The City of Gold boasts a rich history and a vibrant cultural scene. It is also home to a number of attractions which are ideal for nature lovers, art enthusiasts and history buffs alike. Undoubtedly, the bustling city offers a bit of something for different explorers.
Johannesburg (Picture: Unsplash / Simon Hurry)
Here are some of the best attractions to consider in and around Johannesburg:
Everard Read Gallery
Everard Read is Africa’s oldest commercial art gallery and stands as a prestigious emblem of Southern African artistry. Over 100 years after first opening its doors, Everard Read has galleries in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Franschhoek and London.
The Johannesburg gallery can be found in Rosebank and is the place to be if you’re in search of paintings and sculptures by South Africa’s finest modern and contemporary artists. Apart from dynamic South African art, the gallery also exhibits sourced works from international artists.
The development of young artists’ careers is a crucial component of the brand’s mission. Undoubtedly, the artsy attraction is worth visiting when exploring the beauty of Johannesburg.
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Apartheid Museum
Apartheid Museum. Picture: Wikimedia Commons / Katangais.
The Apartheid Museum is one of South Africa’s most important historical attractions. At the popular museum, visitors are afforded the opportunity to learn more about the country’s past, and specifically the Apartheid era.
Visiting the museum presents the chance to travel back in time as you delve into how segregation took place based on race, language and even hair texture.
Additionally, the attraction boasts a number of interesting and informative exhibits. These include text panels, film footage and painful stories which expose the atrocities committed during the Apartheid era.
Vilakazi Street
Vilakazi Street, photo by Teagan Cunniffe.
Located in Soweto, Vilakazi Street stands firm as one of the country’s most significant and popular attractions. It is the only street in the world which can claim to have had two Nobel Laureates, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, as residents.
The street is rich in history and offers an authentic experience which oozes the energetic buzz of township life.
Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden
Source: Facebook / @ Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden South Africa
The magnificent Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden is one of the best places to immerse yourself in nature when in the Gauteng province.
Established in 1982, the garden offers 300 hectares of lushness, vitality and serenity. Over 600 plant species form a backdrop of various hiking trails. There are also 220 bird species, as well as reptiles and some other small mammals. A visit to the garden also comes with the chance to spot some honey badgers, hedgehogs or even some Verreaux’s eagles nesting near the waterfall.
NIROX Sculpture Park
Image: Sourced
Located northwest of Johannesburg, the NIROX Sculpture Park is a paradise for art enthusiasts and nature lovers. It boasts striking works of art which are found among grassy fields, winding pathways, lush trees and waterways.
When visiting the attraction, you can view more than 50 permanent and long-term installations by different artists from across the globe. Fancy a picnic? You can bring a basket along to enjoy some of your favourite snacks on the green lawns that go on and on.
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