jhb city tour

THE 10 BEST Johannesburg City Tours

City tours in johannesburg.

• Multi-day Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Half-Day Tour of Soweto Tour

2. Half Day Pretoria City Tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria

3. Soweto and Johannesburg Exclusive Full Day Guided Tour

4. Jo'burg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Apartheid Museum & Soweto

5. Guided Bicycle Tour of Soweto with Lunch

6. Soweto Walking Tour with Lunch

7. Soweto Township Cultural Tour incl Apartheid Museum and Nelson Mandela House

8. Maboneng Street Art Tour

9. Ultimate Johannesburg Soweto Experience with Apartheid Museum

10. Private Full Day Johannesburg Historical Tour

11. Pilanesberg and Sun City Tour

12. Johannesburg City Tour(Half-day)

13. Pretoria,Johannesburg,soweto & Apartheid Museum tour

14. Private Half Day Pretoria City Tour from Johannesburg or pretoria

15. Johannesburg e-scooter experience

16. Pretoria and cullinan mine day tour(surface tour)

17. Full Day Johannesburg , Apartheid Museum and Soweto Tour - 8hrs

18. Johannesburg Culture and food tour

19. Private Half Day Authentic Soweto Tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria

20. Johannesburg City Half Day Tour

21. Johannesburg exploration tour(Jo-burg/Soweto & Apartheid museum)

22. Private Johannesburg Full Day Tour Incl Soweto & Cultural Experience

23. Ultimate Johannesburg Soweto Experience with Apartheid Museum

24. Safe Guided Tour of Johannesburg City and Soweto

25. Johannesburg and Apartheid museum tour

26. 2 Days Pilanesberg National Park Luxury Safari

27. Aerial cableway Hartebeespoort Halfday tour

28. Sun City Day Tour From Johannesburg

29. Soweto & Johannesburg Half Day Tour

30. Pretoria city tour

What travelers are saying.

• Half-Day Tour of Soweto Tour
• Jo'burg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Apartheid Museum & Soweto
• Guided Bicycle Tour of Soweto with Lunch
• Maboneng Street Art Tour
• Half Day Pretoria City Tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria
• One Day Africa
• Honest Travel Experience (Johannesburg)
• Socioolite Travel & Tours
• Jozibug Tours
• Pathfinder Travel Consultancy (PTY) LTD
• Phillipians 4 Four
• South African Traditional Healing and Medicinal Plants Tour
• Ekala Eco Tours
• Spurwing Tourism Services
• Ilios Travel
• JoburgPlaces
• Big Six Tour Safaris
• Imbizo Tours
• Wilro Tours & Transfers

#1 Johannesburg Day Tours

Our top selling tour.

8 Hours - From Johannesburg

Ultimate Johannesburg Tour

The Ultimate Johannesburg Tour takes you to iconic heritage sites in Johannesburg CBD and Soweto; showcasing South Africa’s turbulent history and promising future. It’s an opportunity to learn more about events that shaped the country’s past and discover the dynamic cultural diversity of two of the most prominent cities in the country.

Highlights of the Johannesburg tour includes Constitutional Hill, Carlton Centre, the Apartheid Museum and the vibrant Newtown Junction.

From ZAR 1555

Trending Tours

Soweto apartheid museum and lunch tour.

You’ll get a true sense of the soul of the city of Soweto and events that shaped South Africa’s fight for freedom and equality...

Soweto and Lunch

Soweto is the largest Black residential area in South Africa and has a population of more than 3.5 Million people with the land in extent ...

From ZAR 1295

Ultimate Pilanesberg Open Vehicle Day Tour

Come and experience the Pilanesberg National Park on a morning and afternoon Open 4×4 safari vehicle drive experience...

From ZAR 2750

Choose your Johannesburg Experience

Johannesburg Day Tours

From ZAR 900

Soweto Day Tours

Pilanesberg Day Safaris

From ZAR 775

Private Johannesburg Tours

From ZAR 1795

Popular Johannesburg Tours

• < 4 Hours

From ZAR 1750

Lion Park Tour

Customizable private johannesburg day tour with guide.

From ZAR 4500

From ZAR 1500

Soweto Tour

From ZAR 1100

Johannesburg Tours

Rhino and lion park tour.

From ZAR 1995

Lesedi Cultural Village Tour

From ZAR 1800

Elephant and Monkey Sanctuary Tour

From ZAR 2975

Apartheid Museum Tour

From ZAR 1350

Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Centre

From ZAR 1925

Cradle of Humankind & Sterkfontein Caves Tour

From ZAR 1695

Johannesburg Half Day Tour

From ZAR 1250

Pretoria Tour

From ZAR 1450

2 Hour Soweto Tuk Tuk Tour

From ZAR 700

4 Hour Soweto Tuk Tuk Tour

2.5 hour soweto bicycle tour, 4 hour soweto bicycle tour, soweto and lion park.

From ZAR 2500

Soweto Night Tour

Pilanesberg day tours, 3 hour pilanesberg morning / afternoon safari drive.

From ZAR 6500

Full day Guided Open Vehicle Safari Drive

From ZAR 1675

3-Hour Shared Game Drive in Pilanesberg National Park

From ZAR 850

3-Hour Private Game Drive in Pilanesberg National Park

From ZAR 5500

Johannesburg  Tours: It’s time for a day trip out in the City of Gold!

