Chances are you will fly in to Johannesburg at some point during your southern African safari. When you do, don’t make the mistake of just breezing through. This bustling urban destination has much to offer the cosmopolitan traveler and it is well-worth digging a little deeper on your visit to the City of Gold.
Eating Out in Jozi
Find you way to the Fordsburg Market where the locals go to lap up Asian-inspired foodie treats such as crispy puri, sticky gulab jamun, traditional samosas and freshly squeezed fruit juice.
There’s always time for a cuppa at Father Coffee in the upmarket suburb of Rosebank or trendy Braamfontein where those in the know go for an expresso, fruity herbal tea or iced coffee.
Feel like something fishy? The Big Mouth in Nelson Mandela Square is the place to get some of the best sushi in town.
Check out or blog on other trendy eateries in this vibrant city.
Delve into History
Johannesburg has carefully documented its past with excellent museums and historic sites. Make some time to browse among the displays at some of the Nelson Mandela memorial sites around town such as Liliesleaf Farm and Mandela House on Vilakazi Street.
Constitution Hill and the Apartheid museums are real eye-openers, while the Origins Centre Museum goes way further back into the history of South Africa.
Arts and Crafts
Take a tour around the inner city to get to grips with urban art in the form of colorful ethnic, modern graffiti and huge colorful murals. The handiworks of talented local craftsmen are up for grabs at markets all over the city, most notably the Rosebank African Craft Market and Village Walk African Cultural Market in Sandton.
More formal displays of some of the country’s most famous artists are showcased at the Johannesburg Art Gallery, Everard Read and the Standard Bank Gallery.
Other Notable Attractions
Take a trip to the top of the 50-storey Carlton Centre for a view over the entire city and visit Maboneng for an off-the-wall look at history, architecture, art and nature.
Gold Reef City is always an entertaining way to experience the glory days of the Gold Rush in Jozi with a fun fair, casino, museum and quaint shops onsite.
Explore More with Always Africa
The City of Gold has a wealth of interesting places to explore after landing and we know about them all. Get in touch to add these and other hidden treasures to your itinerary when planning your southern African safari
