There are many great places to visit if you spend a few days in Johannesburg; here are some that you can enjoy.
The Cradle of Humankind is a 47,000-hectare World Heritage Site where more than a third of the world’s hominin fossils and more than 9,000 Stone Age tools have apparently been found.
The Cradle of Humankind lies just 45km northwest of Johannesburg and while you’re in the area you can also enjoy guided tours of the Sterkfontein Caves, where fossil skeletons are apparently still being discovered. The Maropeng Visitor Center will captivate young and old alike with its wacky and bumpy boat ride through time, the daring psychedelic bridge and the interactive displays… a supposed journey through the ages to the times modern. Slightly more down-to-earth, a visit to the Lion and Rhino Nature Reserve might allow you to witness lions, wild dogs and cheetahs feeding in their enclosures.
Alternatively, consider Magaliesberg and enjoy the greenery and flowers of the veld, especially in the rainy summer months and marvel in the knowledge that the Magaliesberg range is over 100 times older than Mountain Sanctuary Park Everest and half the age of the land. Some of the delights on the Magalies meander route include: The one that allows day visitors to hike, mountain bike and swim in the river or pool. Van Gaalen’s Cheese Farm is a peaceful respite and you can enjoy a glass of wine and a cheese board while your children are entertained in the play area and watch the friendly farm animals. Drive around the Hartebeesppoort dam, the wall was built in 1925 and has a capacity of 205 million cubic meters. The Elephant Sanctuary invites visitors to learn, feed and interact with the elephants.
If hiking is your thing, then a visit to the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve is perfect for hiking and mountain biking. The hiking trails are 4, 5 and 10 km long and the mountain biking trails are 8 to 11 km long. The terrain is typical of the Highveld and varies from broadleaf forest and acacia savannah to protea-veld and savannah grassland. On the plains you can see large herds of antelope, zebra, redbuck, bushbuck and wildebeest. Other locations may include Diepkloof Farm, which was built in the 19th century. For the more adventurous, rafting on the Vaal River, about 120 km from Johannesburg, is a must. The rafting season is from August to May, depending on the level of the water.
For more information on these activities and many more, you can contact Gauteng Tourism.