The vibrancy of Johannesburg City cannot be avoided. There is something happening all of the time; on every street and on every corner!  Johannesburg day trips out and about  will let you really see the city for what it is: a bustling tourist attraction. Sure it is a  city  and it’s always buzzing, driving the South African economy forward.

But beneath the layers of commerce lies a rich history. Johannesburg had incredibly humble beginnings as a mining town. But unlike many of South Africa’s earliest mining camps, there was something about  Johannesburg  that had real staying power. Of course, the copious amounts of gold had a pull, but there was certainly more than that. And the city continues to grow.

It has seen so much happen and bears many marks left by history. These marks are now part of Johannesburg’s unique sightseeing tourist attractions. The MoAfrika  Johannesburg city tour itinerary  offers exciting tourist sightseeing stops, and tour packages designed to create the ultimate sightseeing experience. Full day tours and half day tours take guests to some of the most memorable places and then there is always the option of indulging in safari adventures. Safari day tours from Johannesburg take guests into the  wild of Pilanesberg , where animal sightings are plenty. But when you find yourself in Johannesburg, do you know how you will be spending your time?

MoAfrika has the best wheelchair friendly day trip options in Johannesburg for you to choose from. Come and explore Johannesburg in a day! Here is what you need to know!

What to do in Johannesburg today? A List of the best Johannesburg Tours:

• Johannesburg day tour
• Johannesburg half day tour
• Johannesburg walking tour
• Johannesburg full day tour
• Ultimate Johannesburg tour
• Constitutional Hill tour
• Top of Africa tour
• Johannesburg and Soweto tour
• Johannesburg and Lion park tour
• Johannesburg City tour
• Johannesburg apartheid Museum Tour
• Johannesburg Helicopter Tour
• Johannesburg Sky dive tour
• Johannesburg Kruger Safari
• Johannesburg Safari tour
• Johannesburg Lion Safari tour
• New town tour
• City of gold Tour
• Gold Reef City Tour
• Johannesburg Mine tours
• Johannesburg wildlife tours

The best budget tours: Who says the city needs to be expensive

Some of the most exciting Johannesburg day tours are the budget tours. Taking you on unforgettable sightseeing adventures to places like Soweto, the Lion and Rhino Park, and the various museums, you will be visiting all of the best tourist attractions. For those who don’t want to do a self drive day trip from Johannesburg, at MoAfrika we offer bus tours and transfers from Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban.

Half a day in the city

Johannesburg city tours are guided tours, leaving you in the hands of an experienced guide who knows the ins and outs of the city, guaranteeing that you will be getting the most out of your day. Half day tours, that are great if you are on a budget, include the Soweto Tour, Gold Reef City Tour, Pretoria Tour, the Apartheid Museum Tour, Cradle of Humankind and Sterkfontein Caves Tour, Lion Park Tour, and the half day Johannesburg Tour, among others. These exciting tours are all affordable and under the guidance of an experienced Johannesburg tour operator, you will see the city with new eyes!

Make a day of it with a full day tour

With so much to see, sometimes it is best to visit the city on a full day tour. The  Johannesburg day trip  is a guided tour, allowing you to sit back in comfort while being taken on a whirlwind tour. The Ultimate Johannesburg Day tour is a full day tour and one of the best. The best Johannesburg city tour itinerary includes time spent at the  Apartheid Museum , the Lesedi Cultural Village, Soweto, and of course plenty of time in the city itself. MoAfrika also takes guests into the historical city of Pretoria. It is a cultural experience, designed to show you urban Africa at its finest while stepping back in history to appreciate how far the city and its people have come.

Read more on our safari tour to Pilanesberg National Park .

Local day trips from Johannesburg, time away from the city

The surrounding areas of Johannesburg offer numerous sightseeing tourist attractions for you to explore. Johannesburg tour operators have created excursions away from the city, giving guests the opportunity to see African wildlife.

These daily trips from Johannesburg include time spent in Pilanesberg Park as well as the Rhino and Lion Park for a proper safari, adventures to the Cullinan Mine, and time spent at the Sterkfontein Caves and the Cradle of Human Kind. About MoAfrika MoAfrika is a Johannesburg tour operator with a difference.

With unique touring options selected based on affordability, maximum sightseeing opportunities and with plenty of activities, each travel tour is designed for memory making. 15 years of experience, combined with a fresh approach to visiting attractions in South Africa, MoAfrika has made a name in offering exciting 1 day tours, 2 day tours, and 3 day tours to see Johannesburg and the surrounding areas.

Find us on TripAdvisor! Many of our guests have recommended our Johannesburg city tour itinerary as the best way to see the city. We also offer custom private tours of this famous city and its surrounds.

Let MoAfrika take you into the heart of South Africa with an affordable Johannesburg day tour! Can’t find what you are looking for? We offer a wide selection of day trip packages, contact us now for our 2024/2025 prices and availability. 

Frequently asked questions, what is the cost of johannesburg day tours.

The cost of Johannesburg day tours can vary depending on the tour operator, itinerary, and inclusions. On average, these tours can cost anywhere from ZAR 600 to ZAR 1,500 per person. However, there are also budget-friendly options available, with some tours starting at around ZAR 300 per person. It’s important to research and compare different tour operators to find a tour that fits your budget and preferences.

