Many people travel to the coast of Cape Town or Durban when they are looking to holiday in South Africa, leaving the Gauteng province nearly deserted. Holidays on the coast offer a spectacular, but crowded time with many people all rushing to see the area’s best attractions. Heading to Johannesburg or Jozi, as it is affectionately known, during this time or simply staying put, is actually a great way to enjoy a quiet, but exciting break.

While the smallest of all the provinces, Gauteng is the most densely populated and is packed fill of attractions – both natural and man-made. From beautifully modern shopping malls to hiking in the mountains, there is so much to do in Johannesburg, you might not know where to start, let alone where to stay! So read on and start planning your clever vacation today!

What to Do in Jozi

A Little bit of Culture and History

Johannesburg’s Apartheid Museum was the first of its kind to document and illustrate the rise and fall of this devastating political system in South Africa. A visit to this museum can take up an entire day as you get lost in our fascinating and tumultuous history. Stopping in at the Apartheid Museum is a must for people with children who are too young to remember this system. Not only will it open their eyes to their own country’s past but act as a great way to prepare them for what is in store in next year’s school history classes!

Calling Gold Reef City a cultural and historical experience might sound a bit silly, but this theme park and entertainment complex actually celebrates the rich mining heritage of Johannesburg – the City of Gold. Learning about how gold was first discovered in South Africa and its extraction and smelting processes has never been more exciting with interactive tours, underground mine rides and live mining demonstrations.

For a little bit of contemporary culture, don’t forget to take a Soweto Tour. This vibrant township was a hotspot for political activism during Apartheid and is filled with an eclectic mix of people. The welcoming atmosphere cannot be matched elsewhere and discovering how real South African’s live is an eye-opening and heart-warming experience. The hope, exuberance and vibrancy of the people and Soweto will leave you with a changed view of the city of Johannesburg.

A Breath of Fresh Air

Even though it is South Africa’s busiest and most densely populated city, a break in the country and fresh air is not out of the question in Johannesburg. The Cradle of Humankind encompasses the regions of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans and Kromdraai and has one of the world's richest concentrations of fossils. The museum in the area carts the theory of human evolution over the last 3.5-million years with real examples as illustrations. This incredible learning experience is supplemented by the beautiful walks and hikes that surround the area.

Another area that should be missed is the Kloofendal Nature Reserve in Johannesburg’s west Constantia Kloof area. The reserve is a floral kingdom with spectacular orchids, proteas and indigenous trees flowering all year round. The walking trail that is lined by these beautiful flowers and flora also takes visitors past old gold mining shafts and many other places of unique interest. The rich and varied bird population of the area offers a great way to relax. Sit back with a bird book and a pair of binoculars and see how many of the different raptor species you can spot.

If you’d like to stay a bit closer to the city, the Lion Park in northern Johannesburg is a truly spectacular experience. Children and adults will love getting up close to the King of the African plains. Over 70 lions are housed in this park as well as many other carnivores such as cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas and black leopards among others. Alternatively you can visit the Johannesburg Zoo, which was founded over 100 years ago to help in the preservation of South Africa’s wildlife. There are always exciting things happening at the zoo, from frog art exhibitions to feeding the rhinos and lions. This clean and well-maintained animal sanctuary is a great way to introduce kids to animals and conservation, without having to head out to an expensive game park or reserve.

Some Retail Therapy and Indoor Entertainment

For the more urban inclined, Johannesburg is still the city for you. Shopping malls and entertainment complexes abound in Jozi, and you will never run out of “rainy day” options. Montecasino was built to resemble a Tuscan village and offers an all day shopping extravaganza. Shops are open late and everything from African curios to designer clothing can be bought here. There is also a cinema, casino and theatre to keep you busy until bedtime.

Other notable malls in Jozi include Rosebank Mall, with a unique African flavour and an unmissable roof top craft market and East Rand Mall with regular exhibitions of everything from art to super cars. If shopping isn’t quite everything to you, you could also attempt to schedule your time in Jozi around an event. The city has four large convention centres and often houses expos, events, concerts and theatrical productions. Visit Johannesburg and go and see The Lion King on stage or your favourite rock band live in concert or head to an international expo in everything from weddings to health care.

Johannesburg Holiday Accommodation

Now that you are convinced that Johannesburg has more than enough exciting attractions to make up for not having a beach, the next question is where to stay. Jozi is filled with hotels, guest houses and motels, but many of these can be outrageously expensive. Housing a family of four or more in a holiday can be prohibitively pricey and you need that little extra cash to explore the city thoroughly. One solution is to invest in timeshare. This is possibly the cheapest way to find family-sized accommodation, but often comes with terms and conditions that outweigh the benefits. A new way to find affordable family holiday accommodation in Johannesburg is through online vouchers. Many companies online now offer voucher subscription services which, for your set monthly fee, send you a variety of discount and free vouchers every month. These can include discounts on Johannesburg holiday accommodation or even free stays.

More About Johannesburg Holidays from Amazing vouchers

Amazing Vacations are offered by Amazing Vouchers, the group that gives you fabulous discounts and freebies each month that far exceed the subscription fee. By becoming a premier Amazing Vouchers member you will be entitled to fantastic holiday accommodation in Johannesburg – worth R10 000.

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