Gauteng
Route
Planner
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s the number of visitors coming into the Gauteng province increase, the need for a comprehensive and interactive planner is even more evident. It is for that reason that Gauteng Tourism Authority and Southern African Tourism Update have specially designed this planner to not only bridge the information gap but to also showcase Gauteng’s diverse offerings and products. This route planner provides practical product information within a variety of differently-themed routes which represent the unique aspects that set this province apart. The tours provide useful information on key attractions, recommended service stops, online resources and tourist guides.
Contents Publisher: Dave Marsh Managing Editor: Natalia Thomson Deputy Editor: Kate Els Sub-editor: Ann Braun Contributor: Verushka Bheamadu Design & Illustration: Michael Rorke
Nonnie Kubeka Vuyo Mokoena Jeffrey Rikhotso
Printed by Juka Printing (Pty) Ltd Published by Now Media (Pty) Ltd
Gauteng market analysis
1
Jozi Freedom Route
2
Origins of Humankind
4
Responsible Tourism
6
Tshwane Heritage Trail
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Soweto lifestyle
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Green Gauteng
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Vaal Meander
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5-day itinerary of Gauteng
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Route Planner
Gauteng Tourism Authority www.visitgauteng.net
Gauteng
Market Analysis
Described as South Africa’s economic powerhouse, Gauteng is often tourists’ first point of contact in South Africa. The province provides a dynamic mix of both leisure and business tourism opportunities and is bursting with struggle history… Why visit Gauteng?
Trends
• Vast range of quality shopping opportunities • Dynamic, energetic nightlife • Experiencing cultural, historical and heritage attractions • Africa’s business hub • World-class infrastructure • OR Tambo International Airport acts as a gateway into Southern Africa
• In 2009, over 1,6m tourists entered the country through OR Tambo International Airport • Large numbers of African tourists visit Gauteng • A high proportion of Gauteng’s visitors come to the province on business • Overall, the province enjoys a well-balanced market mix
Perceived challenges
Feeling
Gauteng has a number of perceived challenges in the facilitation of the tourism market and is working hard on changing these including: • Weak public transport infrastructure • Perceived lack of safety and security • Perceived lack of authenticity in cultural product • Lack of awareness of leisure tourism opportunities Key source market arrivals %
Millions
80
26
70
25
60
24
50
75.8 79.2
Bednights spent in Gauteng 2007 vs. 2008
40
23
30
22
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2007 2008
Africa
UK
Germany
NDL
3.6 3.2
1.7 1
0 g
4.4 3.8
10
20
2.2 1.5
20 21
lost?
USA
g g
2007 2008
The Gauteng Tourism Authority is based in the renaissance suburb of Newtown. The walk-in offices offer not only advice for tourists, but a range of specialists who can assist with tour operators’ needs. Visit GTA at 1 Central Place, corner Jeppe and Henry Nxumalo Streets, Newtown. Alternatively GTA can be contacted on +2711 639 1600 or more information can be found on www.visitgauteng.net.
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Route Planner
Gauteng Tourism Authority www.visitgauteng.net
Jozi Freedom Route
Gauteng offers visitors great insight into South Africa’s years of apartheid. Trace the steps that led to the country’s democratic freedom…
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ne hundred years of conflict, determination and the search for justice await at Constitution Hill. The complex pays tribute to prisoners incarcerated in their struggle against apartheid and safeguards the country’s new democracy. Follow in the trail of Mandela and Gandhi, who have been honoured by the now iconic Nelson Mandela Bridge and Gandhi Square. Discover the struggle, courage and creativity that led to the music of Boet Gashe, the Dark City Sisters, the African Jazz Pioneers, Hugh Masakela and the much loved Miriam Makeba. Visit Liliesleaf Farm, once the safe house of the ANC’s armed wing and associated with the Rivonia Trial, which resulted from the arrest of struggle icons, Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki, Walter Sisulu and others.
Estimated duration of tour
Insider info
5-7 hours
• Liliesleaf Farm now envelops an interactive museum that is open to the public seven days a week from 08h00-18h00. • The Drill Hall has undergone a R10m redevelopment and is now accessible to the public. Limited exhibitions and interpretative signage are on display. The Joubert Park site of the 1956 Treason Trial that involved Nelson Mandela is now one of the city’s top tourist attractions. • Constitution Hill now offers pre-arranged evening tours for groups at very reasonable rates. Booking is essential. • These top attractions are all secure and located in areas that are currently being redeveloped by the Johannesburg Development Agency. • Sophiatown was formerly home to many of Johannesburg’s most talented musicians, artists
Star attractions • The Constitutional Court, located adjacent to Constitutional Hill, enshrines some of Johannesburg’s most important struggle sites. • The Drill Hall with its links to Johannesburg’s turbulent military history and the Treason Trial. • Nelson Mandela Bridge, an US$18-million development and the longest cable-stayed bridge in Southern Africa. • The statue of Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi Square; a tribute to this icon’s struggle for liberation and justice. • Liliesleaf Farm, which provided a ‘safe house’ in a rural setting from which leaders of the ANC’s armed wing could operate.