What is usually included in Johannesburg day tours?

Typical Johannesburg tours may include the following: Hotel pickup and drop-off & transportation throughout the day, such as an air-conditioned bus or minivan. A visit to the Apartheid Museum is usually included. You can visit landmarks such as the Nelson Mandela House, Regina Mundi Church, and Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum.  You may also visit other attractions such as the Cradle of Humankind, the Lion Park, or the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens.  Many tour itineraries include lunch, which may be a traditional South African meal or a more western-style option. Included is usually a knowledgeable tour guide that will accompany you throughout the day, providing insights into the history and culture of Johannesburg and South Africa.

How long do Johannesburg day tours usually last?

Johannesburg day tours can vary in length and itinerary, but most typically last between 4 to 8 hours.

• +27 (0) 82 506 9641
• +27 (0) 72 783 9787
• [email protected]
• Address: 16 Karen Road, Illiondale, Johannesburg, South Africa

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Additional information, awards and recognition.

Copyright © MoAfrika Tours 2024

MoAfrika tours and the Kruger Safari Co. are destination management companies (DMC) and are not entities of the South African National Parks Board (SANparks).

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THE 10 BEST Johannesburg City Tours

City tours in johannesburg.

• Multi-day Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Half-Day Tour of Soweto Tour

2. Half Day Pretoria City Tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria

3. Soweto and Johannesburg Exclusive Full Day Guided Tour

4. Jo'burg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Apartheid Museum & Soweto

5. Guided Bicycle Tour of Soweto with Lunch

6. Soweto Walking Tour with Lunch

7. Soweto Township Cultural Tour incl Apartheid Museum and Nelson Mandela House

8. Maboneng Street Art Tour

9. Private Full Day Johannesburg Historical Tour

10. Ultimate Johannesburg Soweto Experience with Apartheid Museum

11. Pilanesberg and Sun City Tour

12. Johannesburg City Tour(Half-day)

13. Pretoria,Johannesburg,soweto & Apartheid Museum tour

14. Private Half Day Pretoria City Tour from Johannesburg or pretoria

15. Johannesburg e-scooter experience

16. Pretoria and cullinan mine day tour(surface tour)

17. Full Day Johannesburg , Apartheid Museum and Soweto Tour - 8hrs

18. Johannesburg Culture and food tour

19. Private Half Day Authentic Soweto Tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria

20. Johannesburg City Half Day Tour

21. Johannesburg exploration tour(Jo-burg/Soweto & Apartheid museum)

22. Private Johannesburg Full Day Tour Incl Soweto & Cultural Experience

23. Ultimate Johannesburg Soweto Experience with Apartheid Museum

24. Safe Guided Tour of Johannesburg City and Soweto

25. Johannesburg and Apartheid museum tour

26. 2 Days Pilanesberg National Park Luxury Safari

27. Aerial cableway Hartebeespoort Halfday tour

28. Sun City Day Tour From Johannesburg

29. Soweto & Johannesburg Half Day Tour

30. Pretoria city tour

What travellers are saying.

• Half-Day Tour of Soweto Tour
• Jo'burg Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Apartheid Museum & Soweto
• Guided Bicycle Tour of Soweto with Lunch
• Maboneng Street Art Tour
• Half Day Pretoria City Tour from Johannesburg or Pretoria
• One Day Africa
• Honest Travel Experience (Johannesburg)
• Socioolite Travel & Tours
• Jozibug Tours
• Pathfinder Travel Consultancy (PTY) LTD
• Phillipians 4 Four
• South African Traditional Healing and Medicinal Plants Tour
• Ekala Eco Tours
• Spurwing Tourism Services
• Ilios Travel
• JoburgPlaces
• Big Six Tour Safaris
• Imbizo Tours
• Wilro Tours & Transfers

The Exclusive Choice

• Learn the history of beer and brewing at SAB World of Beer • Live like a Jozi local and visit a shebeen for a drink • Capture the essence of South African history at the Apartheid Museum • Visit the highest court in the land

Museum Africa Nestled in the heart of Johannesburg’s Newtown Cultural District, Museum Africa is an important ethnological museum that contains artefacts and archaeological items, as well as paintings, photographs and musical instruments from recent history. The museum is an animated memorial to key phases of Johannesburg’s past. In the District you will also come across the Worker’s Museum, SAB World of Beer, the Market Theatre and Bassline live music venue.

The Museum of Man and Science The Museum of Man and Science is actually a medicine or ‘muti’ shop, dedicated to traditional healing. The shop’s biggest local selling item is its rich concentration of traditional dried herbs. There is a constant flow of customers who are advised by the inyanga (traditional healers) on what to purchase to cure their physical and spiritual ailments.

Hillbrow Hillbrow, home to the iconic circular Ponte Tower, is an inner-city residential neighbourhood known for its high levels of population density, unemployment, poverty and crime. Trendy in the 1970s, it was an apartheid¬‐designated ‘whites only’ area but soon became a ‘grey area’, where people of different ethnicities lived happily together.

