg myself. If you are in the Sandton area do pop in at the Madiba statue in Nelson Mandela Square or perhaps perhaps Lilies Leaf Farm if you are interested in how and where Mandela got arreasted. You have to go on a tour of Soweto and visit the Apartheid Museum. I enjoyed the Waletr Sesulu Botanical Gardens but if you are going to Kirstenbosch in Cape Town I would give WSBG a skip. In Pretoria you’ve been to the Union Buildings and the Voortrekker Monument, but I would also recommend Freedom Park which is close to the latter. Its a thought provoking place.
The only way I’ll explore Joburg is on a tour. I get nervous in cities. Will Kirstenbosch to the Cape Town part of the list. Plan to spend more time in your area also.
Never tire of your taking us to these wonderful destinations. Nice to finally get caught up! Lynda
Envie your trip, even to J0berg. Would love to see those caves, too. Stay safe.
Looks like a fantastic trip! I have family in Joburg and would really like to get there soon!
South Africa is a wonderful country to explore. You should really get over there and having family provides an extra incentive.
I’ve been wanting to go to South Africa for a while now, but it hasn’t happened yet. I wouldn’t be all that excited about Johannesburg either, but pretty much everywhere else in the country. When it comes to cities, I really want to see Cape Town and things I’ve heard about Durban have piqued my interest as well.
I wasn’t really impressed much with Durban, another big and dirty city. Didn’t explore Cape Town on my last trip so will do that this time.
Hi Gaelyn, Your travel plans for South Africa sound great!
I wanted to let you know how much I like your brand new “In the Meantime” blog, but I haven’t been able to type in the comments section yet…will try again later. 🙂
Thanks Diane. I can hardly wait for Feb and this trip.
Been a few problems and glitches on the new site.
sounds like you will have a wonderful time and see such interesting parts of our planet and humanity. wishing you a grand time.
in the meantime, dress warmer 😉
I love reading traveler’s accounts of how they are researching adventures and exploring options. It’s so much more instructive than reading about the final decision. But then I’m an experiential learner and prefer to participate in the process than having the process explained to me. I can’t wait to read about your adventures next February.
Thanks Laura. The planning is almost half the fun of traveling. February can’t come soon enough for me though.
Sterkfontein was not far from us, we used to love taking visitors there. Bet you are looking forward to going back. Take care Diane
I would love to explore the Drakensburg more. Going to try to return next winter.