Gauteng’s road to freedom Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum
A tribute to the first child who died in the Soweto Uprising of June 16, 1976. More than 500 people were killed as they protested against imposition of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction.
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Apartheid Museum
A stark reminder of what the country was like under apartheid. The museum, with its striking and haunting exhibits, tells the tale of apartheid in South Africa. The museum tells the story of triumph over adversity.
Regina Mundi Church
The heightened sense of community and free will still remains in this spiritual home of the freedom struggle. This is Soweto’s largest Catholic church and it played a pivotal role in the township’s history of resistance.
The Mandela Museum
The small house on Soweto’s famous Vilakazi Street that was previously home to Nelson and Winnie Mandela has now been turned into a museum with many photographs and artefacts detailing Mandela’s life in Soweto on display.
and writers who were forcibly removed in the 1950s. • The Apartheid Museum is ideally located as a stop between Soweto and the other highlights on this tour.
Shopping/souvenirs
Online resources
• The Museum Shop, Constitution Hill • The Bus Factory, Newtown Cultural Precinct
Recommended service stops n The Old Fort Coffee Shop,
Constitution Hill n Restaurants (various), Newtown
Cultural Precinct n Kapitan’s Café, 11a Kort Street (arguably
the best curry in town and a favoured haunt of Nelson Mandela and Walter Sisulu in apartheid times) n Guildhall Pub, city centre n Traditional taverns such as Caprivi Jazz in Alexandra
Site guides
Liliesleaf Farm
to aid with site guides specialising in these attractions
Bookings n It is advised that operators contact each
attraction individually or see their websites for booking details n Advanced bookings are recommended for groups of 10 or more n Contact the Gauteng Tourism Authority for the booking details of each attraction
Special needs n It is recommended that operators check
n Contact either the Johannesburg Tourism
Agency or the Gauteng Tourism Authority
with individual venues for accessibility for different disabilities.
SA HISTORY ONLINE www.sahistory.org.za NELSON MANDELA FOUNDATION www.nelsonmandela.org JOHANNESBURG DEVELOPMENT AGENCY www.jda.org.za LILIESLEAF FARM www.liliesleaf.co.za APARTHEID MUSEUM www.apartheidmuseum.org CONSTITUTION HILL www.constitutionhill.org.za
Time Activity 09h00:
Soweto Tour: Tour through this black urban residential area, the most metropolitan township in the country setting trends in politics, fashion, music, dance and language. Drive past Baragwanath Hospital, which is the largest hospital in the world, and the Regina Mundi church.
10h30:
Visit the Hector Pieterson Museum where the story of the first child to be killed during the student uprising in Soweto is told. Learn about the struggle of South Africa and how Hector Pieterson has become something of an icon.
11h15
Visit Mandela House at 8115 Orlando West, on the corner of Vilakazi and Ngakane Street, where Mandela move to in 1946 with his first wife, Evelyn Ntoko Mase and his first son, as well as with his second wife, Nomzamo Winfred Madikizela (Winnie). The house was subsequently turned into a museum, with Nelson Mandela as a Founder Trustee of the controlling body, the Soweto Heritage Trust.
12h30
Guests can enjoy lunch at one of the popular township restaurants.
13h30
Depart for a tour of the Apartheid Museum: Visitors can enter into the history that still defines South Africa’s here and now. After receiving an entrance ticket, stamped with the words ‘non-white /nie blanke’, guests are taken through a turnstile and past huge copies of old passbooks. The ‘Europeans only’ entrance takes guests through a separate-but-not-equal path past enlarged identity books classifying white people. The middle section of the museum is appropriately for the passbooks of the people in between – the Chinese, Indians, Malays and Cape coloureds.
Kliptown
Today, a National Heritage Site, this is where the Congress of the People was held in 1955, leading to the adoption of SA’s Freedom Charter. A Blue IQ project has revamped the settlement, home to a melting pot of cultures.
The Old Synagogue
This late 19th-century venue was the site of the 1956 Treason Trial, which resulted in the imprisonment of freedom icons such as Nelson Mandela and other Congress Alliance leaders.
The Palace of Justice
This is said to be the oldest building in the country and was the site where Mandela was found guilty of high treason in 1964. The court is located on Church Square and is home of the Supreme Court.
Political gathering in Sophiatown
Sharpeville Monument and Memorial Stone
This commemorates the 69 people who died in the 1960 massacre that followed a mass anti-pass-law protest. The monument has since been declared a national heritage site.
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Route Planner
Gauteng Tourism Authority www.visitgauteng.net
The Origins of Humankind The Cradle of Humankind, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is considered to be of “outstanding universal value” due to the insight that this valley has afforded scientists into the history of human evolution over past millennia. It is constantly yielding new finds, as was proved recently with the discovery of more fossils that indicate that human life started right here.