Maboneng The inner city of Johannesburg is constantly evolving and regenerating. The Maboneng precinct, on the east side of the city, has become a lively neighbourhood and hub of culture, business and lifestyle. The area reflects the new breed of Jozi residents promoting urban togetherness. It offers a mix of residential, office, industrial and retail stores with a trendy and exciting selection of restaurants and entertainment venues.

Shebeens A place to savour a drink and meet up with like-minded people. Shebeens played an essential role in South Africa’s pre¬‐democratic social and political history. During apartheid, they would often serve as meeting places for political dissidents, but they have since crossed over from makeshift taverns to mainstream venues for relaxing and socialising.

The Apartheid Museum The Apartheid Museum chronicles the history of South Africa’s harsh apartheid era. Beginning with the racial segregation introduced in 1984, the museum takes you through the years of race classification, the 150 acts of apartheid, detentions and oppression of the nationalist regime. It examines the rise of black consciousness, the armed struggle and the release of Nelson Mandela after 27-years of imprisonment, which led to negotiations for peace and ultimately his inauguration in 1994.

Constitution Hill Constitution Hill is home to the Constitutional Court of South Africa – the highest court in the land. This precinct in Braamfontein was once a prison that contained famous prisoners including Mahatma Ghandi, Nelson Mandela, Jow Slovo, Bram Fischer, Albert Luthuli and Robert Sobukwe. The prison had different sections that were collectively called the Fort, and it was a place that was notorious for its harsh treatment of prisoners. It is now a platform for justice, heritage and education.

SAB World of Beer Situated in the centre of the Newtown Cultural Precinct, the SAB World of Beer is a popular visitor attraction dedicated to the golden brew that SAB has been creating since 1895. Here you can learn about the fascinating history of beer with the help of 3D movies, floating holograms and a large screen with surround sound. You can also opt for the 90-minute tour of the brewery or take yourself on a walk through the sample brewery before stopping in at the Tap Room to enjoy a crisp sample of their brew.

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Johannesburg city tour

Unearth the pulse of johannesburg, city of gold.

• Indian Ocean Islands
• South America
• Cape Whale Coast
• Cape Winelands
• Eastern Cape Game Reserves
• Garden Route
• Johannesburg
• Kruger National Park
• KwaZulu-Natal
• Madikwe Game Reserve
• Sabi Sand Nature Reserve
• Tswalu Kalahari

Johannesburg City Tour

A diverse cultural melting pot, the city of gold or igoli as it is locally known offers everything from traditional markets to exclusive boutiques in upmarket malls, theatres, museums, world-class restaurants and more..

Enjoy a 3-hour tour through this vibrant city that serves as South Africa’s financial hub and powerhouse. The city is awash with contradictions, a sprawling urban forest, featuring impressive glass structures, colonial mansions and a tangle of multi-lane highways harmoniously interlaced with legions of emerald trees.

Pass diamond shaped buildings, muti markets frequented by sangomas, the famed Market Theatre Complex, Constitution Hill and the iconic Nelson Mandela Bridge, before cruising through the historical suburb of Parktown, upmarket Rosebank, and end your tour in affluent Sandton, Africa’s richest square mile and the most expensive commercial real estate seat on the continent. View New York style skyscrapers, impressive hotels, Sandton City, Nelson Mandela Square, excellent eateries, the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and other significant landmarks.

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Johannesburg Itinerary: City Tour, Day Trips and More

Table of contents.

Johannesburg was the start to our epic two week safari through South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe, but it was so much more. The city is fascinating – we knew about Johannesburg from our history books and I had an old friend from SA but still couldn’t predict what the city would hold. It’s hard to devise a Johannesburg itinerary because it’s largely a commercial city. A hub in Africa, the city isn’t the real destination – it’s a jumping off point.

Here’s how to make the most of your time in Johannesburg. Our 2-3 day itinerary gives you all the highlights and history of the city and points you in the right direction of African exploration.

Some links may be affiliate links. This means we may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking certain links at no extra cost to you. 

What To Expect in Johannesburg

Johannesburg is a city of contradictions. The city rises in the middle of nowhere, formed nearly overnight in a region where the first humans lived. It is a gold rush town where the rich and the poor are separated by little more than a fence. The city carries the scars of an ugly past, and the tension of a challenging present. But after visiting Johannesburg you will not only feel the weight of history, but also the resilience of humanity and desire for a hopeful future.     

Where To Stay in Johannesburg

When we researched where to stay in Johannesburg, we decided on the Fashion District . Sounds fabulous, right?

It’s billed as an up-and-coming neighborhood with character, and it definitely is that. When my friend picked us up to explore Johannesburg, he was a bit surprised that we picked the area. I understand his sentiment because some of the best places in our hometown are trendy and hip, but historically unsafe and undesired.

Anyway, these two white boys were just fine in the area and loved the neighborhood. It’s full of things to do, bars, clubs, art, hotels and hostels.

We could have stayed in Rosebank or Sandton, an area best known for its shopping mall. It’s a safe and super sterile area of Joburg, but not for us.

What we learned about Johannesburg is that it’s super spread out. The historical reason is so that blacks could live outside of the city center, but close enough to commute into the center and work for white families.

12 Decades Art Hotel

We stayed at the 12 Decades Art Hotel . It’s a gorgeous hotel that’s rustic and simple-chic. Each room represents a period in South Africa’s colorful history, hence the name ’12 Decades’. It was a great room, perfect facilities and friendly staff in an area with plenty to offer in terms of food, nightlife and transportation.

