With the hard lockdown over and travel restrictions easing up, more and more tourists will be planning trips to sunny South Africa. Johannesburg is a city steeped in history but it’s all too often simply a fly in, fly out stop over on the way to gorgeous Cape Town or exciting Kruger National Park. Whether you’re a tourist or even if you live in this bustling metropolis, we urge you to spend at least a few days exploring the city and all that it has to offer.
At Future Motor Lease, we’re proud to be Jozi boys and girls through and through. So, we’ve put together a list of our top five attractions that are a must see and must do whether you’re a ‘Jo’burger’ or a visitor passing through.
Top Five Touristy things to do
1.The Apartheid Museum
No matter how many years after democracy it has been, South Africa as a whole will always and should always be connected to our past. Recognizing the atrocities of the Apartheid regime and celebrating those who fought and died to achieve democracy is an absolute must when visiting JHB, making the Apartheid Museum your first port of call when exploring the city.
2. Soweto City Tours
While you’re visiting the Apartheid Museum, why not book yourself into a full day tour of Soweto and it’s surrounds to experience the full history of this beautiful area. Explore sites like the Hector Pietersen Museum which celebrates the learners who protested against Apartheid during the 1976 Soweto Uprisings.
3. The Cradle of Human Kind
All life is said to have begun at this UNESCO World Heritage Site, where the skull of the first human-like creature known commonly as ‘Mrs Ples’ was found in 1998. Explore the origins of humanity at The Cradle of Humankind, a world-class museum only about an hour from Johannesburg’s city centre.
4. Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens
A stone’s throw from the heart of a bustling city, this magical botanical garden is home to a huge array of plant and bird life. Spend the day having a picnic and taking in the nature sights and sounds of the beautiful highveld. A highlight of the Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens is the Witpoortjie Waterfall, which is not to be missed.
5. Maboneng Precinct
You can’t get more vibrant and more South African if you have not tried Maboneng Precinct in Newtown. It is a bustling centre of urban renewal and up-and-coming funkiness. From markets and world-class restaurants to galleries and movie theatres’ Maboneng is a wonderful area to explore on foot, but be sure to give yourself a few hours to take it all in.
JHB gets a bad rep, and yes it has its hot spots, but for the most part it is a city that comes from a painful past but one that is vibrantly moving forward towards a bright future. For a rent to buy company you can trust, contact the Future Motor Lease team today on 011 026 0003.