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n this tour, see various fossil sites located on the outskirts of the province. At Drimolen, the almost complete skull of a female from the Paranthropus robustus species has been discovered. At the Wonder Cave, learn more about the insight that caves provide into our more distant past. Visit the visitor centre at Sterkfontein Caves, famous for the discovery of ‘Mrs Ples’, a twomillion-year-old fossil and member of the so-called ‘ape-men of Southern Africa’ who are believed to have been closely related to the ancestors of humankind. Guests can also take a tour of the Sterkfontein Caves here and learn where the most recent fossils were discovered. A visit to Motsetse, situated within the Cradle Nature Reserve, will be followed by leisurely lunch.
Estimated duration of tour Day tour
Star attractions • Sterkfontein Caves – The caves were opened in 1896 by lime prospectors. It was also these prospectors who, in all likelihood, were the first to have discovered fossil-bearing rocks from the caves. Yet it was only in 1936 that systematic palaeontological research on the fossils began. The caves are home to the richest hominid fossil site, with over 500 hominid specimens found to date.
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Sterkfontein Caves
• Wonder Cave – The vast cave chamber is believed to be 2,2 million years old. The cave is famous for stalagmites and stalactites in an enormous cavern; recent excavations yielded interesting non-hominid fossils. The cave has been open to the public since 1991. Hourly tours are conducted on well-lit pathways where no crawling is necessary. • Kromdraai – Kromdraai is situated about 1,5km east of the Sterkfontein Caves. In 1938 a schoolboy named Gert Terblanche found skull fragments and teeth from the site. Since 1938, many other fossils as well as stone tools have been found at Kromdraai. • Swartkrans – To date more than 200 hominid specimens have been discovered here. In addition, numerous animal remains and stone and bone tools have been recovered from the site.
• Copper’s B – This became the third South African cave deposit to yield a hominid fossil when a molar tooth was found in 1938. Since 2001, 5000 fossil specimens have been unearthed and increased the number of hominid specimens threefold. • Drimolen – Located in the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve, this site has to date yielded 79 hominid specimens and dates from between 1,5 million and two million years ago. • Gladysvale – This site is famous for hominids, fauna and plant remains. Gladysvale preserves one of the most extensive time sequences of any cave in the Cradle with sediments dating from over three million years to around 250 000 years ago.
Insider info • The Cradle of Humankind has gone through substantial development and upgrades to make the site more attractive and appealing to tourists. This includes increased signage to tourist facilities as well as the opening of the Maropeng Visitors Centre, which also provides visitors with accommodation and meals. • An Interpretation Centre Complex has been built at Mohale’s Gate. The complex has a range of facilities such as a separate laboratory for researchers; a visitor centre with scientific exhibits, lecture theatre and education room; a restaurant and shop; and walkways through the caves. The Mohale’s Gate Interpretation Centre also houses a world-class conference centre, banqueting facilities, restaurant and a modern 5 000-seater outdoor amphitheatre.
Online resources CRADLE OF HUMANKIND www.maropeng.co.za MAGALIES MEANDER www.magaliesmeander.co.za BLUE IQ www.blueiq.co.za ORIGINS CENTRE www.origins.org.za
Maropeng Visitors Centre
Recommended service stops n There is a huge variety of restaurants in the
Cradle of Humankind area including those at dedicated tourist sites such as Sterkfontein Caves n Contact the Magalies Meander or the Gauteng Tourism Authority for suggestions appropriate to your guests.
Site guides
Maropeng Hotel
Bookings Cave tours: n Sterkfontein Caves: +27 11 668 3218 n Wonder Caves: +27 11 957 0106
n The caves that are open to the public have site
Specialised tours
guides who conduct tours throughout the day. n Combined tickets are available for the Sterkfontein Caves and the Maropeng at Visitors Centre.
tours for visitors n Attractions can also be contacted for details of specialised tours
n Each tourist attraction will have a host of
n The Gauteng Tourism Authority will be able
to assist with specialised tours
Special needs n Given the nature of the caves and
the rugged terrain in the Cradle area, wheelchair access is very limited. n The Sterkfontein Caves do offer wide walkways around the outskirts of the caves.
Human history Origins Centre Africa is where our ancestors evolved into human beings. It’s only fitting then that the bustling metropolis of Johannesburg, South Africa, is where the Origins Centre has been established. Opened by President Thabo Mbeki in 2003, the Origins Centre is a world-class museum that comprises two independent but closely linked facilities. It is the world’s only museum dedicated to exploring and celebrating the history of modern humankind and tells the story of the emergence of human beings and humanity in southern Africa. Conceptualised by a team of academics and designers from the University of the Witwatersrand, the museum aims to provide visitors with a unique experience of Africa’s rich, complex heritage. The Origins Centre boasts an extensive collection of rock art from the Wits Art Research Institute. At the centre visitors can see the earliest images made by humans, found in South Africa.
Combining cutting-edge technology with the creative vision of some of South Africa’s foremost artists, the museum’s exhibits take visitors on an extraordinary journey of discovery, which begins with the origins of humankind in Africa and then moves through the development of our art, symbolism, and technology on the continent. The second phase of the museum focuses on the fossils discovered in South Africa and the contribution these fossils have made to understanding the development of humankind. The journey then continues, showing the destruction of the diverse southern African rock art traditions – the world’s oldest continuous art forms – at the hands of colonialists, before ending, more positively, with the rediscovery of these ancient masterworks in a contemporary world.
