Gauteng is a Tswana name meaning ‘place of gold’. Gauteng is one of the nine provinces in South Africa and the smallest province by land area in South Africa. Johannesburg City, Pretoria, Fourways and Sandton are all part of Gauteng. One thing for sure, one can never get bored in Gauteng. The province has something for everyone. The following are some of the places one can visit in Gauteng;
1. gold reef city theme park
Gold Reef City Theme Park is one the most exciting places to be on a beautiful sunny and bright day. It is located in the South of Johannesburg and has various rides for different age groups. You can enjoy the theme park with your family, friends or even with your school mates. You can also host your kid’s birthday party at the Gold Reef City Theme Park. Currently it has 16 thrilling rides, 7 Family rides, 21 dedicated kids rides, Jump City Trampoline Park, an underground mine tour, 12 dining options, multiple Retail stores, plus 15 other attractions all set against a gold rush era backdrop. To avoid disappointment, just make sure you buy the ticket online before visiting the park physically, as tickets are no longer sold at the gate. For more information, visit https://www.goldreefcity.co.za/]
2. Joburg Zoo
The Joburg Zoo is open to the public 364 days a year, including Christmas, New Years and Easter holidays. It houses over 320 species of animals, totalling about 2 000 animals. It is located in the northern part of Johannesburg and covers 55 hectares of land. What I love about the zoo is that you get to safely see the animals at close range. However, the last time I visited the zoo with my family there was no water, that really put me off because personal hygiene is very important. I hope the management of the Zoo has now implemented better facilities management strategies. Overall, it is a perfect recreational area to visit with your young ones, it’s very educational for them to not only learn about the animals on paper but to see them physically as well. You may visit their website for more information Welcome to the JHB Zoo | JCPZ (jhbcityparksandzoo.com)
3. The National Zoological Garden of South Africa
The National Zoological Garden of South Africa is located in Pretoria and it is the largest zoo in the country. The 85-hectare Zoo in Pretoria houses 3117 specimens of 209 mammal species, 1358 specimens of 202 bird species, 3871 specimens of 190 fish species, 388 specimens of 4 invertebrate species, 309 specimens of 93 reptile species, and 44 specimens of 7 amphibian species. An Aquarium and Reptile Park also form part of the Zoo facility in Pretoria. The Aquarium is the largest inland marine aquarium in the country. The third largest collection of exotic trees can be found at the Zoo. The National Zoological Garden of South Africa is definitely a perfect environment to get away from the city noise and spiritually connect with nature.
There are also various facilities to keep the kids entertained, including the children’s pushcarts, the jungle train, the big wheel, the cable, not forgetting an area for some food and snacks. The zoo also caters for events such as weddings and birthday parties. You can visit their official website to explore all the venues and facilities they have in store for you https://www.pretoriazoo.org/
4. BOUNCEinc
BOUNCEinc is a place where kids get to be kids and adults get to be kids again, if you know what I mean. You can find BOUNCEinc at different malls across Gauteng, which are Fourways Mall, Cornubia Mall, Menlyn Maine and Mall of Africa. You can also have your party at BOUNCEinc and don’t forget to book your ticket online https://www.bounceinc.co.za/
5. sky dining
If you are looking for an intimate adventure, I would certainly recommend sky dining. It is feels like an experience out of this world. The most known establishment that offers this service is Sky Events. Your may visit their website to explore their packages. In my opinion, it is a perfect place for a romantic date night.
6. soweto towers
If you are a thrillseeker interested in adrenaline activities, Soweto Towers is the place to be. Services offered include Bungee Jump, Straightjacket Bungee, Paintball, SCAD Freefall, Base Jump, and wall climbing. Visit Soweto Towers website for more information. There is also a Restaurant and bar within the premises, called Chaf-Pozi where you can enjoy some braai meat and quench your thirst, as you admire a township environment.
7. ice skating
This service is offered at various malls namely, Northgate shopping centre, Festival Mall and Forest Hill. Visit the Ice Rink website for more details.
8. DITSONG: museums of south africa
MUSEUMS OF SOUTH AFRICA is an amalgamation of eight museums, seven in Tshwane and one in Johannesburg. These museums have diverse collections covering the fields of fauna and flora, palaeontology, military history, cultural history, geology, anthropology and archaeology. The target audience for these museums are children, youth, adults, students, tourists (foreign and local), researchers and the public in general. Follow the link for more details https://ditsong.org.za/en/
9. THE APARTHEID MUSEUM
The Apartheid Museum, the first of its kind, illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid.
An architectural consortium, comprising several leading architectural firms, conceptualised the design of the building on a seven-hectare stand. The museum is a superb example of design, space and landscape offering the international community a unique South African experience.
The exhibits have been assembled and organised by a multi-disciplinary team of curators, film-makers, historians and designers. They include provocative film footage, photographs, text panels and artefacts illustrating the events and human stories that are part of the horrific period in our history, known as apartheid
The museum is registered as a Public Benefit Company (incorporated not for gain) with an independent board of trustees, the chairman of which is Dr John Kani. Please visit the Apartheid Museum’s website for more information about bookings and exhibitions.
10. montecasino
Montecasino is one of the places in South Africa that will always fascinate me. As soon as you enter the premises, it feels like you are in a completely different environment. The architecture is amazing. There are countless activities to keep you entertained, including bowling, gaming, XD Theatre, movies, a theatre, and more. There are also various restaurants and some shops if you would like to do some shopping.
11. shopping
If you love shopping, there are various malls to cater for your needs and wants. Some of the malls are Sandton City, Nelson Mandela Square, Clearwater Mall, Forest Hill and Mall of Africa, just to name a few. If you are a lover of architecture and civil engineering, you might get some ideas too.
12. botanical gardens
If you love spending time outdoors with family and friends, not doing anything hectic, having some food and snacks, botanical gardens are the places to be. Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden and Johannesburg Botanical Garden are some of the gardens you might be interested in visiting.
13. cradle of humankind
The Sterkfontein Valley landscape is in both western Gauteng and the North West Province and is also called the Cradle of Humankind because it includes remains of hominids from millions of years ago.
Life first emerged about 3.8-billion years ago. Our journey begins in South Africa, where fossils of some of the earliest known life forms on Earth have been found.
South Africa has yielded fossils of some of the earliest known dinosaurs, dating back at least 200-million years.
Fossils of our distant mammal-like ancestors, which lived more than 200-million years ago, have also been found in South Africa.
Africa is the birthplace of humankind. This is where our collective umbilical cord lies buried.
Hominids – the ancestors of modern humans – first emerged about seven million years ago, in Africa. The Cradle of Humankind is where one gets an opportunity to explore and learn more about this important history.