South Africa Travel Tips To Apply To Your Johannesburg Itinerary

We didn’t learn everything there is about Johannesburg, but this was one destination where we had local friends to show us the ropes. We picked up tips from them and a few we learned on our own, so here’s a bit of what we think you’ll benefit from.

• Say Howzit:  That’s your basic informal greeting in Joburg. Howzit is ”what’s up?” or ”que pasa?” – use it to greet your server, the staff who check you into your hotel and anyone else while in Johannesburg.
• Traffic SUCKS: We’re used to annoying traffic in the satest – Philadelphia isn’t exactly an easy city to navigate quickly, but WOW Johannesburg is tough around commuting time. They have some public transportation, but the car is king. Avoid traveling highways and local roads during peak travel times.
• Be Confident (but cool): Crime is a natural concern for visitors to Johannesburg, but just like big cities in America (or elsewhere) you just need to know your surroundings. Be vigilant, don’t flash money or things of value and act like a normal person – looking like a tourist can make you prey.
• Get Out: Johannesburg is cool, and you should definitely experience a good night out in ”town” while there but your  itinerary should include some day trips from Johannesburg. There’s so much to explore in South Africa and much of it is outside of the cities.
• Drive and Then Walk: Whether you’re in a taxi or you rent a car, you’ll find that the traffic gridlock extends beyond the commuter highways and into the city blocks. They can be notoriously bad for traffic and it’s common to just be politely asked to leave a taxi instead of dropped off at your destination. It will usually save you time anyway. The same goes for parking along your route – even a kilometer walk can save you time.

Day 1 Johannesburg Itinerary: Johannesburg City Tours and More

For your first day in Johannesburg you need to get acquainted to the city. After that, it’s key to relax, recover from your travels there and tune into the vibe of the city. We give you a way to do all that and have a little fun along the way!

Hop On Hop Off Johannesburg

I know we just told you how grim the traffic is, but Hop On Hop Off Johannesburg is actually a great way to first meet the city. Once commuters are at work, it leaves just your Johannesburg city tour bus on the road and you can see it all! With a city that’s spread out far and wide, the hop on hop off is a great way to go.

Another reason to add this to your Johannesburg itinerary is that you can use it to get between different spots in the city. There are 24 and 48 hours tour options, so even if you ride the whole rout – you can make it your personal taxi for day 2. I know, we’re cheap – but why pay for a taxi when you can have an open-air bus with multi-lingual tour information?

Stops include:

Green Tour:

1. Rosebank 2. Zoo Lake 3. Johannesburg Zoo 4. Military Museum 5. Constitution Hill

1. Constitution Hill 2. Mining District 3. Carlton Centre (for the Roof of Africa viewing deck) 4. James Hall Transport Museum 5. Gold Reef City Casino Hotel (join the Soweto extension tour here) 6. Apartheid Museum 7. New Town 8. Origins Centre at Wits University 9. Neighborhoods Market

The Hop On Hop Off Johannesburg experience could easily be your whole day. The beauty is you can tie in any of these other activities along the way. At the very least, hop off and grab lunch in any number of spots. We recommend finding lunch at Gold Reef Casino and visiting the amusement park for your afternoon.

Gold Reef City and Soweto Tours

When the Johannesburg gold mines closed in 1971, a campy amusement park crept up in its place. All of the buildings are designed to replicate the gold mining history of the region. It’s fitting in the amusement park, and depending on your luck – with the casino too!

You can visit Gold Reef City in combination with the Hop On Hop Off Johannesburg experience and Soweto Tours. Soweto is a black township that sprung from shanty towns near the mines of Johannesburg. During apartheid, it was a black township and the site of many riots and violent uprisings in the struggle against apartheid.

When in Soweto you can visit the home of Nelson Mandela on Vilikazi Street (probably the most visited street in South Africa). Desmond Tutu still lives on the street. You must also take a photo of the brilliant Orlando Power Station.

The Orlando Power Station is an old coal power plant with cooling towers that are now covered in murals. They dominate the skyline, landscape and instagram. There are even bungee jumping options and a swing from the towers.

However you decide to visit Soweto, be aware that it’s a powerful and meaningful place. It’s also still home to a new generation of citizens and it’s more than a tourist attraction. Having a tour guide is the best way to visit and you can get a combination ticket to do the Hope On Hop Off Johannesburg experience with the Soweto tour and trip to Gold Reef City.

BOOK A COMBO PASS FOR THE HOP ON HOP OFF, GOLD REEF CITY AND SOWETO TOURS.

Gold Reef City is a cool way to spend time in Johannesburg. It’s got something for the whole family – an amusement park, a casino and there’s even a hotel in case you don’t want to leave. If we were there with my brother, sister-in-law and nephews this is probably where we would have made home base while in Joburg. That’s why we’ll leave the hotel info and hint-hint to Nate and Lindsay:

Day 2 Johannesburg Itinerary: Apartheid Museum

You cannot visit South Africa and skip the incredible history of Nelson Mandela and the Apartheid Era. The Apartheid Museum is an important stop in your time in Africa. It’s an incredibly heavy day, so we advise going to the museum early in the day – you can easily spend four hours walking through the exhibits.