Maropeng Visitors Centre Along the pathway to the Tumulus building, guests can stop to look at the site of an archaeological excavation. The Stone Age
Origins Centre
site has been excavated since October 2005 by scientists from the University of the Witwatersrand. The early stone tools found here belong to the Acheulean period and include hand axes and cleavers. Early humans and their ancestors came to the Maropeng area to use the local rocks for tool-making as they pursued a huntergatherer way of life. The technology of these tools suggests they were made sometime between a million and 500 000 years ago during the Earlier Stone Age, prior to the appearance of modern Homo sapiens. Guests can also hop on an underground boat ride that takes them on a trip through time. g SOUTHERN AFRICAN TOURISM UPDATE
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Route Planner
Gauteng Tourism Authority www.visitgauteng.net
Responsible Tourism Experience Gauteng’s shining example of how the hopelessness of poverty can be turned into a sustainable development programme. Townships scattered across the province have become launch pads for some of the most inspiring social responsibility projects…
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• •
• • •
earn about a progressive group of township dwellers who have brought new vision to these townships. Take a stroll through the township and sample some locally brewed beer. Visit waste recycling and paper-making business ventures and find out more about how the local ecology influences everything from the built environment to water harvesting and alternative sanitation systems. Visit the bustling Ekurhuleni township of Tembisa, only 15 minutes from OR Tambo International Airport. Interact with small business owners about how business is conducted in these melting pots of culture. Participate in projects that are uplifting communities across the province.
Estimated duration of tour 5-7 hours
Star attractions • Ndebele-painted zero-energy welcoming centre provides a traditional entrance to the modern-day eco village based in Ivory Park. • Eco City organic market where good quality foodstuffs produced by local co-operatives are sold. • Poet’s corner performance centre where at least 700 youngsters have been trained as part of the Youth Environment Project through drama, poetry and song.
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heritage and traditions. • Alexandra Township’s Rhythm Route is great for those travellers interested in local art and music. • There are many local markets that are ideal for authentic arts and crafts. Ask your guide to suggest such sites for guests.
Shopping/souvenirs • The Twanano paper-making project in the Eco City produces gift wrapping and paper from recycled paper and locally available natural resources. Local art in the works
Recommended service stops n Various shebeens and restaurants in Tembisa
• The Shova Lula Cycle Co-operative repairs and resells second-hand bicycles from the UK. • Iteke Waste Recycling is an independent business employing 40 people. The waste is collected from around the township and then sold to bulk collectors. • Bike tour through Ivory Park. • Join operators on the Tembisa tourism route, which takes in the ‘valley of mysterious water’ in Ekhatini where visitors are welcomed by a traditional healer; at the Enhlanzeni hostel learn about township violence in the 1980s and drive through Madelakufa to hear a range of gangster tales.
Insider info • The Tembisa tourism route looks at the town’s
including Caprivi Jazz Pub, Brian’s Chicken Township Cuisine and Four Seasons Tavern.
Guides and bookings n Intuthwane Tour Operators based in Ivory Park
conducts a range of tours, including an Ivory Park Tour, Jo’burg City Tour, Tembisa Tour and Soweto Tour. intuthwane@webmail.co.za. n Voluntours offers various upliftment projects in which tourists can get involved. info@voluntours.co.za. n Khavho Travel and Tourism operates in Alexandra township and offers tours along the Alex Rhythm Route, which shows how locals celebrate their livelihood in music and the arts. info@khavho.co.za. n The Gauteng Tourism Authority can suggest a list of guides that offer responsible tours.
Online resources MIDRAND ECO CITY www.ecocity.org.za COMMUNITY AGENCY FOR SOCIAL ENQUIRY (CASE) www.case.org.za FAIR TRADE IN TOURISM www.fairtourismsa.org.za HUMAN SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL www.hsrc.ac.za OPEN AFRICA www.openafrica.org
Locally owned spaza and vegetable shops
Responsible tourism in Gauteng The World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002, put the spotlight on South Africa’s, and indeed Gauteng’s, responsible practices in the tourism sector. It is the vision of the Gauteng Tourism Authority to ensure that Gauteng develops as a sustainable and responsible travel destination in line with international fair trade practices. The basic premise of this belief is that communities and local businesses must actively benefit from tourism activities undertaken in the province whilst simultaneously offering the customer a better visitor experience and protecting our country’s unique natural and cultural environment. These are some of the things that tourism operators can do to ensure this vision is realised: n By supporting locally owned and operated businesses you will assist in creating greater economic stability in the local tourism economy. As the economy grows so too will service standards improve and competitive business practices increase. n By showing a heightened sensitivity to potential negative social and environmental impacts associated with tourism, you can assist in ensuring that communities can play a greater role in being proud hosts to visitors. n Ensure that the local tourism establishments you partner with and support adopt sound environmental practices.
