A QUICK GUIDE TO JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
Johannesburg is the biggest city in South Africa. South Africans usually call the city “Joburg” or “Jozi”. When compared with Cape Town, Johannesburg is not a waterfront destination. It is a buzzing city that showcases the culture and history of apartheid and the rise to democracy.
In Johannesburg, outside museums and historical centers, there are chic places like Maboneng. This is where people go to chill and hang out in contemporary lofts like restaurants, cafes, and shops. To travel faster you may want to take the Gautrain. Uber and car hire are also convenient transportation modes. But watch out for traffic, especially when going to Joburg CBD.
Places to See in Johannesburg
MANDELA’S HOUSE ON VILAKAZI STREET, SOWETO
Museum | Iconic Street
Soweto is one of the well-known townships in the whole of South Africa. The township is about 20 kilometers from Johannesburg. Soweto has a dark past. The white-ruled South African government allocated Soweto as a place where black South Africans should live—away from the Johannesburg city center.
One of the stories told at the Apartheid Museum is about the 1976 Soweto Uprisings. Black South Africans had enough of apartheid and rose to fight for their freedom. The Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum showcases the hardships and killings of the black South Africans by the police.
The Soweto you see today is quite different from the Soweto built during apartheid. In some areas, iron sheet shacks remain but in other places, you will find big brick houses. Soweto hosted the last match and the closing ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Vilakazi Road remains to be the most popular road in Soweto. This is because it is the location of the houses of Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu. Many people flock to the Mandela house, which is now a museum. Desmond Tutu still owns his Soweto home.
If you want to visit Vilakazi Street, it might be better to start with Mandela’s House at 8115 Vilakazi Street, Orlando West, Soweto. That’s where most people congregate.
SOWETO TOWERS
Tower | Bungee Jumping
Soweto Towers stand tall and are visible as you approach the beautiful Soweto. You can see the towers from different places and viewpoints in Soweto. The big colorful graffiti makes the towers stand out.
Currently, Soweto Towers function as bungee jumping towers. You go there to experience the adrenaline from jumping off a 100-meter tower. For more information on adventures at the towers visit their website.
You can buy tickets online. Children under the age of 12 are not allowed. Under 18’s must get their parents or guardians to sign a consent before going to the towers to jump. The location of Soweto Towers is Chris Hani Road, Klipspruit 318-Iq.
OPPENHEIMER TOWER & CULTURAL VILLAGE
Cultural Museum & Tower
Oppenheimer Tower and Credo Mutwa Cultural Village are part of a heritage museum in Soweto. The purpose of the village is to celebrate African culture, art, and beliefs of some tribes in Africa. The cultural village showcases sculptures and dwellings that depict South African traditional houses. Sculptures modeled include those of King Shaka Zulu and Nomkhubulwane the Nguni goddess.
Outside the cultural village museum, there is the Oppenheimer Tower. The tower was constructed using blocks from houses that were destroyed in the 1950s, after owners were forcibly removed. The tower is named after Ernest Oppenheimer who was in the mining business. When you stand at the top of the tower you can see the view of Soweto.
Related: Best Things to Do in Cape Town, South Africa
Oppenheimer Gardens are regularly visited by different types of birds. The gardens also have many herbs and spices such as a coral tree, aloe, and wild olive. These herbs showcase what African conventional healers use.
The Oppenheimer Tower and cultural village are located on Ntsane Street, Jabavu, Soweto. The government of South Africa runs this place and admission to all areas here is free. When we visited, the tower was locked and we had to wait for someone to open the door for us. The person who opened the door seemed to be a guide there. He escorted us to the top and explained the history of the place and Soweto. After that we all gave tips.
Overall, the experience here was good. But, it felt like we had no choice but to join the group tour. Their office told us we could explore the village on our own and that admission was free. If you don’t have enough time and want to quickly see this place, you might want to inform the attendants here.
MABONENG PRECINCT
Neighborhood
Maboneng Precinct is a neighborhood in Johannesburg that is chic and cozy. There are coffee shops, restaurants, boutiques, nightclubs, and art galleries. There is a very popular market and on Sundays, the Maboneng area is at its busiest because of its market.
The beautiful contemporary metropolitan architecture is the making of Maboneng. There are colorful boxed shops, loft-style coffee houses, lodgings, and more. All showcasing South African craftsmanship.
If you want to visit Maboneng Precinct, you can start with the shopping mall at 276 Fox Street. From there, explore the world of art at Arts On Main, located at 264 Fox Street. Arts On Main is considered to be the heartbeat of Maboneng; they have art galleries, studios, shops, eateries, and other things.
