Johannesburg advice

[Stompythedinosaur]

We have a few days in Johannesburg at the end of a safari, and I've just started thinking about what we might want to do. Has anyone been and have any advice about must do activities or sights?

I definitely want to see the caves at the Cradle of Humankind, but other than that I'm open to ideas!

100 percent go to Cape Town instead it's a wonderful city with do much to see.

Thanks so much for everyone's thoughts!

Thanks for these recommendations, that's very helpful!

@StompythedinosaurIt’s quite a way to Cape Town. You might like flying to Pietermaritzburg and then hire a car and drive into the Drackensburgs. Really lovely area and relaxing if you choose the right hotel. You could go to Durban and drive to the St Lucia wetlands. Driving is easy in SA. If you want a city, Cape Town is it. South Africans will stay in gated resorts around JoBurg. Limiting really.

Johannesburg isn't great tbh. I visit fairly regularly and I can never wait to get the hell out of the place. That's not from a safety point of view. It's not that difficult to stay safe if you follow basic common sense - it's just the lack of anything really amazing to experience. Cape Town is a relatively cheap 2 hour flight away. Stay in Camps Bay or somewhere like Kalk Bay and you will never be bored and will never tire of the beauty. Don't waste time on Johannesburg!

Been to both in the last year. We only flew into Johannesburg then got a driven car immediately to safe safari location. Brother works in Johannesburg a fair bit, and hates it, it is just too dangerous and grim. Did Capetown when we there, and there are lots of things to and see (could easily fill a week) and the V&A area IS safe, Cape point etc very beautiful (quite a long way), table mountain, and the vineyards are glorious, boulder beach etc. but unless you are staying in V&A, I would say you still have to have your wits about you, and "keep in your lane". Uber is fine enough and plentiful. I am used to wandering about, but no chance of that, it is just too rough. We stayed in the DT (Hilton) which was excellent, very good value, but got bussed in everyday to V&A. Incidentally, we loved the pass that let us do lots of things (hop on hop off bus, plus tons of other stuff for very cheap, and very safe), I am normally not a big fan of these things, but it did work for us. I have been to over 50 countries, and it is No. 1 on the most dangerous I have visited. On the positive side, it is very cheap compared with the UK, and if you get the right experiences, it is lovely.

I’d go to Sun City, right next door to Pilanesberg NP. Or stay at the Black Rhino game lodge.

If you do hire a car the Garden Route is lovely. Kynsna particularly.

@ExitPursuedByABare Has the op got enough time? I thought this was a few days?

This place is lovely. https://www.highgroveguesthouse.com/

And Sandton City is great for shopping. Loads of good restaurants too.

You say a few days, exactly how many?

I was in Joburg last year . We were escorted from airport on bus with 2 armed guards and an escort front and back. (Aircrew) Driven to our hotel which was in a town just outside - but completely secured by high monitored patrolled fence and guards on the front gate . It was fine but we could have been anywhere. ) we wanted to see some wild life - not enough time for safari or national park - but went riding on the savannah with a colleague who also rides . Once we got there it was fun but getting there. - again a convoy of armed escorts. It’s mad. I would not go back xx

We did a couple of days in Joburg either side of our safari. It was a long time ago now so names/places are rusty but we stayed in Sandton which was perfectly safe. Our hotel arranged a private car/driver for us.
We visited the apartheid museum, well worth the visit. We had dinner at a fab Greek place where you can pay to smash plates and the end of your meal. We also visited a game lodge where they serve 'exotic game' which has died naturally on their reserve. We got to try all sorts including giraffe and elephant.

It was never a popular crew slip where I worked for the reasons you mention.

It's a while back but I know of a group of colleagues pulled over and strongly advised by a passing police patrol not to walk between the Sandton Mall complex and a restaurant about 10 minutes away (the Sandton complex itself was regarded as safe).

I'd second the OP seriously considers a hop to Cape Town if time allows.

DS recently went to SA. He wouldn't recommend Jo'burgh or Pretoria, but LOVED Cape Town.

He was based just outside Pretoria staying with a friend, so had a local to be with. He said he would not have felt safe not knowing the areas to avoid, and not being with a resident.
He went to CT on his own for a week and loved it. And felt safe.

It’s incredibly sad about joburg. It’s not a fit place for civilisation to visit. Incredible really.

Will you hire a car? Im sure you can find tour companies, if not.
Trips from jo’burg - Pilanesberg for self drive safari. Next to Sun City.
Cullinan mine
Ann van Dyk Cheetah Centre

There is an open bus tour that goes to soweto. You get to see places like *dipsoloot, which is traumatising but also more iconic places like Mandela's home etc. Joburg is pretty safe unless you go towards Central joburg.

4 days, so there is enough time to go elsewhere, but equally, we'll have just ended a 10 day overland safari so not as keen to do a driving route.

At present I'm booked into a Sandton hotel, which looks safe and secure, though this is cancellable, and I am considering whether it's better to go elsewhere.

My original research was that Joburg would be safe enough if we stuck to the right areas and were sensible about getting around. I wasn't planning to hire a car, though we could if that's safe. I was a bit concerned about doing that.

I appreciate the recommendations of places to go and stay!

4 days is enough to go to Cape Town. There are lots of internal flights and it’s nice to have the sea.

What month are you going?

August, which I'm aware is winter and cooler.

Ah yes, I’ve been there then and the weather is pot luck, the squalls seem to come out of nowhere.
But it’s still beautiful.

Stay in Sandton, it’s absolutely fine and will be a nice recharge after safari. Cape Town is a 2 hour flight and the weather in August can be awful - cold and rainy.