There is food available outside of the museum, but we recommend eating in the morning, spending a full morning at the museum and heading to Nelson Mandela Square afterward.

See the Apartheid Museum

One of the most important, touching and enriching experiences for families visiting South Africa is the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. The museum should be a staple in any Johannesburg itinerary, and while the trip though the halls is a heavy experience, it’s hard to imagine visiting South Africa and skipping it.

Before you ever reach the gates of the museum, most people are keenly aware of the history of South Africa. Understanding the Apartheid Era is an important part of visiting Johannesburg.

When you pick up your tickets to the museum you’re assigned a random racial identity. The assigned race is often different than the one with which you approached, but it’s how you enter the museum. For us​ Mike was ‘white’ and I was ‘black’. Because of our different races, we entered through separate doors and our lives were depicted from the lens of our given identities. During the first 15 minutes in the museum, daily life was described for us based on the group we were assigned.

It was difficult, but necessary to face this dark history immediately. Something like apartheid can’t be dropped in doses or delivered with artificial flavoring, it has to be swallowed like the poison that it was. It slaps you in the face as soon as you enter – and that’s the only way.

Still, during the journey through the Apartheid Museum, you’re left with hope, not harm or hatred. This museum encapsulates the entire experience of visiting South Africa. You’re continuously reminded of the past while only looking forward. You remain appreciative of the strides that an entire society of people took to achieve generational healing in a much shorter period – a period that we’re still living through.

Stop at Mandela Square

After the powerful and somber experience of the museum, you’ll need a mental break and the chance to take a deep breath. There’s no better spot to it than Mandela Square. It’s not a far drive (during non-peak hours) and there are plenty of spots around for a late lunch.

Most visitors to Johannesburg eventually get to Mandela Square. If for no other reason,  because there is a giant, 9 meter tall statue of Nelson Mandela.

After learning of the darkest parts of South Africa’s past – it’s a fitting end of the day. You can sit and enjoy a bite to eat or a drink on Mandela Square at Standton Mall. Look around and you’ll see a free and multi-cultural South Africa that was once cut off from the world but now invites you in.

Day 3 Johannesburg Itinerary: Hartbeespoort Day Trip From Johannesburg

While the city of Johannesburg has plenty to offer, we highly recommend day trips from Johannesburg. Escaping the city to discover the surrounding area is one of the best things to put in your Johannesburg itinerary.

Johannesburg sits on the Highveld plateau, an inland grassland in northwest South Africa. The area is most notable for its mining history, as Johannesburg itself was settled to support a gold rush in the surrounding area. This means the area has an interesting history with frontier towns and mountains that still offer great experiences for tourists. 

The highlight of this day trip is to venture into the Magaliesberg mountains northwest of Johannesburg, exploring some attractions around this area.

Hartbeespoort Dam

Hartbeespoort Dam is located about 90 minutes north of central Johannesburg. The dam was built in the 1920’s to help irrigate the growing agricultural industry in the grasslands north of Johannesburg. Today the reservoir formed by the dam offers opportunities for boating and other water recreation, but the highlight is visiting the dam itself.

The dam is an arch that you can walk or drive over, and there are excellent views of the barren rock surrounding the dam. While the dam itself isn’t terribly imposing, it certainly offers a view into the landscape of the area and is a neat spot for some pictures. 

Tan’ Malie Se Winkel Restaurant

Just down the road from the dam is the Tan’ Malie Se Winkel. This is an Afrikaner restaurant that takes you back into time. The Afrikaners (or Boers) are descendants of the Dutch settlers of South Africa that arrived in the colonial era.

This area was only populated by Boers in the mid-1800’s as people migrated from Cape Colony in the southwest to escape British rule. These Boers were primarily nomadic herders and farmers who engaged on what is known as the “Great Trek” to arrive in this area. 

The restaurant is filled with nick-knacks and memorabilia from early 20th century Boer life, and offers the unique cuisine of the culture and era. You can have a sit-down meal here or just sample some of the pastries and finger food that they offer.

Something to definitely try is biltong, the local cured meat. You can sample local favorites like ostrich or other regional game. Mike tried it, but I’m an at-will vegetarian and I decided to be right then.

Hartbeespoort Aerial CableWay

No matter where we travel, we love nothing more than going somewhere high to get an amazing panorama of the area. Located just 10 minutes from the dam, the Hartbeespoort Aerial CableWay offers you a spectacular ride to the top of the Magaliesberg mountains. 

The view from the top of the CableWay will give an impressive view of the area, and there is a nice walking path with information boards that explain the geography and history of the area.

This region is fascinating, as you will stand near the cradle of humanity where some of the oldest artifacts of human life have been found.

Then to the north you will see the mines and foundries of the area that give South Africa so much of its mineral wealth. And in the distance you see the cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria, marking the core of the Gauteng region. 

There are also several small restaurants both at the top and bottom of the cableway, offering drinks and meals with a great view. 

More Things To Do in Hartbeespoort

Cradle of Humankind

While South Africa is filled with fascinating modern history, it is the truly ancient history of this area that is the most incredible. Some of the oldest artifacts of humans come from this area, earning it the nickname the “cradle of humankind”.  

