Question:
I am going to Namibia next month and have extra 2 days in Johannesburg, both on the way to and from Windhoek. Any idea on how to use this time? Thank you for your help. — Manny Bhuta Randolph, NJ USA
Response:
Try Gold Reef City – good for a few hours. Apartheid Museum – near Gold Reef City, good for about three hours A mulititude of great restaurants of all sorts. For meat, try The Butcher Shop and Grill in Sandton. For Portuguese, try Adega da Monge in Kensington or Calistos in Rosettenville. For African, try Moyo at Melville Arch. Italian at Venezia in Fairmount. There is the Lion and Rhino Park and Wonder Caves in Muldersdrift, and the Cradle of Humanity at Sterkfontein. Both are nearby to each other about 45 minutes drive from the Airport. A good day could be spent at these two places, with dinner at the Carnivore restaurant, also nearby. You could do a Soweto tour. Arangements can be made at any decent hotel. Enjoy the visit… Regards, Marc – Johannesburg, South Africa – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am going to Namibia next month and have extra 2 days in Johannesburg, both on the way to and from Windhoek. Any idea on how to use this time? Thank you for your help. — Manny Bhuta Randolph, NJ USA
Response:
I am going to Namibia next month and have extra 2 days in Johannesburg, both on the way to and from Windhoek. Any idea on how to use this time? Thank you for your help.
Manny, It all depends on you particular interests. You could rent a car and go for a day trip to the Ndebele Village in Mpumalanga. It’s in the guidebooks but hard to find since it’s not well signposted. Otherwise you could spend a day in Pretoria although I find it quite boring. You could go golfing, many clubs in and around Jo’burg. For shopping go to Sandton City. Otherwise if you’re into the Vegas kind of thing, go for an overnight trip to Sun City. If you’re not a fan of casinos there’s at least good entertainment in the form of aquatic parks, golf courses and luxurious settings… a car is essential to get there and 2 days/1 night is enough if you’re willing to spare the time. I’d personally skip Gold Reef City. If you have 2 days and 2 nights each way and have never been to S. Africa I’d strongly recommend going to Cape Town as it is a very attractive city and return tickets from Jo’burg can come quite cheap. Have fun. Raf
Response:
I am going to Namibia next month and have extra 2 days in Johannesburg, both on the way to and from Windhoek. Any idea on how to use this time? Thank you for your help.
Hi. You could spend a few interesting hours at the zoo. While you’re there, on the hilltop above the zoo is the South African National Museum of Military History with many interesting exhibits including one of the only two ME BF.262’s (the first jet fighter aircraft) left in the world. The Apartheid Museum adjacent to Gold Reef City should be an eye-opener, guided tours of Soweto likewise. Joburg has lot of museums – some railway oldies can be seen at the old concourse at the station. The Africana museum and Geological museum are both situated at the public library building in Market Street etc etc. Phumagena Zulu Kraal for an insight in the Zulu culture, tribal dancing as well as traditional Zulu meals. SAB (South African Breweries) Centenary Centre in Newtown for the history of beer brewing (and sampling). Santarama Miniland features 1:25 scale models of items from South Africa’s history and culture such as traditional Zulu huts, the Big Hole at Kimberley and the Castle of Good Hope at Cape Town. The above quoted from my website’s Johannesburg page: http://www.southafricaguides.co.za/johannesburg.asp You’ll probably notice that the site is still far from completed but you should find some useful info there. Dani