Responsible tourism guidelines n Economic objectives and indicators. n Maximising local economic benefits. n Ensuring communities are involved in
and benefit from tourism. n Social objectives and indicators. n Involve local communities in planning
and decision-making. n Maintain and encourage social and
cultural diversity. n Be sensitive to the host culture. n Environmental objectives and
indicators. n Use local resources in a sustainable
manner. n Maintain and encourage natural
diversity.
Did you know?
The Gauteng Tourism Authority has published a handbook entitled the Responsible Tourism Planning Manual that is designed to help tourism operators apply the concept of responsible tourism planning for their operations. Contact the GTA for more details or go to www.visitgauteng.net. g
A local school
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Route Planner
Gauteng Tourism Authority www.visitgauteng.net
Tshwane
HeritageTrail
Steeped in history, Tshwane’s picturesque small-town feel lulls visitors with its sense of quiet charm, but there’s a great deal more to this seemingly sleepy city than meets the eye. To the intrepid early 19th-century travellers, hunters, missionaries and first-wave settlers, the area served as a stop-over point on the western trading route linking the Cape Colony with the Tswana kingdoms. Soon after, the valley became a Voortrekker settlement and was chosen as the seat of government for the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek. Tshwane (formerly known as Pretoria) has since become a heritage hub, having witnessed the atrocities of apartheid and the enrichment of various cultural groups.
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eflect on a time when Pretoria was a frontier town; a trading centre for ivory and animal skins. Explore one of the country’s most extensive collections of traditional Southern African art and cultural artefacts at the National Cultural History Museum located on the site of Pretoria’s first prison. Follow in the footsteps of Paul Kruger, the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek’s first president, with a visit to the Kruger Museum and Ou Raadsaal (old parliament house). Stroll around Church Square – the historic and emotional heart of Pretoria, which bore witness to the surrender of Pretoria (Anglo-Boer South African War, June 1900), and the Rivonia Trial in 1963 that saw Nelson Mandela sentenced to life in prison. Drive through historic Marabastad and learn how forced removals impacted on this culturally diverse community. A short visit to the Union Buildings, designed by famous architect, Sir Herbert Baker and built at a cost of £1 000 000, provides memorable late-afternoon views of the city and formal Italian gardens and terraces. End the tour at the Wonderboom Nature Reserve, a significant Iron Age archaeological site, regarded by many as a sacred ancestral burial site.
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• Wonderboom Nature Reserve is home to the oldest natural monument in South Africa, the 1 000-year-old wild fig tree. This reserve has one of the most picturesque hiking trails in Gauteng.
Insider info
Church Square
Estimated duration of tour 6-8 hours
Star attractions • Church Square, which includes the 19th-century Italian Renaissance-style Palace of Justice; the statue of Paul Kruger by sculptor, Anton van Wouw, and the Ou Raadsaal (old parliament house) erected in 1887. • Kruger House Museum with its exhibits of the president and his wife during their years in the Kruger House (1884-1901). • Marieamman Temple in Marabastad, the oldest Hindu temple in Tshwane. • The Union Buildings are set on Meintjieskop overlooking Pretoria and are home to a number of memorials, including the Delville Wood war memorial and statues of former prime ministers.
• Freedom Park, a 35-hectare site south of the city, has been built to commemorate the country’s political history and to celebrate its cultural and natural heritage. The site includes a museum and garden of remembrance. • Museum Park, which was designed in the style of the American Smithsonian Institution, is the largest focal point of cultural resources in Africa, encompassing Melrose House, the City Hall, the African Window and State Library, among other attractions. • Fort West Village is a 389-hectare site, home to more than 250 historic buildings. The village, which has been developed into an urban village, includes various cultural and heritage buildings as attractions.
Service stops n Café Riche – A restored 19th-century-style
café in Pretoria. n Meintjieskop Restaurant – A trendy restaurant
at the Union Buildings. n Magnolia Dell – Tea garden and restaurant in
one of Pretoria’s most beautiful parks. n Moerdijks Restaurant – One of Pretoria’s
oldest restaurants set in luscious gardens. n Harrie’s Pancakes – Famed for its traditional
Online resources TSHWANE TOURISM ASSOCIATION www.tshwanetourism.com NORTHERN FLAGSHIP INSTITUTION www.nfi.co.za MUSEUM PARK www.museumpark.co.za FREEDOM PARK www.freedompark.co.za
The Sětso Route Visitors to Tshwane should follow this plotted route to discover the soul of the city, taking in a myriad of famous landmarks and buildings as well as prominent cultural sites. The following are among the attractions listed on the route:
The Union Buildings
The Voortrekker Monument
South African cuisine and variety of tasty pancakes. n Lucit Candle Garden – Hundreds of candles are lit in this water garden providing the backdrop for the perfect meal. n Consult Eatout (www.eatout.co.za) for a full list of restaurants in the Tshwane area.
Site guides/bookings n Most attractions listed have site guides and
specially trained guides are available from
Church Square. Contact Gauteng Tourism Authority (www.visitgauteng.net) or the City of Tshwane (www.tshwane.gov.za) for registered guides in the area.