About 40 minutes south of Hartbeespoort Dam is the Cradle of Humankind Maropeng visitors center. Here you can see exhibits showing some of the incredible discoveries in the area, as scientists piece together the origins of humanity. You can also visit the Sterkfontein Caves, a neat adventure into the cave network where so many artifacts of our ancestors have been found. 

Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Center 

If you don’t have time for a proper safari, this is a good opportunity to see the fastest cats of the African wild. This is a cheetah sanctuary, focused not just on displaying wild animals but on conservation of the species. The center offers a variety of guided tours that let you see these amazing animals through the park, and some tours include a “cheetah run” where you can see them get up to full speed!

Lion & Safari Park

Located about 25 minutes south of the Aerial CableWay is the Lion and Safari Park. They offer a variety of tours, including self-drive and a guided tour through the park. A visit here can’t compare to a real safari in Kruger Park, but it can be fun for children and let you get up close to some African wildlife!

Crocodile River (whitewater rapids)

Being surrounded by mountain ranges, the area has several good rivers for white water rapid tours. One of the best rivers is the Crocodile River, and several tour companies offer part-day trips down the river.

Browse availability and rates of these great activities and others on GetYourGuide.

Instant ticketing confirmation, cancel up to 24 hours before your activity and get your tickets sent right to your mobile device!

Now You Know How To Plan A Johannesburg Itinerary

okay, so now you see how to build an unforgettable trip to Johannesburg.

But where do you go from here?

Our Johannesburg itinerary led us to an incredible safari. We did the Botswana & Falls Adventure tour from G Adventures. You can use the link to read more about it – but if you haven’t found the right safari tour for you there are a few options.

Our perfect safari tour ended in beautiful Victoria Falls , and I actually got us stuck there because of my passport nightmare (you can read about it HERE ).

Most visitors leave greater Johannesburg for Pilanesberg National Park or the super popular Kruger National Park. Some fly into Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) and don’t even spend time in or around the city – they just book it to the safari tours.

The point of our post here (and hopefully you got it) is that there’s still a lot of cool stuff to do and see in Johannesburg.

And if you want to check out other South African tours, safari through Kruger, traverse Botswana, sip South African wine on Table Mountain and anything else in your dream vacation – check out listings from G Adventures HERE .

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Why A Johannesburg City Tour Is The Best Way To See The City For The First Time

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Joburg. Jozi. Joni. eGoli. Johannesburg, the second largest city in Africa, is a sprawling metropolis with many nicknames. Along with its reputation as an economic and cultural hub in southern Africa, Joburg is also notorious for its crime rates. Trying to figure out the lay of the land seemed complicated, and we too did worry about Johannesburg safety. We opted to take an afternoon Johannesburg city tour arranged by Yellow Zebra Safaris on our first day in the city.  A Johannesburg city sightseeing tour would give us an overview of the destination and focus us on where we wanted to explore further.

Why Visit Johannesburg?

Joburg is the largest city in the world nowhere near a body of water because this city became a megalopolis  for one reason only … gold.

One of the many nicknames for Joburg is City of Gold where many continue to come to seek their fortunes.

The Boers of Cape Town got sick of the British being up in their business and moved eastward in South Africa. With the discovery in 1886 of gold on a farm in what is now Johannesburg though, the British came for a look-see.  And more conquering. Obvs.

In the late 19th century, Paul Kruger built the Old Fort on Constitutional Hill to defend against those pesky British but to no avail. The British took over the fort and turned it into a prison. Now, it is a fantastic prison museum and next door to the Supreme Court of South Africa.

Among the famous prisoners of Constitutional Hill prison were Gandhi and Mandela.

From a gold rush town of 100,000 people, Joburg is now the largest city in South Africa. As a major transit hub in southern Africa, you may find yourself in Joburg at some point even if you are only passing through to other destinations in South Africa itself ( Cape Town , Kruger National Park etc) or other Southern African countries (Namibia, Etosha National Park).

The Hillbrow Tower is a local landmark which is the tallest tower in Africa.

Is Johannesburg Safe?

When the question is asked if Johannesburg is safe, the many carjackings come to mind.

Why is Cape Town perceived to be safer? One theory we were told is that it is all about marketing. Post-Apartheid, there was white flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town. It fits the white narrative better if Cape Town is perceived as safe and Johannesburg safety downplayed.

As you can see from the tag on the photo above, we went to Urbanology, a super cool restaurant in the central business district of Johannesburg. Nelson showed Urbanology to us on our daytime Joburg city tour and told us the area around it was safe but not to venture too far on our own that evening.

Joburg safety does require you to be street smart. Don’t flash your cash and keep an eye on your belongings. Don’t wander around neighbourhoods you don’t know at night alone. Keep your car doors locked and belongings out of sight. You know the drill – it’s the same for most major cities.

Johannesburg neighbourhoods are so different you can spend time in the city without ever going somewhere in the least dodgy. But where’s the fun in that?

Johannesburg City Sightseeing

We made several stops during our Johannesburg city tour including visiting the museums on Constitutional Hill. Our lovely Johannesburg private tour guide, Nelson, even went through a drive-through for food because the children were hungry!

The main stops for our city tour of Johannesburg were the museums of Constitutional Hill, the Nelson Mandela mansion at Houghton and the shopping area of trendy Maboneng. Although there is a lot more to Johannesburg city sightseeing, these stops were a good introduction.

