Soweto Tour
Take a tour of the massive residential area of Soweto, which was the main residential area of the city’s black population during the Apartheid era. Housing ranges from the most basic accommodation to a few very luxurious homes. Your tour should take you past the Hector Peterson Museum, as well as the Mandela house. You are likely to visit a shebeen, a traditional bar/restaurant, where the local residents love to gather. Do not attempt to visit the area alone, it is safer as part of an organized tour.

Visit a nature reserve
If you are not going to be visiting the Kruger National Park during your stay in South Africa, then you should definitely visit one of the smaller game reserves on the outskirts of the city. Among the reserves which will give you a taste of life in the bush (countryside) and give you the opportunity to view some of South Africa’s legendary wildlife are the Lion Park and the Rhino and Lion Reserve (see attractions section). You could even visit the Pilanesberg Game Reserve, which is located about two hours drive from Johannesburg.

Spend a day at Sun City
A very popular day trip from Johannesburg takes you to Sun City, a massive casino and leisure resort near Rustenburg. The drive takes about 90 minutes with regular bus services from the airport and city centre bus terminals. Sun City offers a day in a luxurious country setting, the highlight being a huge water theme park with wave pool, man-made beach and thrilling rides. You can also try out a selection of water sports on the lake or make use of one of the many sports facilities. The complex, which has three luxury hotels and a timeshare resort, has a number of good restaurants and a casino offering slot and table games.

Visit Pretoria
The nation’s administrative capital, Pretoria, is less than an hour’s drive from Johannesburg, even on the crowded highway that links the two cities. Places of interest in the Jacaranda City include the Voortrekker Monument, the Union Buildings and the Zoological Gardens.

Go hot air ballooning
A number of operators offer hot air ballooning, usually in the early hours of the morning. You can watch the sun rise as you gently float over the Magaliesberg Mountains or the Cradle of Humankind, located 35kms from Johannesburg.

Shop till you drop
You can pick up some great bargains in the city’s many malls and flea markets. Depending on the currency exchange rate, you could find things far cheaper than they are back home. Some of the top centres are Hyde Park Corner, Sandton Square and Sandton City. The best market is the Rosebank Market (see shopping section).

Treat the young ones at Golf Reef City
Children (and most adults) will be fascinated by the Gold Reef City theme park, which lies just south of the city centre. Not only is it home to a wide variety of thrilling rides, it also gives visitors the opportunity to go down a gold mine and visit the Apartheid Museum (see the attractions section).