Johannesburg has some great attractions, but the following four stand out as excellent and highly recommended places to go.
Lindfield Victorian House Museum
Located just north of the central business district in Auckland Park, this museum takes visitors back to the Victorian era, the very period in which Johannesburg arose suddenly in the middle of the high veldt after the discovery of gold. Now a curiosity amid the modern skyscrapers of the bustling metropolis, the museum contains an extraordinary array of Victoriana, with the furnishings, decor and architecture all harking back to the days when this was a genteel oasis of civility and style in a rootin’, tootin’ boom town.
Apartheid Museum
It may be more than 20 years since the first all-race elections in South Africa, but the legacy of the political system that had been in place for a generation before has left its mark on the country’s psyche and this museum helps people understand why. Located just south of the Central Business District, it tells a grim story, but one that needs to be understood: of ideology and discrimination, of brutality and protest, followed, ultimately, the abolition of the system, free elections and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Image Credit- NJR ZASouth Western Townships
Known historically as Soweto, this huge township is where Mandela and many other anti-Apartheid heroes lived and where uprisings occurred, but is now an exemplar of the new South Africa. If a tour of a township sounds a little like something that makes the residents seem like zoo animals, think again. It is a hugely life-affirming event that shows off all the ways in which life in these areas has developed. Indeed, many parts of Soweto are now seen as desirable residential areas, with golf courses and other amenities. It is a great way to learn about history and change among the people who have lived it for real.
Montecasino Bird Gardens
Located in Lonehill, north of Randburg, this park offers fun for all the family and is a must see, for it offers twitchers a great chance to get to know all about South Africa’s bird life.Indeed, the venue is almost a zoo, with various mammals and reptiles roaming the grounds. From parrots to antelopes, this is a great way of getting close to African nature.
Image credit- (WT-shared) NJR ZA