Johannesburg city sightseeing tours will take you to see the Houghton mansion house that supporters of Nelson Mandela bought for him once he was released from Robben Island.

Since the city tour was private, we were able to stop when and where we wanted as well. For example, in addition to a pitstop for snacks on our Johannesburg half day tour we stopped for cool street art along the way.

On a city tour Johannesburg provided plenty of street art for photo backdrops.

Our Johannesburg City Tour Guide

Our Johannesburg private tour guide Nelson was charming and informative. My kids ranked him as their favourite guide from the whole of our South Africa trip.

It was only a couple of hours into our tour that we realised that Nelson’s English was entirely self-taught! A little more digging revealed that Nelson was originally from the north of South Africa near the Zimbabwe border.

Like so many of the immigrants, Nelson came to Johannesburg for the opportunity of a better life. He started off by selling tomatoes on the street from a shopping trolley  – 10 tomatoes for one Rand. He had to hustle to sell them rapidly because they were perishable items.

After teaching himself English, Nelson became a tour guide because he loves history and knew the city well. How impressive is that??

A Selection of Johannesburg Neighborhoods

The neighbourhood of  Maboneng  was just my scene so we wound up returning to it later on our own.  Maboneng is a creative buzzy neighbourhood of old warehouse conversions full of sweet artistanal shops and great restaurants.

On a city tour Johannesburg shows you all its different aspects from trendy Maboneng to historic Constitutional Hill.

Rosebank is an older luxury neighbourhood which has managed to stay hip and current. On the Sunday, we went to the famous Rosebank Market which is held on the rooftop of a local Johannesburg mall. There’s kids activities, food stalls and a fantastic arts and crafts market.

Colorful Juju hats for sale at the Rosebank Sunday market. Yes, Reader, I bought one.

The beautiful home of Nelson Mandela (post imprisonment in 1992) in the Johannesburg suburb of Houghton will soon be converted into a boutique hotels. Houghton has a lot of huge homes which were abandoned by whites fleeing the area after the fall of Apartheid. Some of these houses are being turned into chic boutique hotels (including the boutique hotel we stayed at, Houghton Hotel).

We felt Sandton Ciy Johannesburg could be anywhere in the world – London, New York , Singapore etc. It’s called the richest square mile in Africa and you can see it in the gleaming steel and glass buildings, expensive restaurants and multinational hotel chains.

Sandton is known as the richest square mile in Africa.

The townships like Soweto where you can visit the Mandela National House (the former Nelson Mandela’s township home) is also part of Johannesburg. Soweto was not part of our half day tour in Johannesburg because we wanted to do a full day visit.

Why Take A Joburg City Tour?

Call it what you will. Joburg, Jozi, Joni … is a super cool place to visit.

Take a Joburg city tour and see ALL the different parts of this vibrant city from the inner city to the outer surburbs: t he markets selling traditional medicine, the immigrants trying to eke out a living, the traders from other Southern African countries who come to stock up on supplies, the street art and hip markets, the glitzy buildings of Sandton, the imposing walls that guard enormous mansions, the townships.

Some of the places we went to on our Johannesburg half day tour we would not have ventured without a local tour guide who knew what he was doing.

On our city tour of Johannesburg, Nelson knew where to stop and where there had been issues before. For example, we saw some tourists stopping on a hill which provided an amazing vantage point over the city.  Nelson decline to stop explaining to me that the place was known for muggings.

What did we do on our Johannesburg sightseeing tour that was most definitely helped by having a private tour guide?

On the way to Constitutional Hill, we passed through Hillbrow , one of the poorest parts of the city.

Hillbrow used to be a rich whites-only area (and hence, the Hillbrow Tower being the tallest building in Africa). With the end of Apartheid, the whites moved out to the suburbs and Sandton. The area is now populated with migrants from the townships and also the rest of Africa – people from Nigeria, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe etc.

A Johannesburg city tour showed how ordinary citizens scrabble to make living in this metropolis, such as this orange seller.

Hillbrow was NOT the place to stop.  When someone saw me with a phone camera he started yelling but Nelson drove calmly away. Nelson explained later that people were antsy in case we were police informants come to rat them out for whatever they were doing.

In Hillsbrow people came to buy and to sell fruit and vegetables — and the occasional live chickens. Traders from other Southern African countries would come with their vans and tows to  haul back goods to their own homelands.

One of the most surprising things we saw on our Johannesburg sightseeing tour were live chickens for sale on the street.

Another fascinating place we went to had market stalls lined with African traditional medicines and muti shops.

On our Johannesburg half day tour we saw lots of advertisements for traditional African medicines (from the amusing 100% increase guaranteed here to the disturbing advertisements for back-room abortions).

Would I want to explore these places further without a private tour guide – Johannesburg in all of its contradictory glory? No. When people are desperate and poor, they will do anything. Johannesburg safety issues are real.

Johannesburg city tours will let you catch a glimpse into the side of South Africa that is still a work in progress.

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We received a complimentary Johannesburg city tour from Yellow Zebra Safaris which did not in any way affect the opinions given in this article. We did not otherwise receive compensation of any form, monetary or otherwise, from any of the products, services, hotels   etc mentioned in this article.

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