Short Budget Tour of Johannesburg

This is the ideal add on package to any tour staring or finishing in Johannesburg, or as a short getaway to this facinating city. Combine New York, London and Amsterdam. Add a touch of Calcutta, Rio and Los Angeles, and you get Johannesburg. It is the second largest city in Africa, south of Cairo, and home to some eight million people.

Johannesburg is the financial, economic and cultural giant of South Africa - and by implication the entire African continent.

Johannesburg can seem overwhelming to the first-time visitor. Some travellers are aprehensive about Johannesburg, but most love it. Take the time to explore the city and be amazed by the diverse cultures, interesting people and numerous places to visit.

The Johannesburg City Stay Package consists of the following:

1 x Transfer (to or from the Airport at scheduled departure times only).
3 nights accommodation on a Bed only basis. (Choice of Double/Twin - Shared bathroom, single-shared bathrom or shared dorm room.)
2 x  half day tours out of the following options (Soweto, Johannesburg, Lion Park, Gold Reef City or Apartheid Museum).

Accommodation description

You will be accomodated in the longest running Backpacker/Lodge in Johannesburg, Set in a large, beautiful mansion with a stunning garden in Johannesburg's affluent northern suburbs the Backpackers is a one of a kind.The accommodation is a clean, comfortable haven in Johannesburg where you can relax and take in the sights and sounds of Africa's most dynamic city.

There are many amenities close to the Backpackers, including; Bars, Restaurants, and Cafes, there are Cinemas, Supermarkets, Shops and Banks, as well as many Airline Offices and the Mozambican Embassy. The famous Rosebank Flea Market is a mere stones throw away.

Half Day Soweto Tour

A must whilst in Johannesburg is a half-day tour of SOWETO. The South Western Township was created during the apartheid era to keep the black people out of the City Centre. A community spirit was created and now many people choose to live there - some 3-5 million people inhabit Soweto.

Most of the population are middle-income earners, living in small box shaped, brick houses. 10% of the population live in poverty but in contrast Soweto also has the highest concentration of millionaires in the country. Soweto is an excellent example of the general uplifting of the poorer areas all over South Africa, even in the shanty towns you will find running water, electricity and refuse collectors - you will be amazed at the overall tidiness and cleanliness.

On the tour you will visit a shantytown, perhaps have a drink in a local bar, you may talk to the locals and may be invited into their homes. You will see Freedom Square and Barragwanath hospital (the largest in the world).

The Hector Pieterson Museum was established to preserve the history and memory of all those who were involved in the Soweto uprising of 16 June 1976. The museum is named after the 13-year old Hector Pieterson, who was among the first student victims to die from police shootings. The very graphic black and white photos are very moving.

You've got see it to believe it... Winnie Mandela's fortress is a fine example of high security! Soweto has the only street in the world where two Nobel Peace Prize Winner's live. Nelson Mandela's house is now a museum (currently closed as Nelson and Winnie cannot agree on who has the rights to the proceeds) , but Desmond Tutu still lives there.

Half Day Johannesburg City Tour

Highlights of the city tour include a Visit Museum Afrika, for a historical aspect on South Africa, a small but powerful museum, a climb (in an elevator!) to the top of the highest building in the continent - the Carlton Centre - for a splendid view of the city, a tour of Constitution Hill - formerly the site for prisons and courts, now an area of museums and history. Also inlcuded is a visit to the the Market Theatre precinct offers some of the most diverse cultures to be seen in one place, a drive through what was once the most 'happening' place in town - Hillbrow, and finally see Houghton, one of the elite suburbs where most of SA's government live.

Full or half day Gold Reef City Tour - daily (excl Mon)

Spend the day in old Jo'burg... Gold Reef City is a replica of what Jo'burg was like when it was just a humble gold mining town.

On a three-hour private tour you will go down a working mine, see gold poured into a mould, have a drink in a saloon, walk through the 'town' and witness exciting street theatre, tribal dancing and many more activities. Later if you fancy some fun, why not take the 'Run Away Mine Train' in the theme park. Easily enough entertainment to keep you busy for the whole day!

Half Day Lion Park Tour

Established as a breeding unit, the Lion Park now boasts over 45 lions in four prides. Lions are bred in order to be returned to the wild or sold to zoos throughout the world. The Lion Park also has a very rare white male lion, which can be viewed on the drive through the enclosures.

As well as the majestic lions, you have the opportunity to see other game such as zebra, wildebeest, springbok, ostrich and much more. you also have the unique experience of cuddling a baby lion! Experience the magic of the majestic giraffes, you have the opportunity to feed these amazing creatures by hand.

Apartheid Museum

No visit to Johannesburg should go by without a visit to the Apartheid Museum. The museum was established in 2001 and tells the story of Apartheid or "seperate development" that catagorised over 20 million local South African's as second class citezens in their own country. The museum tells the story of the triumph of the human spirit when faced with advesary.

The museum is made up of 22 individual exhibition areas that take the visitor through a emotional moving voyage, the museum does and excellent job in telling the story of a state-sanctioned system based on racial discrimination, this is the story of the struggle of the majority to overthrow this tyranny. For anyone wanting to understand and experience what apartheid was all about, a visit to this amazing Museum is a must do. today the museum is a shining light showing the world how South Africa is dealing with its oppressive past and how all South African's are working for a united future.

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