Special needs n A variety of activities are available for visitors
with many disabilities. n Many of the attractions listed do cater for
disabled persons but it is advisable to check beforehand.
• The panoramic Union Buildings, home to several memorials. • The city’s oldest existing bridge – Lion Bridge – designed in 1894. • The Reserve Bank, the highest building in Pretoria. • The Sammy Marks Building, said to be the only existing example of neo-Dutch architecture in Gauteng. • Ga-Mothle, one of the places where apartheid laws were enforced. • Heroes’ Acre, the burial ground of some South Africa’s most famous citizens. • The township of Atteridgeville, with its many religious sites. • Marabastad’s Ismaili Mosque and Marieamman Temple, fine examples of religious architecture. • Pretoria’s best example of a formal Victorian Park, Burgers Park. • Oeverzicht, an art village situated in Pretoria CBD. • Pretoria’s Art Museum, housing one of the best collections of SA art in the country.
Tshwane’s state of the arts South African State Theatre In the heart of the city lies the State Theatre which saw the birth of, and was the driving force behind, the establishment of the performing arts in all spheres in South Africa. The theatre today plays a leading role in the development of the performing arts, and is host to the colourful variety of entertainment found in the diverse cultures of our wonderful country. The opening of the theatre complex in May 1981 was a milestone in South African theatre and marked the beginning of great things to come. In 2000 the theatre re opened as a receiving house a few years later, and has been host to blockbuster shows like Cats, Sarafina!, The Phantom of the Opera, and The Sound of Music to name but a few.
The theatre’s website is comprehensive and has a running bill of shows present and future. Tickets range in price depending on the production but can be bought online beforehand at Computicket.
Pretoria Art Museum This museum prides itself on collecting, documenting and conserving outstanding examples of mainly South African art. It also plays hosts to major national and international travelling exhibitions as well as showcases a permanent collection. On site is an information centre which is an invaluable source of information for people interested in, or researching the visual arts. Educators, students, learners and members of the public may use the vast collection of
South African State Theatre
art reference books. Newspaper clippings on Southern African artists. Visitors may browse the Information Centre or book guided tours for groups (minimum 10 people) by calling +2712 344 1807/8. g SOUTHERN AFRICAN TOURISM UPDATE
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Route Planner
Gauteng Tourism Authority www.visitgauteng.net
Soweto by night tour Soweto’s reputation as one of Gauteng’s popular haunts during the day for local and international visitors is well known, but many have yet to discover the best of South African township life by visiting Soweto at night. Enjoy the food, hospitality, music and vibrancy of this city within a city – synonymous throughout the continent with South African politics, the Freedom Charter, Kwaito and inspired community activism
B
egin the tour with a drive down the famed Vilakazi Street, home to two Nobel Peace Prize laureates. • Visit Soweto’s true emotional heart – the Hector Pieterson memorial and Museum, which acknowledges the role students played in the struggle against apartheid. • Find out more about the bustling markets, streets and nightlife of ‘Old Kliptown’ depicted by well-known SA artist, Gerard Sekoto, and humble home of the 1955
Vital information Estimated duration of tour Overnight
Star attractions
• Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum. • Visit the historic Vilakazi Street. • Experience the soul of Kwaito and jazz at a Soweto nightclub • Discover the eerie statues at Credo Mutwa’s village. • Sleep at a township bed and breakfast. • Visit the bustling Baragwanath taxi rank where local commuters set off in taxis to the city.
Insider info
• The Hector Pieterson Museum is generally closed at night but can be opened by special request.
Accommodation
n For accommodation bookings, consult the
SA Tourism Grading Council, Johannesburg Tourism Company and the Soweto Tourism Development Association (SOTODA).
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Congress of the People, which set a visionary ‘Freedom Charter’ that continues to inspire. • Find out more about Kwaito, a raucous music style that has defined much recent urban youth culture. • Spend the night enjoying true African hospitality at a local bed and breakfast. • See a city awaken as intrepid hawkers, taxis and commuters crowd the streets at the start of another bustling day in fabulous Soweto style.
Enjoy the musical spirit of Soweto
Online resources SOWETO TOURS AND INFORMATION www.soweto.co.za NELSON MANDELA FOUNDATION www.nelsonmandela.org SA HISTORY www.sahistory.org.za
i Service stops
n JDT restaurant in Orlando East. n Kwa Thabeng restaurant in Pimville. n Our Ladies Caterers in Pimville. n Robby’s Place in Pimville. n Sakhumzi’s on Vilakazi Street. n Sesa’s pub and restaurant in Rockeville. n Wandie’s Place in Dube. n Nambitha restaurant on Vilakazi Street in
Celebrating sports in Soweto
Orlando West. n Masakeng pub and restaurant
Guides/bookings
n There are more than 30 locally based tour
operators who operate to Soweto. For a list of these, please contact SOTODA, The Johannesburg Tourism Company or Gauteng Tourism Authority.