CONSTITUTION HILL
Museum
The Constitution Hill Human Rights Precinct is a museum located at 11 Kotze Street in Braamfontein, Johannesburg.
This historical center lays out how South Africa gained its independence. Today this site holds a Constitutional Court, previously it held a jail and a military stronghold. The exhibitions showcase the severe treatment of political detainees and other prisoners.
The jail that stood here is famous for holding many well-known people. Nelson Mandela, Albertina Sisulu, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, and Mahatma Gandhi, were all detainees here. There are daily tours at Constitution Hill as well as public events.
APARTHEID MUSEUM
Museum
The Apartheid Museum is a well-known South African exhibition hall opened in 2001. Its purpose is to tell the politically-sanctioned racial segregation story. The Museum is the first of its sort—it highlights the rise and fall of apartheid in South Africa.
Well-thought-out architectural designs went into the construction of the Apartheid Museum. Not only does the surrounding present a unique experience when in Johannesburg. The articulation of the racial segregation story is superb. There are pictures, artifacts, films, old newspapers, and more.
At the Apartheid Museum make an effort to visit the pillars of the constitution. Equally profound are exhibitions telling stories of the significance of 1976 and Mandela’s release. More on what’s exhibited at the Apartheid Museum is here.
The location of the Apartheid Museum is Northern Park Way and Gold Reef Rd, Johannesburg.
OTHER THINGS TO DO IN JOHANNESBURG AND OUTSIDE JOBURG
Go to the Top of Africa for beautiful and scenic views of Johannesburg.
Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden on Malcolm Road, Poortview, Roodepoort.
Northcliff Ridge Eco Park at 2115, 5 Lucky Avenue, Northcliff, Randburg.
Shopping in Johannesburg
- Nelson Mandela Square at 5th Street, Sandown, Sandton.
- Carlton Centre at 150 Commissioner Street, Marshalltown, Johannesburg.
- Rosebank Art & Craft Market Cradock Avenue in Rosebank, Johannesburg.
- 27 Boxes shopping mall located at 74 4th Avenue in Melville, Johannesburg.
- Sandton City Shopping Mall at 83 Rivonia Road, Sandhurst, Sandton.
CHAMELEON VILLAGE
Shopping and adventure outside Johannesburg
Chameleon Village is a craft market that is located outside Johannesburg. It’s best to drive to this place and plan to spend at least half a day. There are good art and craft items sold here by vendors found in stalls and outside. This is a market for handicrafts from all over Africa, not just South Africa. Stop by the stall of a Malawian artist for beautiful tapestries and wall canvas pictures of different colors inspired by African animals, people, culture, and landscapes.
At Chameleon Village, you will also find things that families with kids can do. There is a snake and reptile park with live demonstrations; a lion and tiger park; spray and play; bike rides; and big animal sculptures kids enjoy seeing. Also, there are good restaurants located here.
Chameleon Village is located at R104 Old Rustenburg Road, Damdoryn, Hartbeespoort. It is open every day.
Best Restaurants Serving Traditional South African Food
CHAF POZI IN SOWETO
Chaf Pozi is a very popular restaurant in Johannesburg located in Soweto. The restaurant specializes in South African cuisine. Both main meals and light meals/snacks are popular. The restaurant is a Shebeen-style restaurant. They have a butchery there where you can select which meat pieces you want them to cook for you.
Chaf Pozi is known for its braai of different meats—beef, boerewors, chicken, and lamb. Shisa Nyama is everything about meat. At the restaurant they serve it with a thick corn flour meal called pap, sauce, and chakalaka.
The location of Chaf Pozi is Corner Chris Hani and Nicholas street, Orlando Towers, Soweto. It is right at the foot of the famous towers in Soweto where people go to bunker jump. Price range – $$
PATA PATA IN MABONENG
Pata Pata is a restaurant in Maboneng. Named after the famous Pata Pata song by Miriam Makeba you can enjoy South African live music here. South African delights found here include prawns, boerewors, chakalaka, and Mogodu. Mogodu is a stew made of tripe (animal stomach lining, especially intestines of a cow).
These foods are usually served with pap. At Pata Pata, they also serve western foods such as burgers and salads.
VUYOS RESTAURANT IN SOWETO
Vuyos Restaurant is a modern African cuisine restaurant that started as a street food stand. Now it is located in a modern glass space on Vilakazi Street in Soweto. Many tourists who go to visit Nelson Mandela’s old house and Desmond Tutu’s house can easily make their way to the restaurant.
Vuyos serves South African dishes such as shisa nyama, Idombolo (dumplings), mogodu (tripe), morogo (spinach-like leaves), and boerewors.
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