Joburg in August with young family

[teachermum28]

We will be in Joburg for 3 nights four days in August. With young children 5 and 7. Does anyone have any recommendations for places to go and things to see? Planning for outings early morning to mid afternoon and then being back at hotel/pool and simple/low key evening meals. Hoping to base ourselves in Sandton/Rosebank area. But if anyone has hotel recommendations then these are welcome! Not planning to hire a car but use Uber/taxis. Potentially thinking about SunCity for
three nights as well. Not travelled to SA before but are reasonably seasoned travellers pre kids. Don’t want to do safari as think kids are a bit young to properly enjoy it.

We flew to Johannesburg with our older kids last year. In all seriousness it wasn’t somewhere where there seemed to be much which they would have enjoyed and the safety issues did play on my mind.
are you sure your children wouldn’t like a safari? Ndaka lodge in the Nambiti reserve is on,y a few hours away.

I’d agree with this. Joburg isn’t somewhere I’d want to go with my children. Gold Reef City is an amusement park you might want to have a look at. Otherwise I’d give joburg a miss.

I wouldn’t go there on a holiday, not a safe city at all. Maybe go to Cape Town instead?

Why early morning activities?
You've twigged Augyst is Winter in South Africa, haven't you? Its not going to be boiling hot.

It's not a normal stay and have a holiday type of place - most people land and go elsewhere so you might struggle for suggestions. Do you have to go - like you are visiting people there?

It sounds like OP is there for some other reason and just looking for things to do, rather than a holiday, is that right OP?

Hi OP. Joburg is an odd choice for tourists! I say that as someone partly raised there.

You will struggle a bit if you aren't planning to drive - how are you planning to get to Sun City? You'd be right by Pilanesburg national park so it's a shame to not go for at least a day safari - age of kids irrelevant, it's quite normal for locals to go with young kids.

Some ideas:

• Skip Sun City and do Lost City instead
• Montecasino
• Apartheid Museum
• Rosebank & Victoria Yards
• Botanical Gardens
• African Craft Market - Rosebank
• Cradle of Humankind (day trips possible)

I'd avoid township tours at the best of times, but especially at the moment, tensions are very high.

Don't go gallivanting at night and keep your wits about you.

There's an open top bus tour which is pretty good - it starts in Rosebank and does a loop with stops, only stops at places deemed safe enough for tourists. The Apartheid museum is great but not sure for kids that young. We didn't get off anywhere else as nothing else seemed that interesting. Agree with others, it's not a holiday/sightseeing destination, and weather will likely be rubbish in August! Dress up warm if doing the open top bus

Is there a particular reason you are going to Jo’burg? It’s not somewhere I would take my kids (and I’ve taken them to lots of places…)

Jo’berg is a hellhole .. I landed there and spent a night in a very nice hotel before going on Safari but I wouldn’t have stayed.
It’s a long way for that sort time.
I liked Capetown ?can you go there

Honestly, take yourselves off to a game park outside Jhb for those days.

If you really have to stay there, you'll need a car. Go to Cradle of Humankind, the bird park at Monte Casino or the Lion Park near Fourways. The Walter Sisulu gardens are lovely if your kids like that sort of thing.

You won't be able to use a pool in August. The days may be warm but the nights will be cold and there can be a freezing wind.

Thanks everyone we are there as a stop off to another destination and wanted to explore seeing as it is somewhere new to us. We can spend as much/little time there as we like. But reading these responses has made me reconsider. Now thinking we should hire a car and spend a week outside of Joburg instead. Having another look at Pilanesburg,as I did initially consider there. Any other recommendations for a week a couple of hours away from Joburg?

@teachermum28 You could go via Hartebeesport /Magaliesberg on the way to Sun City / Lost City and Pilansberg as an option. Plenty to do in the area (see on Tripadvisor). Kwa Maritane in Pilansberg is one of the better lodges to stay if you do go there.
If you do hire a car, get sat nav. Road conditions can be bad so perhaps check on TripAdvisor forums to see recent updates for routes you plan to take - and I strongly advise planning your route in advance and do not drive at night.