OPTIONAL TOURS IN THE JOHANNESBURG AREA DURING PILOT VALIDATION PERIOD

If any of these tours are of interest, please let us know ahead of time.

 

CLASSIQUE AVIATION – 

Tailored flight packages in classic airplanes as well as modern war birds and aerobatic aircraft. Options include: TopGun – Flight in a L29 Fighter Jet. Full aerobatic and Dog Flight sequence at the hands of the best jet pilots in South Africa. Tiger Time – Half- hour flight ina 1936 De Havilland Tiger Moth . High G Session – Flight in a Pitts special Aerobatic aircraft. Loops, rolls, spins and inverted flight. Need to Pre-book.

 

THE DeWILDT CHEETAH and WILDLIFE CENTRE -  

The Centre was established in 1971 with the aim of breeding endangered species. Over the past two decades the Centre's efforts have resulted in the major achievement of breeding what was once a threatened species, the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). Additional projects  include other rare and endangered animal species such as wild dog, brown hyaena, serval, suni antelope, blue and red duiker, bontebok, riverine rabbit and vultures - including the very rare Egyptian vulture. Many of these have been successfully bred for later reintroduction into the wild, thus helping to repopulate areas where such species have disappeared or are no longer abundant. Guided tours of the Centre in an open vehicle are conducted every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 8h30 and 1h30 respectively. These tours must be booked in advance. Cost approx.R245 – 345 depending on activity/tour chosen. Need to Pre- book. https://dewildt.co.za/

 

ELEPHANT SANCTUARY - 

Half day experience with elephant. Experts explain the habits of the elephant, their development and the state of the elephant population in Africa today. You get to touch various parts of the elephant. You walk hand to trunk with them and hand feed them. These elephant have been rescued from unfortunate situations, but are now in a safe and stimulating environment. Fascinating experience.  Riding the elephants is also an option, either in the corral, or out in the bush.  Cost Approx. R425 per person. https://www.elephantsanctuary.co.za/

 

LION PARK – 

Get close viewing of the lions at this park, as well as hyena, wild dog, cheetah, jackal, and several other species of game.  Pet and cuddle lion cubs and feed their tame giraffe. Approx. R180 per adult. https://lionandsafaripark.com/

​

LESEDI CULTURAL VILLAGE 'PLACE OF LIGHT'– 

Lesedi is home to 4 African families each from a different cultural tradition, the Zulu Nation, the Xhosa, the Pedi and the Basotho. The tour consists of a walk through their respective villages with an explanation of their culture. Afterward view an excellent dance performance by the different traditions. The tour ends with a  nice lunch which offers a taste of many of the traditional African foods. https://www.lesedi.com/

 

SOWETO (tour) - "Southwestern Township" - 

Soweto is the largest black city in Africa.  It was created during the apartheid years and continues to be home to some 4-million people.  You’ll visit various sections such as the upper class section where Winnie Madikizela-Mandela lives, the middle-class area where Nelson Mandela lived prior to his imprisonment and Desmond Tutu lives (both Nobel Peace Prize winners), and  squatter camps.  Highlights include a visit to the Kliptown Youth Program - an organization that focuses on education and helping very poor young people escape poverty and become contributing citizens to the new South Africa. You might meet Thulani Madondo, the founder of the program who was 1 of the 10 CNN heroes of 2012. www.kliptownyouthprogram.org.za. You will visit the Hector Peterson Museum that details what happened in 1976 that started the concerted push to rid the country of Apartheid. You will go  to Freedom square, in Kliptown SOWETO and read the Freedom Charter written in 1955 which is/was the guiding light for South African's. You will see an open air market, pass by the taxi stands, see Baragwaneth Hospital and many other sites that give you an idea and the feel of a township. SOWETO  is a vibrant, friendly, complex and startling community. You might be surprised that some of the people you meet - the waiter or receptionist at your hotel, the AVIS transfer person, the one who pumps your avgas, or the shopkeeper live in SOWETO - whether in a proper house or in a shack.  (South Africa has a terrible housing problem!) The tour really is  a fascinating experience.  Approx  R900 depending on what included – lunch and/or tour of downtown Johannesburg. Need to Pre-book.

 

MUSEUM AFRIKA -

“This is the first major museum to attempt to give credit to the black’s contributions to the development of Johannesburg. An excellent exhibit traces the impact of gold on the lives of the black population, from the miners forced to live in male-only hostels to the burgeoning townships with their squatter camps, shebeens (bars), and vibrant jazz. Another exhibit covers the fight for democracy and the events leading to the elections that gave Nelson Mandela the presidency. The museum also has a first rate display of ancient San (Bushmen) rock art. “ – Fodor’s

https://www.joburg.org.za/play_/Pages/Play%20in%20Joburg/Culture%20and%20Heritage/Links/Newtown%20Guide/guide/Museum-Africa-.aspx 

 

APARTHEID MUSEUM – 

A provocative and thoughtful look at the Apartheid era in South Africa, how it came to be, what it meant, and its eventual over throw. The design of the Museum and the exhibits makes it a great experience. https://www.apartheidmuseum.org/   R 150 per person

 

SOUTH AFRICAN MILITARY MUSEUM –A major section of the Museum is focused on aviation and it has some very rare aircraft such as Me 262 B-1a/U1,  the only night fighter version of this aircraft still in existence.  R 50 per adults. https://ditsong.org.za/en/our-museums/museum-of-military-history/ 

   

SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE MUSEUM –

A great display of aircraft. They have numerous projects underway to rehabilitate aircraft such as a De Havilland Vampire or a Harvard (T-6). https://www.saafmuseum.com/

 

ORIGINS CENTRE -

Located on the Witwatersrand University campus at Braamfontein, the museum houses a fascinating collection of San rock art, including paintings, engravings and artifacts. A visit sheds light on the birth of humankind, scientific facts and insights into the bushmen's spiritual beliefs plus lectures and workshops. Could spend the whole day her. It is excellent.  https://www.wits.ac.za/origins/  R 90 per adult.

 

CRADLE OF HUMANKIND (tours) – 

Tours to the internationally famous fossil sites in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. All tours are conducted by paleontologists working at the Witswaterstrand University.  These include tours of the caves in which these famous fossils were discovered.  We highly recommend these tours because they give a great perspective on early man and our human development in Africa. "Nowhere can you get a tour like this! iHominin, a company formed by American paleontologist Christine Steininger, offers tours to excite people of all ages while learning about our origins. This isn't just another tour to the Cradle of Humankind. This is a tour where you discover fossils, climb into a cave, and make stone tools just as our early ancestors did. Join Dr. Steininger in a journey into the past, detailing famous discoveries while sharing some of her own." Approx R750per person. Need to Pre-book.

https://www.maropeng.co.za/content/page/introduction-to-your-visit-to-the-cradle-of-humankind-world-heritage-site/

 

WALTER SISULU NATIONAL BOTANICAL GARDENS –

Take walks and have lunch at this beautiful botanical garden, where the rare black eagle nests.  https://www.sanbi.org/gardens/walter-sisulu/

 

CULLINAN DIAMOND MINE (tour) – Pretoria -

A surface tour by the mine management includes a visit to the small village of Cullinan to see some of the original miner’s cottages, as well as a program on the diamond mining industry. https://www.cullinan-tours.co.za/

 

ROSEBANK - 

A vibrant and colorful residential area homE to  numerous art galleries such as the Everard Read Gallery, Kim Saxs Gallery and others along with an African craft market , cafes ad restaurants.