Places to visit around Johannesburg

This is the first of a series of posts where we are going to boast a bit about our lovely city of Johannesburg and hopefully convince you to join us in our summer towards the end of October. If you are a WordPress user, designer or developer coming from outside of South Africa, this is an excellent opportunity because there is WordCamp Johannesburg on 25 – 26 October and WordCamp Cape Town a week later.

Johannesburg was established as a mining rush town in 1886 (and while the first government believed that the city would be short-lived as gold ran out) Jozi is now home to over 7 million people within the vast metropolis. Joburg has grown to become the country’s economic capital; it is a vibrant city influenced by a large number of cultures. If you have a limited amount of time in Jozi, one of the best ways to experience some of the sights is using the Johannesburg City Sightseeing bus which allows you to hop on and off a number of stops:

  • Constitution Hill: Is a living museum that tells the story of South Africa’s journey to democracy. The seat of South Africa’s Constitutional Court and the home to the Constitutional Court art collection.
  • Johannesburg Zoo: Founded in 1904 the zoo covers 55 hectares of land and is divided into thematic exhibits.
  • South African Military Museum: Our gracious hosts for WordCamp Johannesburg last year the South African military museum showcases the history of all military conflict in which South African’s have played a part.
  • Mining district outdoor mining museum: As you walk through this open-air museum you will be able to see some statues and sculptures, as well as a mining stamp mill and mine’s headgear.
  • Carlton Centre: Africa’s tallest building boasts spectacular views of the city.
  • James Hall Transport Museum: South Africa’s largest land transport museum boasts an extensive collection of vehicles including animal-drawn vehicles from the earliest days of Johannesburg, bicycles, fire-engines, cars, steam-driven vehicles, trams and trolley buses.
  • Gold Reef City Casino and Theme park: The hotel and theme park offers rides as well as a historical tour and an underground mine tour.
  • The Apartheid Museum: Built to resemble the prison-like conditions of Robben Island the museum offers interactive displays, film footage and historic photos depicting Apartheid South Africa and the country’s transition to democracy.
  • SAB World of Beer: An interactive tour that allows you to explore the history of beer and gives one access to the Sci-Bono Museum: A science centre featuring over 400 exhibits, and the Workers’ Museum:  This museum is housed in an old renovated building and is one of the original compounds built by the city for migrant workers.
  • The Origins Centre at Wits: The Origins Centre forms part of the University of the Witwatersrand’s Faculty of Science and is the world’s only museum dedicated to exploring the history of humankind.
  • The Grove, Braamfontein: The Grove is one of the precincts in the Joburg Central Business District that provides evidence of the city’s rejuvenation. This contemporary space offers excellent coffee shops, street art and the latest fashions.

This is a tiny taste of the many attractions that Jozi has to offer, and there are more posts to come to entice you to visit us in sunny South Africa.