Johannesburg & Pretoria

About Johannesburg & Pretoria

Johannesburg is South Africa’s largest city and is the country’s, indeed the continent’s, economic powerhouse. This cosmopolitan city is also known as Egoli – the place of gold – as it rapidly developed when a large gold reef was discovered in 1886. A wealth of culture and history are found in its museums and galleries including the moving and critically acclaimed Apartheid Museum. More can be learned about this turbulent time in South Africa’s history on a tour of the township of Soweto which includes visits to the Hector Pieterson Museum commemorating the Soweto Uprising of 1976 and Nelson Mandela’s former house.

Close to Johannesburg is the World Heritage Site of the Cradle of Humankind, which has some of the world’s most important archaeological sites, and Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital and home to the red sandstone Union Buildings, a museum in the former home of President Paul Kruger and the imposing Voortrekker Monument.

For more information, why not speak to one of our experts on +44 (0) 20 7843 3500 or email info@africatravel.co.uk

Seasons

• Summer (November to February) - Very warm and can be wet, with Thunder often experienced
• Autumn (March to May) - Cooler and rains less frequent, still nice and warm during the middle of the day
• Winter (June to July) - Nights can be very cold and it takes a while to warm up. Skies are clear and the air feels crisp. A beautiful time of year
• Spring (August to October) - Warming up and becoming very pleasant without being overly hot. Some rain

In The Know

• Don’t believe the hype! Joburg is safe to visit and is a vibrant city with a rich social and cultural history
• Avoid the traffic by taking the modern Gautrain from the airport to Sandton and we’ll arrange for you to be met and taken to your hotel
• Make time to visit the Apartheid Museum, a world-class exhibition that is both enlightening and moving
• Visit Vilakazi Street in Soweto, the only street in the world where two Nobel Peace Prize laureates have lived – Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu