Page 18 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - South Africa

16  INTRODUCING SOUTH AFRIC A

2 Days in building. A few blocks west of
Johannesburg this, several worthwhile
attractions are clustered in and
Explore the bustling city around the historic Newtown
centre and suburbs of Precinct, among them the
southern Africa’s largest Market Theatre and Museum
city and most important Africa (both p314). Round off
economic powerhouse. your exploration of the city
centre by dropping in at the
• Arriving Johannesburg
is served by OR Tambo memorable KwaZulu Muti (see
International Airport, east of p315), a well-known vendor of
the city, within a 45-minute traditional medicines.
drive of the centre and most
hotels, traffic permitting. Day 2
Taxis are available at the Morning Arguably the best
airport, and the Gautrain is museum in South Africa (but
a high-speed rail service to not suitable for under-11s), the
the city centre, Sandton, Apartheid Museum (see p317),
Rosebank and Pretoria. 8 km (5 miles) south of the
city centre, documents the
• Transport Soweto is best divisive and cruel effects that Soweto, once the home of Nelson Mandela,
visited on an organized tour, the apartheid policies pursued attracts visitors from around the world
and this would also be the by the government of the
safest option for the city time had on Johannesburg Heritage Site, which has
centre of Johannesburg. (and the rest of the country) yielded some of the world’s
Self-drive is a possibility for between 1948 and 1994. most important human fossils.
suburban attractions, and Allow at least two hours to The cave tour is challenging –
day tours can be arranged. look around the museum, for families and the less mobile,
Public transport is limited then cross the car park to Gold the Maropeng visitor centre
and not very tourist-friendly. Reef City (see p321), a some- offers plenty of displays and
what romanticized but interactive exhibits. Also in this
nevertheless interesting area, if you prefer, is the Lion
Day 1 (and fun) reconstruction of Park (see p323), which offers a
Morning Most visitors regard a Johannesburg in its earliest soft introduction to wildlife
visit to Soweto (see p318–19), gold boom days. Gold Reef City that is often more elusive in
the most infamous of the is also a good spot for lunch. larger game reserves.
black “townships” during the Afterwards, head to Lesedi
apartheid era and the former Afternoon Take the motorway Cultural Village (see p323) for
home of the late Nelson northwest from Johannesburg its spectacular late afternoon
Mandela, as top on the list of to explore a cluster of attractions cultural show, which highlights
Johannesburg’s must-do that lie within 40 km (25 miles) a variety of different ethnic
activities. Though it is not as of the city. Make your first stop traditions, with the option
unsafe as it once was, Soweto the Sterkfontein Caves (see of staying on to enjoy the
is still best explored on a half- p322), centrepiece of the Cradle menu of pan-African cuisine
day guided tour, which will of Humankind UNESCO World served at its restaurant.
typically stop at several land-
marks associated with the dark
days of apartheid. Make sure
your tour includes a lunch stop
at one of the satellite city’s
famously welcoming shebeen
bars or restaurants.
Afternoon After lunch, head
north to Johannesburg city
centre (see p314). A literal
highlight of any visit to this
bustling metropolis is the
panoramic view of the city and
suburbs offered from the Top of
Africa observation deck at the
summit of the 50-storey
Carlton Centre & Top of
Africa (see p316), Africa’s tallest While it is not one of South Africa’s three capitals, Johannesburg is its largest city
For practical information on travelling around South Africa, see pp436–441

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