Special needs
n While many of the tourist facilities offer
wheelchair access, it is worthwhile checking on individual facilities in advance. g
Credo Mutwa Village
G
reen auteng
Pretoria and Johannesburg are home to some of the world’s finest zoological gardens. The province is staking its claim among SA’s unique fauna and flora experiences by developing its wildlife and biodiversity experiences. Visit the green heart of Gauteng…
F
ind out why South Africa is considered a world leader in the breeding and relocation of endangered species. Combine a visit to the National Zoological Gardens at Pretoria with an excursion to the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre, established in 1971 in the foothills of the Magaliesberg and internationally recognised for its successful
Vital information Estimated duration of tour 5-8 hours
Star attractions
• National Zoological Gardens, Pretoria, located in central Pretoria, is home to about 3 500 species of Southern African plants. An Aquarium and Reptile Park also form part of the zoo facility in Pretoria. • De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre. • Dinokeng’s ‘Big Five’ experience. • Various reserves and green areas around the province, including the Johannesburg Zoo, Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens and the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve.
Insider info
• The Zoological Gardens in Pretoria form part of the Capital Meander, an arts and crafts route through the sleepy suburb of Capital Park. • The City of Tshwane has launched a series of heritage routes, including cycling routes that cover important heritage sites around the city. • Game viewing close to the city can also be undertaken at Rietvlei Nature Reserve. • Mountain biking, hiking and horseback trails are on offer at Groenkloof Nature Reserve, one of Africa’s oldest proclaimed nature reserves. • This tour can also be combined with a visit to Tswaing Crater Museum – a well-preserved meteorite impact crater – ideal for watching sunsets at the rim of the crater. • Distance must be taken into consideration when including some of the reserves and green areas, as some are quite a distance from each other. It would not necessarily be
breeding programmes of cheetah, wild dog, brown hyena, serval, suni antelope, the blue and red duiker, bontebok, riverine rabbit and vultures. More than just concrete, Gauteng’s cities have an abundance of large and varied fauna and flora areas found in South Africa’s smallest province. Enjoy a visit to some of the province’s parks, nature reserves and conservancies.
i feasible to include a trip to Dinokeng and the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve in the same day as they are at opposite ends of the province.
Shopping/souvenirs
n The Margaret Roberts Herbal Centre is close
to the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre. n When in Dinokeng a short stopover in Cullinan
for its interesting array of arts and crafts. n Lesedi Cultural Village for insight into various indigenous cultures.
Recommended service stops
n Some of the gardens and green areas have
restaurants and food areas on the property. Otherwise a trip to a nearby town will offer restaurants in malls and high streets. n The drive towards Magaliesberg has become popular for its haute cuisine restaurants.
Site guides
n Most parks and green areas are open public
spaces so guides are not always available. n Nature conservation guides, as well as specialist theme guides, are available.
Bookings
n Bookings are not always necessary but it
is essential to check opening times of the reserves, zoos and green areas.
Special needs
n Given the rugged nature of reserves and
bushveld areas, wheelchair access may not always be possible.
Online resources MARGARET ROBERTS HERBAL CENTRE www.margaretroberts.co.za JOBURG CITY PARKS www.jhbcityparks.com NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY INSTITUTE www.nbi.ac.za DE WILDT CHEETAH AND WILDLIFE CENTRE www.dewildt.org.za
Other green areas n Lion and Rhino Park Home to a variety of animal species and ideal for a lazy weekend afternoon. n Krugersdorp Game Reserve A relatively small reserve, it nonetheless boasts plenty of wildlife to satisfy any visitor looking for a wildlife experience. n Leeuwkloof Valley Conservancy The conservancy is located in the heart of Dinokeng and is home to over 240 grazers as well as birds and tortoises that can be found at the dam. n Rietvlei Nature Reserve At over 3 800 hectares the reserve is one of Gauteng’s largest nature reserves. n Wonderboom Nature Reserve The reserve covers an area of 100ha and is famous for its magnificent specimen of the Wonderboom (Wonder tree). n Pretoria National Botanical Gardens The garden includes a cycad garden, succulent garden, aloe plantings and over 600 species of flowering plants. n Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden Offers abundant flora including a cycad garden, water garden and Witpootjie Falls. g
SOUTHERN AFRICAN TOURISM UPDATE
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Route Planner
Gauteng Tourism Authority www.visitgauteng.net
Vaal River
Jazz Cruise The soothing sounds of jazz liven sleepy Sedibeng, south of Johannesburg, ensuring that visitors to this part of the province enjoy an escape from the city bustle. Home to one of the country’s oldest jazz festivals – Jazz by the River – the Vaal region and its picturesque riverine surroundings effortlessly draw visitors into its sense of wellbeing…
Zorgvliet’s Riviera on Vaal offers visitors river cruises on its Petit Verdot Floating Restaurant.
K
ick back, relax and listen to jazz while cruising on the Vaal River, an alternative smoother jazz centre. Ramble along the charming Vaal Meander, taking in the area’s cultural, natural and creative highlights. Experience the annual Vaal River Wine Route every June and July as well as the many activities along the river during Vaal River Carnival Month.
