Johannesburg offers a wealth of sights and activities for history aficionados. It’s likely that your agenda will be packed with historical sites like Constitution Hill and the Mandela House, as well as museums like the South African National Museum of Military History and the Apartheid Museum. A variety of rides appropriate for all ages are available at Gold Reef City for those seeking a little more activity. The Montecasino Bird Gardens and the Johannesburg Zoo are two more family-friendly destinations. Save time for a visit to the city’s hip districts, such as Melville and Maboneng Precinct, if you’d prefer to experience Johannesburg’s art, music, cuisine, and shopping.
1. Mandela House
Nelson Mandela (commonly known as Madiba) and his first wife, Evelyn Ntoko Mase, moved into the Mandela House in 1946. It was built in 1945 in the Orlando West neighborhood of Soweto, Johannesburg. Mandela remained to reside in this charming brick building, despite the couple’s quick divorce. In 1948, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, his second wife, finally moved in with him, and the two of them lived on the property with their two kids. However, Mandela was compelled to abandon his family in order to attempt to avoid government officials because of his prominence in the anti-apartheid campaign.
2.Apartheid Museum
A visit to Johannesburg’s Apartheid Museum is essential for a comprehensive knowledge of South Africa’s terrible apartheid era. A variety of hanging nooses that symbolize the killing of 131 government opponents and a number of televisions that play footage of anti-apartheid citizens being attacked and killed are among the museum’s brutal yet educational displays. In order to demonstrate their dedication to combating racism and discrimination, visitors are asked to transfer a stone from the right to a pile on the left in one of the museum’s interactive exhibits. In order to symbolize the physical divisions that were evident during apartheid, there are also two museum entrances: one for white people and one for non-white people.
3.Constitution Hill
Constitution Hill, which offers visitors a blend of old and new Johannesburg, is situated in the city’s Braampark area. The Women’s Gaol, the Old Fort, and Number Four are three old prisons that housed female, white, and black political inmates separately until 1987. They are worth seeing if you’re interested in history Jozi. The Women’s Gaol once housed well-known female activists including Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Fatima Meer, and Albertina Sisulu, while Number Four is home to notable prisoners like Mohandas Gandhi and Robert Sobukwe. Nelson “Madiba” Mandela, the renowned anti-apartheid leader, is also unique in that he is the only black prisoner housed in the Old Fort due to his status and escape worries.
4.Montecasino Bird Gardens
Located roughly 19 miles northwest of downtown, the Montecasino Bird Gardens is one of Johannesburg’s most well-liked family attractions. It features a variety of vibrantly colored birds, reptiles, and small mammals in a lush garden environment. Visitors can watch a 30-minute bird show in the on-site amphitheater or feed over 60 species of birds in the aviary while exploring the grounds of the property.
Overall, the Montecasino Bird Gardens received great reviews from previous visitors. Many people particularly valued the park’s welcoming personnel, affordable admission, and fascinating bird display. Reviewers recommended purchasing some food to feed the birds at the ticket office if you wanted to get the most out of your visit.
5. Maboneng Precinct
Those who appreciate modern art, delicious cuisine, and fashionable stores will love touring the city’s Maboneng Precinct. The formerly dangerous Maboneng Precinct is now home to a variety of oddball galleries, restaurants, bars, and shops, many of which are built in abandoned factories and warehouses. It is well-known for its unique ambiance (think of the Chelsea neighborhood in New York City or the Hackney area of London). Most of them are housed within Arts on Main, a multi-use structure that serves as the neighborhood’s main center for artistic activity.
The best time to visit Maboneng is on the weekends, especially on Sundays, even though many of the stores are open during the week.
6. South African National Museum of Military History
The South African National Museum of Military History is likely to be enjoyable whether you’re a history buff, a military enthusiast, or simply looking for a spot to cool off on a hot South African day. There’s lots to look at in the military exhibits, which range from military vehicles and service medals to Anglo-Boer War relics and a small arms display. The museum’s collection of military aircraft, however, is the main attraction. It includes such historic aircraft as the Blackburn Buccaneer S Mk 50 carrier-borne strike aircraft, the Messerschmitt Me 262 fighter jet, and the largely wood de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito battle plane.
Visitors laud the museum’s well-kept grounds and welcoming personnel in addition to its educational, eye-catching exhibits.
7. Gold Reef City
Families cannot pass up the chance to experience Gold Reef City for a little heart-pounding pleasure. This Jozi amusement park, which was influenced by the area’s well-known gold mining industry, features rides like Anaconda (a high-speed coaster perfect for thrill-seekers), Jozi Express (a rollercoaster with expansive city views and multiple mine dump drop-offs), and Tower of Terror (a former gold mine head transformed into a freefall ride). There is also a children’s area, a number of water rides, and more mild activities like mine tours and gold panning.
While some previous guests claimed that Gold Reef City is just a Disney World impersonator, others countered that it provides enough of entertainment for both adults and children of all ages. Many of the cuisine items are also highly praised.