Carlton Centre
Get the lay of the land from the top of the 50-storey Carlton Centre in downtown Johannesburg. The tallest building Africa once housed the five-star, 30-storey Carlton Hotel. It shut its doors in 1997 as urban decay encroached. The centre remains open to shoppers and businesses have their offices in this historic building. To get the best view of the city, head to Top of Africa at the building’s pinnacle. It will cost you R15. It opens at 09h00 seven days a week and closes at 18h00 from Monday to Friday and public holidays, at 17h00 on Saturdays and 14h00 on Sundays.
Constitution Hill
The buildings on Constitution Hill once served as a prison – a rather brutal prison often housing common criminals and ordinary men and women who contravened the colonial and apartheid legislation of the early 20th Century. The site was chosen due to its elevation over the town that sprung up to house miners in 1893. The prison was closed in 1987 and the buildings fell into disrepair. In the mid-1990s, the Constitutional Court was moved to the site and it was upgraded accordingly. The site is home to the Women’s Gaol museum, Number Four museum, and Old Fort museum. Today, the area hosts exhibitions that reveal the country’s heritage and advocate for human rights. The museum is open seven days a week (09h00 to 17h00 Monday to Friday and 10h00 to 15h00 on Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays) with tours, costing R65, leaving every 30 minutes.
constitutionhill.org.za
Apartheid Museum
The Apartheid Museum was opened in 2001 as a reminder to current and future generations of the apartheid era the country endured. It illustrates the rise and fall this brutal and deeply damaging period in South Africa’s history. There are a number of permanent and temporary exhibits on display, offering insight into the suffering of the oppressed. Included in the exhibits are film footage, photographs, text panels and artefacts, bringing the events and human stories that are part of this epic saga to life. The museum is open seven days a week from 09h00 to 17h00 at a cost of R75 per person.
apartheidmuseum.org
Gold Reef City
To lighten the mood after visiting Constitution Hill and the Apartheid Museum, head the Gold Reef City Theme Park, less than one kilometre away. Built on an old gold mine to resemble a turn-of-the-century mining town, you’ll find a detailed history of Joburg, and an almost endless supply of activities. At the museum, dedicated to gold mining, you can see first-hand a gold-containing ore vein. Take a tour of the once-working mine, which was closed in 1971
Carnival rides at the theme park, slots and tables at the casino, a large selection of dining options, live theatre and movies mean that you can easily while away a whole day if you don’t keep an eye on the time. The theme park is open from Wednesday to Sunday, except during Gauteng school holidays when it is open seven days a week. Ticket prices start at R110 for visitors who do not intend to enjoy any of the rides, to R185 for an all-access pass.
goldreefcity
Arts on Main
If you’re looking to dip your toes into a little culture, give Arts on Main a visit. This mixed-use creative hub in the Maboneng precinct, the epicentre of the Joburg inner-city renaissance, offers up artists’ studios, galleries, eateries, and various office and retail spaces, giving you the opportunity to browse, shop and just enjoy the vibe of an urban Joburg neighbourhood. On Sundays, the space is transformed into a market, with stalls selling everything from food and drinks to jewellery and clothing. Arts on Main is closed on Mondays, but open the other six days a week from 09h00 to 17h00.
artsonmain.info
SAB World of Beer
In 1995, South African Breweries celebrated a century of beer brewing, which it marked opening, a museum to showcase the history of South African beer. It was one of the first major investments made in the Newtown Cultural Precinct, helping to pave the way for future developments in the area. A tour of the SAB World of Beer is an intriguing, entertaining and interactive journey that explores the rich history of beer, highlighting the important role beer has played culturally, socially and economically across space and time. It will engage all of your senses as you move through the exhibits and travel through time to get a holistic understanding of this beverage. Tours, at a cost of R105 per person, run every hour, on the hour, 10h00 to 16h00 and booking is essential. The tour can be followed by a beer tasting for an additional cost. And once the tasting is over, you can enjoy a pub meal and complimentary beer at the Tap Room, while taking panoramic views of Newtown.
worldofbeer.co.za