Vital information Length of tour Due to the number and variety of experiences on offer in the area, this tour can take the form of a day trip or a longer stay to visit the many country hideaways, hotels, lodges, guesthouses and B&Bs.
Star attractions • Vaal Teknorama Museum, a cultural heritage centre with exhibitions on Sharpeville and social activities in the Vaal River region. • Sharpeville Memorial, commemorating those who died in the liberation struggle at Sharpeville in 1960. • The Vredefort Dome, which measures about 200km in diameter, is the result of the impact of a giant meteorite. • Waterfowl Treehaven Trust – the largest private collection of waterfowl in the world.
Insider info • Visitors can travel along the Evaton Heritage Route. • Take a look inside the Sharpeville Visitors Exhibitor Centre next to the Memorial. • Siyanqoba Tours offers donkey-cart tours of Sharpeville and will take guests into local homes to experience local culture.
Shopping/souvenirs • Over 30 quaint and unique art and crafts stores dotted throughout the area. Contact the Vaal Meander Tourist Information Centre
12
GAUTENG TOURISM AUTHORITY
i on +27 16 424 1121 for a comprehensive and up-to-date list of stores on offer. • Items on offer include ceramics, ‘farm’ antiques, glasswork, local designer fashion, exclusive jewellery, beadwork and African arts and crafts. • The ‘Antique Route on Vaal’ offers 10 quaint country hideaway stores on Bree Street offering a variety of antiques and collectables.
Recommended service stops n Sedibeng has no shortage of value-for-money,
quality restaurants, pubs and coffee shops to suit every taste and pocket. Contact the Vaal Meander Tourist Information Centre for a comprehensive list. n Facilities on offer include open-till-late à la carte restaurants, private river cruise meals, light meal coffee shops, garden restaurants, casino-based restaurants, riverfront restaurants and pubs, tea gardens and traditional home-cooked meals.
Online resources THE VAAL MEANDER www.vaalmeander.co.za VAAL.CO.ZA www.vaal.co.za DENEYSVILLE INFO. CENTRE www.deneysville.com PARYS INFO. CENTRE www.parysinfo.co.za SEDIBENG DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY tshepom@sedibeng.gov.za
Guides/bookings A number of local tour operators conduct tours around the Vaal area. n Contact Vaal Meander and the Gauteng Tourism Authority for a full list or to assist with bookings.
Special needs n Most places are wheelchair friendly and others
are working on it. g
Picnic at Stonehaven
5
-day itinerary for Gauteng
Day 1 – Apartheid Museum and Gold Reef City 09h30: Arrive at Gold Reef City – a theme park that relates Johannesburg’s gold mining history and provides family fun for a morning. 13h00: Have a light lunch at the Mugg & Bean inside the theme park. 14h00: Visit the Apartheid Museum and either wander through the halls or take a guided tour. 17h00: Enjoy dinner at Back O’ the Moon followed by a theatre show at The Lyric.
Day 2 – Soweto Tour
Gold Reef City
Take a ride through geographical time on the underground boat ride.
African Fusion at Moyo
09h30: Tour through the streets of Soweto ending up on Vilakazi Street. This township is the former home of South Africa’s Nobel Prize winners, Chief Albert Luthuli, later Archbishop Desmond Tutu and SA’s former president, Nelson Mandela. 12h30: Lunch at one of the township’s restaurants, Wandies, to mingle with locals and find out more about local culture. 14h00: Go for some retail therapy at the African Craft Market in Rosebank, adjacent to the Rosebank Mall.
Day 3 – The Cradle of Humankind 09h45: Arrive at the Sterkfontein Caves for a guided tour and wander around the visitors centre. 13h00: Lunch at the Maropeng Hotel Tumulus Restaurant. 14h00: Tour the Maropeng complex and take a ride on the underground boat through geographical time. 17h00: Depart for dinner at Montecasino’s The Meat Company and enjoy the various entertainment options after such as the casino complex, cinema or arcade.
Day 4 – Vaal Meander
Riviera on Vaal
09h45: Visit the Sharpeville Memorial that commemorates those who died during the liberation struggle in 1960. 11h00: Take a donkey cart ride through the township and visit locals in their original 1960s homes. 13h00: Lunch at the Riviera on Vaal Hotel’s Matthews Terrace Café. 14h30: Depart on a river cruise down the Vaal River and enjoy a spa treatment at the Zorgvliet Spa based at the hotel. 17h00: Depart for dinner at Lekgotla at Nelson Mandela Square.
Day 5 – Jo’burg inner city
Newtown
09h00: Explore the city’s famous heritage sites such as Constitution Hill. 13h00: Enjoy an al fresco lunch at Moyo Zoo Lake, located in one of the city’s best public parks. 14h30: Spend the afternoon at the Origins Centre at the University of the Witwatersrand. 18h00: Enjoy dinner in Newtown, a cultural district of the city famous for its live performances. Gramadoelas offers traditional African cuisine and has been run by the original owners since 1967. SOUTHERN AFRICAN TOURISM UPDATE
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